Just A Few Things
2009-07-06-Ultra-Ultra Quick:
-Obviously, I’m as excited as everyone else about the thing with LeBron telling Ariza he’s staying past 2010. But it’s not time for a gloating, all-caps AAH SUCK ON IT EVIL MEDIA I HATE THE MEDIA THEY’RE A BIG FACELESS ENTITY AND THERE SHOULD BE MORE GOOD WRRITURS AND LESS MEDIA CUZ I KNOW LEBRON AND HE’D NEVER GO U MUST BE MEDIA IF YOU THINK THAT quite yet.
Right now, all indications point to LeBron staying, as they have for some time with his public statements. For Cavs fans, I don’t think anyone’s ever really fully wrapped their head around a scenario where LeBron would actually leave, so the status quo feels pretty much the same for me. But an alleged promise isn’t a contract. A contract is a contract. I don’t know LeBron personally. I don’t know Ariza personally. I don’t know this alleged “source.” I’m not a mind reader. When he decides, he’ll decide. Until the ink is dry, let’s chill on this.
-Meanwhile, we were ready to throw core money at Ariza? He’s kind of a taller Delonte clone with more size and less playmaking and shooting, isn’t he? He’s either a show starter at 2 and pushes Delonte to the bench or becomes an uber-Wally off the bench himself. 55 million dollars, or even the full-mid level it looks like the Cavs were willing to throw down, is not uber-Wally money. I’m confused by the logic on that one-this worries me we’re going to spend money to spend it this off-season. Shaq’s expiring, so he’s harmless, but we’ve got one big signing left for the forseeable future. Let’s make sure it’s the right guy.
Speaking of, now that Toronto is COMPLETELY capped out and has an alpha-dog like offensive guy in Hedo, aren’t they playing 2010 for Chris Bosh? I don’t really forsee a realistic scenario in which he comes to Cleveland and becomes LBJ’s Gasol (I think Miami is more likely), but the possibility just went way up.
Rasheed Wallace getting Big Baby’s minutes is going to be really, really good for the Celtics. He’s a perfect fit. Freaking Celtics. Although Rasheed has now officially earned his spot in the Carlos Boozer Memorial Shrine of Hate, deserved or not.
My Jason Kidd pipe dream is officially over. And Kidd’s one of the few guys who can still get real value out of Marion. Oddly sensible moves from Dallas this off-season.
Okay, waking up for work in 6. Until tomorrow, campers.
[…] Cavs: The Blog » Blog Archive » Just A Few Things […]
Kaveh is obviously not a Cavs fan… or he is just basketball retarded. First off, he didn’t say Trevor was Delonte with worse shooting. He said they were SIMILAR. And they are. Delonte will give you more shooting and better playmaking (like Krolik said). Trevor gives you the size. They are pretty even defensively (Delonte was probably a better on ball defender actually), its just that Ariza is taller thus people view him as a “great defender.” And it helps that he has a very good defender playing with him in Kobe. Let’s not get carried away with Ariza. As… Read more »
I want McDyess. And Parker. Please no to Frye and Kleiza (unless he can be useful on defense in any way, maybe guarding PF’s?). Not disappointed about losing Kidd. I guess I just don’t like him, plus he is getting really old. And Rasheed to Boston scares me too. Even with the big 3 aging, Rondo and Perkins made big strides last year, and ‘Sheed removes any weakness from their big rotation. If they can get a FA wing like Parker to be their new Posey, Garnett’s knees or LeBron’s beastmode might be the only things that could keep them… Read more »
I’m sorry but who the hell is writing this blog? As other’s have said, Ariza is asking the MLE which is 5.6m, not the 10m which would lead to 5y 50m. Secondly, to say that Ariza is Delonte with worse shooting is a CRIME. Didn’t you notice how Orlando DESTROYED you guys? And by destroy, i mean completely shredded. The “coach of the year” who i believe is one of the worst coaches in the league, but lucky enough to be coaching the best player in the league, decides to have his best player gaurd the PG of the other… Read more »
Ariza is a larger Delonte West clone? Firstly, that size is a huge, huge factor. Ariza can defend wings, and Delonte (while a solid defender) cannot. You really want Delonte guarding Kobe when Lebron now has to deal with Artest? Obviously that’s an extreme example, but let’s not forget a large reason the Cavs lost was an inability to match up with one player (Lewis). Ariza would give the Cavs new versatility in terms of matchups. Lebron needs an athletic wing to relieve some of the defensive pressure on him. Delonte is either a big 1 or a small 2,… Read more »
@ Mario. 20 million for shaq much?
Three thoughts… Interesting that LeBron is actively recruiting potential teamates. It seems like Gilbert/Ferry/Brown have really made LeBron part of the decision-making. Why not go for the pu-pu platter approach and target guys on one-year-plus-option contracts to save some flexibility for 2010? Bigs like Zaza, Brandon Bass and Shelden Williams are going to be left by the wayside once teams give out the big money to the limelight FA’s. Wings like Dahntay Jones & Matt Barnes shoud be there for the taking as well. None of these guys are stars but they can be competent role players and they address… Read more »
[…] Cavs: The Blog » Blog Archive » Just A Few Things […]
Rasheed Wallace is D…O…N…E. That was a bad signing for the Celtics.
Ariza as a Delonte clone with worse shooting ? This post was way off. First off, Ariza’s deal is for the low 30’s, not 55 million dollars. Second of all, Ariza is a top 5 athlete in the league (leaving skills out of the equation), Delonte is not within the top 100. Ariza is 4 inches taller and much faster. In short, his defense is on a completely different level. Furthermore, he would have allowed LeBron to man the 4 spot for at least some rotations; for example, against Orlando, so they wouldn’t get killed with Varejao trying to guard… Read more »
Don’t sleep on Josh Childress. I know he is restricted, but he is a better fit for the Cavs than Ariza or Artest. And he didn’t forget how to play when he was in Europe, we just all forgot about him. Long 2/3, great defender, doesn’t need the ball to be effective, efficient scorer, high IQ. I could go on. With Atlanta re-signing Bibby and needing to re-sign Marvin Williams, I doubt they are in a mood to match a good offer for Childress.
Obviously they have Lebron at the 3 as well, but anyone who watched the Orlando series knows what I mean.
I don’t think they were going to give him 55 million. Being that Cleveland’s over the cap they can only give the mid-level which at most can be about 5 years 30 million I believe. And I think you’re selling Ariza short. He’s got a lot of upside at only 24 and his defense is great. The Cavs need to get someone to play the 3 or be content with Delonte guarding Vince when you play the Magic.
Well, I’m fully expecting to here that either Varejao is pissed and won’t come back to the Cavs or that we’re overpaying Varejao by millions of dollars a year in the very near future. There are still a couple guys that could fit here available. Anthony Parker would give the Cavs another tall wing (with LBJ playing more PF). Channing Frye (whom I’ve rarely heard mentioned) is similar to CV31 in terms of game and lack of toughness, but is a better perimeter defender and more consistent mid-range shooter. Once Wednesday comes and the contracts start being signed we’ll have… Read more »
I think the Cavs would have been the perfect fit for the Cavs because they need a big, defensive-minded two guard who can guard the other team’s best player. As solid as Delonte is, he’s too small to be starting, and you saw what happened when he had to guard guys like Hedo. Trevor knows how to hit big shots, and can guard nearly any wing player well, has a good stroke, crazy athleticism, and is only 24 and getting better. It was the best move the Cavs could have made.