The Road to Contention, Part II: The Hinkie Highway
2018-08-01
Greetings Cavs fans! We’ve been recharging our batteries, after a long Cavs’ season, and we hope you’re enjoying the summer as much as we are. Big news happened last week: the Cavs signed Kevin love to a long extension that keeps his rights with the Cavs until 2023. The Cavalier organization has been in limbo since LeBron’s LA exodus, and the signing should give some long term direction to a team that was desperately in need of some. With Kev locked up, Altman and Gilbert have several different directions they can steer the franchise. What direction they should choose depends on your preferred theory of NBA team building. The good news is that the Cavalier team bus is loaded with a lot more talent than when LeBron left in 2010. Whatever direction the Cavs choose to drive that bus though, Koby and Dan don’t have the luxury of making many wrong turns on the way if they want to return the Cavaliers basketball relevance.
Route 1: The Sam Hinkie Highway
“The Process” in Philadelphia resolved around putting a very bad team on the floor in an effort for Hinkie and Co. to lose their way into the best lottery odds possible. Sam also leveraged his cap and used his ability to absorb bad contracts as a way to collect draft picks and then sell those draft picks to maximize revenue for his ownership group or bundle them to make moves in the draft. This methodology has been copied in some respects by a third of the league, who in many ways took the concept of losing to get more lottery balls to an extreme undreamt of even by Hinkie.
“Tanking” has taken over the NBA, and a full third of the league spent serious amount of effort last season finding ways to lose games to increase their lottery odds. Watching teams play competitively only to see them put their worst units on the floor in crunch time was a painful experience for anyone who loves competitive basketball, and was an anathema to the idea of fair play and NBA as entertainment. Watching two teams try to do it at once just made one feel like a sucker. My bet is that the days of extreme tanking are over in the league and that the memo has already been sent out.
For one, the NBA has now flattened the lottery odds after massively overreacting to back-to-back number one picks by the Magic in ’93. Here are the new lottery odds, courtesy of Tankathon.com. Even at as low as the 10th spot, teams still have almost a 14 percent chance of getting into the top four. The question will be now, will teams tank their way out playoffs to get a 5% shot at a top four pick?
2019 NBA Draft Lottery Odds
Further, for a league that is supposedly trying to get in on the revenue stream of a coming wave of legal sports betting, tanking is an enormous problem. It was painfully easy to see which teams were trying to lose and which were trying to win, and many a savvy gambler took advantage.
Tanking will now be a federal crime. https://t.co/EPj6CbIhSP
— Cavs:TheBlog (@CavsTheTweets) July 31, 2018
The Cavs do have motivations to lose. They owe Atlanta their draft pick next summer, unless they finish in the bottom 10. If they do, then that pick rolls over to 2020 with the same conditions, after which it becomes just a second rounder. So finishing in the bottom ten for the next two seasons is in some ways a long term win. Many folks think the Cavs have made a mistake signing Love to this extension, considering he’ll be 35 when it’s over, and that the clearest path to acquiring elite level NBA talent is having as many high draft picks as possible.
SI’s Jeremy Woo gave the deal a C, noting that the move represented “a misunderstanding of situational factors that appear set to trap the Cavs in competitive limbo. The Sports Post’s Sam Quinn was much less forgiving, titling his analysis, Kevin Love has the Worst Contract in the NBA. His analysis is basically that Kevin Love will be just good enough to ensure that the Cavs don’t make the playoffs, but finish outside the bottom 10. Kevin Love will impede the progress of Cedi Osman, Collin Sexton, and the rest of their young roster and worst of all…
Love is valuable on a one-year contract. A two-year extension at reasonable money would have been wise. Love is going to average $29 million in salary over the next five seasons. No team wants that on their books. Cleveland is now stuck with it.
Quinn goes on to say Could’ve they could’ve traded Love for a first rounder, but now that is impossible because the NBA has “learned from Detroit’s mistake” (of trading for Blake Griffin). There’s a lot of assumptions from the people panning the Love trade, and there is a lot of faith in Love from the Cavs front office, but the Sam Quinns of the world are massively underestimating Cleveland teams’ abilities to suck, and Ty Lue’s (in)ability to coach. The Cavs aren’t going to have Ricky Rubio feeding Love in the post, they’re going to have Jordan Clarkson jacking tunnel vision threes and Colin Sexton fighting through the rookie wall. It could very well be a basketball gong show on the floor at times in the next couple seasons.
Personally, I like the signing, and I hate the Hinkie method, but if the Cavs are going to trade Love, his value after LeBron’s exit was at an all time low. What was the most they were going to get for Kev? A bad contract and a draft pick? No one was going to send the Cavs much of interest for a contract as big as Kevin’s, and the matching salary . The only team with the cap to absorb him now are the Sacramento Kings. Further, Kevin had a contract that was a difficult to trade. Who wants to give up anything for a guy who can walk at the end of the season? Was a mediocre draft pick and a bad contract worse than having Kevin Love for the next five years? I’m betting not.
If the Cavs plan is to move Kevin, then there’s no better method than to make him a focal point of the offense and the rebound machine he can be. Perhaps he can’t return to 26 point Minnesota form, but he could certainly get close. And there are a slew of teams that could use a guy in the half court who can operate like Kevin. There are still contracts out there that one could move Kevin Love for. There’s an argument to be made that now that the Cavs control Kevin’s rights four five more years, it makes him more valuable of a trade target, since he’s a known commodity and he can’t walk at the end of next season. For teams that are not “premiere” free agency destinations, getting an all-star might be worth trading away the future.
Duane Rohrbacher of King James Gospel (might want to rename that site, guys) posited three trades that the Cavs might make with Love at the 2019 trade deadline.
While I’m not enamored of the third option, the first two options are at least intriguing. Regardless, these are the kinds of deals that teams probably offered for Love this summer . If the Cavs are looking to feature Love and then move him, they took a $115 million gamble that he won’t regress or get injured to do it. But if it pays off, then they’ll get a deal with multiple draft picks and young talent. (I’m looking at you, Boston and Philly).
But even if they can’t move Love, there is a salary floor, and the Cavs have to pay someone. The gamble on his deal long term is not a bad one for the Cavs given the history of free agents and Cleveland. They just can’t afford to miss on this one (I don’t think they will) and another free agent deal. And if the Cavs don’t find a deal they like for Love and they’re getting too close to being above the 10th pick, they can always shut him down for the year (If you’re into that sort of thing).
If the Cavs are on the Hinkie Highway, then they have plenty of assets to move for picks. As Excl noted yesterday, Cleveland has three non-fully-guaranteed contracts they could move to absorb bad contracts and pick up assets in George Hill, JR Smith, and Kyle Korver. The Cavs have already reportedly kicked the tires on a Kyle Korver for Jarryd Bayless. My bet is that Philly wasn’t offering enough for Cleveland to get a solid veteran and shooting coach, and that the Cavs think the offers will get better closer to the trade deadline.If Cleveland at least three first rounders and a second by the end of the year if bus drivers Altman and Gilbert are smart.
If the Cavs want to go the full on “process” then signing Love, moving him in February and collecting draft picks for a couple years while Cedi, Colin, and Ante develop isn’t the worst strategy. The Cavs can win long term by zigging when the rest of the league zags: using their assets, their cap space, and their non-guaranteed contracts to collect draft picks and young prospects and to help the rest of the league shed their bad deals for the the summer of 2019. It could leave them with a sizeable collection of assets and of cap room when Thompson and Clarkson come off the books in the summer of 2020 just when newly minted all-star Cedi Osman (who is somehow going to be an all-star yet have his team finish below 10th) is hitting restricted free agency.
As for Rodney Hood, I’d sign him to the qualifying offer and look to make flip him at the trade deadline. If they do that, he would have to consent as he’d be on a one-year contract with bird rights. Ideally, he’d play well and the Cavs could get his consent to move him to a team that would be amenable to a long term, even for just a second rounder. I’m not a fan of Hood’ game, his long term potential, or his demeanor, but if the Cavs can get something out of him that’s a win.
I’m no tanking fan, but if the Cavs want to go this route, they certainly have the toolset to do it, and the new flattened lottery structure might make it a lot easier. I don’t think @CavsDan wants a stinker of a team in his newly built arena either, but the possibility is there if they drive right. By loading the bus with bad contracts and shipping out the Cavs’ advantageous ones, Cleveland could have a very solid young core and a lot of assets in just a couple years. Hopefully Dan drives better than Fozzie.
I can see dekkar as a nice player coming off the bench / depending on match ups / injuries / foul trouble etc —-12— 17 minutes / game —-his athleticism is underrated / his basketball I.Q. ( as the same for LOVE will make up for that )—still think at his young age / worth the gamble to hopefully coach to his potential / improve his outside shooting skills / “IF ‘ he does– he could be nice bench/role player for a long time
agree JRL—not sure what transpired with the clippers ( although it seems rather apparent there was / is problems out there )—-maybe he was under utilized / not coached correctly –( of course the same can be said here about our young players –cedi / ante etc )–any coincidence ty and doc coached together / remain close friends —–hoping ty is going to change his habits coaching ( or should say lack of ) the young players
I had posted a YouTube video of Dekker’s highlights but didn’t get past the mods.
Watching the video I was quite surprised by his ability to be in the correct location when needed. He also know how to move about the court and be found by his teammates. Really good cuts to the basket and can handle the ball really well for a big guy.
I’m excited to see what he can do and develop into. Him, Sexton and Cedi would be fun to watch together.
His main problem is that right now he has no NBA skill. Maybe over the next year he becomes a dead-eye 3 point shooter…I doubt it, but maybe. But right now, he’s not an NBA player. Worth a flyer, but my expectations are low.
I’ll have to disagree MikeO. I think he does a lot of things good on the court and I hope he gets better.
Nba.com had the Cavs 9th in their EC power rankings.
Wild, but I could see it. East will be weak this year outside the top three. Of course those top three will be far more competitive collectively against the west if Leonard sucks it up and plays and Kyrie/Heyward come back right
That is bad for us though. Cannot lose a first round pick.
I don’t think it’s bad if Sexton and Cedi get playoff experience as lead players… it benefited Boston’s young guys tremendously the past two years…. Brown in particular.
Should’ve added Rozier and Tatum this year as well.
Yes, but they still had a first round high draft pick to use on Tatum. We won’t if we make the playoffs. We lose it this year or next if it is outside the worst ten records. You can’t truly become a contender without high picks as a small market team. You need them either for the players or as trade pieces.
I think that if Cleveland can demonstrate they’re a playoff team without LeBron, that will attract talent in the FA market, especially with the money to be made as a max guy, and especially how much money is coming off the books the next two years. If Cleveland can demonstrate they’re a competently run, championship pedigree franchise, I think talent will come.
Indiana was damn good last year and got better. Bucks are better as well.
It’s where I had them too. In the mix for that 8th playoff spot. East really sucks… I see only 7 teams who are clearly superior IMO. What would help is if a couple of teams make a surprise leap… maybe Chicago or Detroit? Charlotte or Orlando? I imagine Cleveland’s in the mix with these 4 teams for the final playoff spot.
Griffin, Drummond, and Jackson did not play together much last year. I like Detroit for 7th or maybe 6th as the DH12 factor rolls into Washington.
good article on BILLY PRESTON / BASKETBALL INSIDERS ——BELIEVE THE CAVS HAVE A ‘DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH “
Agree on Preston. If that is a hit he has lotto pick potential.
would have to say Kolby did a good job here !!
Anybody know what we gave up for Dekker? Weird that none of the stories mention that…
I think it was nothing but some bookkeeping stuff.
It was just for cash, as far as I know…
The Kyrie Irving trade exception, which was going to expire at some point.
I think there was an exchange of euro stash draft rights.
But we used part of the Kyrie trade exception for the signing (around $2.6 mil of the $5.something exception).
ESPN MAKING FUN OUT OF THE INEPT BROWNS DRAFTING —ESPECIALLY # 1 / HIGH PICKS——COREY COLEMAN / 15 TH OVERALL PICK –(TRADED AWAY THE RIGHTS TO WENTZ )–FOR THIS PICK—–JUST GOT TRADED FOR A 7TH ROUND PICK—WTF BROWNS !!!!——-EVEN TY ISN’T THAT CLUELESS !!
Yeah if you can’t hit on #1 picks then you go 1-31. That being said, it looks like they’ve stopped the bleeding with Garrett and Mayfield.
Seriously, has ANY team won a championship purely on tanking? No. I’m cool with paying Love while they figure it out. He’s a good player when healthy and won’t hurt chemistry. Those proposed trades are awful. Rentals and late round picks.
You could argue the cavs tanking in 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and incompetence in subsequent drafts led to Kyrie, the Bennett pick (indirectly not improving the team), the Wiggins pick which subsequently along with Kyrie led to LBJ and Love. None of that would have happened without tanking those first two years of the rebuild.
Agree.
But the LeBron part of the Wiggins pick (previous tanking) was not, in any way shape or form, a Cavs’ choice. By that I mean that if LeBron had no come back, you would had had Kyrie, Bennet and Wiggins as your 1st picks and not made it past the first round of the playoffs.
Sure. Bit part of the reason he came back was the Wiggins pick, as trade bait no doubt. Picks/top tier players aren’t just valuable on their own. They can, as we have seen be valuable trade pieces, which players like LBJ realize is hyper valuable. The Cavs were maybe arguably not tanking the last two years. However, they were still bad, leading to a higher pick in what became Wiggins. So the point still stands, even with the more evened out odds. More so since the Cavs will lose their pick one of the next two years if they finish… Read more »
JUST REVIEWED DEKKERS DRAFT PROFILE / LIKED WHAT THE SCOUTS HAD TO SAY ABOUT HIS STRENGTHS/ HIGH BASKETBALLL I.Q. / —COMPARED HIM TO A HEALTHY CHANDLER PARSONS — I WILL TAKE THAT FOR THAT PRICE —GO CAVS—-EAGERLY AWAITING THIS SEASON —BRAND NEW / EXCITING ERA
Worth the flyer, I guess. Better not be taking minutes from Cedi, though. He was pretty lousy last year, looked like a D league guy.
I think he only played like 11 minutes for the Clippers because he broke his wrist/hand.
Played in 73 games, 883 minutes for them, per basketball reference.
Thanks.
Yup…. drafted as a 3 and D guy with no D and no 3 to speak of.
GOOD PICK UP / THINK HE WILL FIND HIS GROOVE WITH THE CAVS / FOR SOME REASON I ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS A BETTER 3 PT SHOOTER ——STILL HAS A CHANCE TO IMPROVE IN THIS AREA ——CAVS ARE STARTING TO FORM A GOOD / SOLID / YOUNG NUCLEUS THAT I / WE CAN GET EXCITED WATCH / GROW TOGETHER !!
Yeah he wasn’t great in college either, but I think he is a bit more athletic than people might think, maybe not laterally, but in other ways.
https://youtu.be/FXX3dtXR6oY
Good energy, smart position player. Seems to know where to be and how to move about the perimeter.
Interesting find ;)
Don’t get me wrong I love the pickup. I would have liked him coming out of college at the right draft spot too (late first round). I meant his three point shooting though.
Yeah. Confirms what I have thought about him after watching him in Houston. He is bouncy. Not elite, but can make plays above the rim with relative ease. He isn’t going to beat a ton of guys off the dribble at the three, but he is in no ways ground bound.
This cannot be a good sign for Hood? Can it? Perhaps they envision him as a small ball 4 who can shoot a little. Good college player, for sure. Gotta sift through some stuff to find hidden gold nuggets, and that is the business we are in right now. As long as we are not giving up a pick, I am fine. Eurostash guy? Fine. We waived Orkar White, also. Early stab at lineups to start the year (what Ty will do, not what I would do) Hill, JR, Osman, Love, TT Sexton, Clarkson, Nwaba, Dekker, Nance ???, Korver, ???,… Read more »
Woj reporting Cavs picking up Dekker…. not sure why.
Yeah not exactly sure what they are doing. Although honestly I hadn’t heard of this kid before so…
Good pick up. I like Dekkar!
Dekker
Great move. Take a flyer on a guy on the last year of his rookie deal. See if more playing time helps him improve and become a nice piece. If not they can just not pick him up next summer or offer him a qualifying offer. No risk deal with some possible upside. Not locked into a long term deal and could get him relatively cheap next summer if he proves to be more valuable than he showed on the rockets/Clippers. Of course it is bad if they gave up any pick, even a second rounder, but LA was trying… Read more »
“Lebron’s” school is 75% paid for by taxpayers in Akron.
https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/08/whos_paying_for_lebron_james_n_1.html
Sounds about right. It’s after all a public school.
I don’t think that makes it any less significant or important. 25% operating costs for a school is real money, and he’s doing it for a needy population. The real cost of his philanthropy will come from full college tuition that he promises to everyone who completes the program.
I only wish public schools were supported enough so that every kid had this kind of opportunity.
Would be nice.
Coming from someone who works in a public school treasury office, 25% is NOT a small contribution. If my wife’s district had that kind of benefactor it would instantly change the lives of hundreds of kids. And that’s in a tiny school district.
Actually would kick the tires in Dion. The Cavs do need a two guard. Problem is he’s too injury prone and ball dominant.
Not really.
Sexton/Hill can play some 2. So can Nwaba & Cedi. Clarkson is a 2 in my view. Not to mention JR, Korver, & Hood.
That is 8 guys who can play some two guard.
Now, as to how well……you may have a point. But two guards we have.
I find 0 reasons not to have Dion on the team. He’s fun, works hard, and is a good dude. So his game doesn’t match his boasts. That just makes him like everyone else.
yeah hoping whatever was wrong with him for that 3/4/5 game stretch is GONE !!!!—-GO TRIBE !!—–martin homered again / might be a ” key ” pick up
Klubot with another complete game shut out!
i just read that saint weirdo is available.. on a blue light special from heat-mart
they are, thankfully, and with much joy in my heart, stuck with that mess for the duration
Amen.
Maybe the Rockets make a move for JR later this year after they realize Melo sucks.
Cool statistical oddity that finishing 5th from the bottom gets you 2% chance of the number 5 pick. Who knew?
Getting a good coaching staff is a much higher priority than draft picks, if you ask me. We need a culture of smart, winning basketball that can develop players.
Agree. That is one reason I’m excited about this year. If we stink, perhaps Lue gets canned.
I do not trust Gilbert to make a good decision/coaching hire, however.
Oddly relevant nba afternoon in August between nba africa game and the big three league. Ricky Davis, Carlos boozer, roided up Mike Bibby, getting their butt’s handed to them by Jason maxiel, Andre emmitt, and Marcus phizer.
The Cavs don’t have to tank, but they should stop deluding themselves that they’ll compete. The focus needs to be on acquiring young players on cheap contracts with potential and developing those players already on the roster. If a useful trade comes along for any of our vets, whether it’s Hill or Love or Korver or (please) JR or TT, then we take the picks/young players and keep building. If everything goes perfectly, we’ll be lucky to get bounced in the First Round two years in a row. That’s not particularly useful for longer term stability. I’m fine with not… Read more »
2020-21 might be a bit early to be contending for a title. I’m thinking more like 2025-26 if everything goes right.
Good post. Though unless there is a star/stud coming back, I think we should keep Love. We are potentially bottom 10 even with him. If we hit on Sexton, that is two all-star level players. Cedi, Nance & Nwaba are rotation level players right now amongst the youngsters. Zizic can be if given the chance. Preston has star pitential. And Clarkson provides some needed scoring. And then we have the vets who can still play a bit. Korver, Hill, TT, JR, and Frye are not useless. Point being, while we will be poor, we won’t be awful. Get lucky in… Read more »
Go Cavs!
just think there are “TOO MANY IF’S ” right now to consider —-do we tank / do we try to make playoffs / protect draft picks / trade at deadline——I think by mid January– (possibly sooner )–we will have a good read on the team on what to do going forward
I hope people understand that 2019 is “apparently” not a great draft year, and if we keep the pick, the same requirements roll over for 2020. I’d much rather keep the 2020 pick. And I don’t think the Cavs want to be bottom 10 two years in a row.
I think they should try to win as many games as they can, then flip one or more of Korver, JR, Hill mid season for a pick(s).
Yep, if contenders get hit with injuries & need a PG or wing shooting, we could be in business.
There is talent at the top. Not saying we should tank, but if we get lucky with the ping pong balls, we will be in good shape.
Also, remember we are likely to improve as Sexton, Cedi, Nwaba, Nance, Zizic, Preston (& maybe Clarkson/Hood) get better. Plus we will have cap room next summer, so some FA signings could happen. A pick this year fits the timetable better.
If things go badly this year, worse than expectations, then at least we get rid of Lue, which will help speed the rebuild in my view.
If things go better than expected, then I was wrong and Lue has real chops and we have a coach. Good for the Cavs.
Worst case, we win 30-35, Hill, JR, TT, & Korver play a lot, Dan thinks Lue is dandy.
scotch—good question about ty—–am NOT a big ty fan—-but an going to give him “another shot “—coaching a LEBRON –LESS —-TEAM—-maybe he was influenced how he coached with the ever presence of -” the LeBron shadow “—–maybe –maybe not —will give him a chance —–but if I am Kolby I would make it clear how I want this team / these young players coached / developed
so…the cavs could be a 40 win team and make the playoffs based on their current roster…if the had a decent coach. They could be a 12 win team with their current coach and it would not surprise me. They could also be a 30ish with team like last year’s lakers…barely miss the playoffs…and have all the potential in the world for next season. The problem is Tye Lue. Is he a real coach? Does he really embrace the challenge of coaching a team or is he hoping he will do better with a young team and is a joke?… Read more »
Hill, Cedi, Nwaba, Love, Nance.
Sexton, Clarkson, Korver, White, Zizic
(Scootchie), JR, Hood, (Colson), TT.
2 way: Holland, Preston
I wouldn’t be surprised if the rolled out: Hill, JR, Hood, Love, and TT at the beginning of season. Also known as the “all puke lineup.”
Oooof. I wish I didn’t agree with you
I have no doubt this will be his starting lineup for the first game of the season.
Maybe take Love off the “all puke” lineup.
Sexton doesn’t need to start to play 25-30 mpg. Korver for nwabs if you are trying to win. We shouldn’t be, so that lineup is fine. Get Sexton a ton of minutes, but maybe don’t start him at the beginning of the season. Doesn’t need that pressure. Coast in with the worst or second worse record in the first four months, then play your hearts out/best lineups down the stretch (march/April) so they have good momentum going into next season, but also keep their pick. That is the ideal. Or feature Korver and then trade him once his value is… Read more »
Yep, that is a good signing. He is a guy who plays hard and mostly smart and performed well as a part-time starter and stays within his lane. And has room to improve the shooting and handles.
See him as a 3 & D on offense who is a good cutter and a versatile wing defender.
Amongst the youngins:
Like: Sexton, Cedi, Nance, Zizic, Nwaba. I think all can be useful rotation players if used properly.
Meh: Clarkson (chucker), Preston (a year away).
Do not like: Hood.
The NCAA is dumb. A lot of really horrible and corrupt people are in positions of power both within the NCAA administration, and at the conference, and team organizational levels. I read a report where most big sports programs spend as much money as they actually bring in, meaning the actual academic portion of the university doesn’t really benefit. Ironic how sports have far overshadowed academics considering at many universities.
not a bad idea nate –(game checks )—going back to NWABA——probably –premature / foolhardy / unfair to form a comparison——JIMMY BUTLER was athletic / defensive stopper / offensive slasher —not a good shooter when he 1st played with the bulls——-fair comparison or not
Four hour meeting? Just call it a retreat!
Urban us a great coach & recruiter, but has always struck me as a bit of a douche.
I feel the same way about Nick Saban.
Urban Liar – Someone on Twitter
if Meyer is suspended without pay then the abuse victim should get his game checks
That would be great.
WHAT ARE THE LATEST VEGAS ODDS ON URBAN–FIRING OR KEEPING HIS JOB——SURE THERE IS SOME KIND OF LINE OUT THERE ALRAEDY ESTABLISHED
https://twitter.com/oldseaminer/status/1024798717210255361?s=19
THAT IS WHAT I AM THINKING WILL POSSIBLY HAPPEN—1 YR SUSPENSION FOR URBAN—–OFFENSIVE COORDIINATOR / PAST HEAD COACH OF INDIANA WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE THE INTERIM COACH
JRL just had that very conversation—–there is probably NOT 1 MAJOR COLLEGE COACH (ANY SPORT )—THAT DOESN’T HAVE SOME SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET / SWEEPING FACTS UNDER THE RUG / BENDING THE RULES ——NOT CONDONING IT —PEOPLE WANT TO WIN AT ALL / ANY COST—-PRESSURE IS IMMENSE —–SAD –BUT TRUE FACT
When head coaches of major universities make more money than the whole teaching staff put together, we know there’s an imbalance of power in academia. Unfortunately us fans continue to treat these narcissists as gods and they continue to believe they are above everything. I get extremely angry when this sh!t happens. These aholes are given incredible power and instead of using it for good, they follow and ferment the “locker room” mentality so prevalent in America. As I was glad when Paterno died with his name buried in the mud (and Sandusky in jail), I hope Urban is forever… Read more »
*** Urban, his wife, Smith, DeFries and anyone else who knew.
Urban Meyer should be suspended for a year. If Colangelo can lose his job for what his wife did why can’t Urban Meyer?
He should.
If he knew, which is hard to argue he didn’t considering his wife was in communications with the victim, he’s just another scumbag that shouldn’t be look upon in admiration and glee.
agree with you arch—–wants it hits the national media—-puts pressure on the college to have some form of discipline—-maybe at best 5 game suspension—-worst case —termination—could put the buckeyes program back a few years
I’m sure just as Paterno knew about Sandusky and didn’t do anything, I’m sure Urban knew about Smith and also decided to let it continue.
When the Sandusky/Paterno thing came to light I said they all – whoever knew and kept their mouths shut – deserved the most severe form of legal punishment possible, same with Ohio State. To put sports, money, fame and wins over the safety of a human being is absolutely horrible and these aholes should pay for it.
not to split hairs here, but the Sandusky/ Paterno thing is in order of magnitude different than this. For one thing there is no criminal act in what Urban Meyer allegedly did. for another thing we are talking about a list of victims vs one alleged victim. not that it excuses his and or his wife’s alleged Behavior
Oh I know Nate.
I hope Paterno, Sandusky and anyone else who knew has to walk through hell wearing gasoline drawers. I truly wish them nothing but absolute pain and suffering.
No, this is not on the same realm but it comes back to the same issue – putting money and wins over righteousness.
anyone have an opinion with the latest —OHIO STATE / URBAN MEYER DRAMA ——
I don’t have all the facts, but it doesn’t look good for him.
Seems like every other university/coach situation where money, greed and wins are the only things that matter and things like morals, responsibilities and respect are thrown out of the window.
Hard to disagree.
good pick up—-arch don’t forget about “BONZIE “—–I am thinking he might surprise a lot of people —–so do we still think we are at the 35 win level / still protecting that Atlanta pick —-
Bonzie will take a while to rehab.
If Sexton and Cedi play good basketball, I see a 32-38 win team.
A 6’4″ shooting guard?
🤔🤔🤔
I think he’ll actually play more SF. He’s also got a 7-foot wingspan, and is “reportedly” a solid defender.
Starting Line-up: Sexton, Hill, Osman, Love, Nance
Bench: Clarkson, Korver, Nwaba, Frye, Zizik
Bench 2.0: Sexton, JR, Hood, White, TT
Bench 3.0: Hill, Holland, Osman, Preston, Zizik
Nwaba, although only 6’4 has a 7-foot wingspan, so he should be able to hang at SF
https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1024709214483177478
Very nice! I’m glad they were able to snag him.
Per Vardon: The Cavs have at their disposal the full mid-level exception ($8.6 million this season or $37 million over four years) and the bi-annual exception ($3.3 million or $7 million over two years) to pay Nwaba, as well as a league-minimum for considerably less.
MAKE THAT “3” ——-WITH YOU ARCH / ——KEY WORD FOR THE CAVS ( HASN’T BEEN SINCE LEBRON’S RETURN )—IS “PATIENCE “—–HAVE TIME TO REVIEW / ANALYZE / TALK ETC. ——LEBRON’S SHADOW IS NOT THERE FORCING THE ISSUE
Regarding the Love contract, one thing it absolutely does is make Love more tradeable. (assuming health etc) His trade value was almost nil while he was on an expiring. As has been noted again and again, there will be money out there next summer, and if the Cavs want to trade him, chances are they will have better offers then than they did before signing him.
Meant to post this here: 1 second ago
Cavs Fans Are Throwing Tristan Thompson a Parade for Punching Draymond Green in the Face: https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2018/08/01/cavs-fans-are-throwing-tristan-thompson-a-parade-for-punching-draymond-green-in-the-face
Now that LeBron is LeGone, the Cavs can actually be patient and not force trades to keep LeBron happy. I’m glad they didn’t do the Korver-Bayless swap. You gotta think that either Philly or Boston will want to improve their team by the deadline and be willing to relinquish one of their many first round draft picks for someone on the Cavs.
I’m with you Arch.
Glad they didn’t trade KK for peanuts.
Bottom 10 should be well within reach without trying to tank. 10 out west are clearly better: GSW, Hou, OKC, Utah, SA, Lakers, Denver, Portland, NO, Minny. 6 in the east are: Bos, Tor, Philly, Indy, Milwaukee, Wash. I put 3 more teams ahead significantly: Detroit, Miami, & Memphis. As long as we do not finish as the best of the rest, we keep the pick: Clippers, Hornets, Mavericks, Bulls, Knicks, Nets, Magic, Suns, Hawks, Kings. With the new lotto rules you do not need to be dreadful. And with Love, Sexton, Cedi, Nance, Zizic, & Preston the cupboard isn’t… Read more »
the one thing I think you underestimate is now teams just inside the playoffs have an incentive to tank with expanded Lottery odds
Not out west where you have 12 clearly trying to compete: the 9 from last year + Lakers, Grizz, & Mavs. Plus the Clips did not tank last year with every reason to.
Add in 8 PO teams from the East and you have 22 right there. Hornets are not tankers, nor are the Bulls.
Plus the draft is not as deep. And we have Lue. 35 wins will be bottom 10.
22 including the Hornets, 23 with the Bulls.
you’re not counting the teams that are going to get injured and give up by mid-season.
35 wins in the East may get you the 8th seed.
Right. Lue is the secret tank weapon.
Cavs Fans Are Throwing Tristan Thompson a Parade for Punching Draymond Green in the Face: https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2018/08/01/cavs-fans-are-throwing-tristan-thompson-a-parade-for-punching-draymond-green-in-the-face