Recap: FA Hangover (or, “Jim Buss… I must break you”)

Recap: FA Hangover (or, “Jim Buss… I must break you”)

2016-07-01 Off By EvilGenius

Well, the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t go very long without an owner of a Championship ring on their roster. Exit Kobe… Enter Mozgov. Okay, maybe that wasn’t exactly Jim Buss’ thought process last night, although it might be a more excusable one than the alternatives. How else could you explain giving our favorite Russian bear of a man $64M over the next four years? Don’t get it twisted… I’m really happy for Mozzy. However, I just don’t know how that type of money is justifiable for a 30 year old big man who regressed to the mean last year and was glued to the bench for the stretch run and the playoffs. A deal like that might have sounded a lot better following the 2014-15 campaign where Timo was an integral piece for the Cavs getting within two games of winning it all.

In any event, did anyone think that Moz would have been the very first Free Agent domino to drop? That the Lakers would have gone all in on their big man of the future after the smoke screen of chasing Durant, Whiteside and Horford? Maybe Jim Buss knows something… or maybe he was just on a crazy bender. In thinking about it, the truth is probably that Luke Walton believes he can get more out of Timo in whatever offense he intends to run next year… and he’s probably right. Moz will likely not be as bad as he was this year, but it’s still questionable that he becomes as good as he was at his peak with the Cavs. Either way… it sure makes the deal TT signed last year look reasonable.

Other Cavs FA News…

No real word on the fate of Matthew Dellavedova just yet… although it’s rumored that as many as five teams are circling. With Jeremy Lin signing a 3/$36M deal, that might indicate the bar the Cavs will have to match if they so choose. The Cavs did make a Qualifying Offer though, so they do have the right to match.

LeBron James will likely sign his new deal on his own time. The question isn’t really if he’ll sign, but for how long and how much.

J.R., unless some team makes a huge offer, will likely be in a similar waiting game as TT last year… especially considering his new #Klutch representation.

Richard Jefferson has said he’d only come back to play for the Cavs, and might do so for as many as 2-3 years. It remains to be seen if he’ll accept the vet minimum or command a raise.

Around the league…

Though the biggest fish in KD is still doing his round of meetings with his suitors (cruelly giving the Knicks more false confidence), several other high end FAs moved quickly to mostly re-sign with their former teams.

Hassan Whiteside

DeMar DeRozan

https://twitter.com/SInow/status/748889094743330816

Bradley Beal

Andre Drummond

Jordan Clarkson

Nic Batum

Other guys with new addresses…

Joakim Noah

Jeremy Lin

Notable guys still in play…

Chandler Parsons

Kent Bazemore

Al Horford

Dwayne Wade

Mike Conley

Dion Waiters

Luol Deng

Stay tuned for more updates and info…

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MikeO

Sounds like the main players for Horford are Celtics and Bullets. Hope he goes to the Bullets…then Grunfeld can ask Ainge how he likes these apples…

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MikeO

Luol Deng signs with Lakers, 4 years 74 mill….heh. That seems like a lot for him, but every deal sounds like a lot…

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MikeO

Err, make that 72 mill, mistyped. Still a lot.

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Mike Podracky

Virtually every NBA roundtable or discussion I watched has the Mozcov deal as the worst in free agency. It really is unfathomable Moz is getting $16 million/year.

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MikeO

Bazemore signing with Hawks, which probably means Horford is going to the Celtics. I’m not too high on Horford, but unfortunately it’s a better deal than the Celtics signing Dwight.

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EvilGenius

DWade joining DRose, JNoah, Melo and Kristaps might actually be a team to be wary of…

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JoeyB

Until after the all star break when all but Kristaps are injured.

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EvilGenius

LOL… great point

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MikeO

Gets the Knicks close to the Banana Boat team in waiting. Banana Boat ’17.

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Phil Hubbard

Just realized the Indians are playing an afternoon game because they’re in Toronto and it’s Canada Day. And they’re still playing. Just took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 19th inning (not a typo). On MLB Network. Trevor Bauer trying to wrap it up in his 5th inning of relief.

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Phil Hubbard

Tribe wins in 19! A club-record 14 wins in a row.

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JoeyB

The city of Cleveland will never lose again. NBA title opened the floodgates.

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EvilGenius

Watched it all… just unbelievable!

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MikeO

I have nightmares about the Cavs picking up Jarrett freaking Jack, aka ‘King Turd’…

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MikeO

Bucks picking up Wade momentum after the Delly offer…

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MikeO

Some cappy deals today, but the worst in my opinion are Beal and Parsons. Paying two guys that kind if money who haven’t even been able to stay on the court. I bet the Wiz regret that deal many times over….

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EvilGenius

And The Hawks get the New Dwightmare!

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/749008621799772160

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Phil Hubbard

Trying to bring down the Cavs by re-creating the 2009 Magic. What’s Rashard Lewis up to these days?

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MikeO

What happened to my dream of Dwight playing for the Celtics at 30 mill per???

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EvilGenius

Sadly the dream is dead…

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EvilGenius

And Congratulations Orlando! You get stuck with the last chair on the Jeff Green merry-go-round…

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/749007779960987648

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NOMAD

DO YOU NEED FRESH HOPS FROM” NOMAD’S HOPS FARM “—

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EvilGenius

Most definitely!!

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EvilGenius

Appropo of nothing… I need to go to this…

https://twitter.com/EvilGeniusBeer/status/749004301968834560

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EvilGenius

Amazing how much money is being pledged today…

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Cols714

LeBron managed to get both Moz and Delly paid.

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Hot Sauce

Cavs still have KI, JR (I am assuming he signs), Shump, McRae, Mo, Felder. I think they like McRae and think Shump has to be better. So they feel OK. And if Felder gives us anything its bonus.

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Cols714

Yep. This doesn’t change our outlook very much.

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EvilGenius

I’m excited about Felder… gonna need to come up with a good nickname…

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Raoul

BAS: Baby Angry Smurf!

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EvilGenius

The Loaded Wombat… one more time for old time’s sake…

http://www.ecocitizenaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/solar-combat-wombat.jpg

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Cjef

Lots of people to throw lobs to in Milwaukee. He’ll be ok.

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Phil Hubbard

NY Times headline on its Mozgov story: “6 Points a Game and About to Be Paid More Than Stephen Curry”

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Wray

The real story to that is how little Curry is getting paid. When the Warriors have to max out Curry, Klay, and Draymond, they’ll need to let a lot of things go.

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EvilGenius

Wow… even Solomon Hill gets a big deal…

https://twitter.com/TheVertical/status/748983768929693696

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Raoul

I guess I mostly just follow the Cavs, because some of these guys cashing in I have never heard of!

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JoeyB

If they don’t match Delly, I think that is terribly short sighted. It might be high, but it is not unreasonably money for him. We really don’t have the draft capital or cap space to replacement anytime in the future. If Mo Williams can even play next year, a big if, we surely aren’t counting on him to back up KI (and his injury history) for 2018-2020. You’ve got to have a better plan than that. He is a strong rotational player, much like Shump is. Shump’s and Delly contracts are identical. They have different strengths, but that’s the going… Read more »

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EvilGenius

LBJ already said his goodbyes… doubt they match now…

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EvilGenius

#Don’tSleepOnKayFelder

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JoeyB

Maybe, but our excitement about Felder is even less than the excitement we had for Joe Harris, Sergey Karasev, and Christian Eyenga. Maybe he is Isaiah Thomas, but it is very unlikely. He’s certainly not ready to play big minutes his rookie year.

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EvilGenius

Speak for yourself… I saw the kid play last year and think he can really contribute… Way more excited about him than Harris, Karasev, Eyenga combined…

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JMay

I am also more excited about Felder than any of those other names. His only negative is his height. If he’s as hard a worker as his reviews, he’s going to make an impact. I just don’t think it’s going to be at the level his rookie season to give 20 minutes a night as effective as Delly.

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Hot Sauce

Agree. I think Shump is the guy likely to get Delly’s minutes. He needs to step his game up.

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Phil Hubbard

Shump is no Delly replacement. He has to be kept as far away from the ball as possible on offense.

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Raoul

Think McRae!

I was astounded McRae didn’t get used in the finals, except the game where Love was out. In 2016 I cannot see playing Mo over Jordan, other than that it was nice because of his past years as a Cav.

I think Lue did a great job, but he did not have time to figure out how to use everyone. He did figure out how to use the top seven to win it all!

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JMay

We have to hope that the Cavs Front Office knows more than the CtB commentariat…

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EvilGenius

I mean, they do have a Championship to show for their decisions so…

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JMay

No big deal or anything… /s

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EvilGenius

We’ll miss you Delly!

wombat.jpg
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EvilGenius

Wombat collecting his stuff for his trip to Milwaukee…

http://www.eminor.tv/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/wombat.jpg

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ShumpyOldMan

Delly signed an offer sheet with the bucks for 4 years 38.5 million…

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NOMAD

I LIKE YOUR THINKING COLS ( ON WADE ) THINK I WILL DRINK TO THAT

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JoeyB

Wade ain’t taking the vet min.

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DellaveYoda

So What’s the deal with LeBron wishing Delly good luck after signing an offer sheet? That’s pretty stupid of him (no Cols I don’t hate him).

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JMay

I believe he’s probably just informed about whether or not the Cavs will match.

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NOMAD

BELIEVE-THAT CAVS FRONT OFFICE ( AND LEBRON’S ) MAIN PRIORITY IS TO RESIGN J.R AND ALSO THINK CAVS ” HAVE A SURPRISE UP THEIR SLEEVE —–GOOD LUCK DELLY

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JMay

I hope you’re right and the Cavs do have something up their sleeve!

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JMay

LeBron wishing Delly luck over twitter. Seems like that will do it “/ So long Delly. I wish you best of luck.

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Arch Stanton

Well welcome to the Cavs Quinn Cook, you can have Mo’s minutes…

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Cols714

Mayeb LeBron is selling Wade on them both taking a paycut and Wade can take Delly’s minutes.

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Raoul

I have always hoped that would happen , but kind of doubt it.

Or, Wade can take a min year with the Cavs, hang out with LeBron, pick up another ring, and be the top player next year, when there will be even more money.

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EvilGenius

Kay Felder!!

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Arch Stanton

Kay can have Shumps minutes!!!

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Cols714

At least it gives Nate something to complain about. He’s been too happy lately.

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U-Dog

Chris Haynes reporting that Delly to sign a 4 year $39MM with the Milwaukee Bucks.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2016/07/matthew_dellavedova_agrees_to.html#incart_river_index

I can see why the Cavs purchased a 2nd round pick and selected a guard.

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JoeyB

The chances of Felder providing what Delly provides this year is near zero. The chance of him providing what Delly will likely be providing in the 3rd and 4th years of that contract, which will be a bargain by then, is maybe 50% if we’re being generous. I really don’t get letting him go. I mean, I suppose I get it, but it strikes me as not being serious about defending the title next year and more concerned with dollars.

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Phil Hubbard

But hey, Delly was only part of the Cavs’ best lineup the past two seasons. No big deal to let him get away.

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EvilGenius

Except in the Finals…

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JoeyB

Even though that is true, it assumes that (1) we will only face the same Golden State team next year and not a different match-up and (2) that the minutes burden he takes off KI and others during the regular season is unnecessary.

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JoeyB

Not to mention, the guy has improved dramatically in every offseason. If Lue wants him to do something different for his style, he will do it and do it well.

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Hot Sauce

King James just wished Delly good luck in Milwaukee!!! WOW. He is gone.

https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/748977711905841152

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Cols714

Whelp. So much for matching.

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JoeyB

That is kind of shocking that he would tweet that prior to the three days commencing. Even if it is a done deal, you would think he and the FO would be on the same page about the timing. Put down the phone King.

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Cols714

He likes to troll

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Raoul

No big deal. He is congratulating him for getting a big contract. It might play out in Cleveland, still a nice payday.

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Hot Sauce

Delly was undrafted, signed with Cavs, worked his tail off, made the team, got better each year, and now is getting $40M cold ones. Well earned, Delly.

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Cols714

Yep. Dude just got paid. Congrats to him. I will pour one out for him tonight.

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JoeyB

No doubt. I’ll root for him until he dives at LBJ’s knees.

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Ross Gumdrop

I really hope the Cavs match on Delly’s offer sheet. Windhorst tweet doesn’t sound hopeful though. Really bummed.

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Cols714

I think they are waiting to get JR signed because he’s 10000 x more important to have than Delly. Then they will see if Big Danny G wants to pay up for Delly or not.

Obviously he was a big part of the regular season, but considering they just won the Finals without him, it’s not the end of the world if he leaves. I figured they’d match under $10M, but clearly I was wrong on that. They must think he’s more of a LeBron made player than even I thought.

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Cols714

The good news is that Delly is going to get real money. So that’s fun for him. Congrats. The bad news is that we could use a backup PG for a few minutes a game.

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Phil Hubbard

Delly played 22 minutes a game in the regular season AFTER Kyrie returned to the starting lineup. 14 minutes a game in the first three rounds of the playoffs. That’s a lot for a rookie or Mo Williams’s creaky knees to replace.

He did a fine job of making the offense go even when his shot was off. Ask the Hawks or Raptors.

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Cols714

Yeah, we will find someone to take those minutes. I think it comes down to needing JR Smith more than we need Delly. If that’s the case it’s not a close call at all.

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Hot Sauce

Boobie is coming out of retirement.

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EvilGenius

#Don’tSleepOnKayFelder

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Hot Sauce

Windhorst reporting Cavs unlikely to match. Discussing potential sign and trade. Intersting. I’d take the G reek Freak for Delly.

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Cols714

Strange. I figured easy match for under 10M. Maybe they view him as expendable since his horrible playoffs?

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Hot Sauce

Yeah. We have 10 days to think about, so maybe we will. Would love to have Delly back. But he is tough to read. Below are his 3PT% by month. Not a good trend. And if he isn’t a good shooter, he becomes limited very quickly (i.e. so limited that TLue played Mo Williams corpse ahead of him with the season on the line).

JAN: 50%
FEB: 42%
MAR: 42%
APR: 37%
MAY: 29%
Playoffs: 26%

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Cols714

Yeah we was pretty good at the beginning of the year and then went back to his base line of not good when things ramped up.

I know Nate is going to be complaining that they should’ve signed him before the season started but he was pretty awful until the beginning of this year. So that’s really BS hindsight talking.

I still think they match.

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Hot Sauce

It sounds like they aren’t going to match. I think another challenge in valuing Delly is that LBJ makes lots of role players look good (Boobie, Pavlovic, Damon Jones, Jamario Moon, Delonte West, Mo Williams, Delly, James Freakin Jones, Timo). So they might have an eye on a cheaper guy that they think can elevate game to Delly levels with LBJ.

In an ideal world I want Delly. But with JR unsigned, Jefferson unsigned, I can see how $9M for Delly is steep.

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Merkaderka

If JR Smith is going to get 60-75 mil, idk if they match a 40 mil offer for Delly.. That future JR deal is going to look insane given JR’s history of knuckleheadedness, his age, and his agent. I’m really dreading the back end of his deal that we will have zero leverage to negotiate against.

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Hot Sauce

Agree with all of this.

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Cols714

JR has been a model citizen in Cleveland.

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JoeyB

I think those percentages are pretty skewed because it was reported in the spring he had an injury and he even missed a few games. He also took more shots off the dribble, at which he is not good, at the behest of Lue’s new offense. Things at which Delly is good: Catch and shoot 3 Floater/Lob Pick and Roll Annoying defense Diving on the floor Avoiding Turnovers Constantly Improving Smart Fouls Making everyone around him better Sweating Excellence Things at which Delly is not good: Jumping high Running fast Creating offense off the dribble Shooting unless catch and shoot… Read more »

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Richard

If it’s a sign and trade it’ll be for an exception. They don’t have the right contracts to send back and they’re not packaging their young guys.

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Cols714

Delly is getting a 4/38 from Bucks. I bet the Cavs match that.

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Hot Sauce

Yep. That’s a reaspnable number. A bit high, but reasonable. Was hoping he would be closer to Ish Smith range.

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Cols714

He’s got that championship aura.

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JoeyB

I would hope so. That’s a great deal for the best back up PG in the league.

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Cols714

The best backup PG in the league wouldn’t get zero playing time in the Finals. He’s good for what the Cavs need, but let’s not go overboard.

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JoeyB

Who is a better backup PG? Mo Williams is not better than Delly. He is a better scorer. That is true. By every other measure he is worse, and its not close.

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EvilGenius

To clarify… the Turner deal was for $70M and not $75M…

https://twitter.com/RealGM/status/748960552639049728

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Cols714

Turner was useful last year. Not a horrible deal by Portland, but Im’ not sure

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EvilGenius

Still think JR is getting 3/45 based on that? I mean JR was much more valuable than E Turner…

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Cols714

Yeah maybe 3/50?

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JoeyB

J.R. is going to push for a 4 year deal, and we don’t have any leveraging power. I would not be at all surprised to see 4/80 for J.R. This is the new reality.

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Cols714

Wow. He took a lot less than I thought

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EvilGenius

Maybe the Lakers can get Dwight back… y’know for a Twin Tower situation with Moz…

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Nate Smith

If Delly and Dion end up being the Sacramento backcourt, I’m dubbing them our official Western conference team.

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JoeyB

No doubt. Dion’s best play was sharing the court with Delly. They were actually a pretty decent backcourt.

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Cols714

I ordered the official Cavs highlight bluray coming out in August from Amazon. Only $14. I will watch this approximately 100 times.

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Nate Smith

Link plz

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JoeyB

And a great point. I’m going to put in the paperwork today.

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EvilGenius

Well… I guess OJ’s not getting a max… (also, probably not a good omen to be a sports figure named OJ)

https://twitter.com/Deadspin/status/748930963326074881

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Mike Podracky

Great info, EG. My predicion is Delly stays with the Cavs for 3/27. I really don’t have any sense of where JR lands on money, but he will definitely be a Cav next year IMO.

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Cols714

Sound right. JR 3/45?

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Mike Podracky

Looks about right.

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Richard

Clarkson at $12.5m
Lin at $12m
Augustin at $7.5m

The PG market is coming into focus.

Richard’s 2k rating would put Delly somewhere between Lin and Augustin, but much much closer to Lin. Maybe I’m a homer. Maybe I’m a homer overcompensating for how big of a homer I think I am.

Delly at $10m is my prediction, but it also wouldn’t surprise me if its as much as $12m or as low as $5m.

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Richard

Delly at 9.5

I was close. Definitely could see the Bucks offer sheet coming. They had scouts at every Cavs playoff game (not that Delly played much).

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EvilGenius

Thanks guys… Not a lot of sleep, but fun

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Cols714

I think EG should have every day off to write about the Cavs. And drink with Buss.

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Nate Smith

You’re the man, EG.

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Tom Pestak

COSIGN

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JoeyB

EG sweats excellence.

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