Cavs: the Podcast #251 (or, The McLaughlin Group)
2021-09-15Fresh from the CtB podcast resort, Nate Smith, Dani Socher, and Chris Francis pay homage to the classic PBS television program, “The McLaughlin Group” with their own, wacky, loosely scripted version of the show, except better… because it’s the Cavs’ Edition. That’s right, Chris plays “moderator” to two of the “giants” in Cavs media, Nate and Dani… who go head to head in a battle of Cavs’ basketball ideologies with no clear victor, except for the listeners who will be thoroughly entertained as the duo grades ALL of the offseason moves with the Cavs barreling towards the start of the 2021-22 NBA season. The episode starts off cordial and polite, but by the end, there were fireworks that rival any Rozzi’s show, (okay, that might oversell it a touch).
And of course, no Cavs: the Podcast episode is complete without the gang’s trademark pitches. Nate reminds the world of the greatness of the band R.E.M. especially in live form. Dani, in true Chris and Eli fashion, salutes the glorious land of South Korea name dropping Park Chan-Wook’s “The Little Drummer Girl.” Chris also reveals his own personal TV obsession, “Lucifer” which is based on the graphic novel series “The Sandman” by Neil Gaiman. So sit back, relax and enjoy two of the intellectual heavyweights of Cavs’ world duel in a battle of (t)wits…
Listen below, download the full audio file, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, and Spotify.
Just posted a new article, head on over if you wish!!!
NOT EVEN SURE I WOULD BITE ON THAT PROPOSAL—KLOVE// CONTRACT IS A POSITIVE— UNPROTECTED PICK NEXT YEAR AND ALOT OF OTHER 1ST ROUND PICKS—-JUST NOT SURE THAT ‘MOVES THE NEEDLE ” FOR ME —–ANY OTHER THOUGHTS// OPINIONS
From Yahoo/Sports: A new trade proposal from ESPN has Philadelphia moving Simmons to the Cavs for Kevin Love, 2022 first-round pick (unprotected), 2024 first-round pick (top-4 protected in 2024, unprotected in 2025), and 2026 first-round pick (available two years after 2024 pick conveys, top-4 protected in 2026 and 2027, unprotected in 2028).
too many picks, no way.
oh misread the post, but still 3 picks is too many, 2 picks at most.
SIMMONS INTRIGUES ME —AS I AM SURE HE DOES WITH MANY NBA GM’S—–BUT ASKING PRICE IS WAY TOO HIGH….AND QUESTION MARKS STILL LOOM AROUND SIMMONS —-DO NOT WANT THE CAVS TO “CAVE ‘ IN TO 76’S OUTRAGEOUS DEMANDS ………….WILL BE LEAVING FOR NC 1ST OF OCTOBER FOR 2 WEEKS —WLL BE STAYING NEAR BLACK MOUNTAIN —-HAVE ALREADY ARRANGED MY “CRAFT BREWERY ” DAILY AGENDA—–HAVEN’T GOTTEN THE MRS NOMAD’S BLESSING YET —–WHERE DOES YOUR SISTER LIVE ——CLF ARE YOU STILL IN NC ——-YEP I HAVE MY’ CHUCK TAYLORS ‘ READY —BUT IN REALITY ALL I HAVE TO DO IS OUT RUN… Read more »
natural selection doing what it does..
Oh hell yeah NOMAD that’s gonna be a great trip!!! No I’m Charlottesville, VA right now, but I’m thinking about a trip down there to visit… Black Mountain is about 5 or 6 hours away. I could try and catch a football or basketball game with you down there, I’m gonna talk to the girlfriend this week and see if she wants to visit her family, I’ll email you my contact info if that’s OK.
HOPING HE DOES JUST THAT—–REASON I AM NOT ‘JUMPING THE GUN ‘ TO TRADE HIM AWAY SO FAST—LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN YEAR 4 WITH A SOMEWHAT BETTER SUPPORTING CAST / 1ST TIME HE HAS PLAYED FOR THE SAME COACH// SYSTEM FOR 2 YEARS IN A ROW ———————-BUCKAROO BRO –DON’T THINK THE CAVS ARE AS BAD AS THE WOLVES —MAYBE WE CAN CONVINCE THEM TO TAKE KLOVE// AND CONTRACT BACK TO MINNESOTA
NOMAD bro.. always great to feel that marshall tucker vibe.. so, you would not go all in for simmons ? i certainly have trepidations about doing the big one, and there are many q-marks about simmons.. so i am kind of on the fence.. he is a one-of-a kind, and while sexton is a bull.. i might just pull the trigger.. but it ain’t my say, so i will wait and watch.. would be nice for some green hoops shoots to show up in CLE this autumn and winter.. also, here’s hoping you can still outrun those young banjo players… Read more »
Narrator: “He did not”.
LMFAOOO hope springs eternal!!!
He’s an undersized SG with poor court vision, ball hogging tendencies, and plays terrible defense. Even with scoring at semi efficient rates, he’s a net negative.
He needs to be uber effecient (60%+ TS) to offset all the other negatives. Or become much better at leveraging his scoring into easy shots for others. Or improve on D. Or all three.
leveraging easy shits for others should prove popular
All true. And BS is obviously a much better player.
On the other hand, YB always gives 100%, works hard on his game, makes a major improvement from year to year, is not afraid to shoot in big moments, and mostly is not refusing to report and being a general head case.
At least Cleveland’s front office isn’t Minnesota’s LMFAOOO
Just a dumpster fire org.
and the cav-nots currently are … ?? (just looking for your opinion)
They are in a way, they’ve also been to the playoffs and won a championship recently. Compare and contrast.
The T Wolves have KAT & Edwards. Both of whom are better than anyone we have.
may not have KAT for long….
Get enough super high draft picks and you’ll get some talent. Doesn’t mean they are in any way something other than a trash organization.
I want no part of Simmons. He’s a bum, mentally. And unplayable in crunch time. On a max deal for years. Love straight up?
ESPN rank current Cavs:
#84 Garland
#82 Markkanen (laughs)
#61 Allen
#59 Sexton
Former:
#91 Rose
#90 Clarkson
#77 Wiggins
#75 Harris
Top 25 to come.
Whoda thunk Harris above Wiggins? I confess to thinking Wiggins would be a star. Perfect example of being a head case.
This tweet.
“Shot selection”! HaHa
Kyrie was #20, I believe.
Top 5 to come. Luka, Steph, LeBron, KD, Giannis.
SO WHAT IS EVERYONE’S GUESS // OPINION ON WHERE SIMMONS ENDS UP AND AT WHAT COST —–DEJA VU KYRIE
Kyrie is a good comparison demonstrating that a player’s value plummets when they demand to be traded. Kyrie is 10x better than Ben, and what did we wind up getting for him? Not much. The 76’ers acting like they will get a James Harden haul are on drugs. Kyrie’s worth is way downgraded due to being a head case. However, he has one super power: Kevin Durant wants to play with him. Without that quirk, Kyrie would never see a conference championship game. That is why I would not give a lot for Ben. I would guess there is about… Read more »
Honestly, the Rockets “haul” for Harden was kind of a disaster. They got the fourth best player of LeVert, Allen, Harden, and Oladipo. Oladipo was a bust. Most of the picks were late first rounders.
good point. It seems demanding something like “four firsts” is not so smart when they are bottom firsts. Are four picks in say the [25, 30] range worth say the #5 pick?
I really hope some kind of Love (or Rudy+Cedi), Sexton, and a first deal gets it done.
HaHa! Me too, it the first is coming this way!
Really want Love in the deal to help with salary issues. Love might be modestly valuable in that situation, and it would be good for him to be with a contender.
Probably the Kings for Fox or Haliburton (no way they’d move both) and assorted parts. Blazers are a dark horse. Morey is no doubt holding out for Dame, so this entertaining sh*tshow will go on for quite a while yet. At least, I find it entertaining.
NOMAD bro.. i am with nate bro, although i would crap out more cav-bits in the deal.. i am a tad fearful of making the trade, but as the cavs wlll suck biblically for quite a while, time for a big WTF move.. bottoms up on the ex-lax and let ‘er rip so, with that said.. Love, sexton, a 1st, and maybe a sweetener, like cedi.. the cavs might be scary with that tall front-court and simmons (with rubio and darla)..
Jarrett Allen better be in the weight room LMFAO
Also, all hail Ante Zizic!!!
Zizic is a big boy.
That’s right!
I had a lot of years of success covering guys with an inside post up game by leaning on them and making them push 240 lb ever step.
Having trouble figuring out what this graph is telling us. Is Kelly Olynyk the best in the NBA at something (other than dislocating arms)?
OK, got it (clicking on the tweet shows the context). Kelly is where we expect him, worse than Tristan.
When you look at the full chart, it is closely approximated by two linear zones, meeting at a “knee” about six players in from the top.
Look where LNJ is on that chart. Just sayin’.
100% Nance was a defensive stud, rather have him than Allen, no disrespect to him. Nance just has a little more versatility.
Absolutely. But Allen is a lot younger and not injured near as much. If we are lucky, the Cavs will start to contend in about two years. How much do you expect LNJ to be playing by that time?
Yeah that’s fair, Allen is largely available and entering his prime.
But I’d still expect LNJ to be playing largely the same as he is now, he’ll only be 30 in two years and is exactly the type of role player a contending team needs, especially with that kind of experience. Also Nance is a physical freak that’ll probably age well into early 30s.
All water under the bridge now, but Koby’s decisions deserve scrutiny and will be interesting to see play out…. hope Koby made the right choice! LMFAOOO
I am still not exactly sure who is guarding 3s on this team. Koby has made some head scratching worthy moves in his tenure. Stevens and Osman I guess.
It’ll obviously be Okoro to start, and probably Cedi/Windler/Stevens in a scrum for backup minutes.
I think there’s a non-zero chance they’re gonna try Mobley or Markkanen at the three in a big frontcourt lineup.
Okoro will get the job. But he is still undersized length wise for big 3s. I see them hemorrhaging points with a 3 big lineup.
I actually am intrigued by the big 3 lineup idea, I think they could tread water defensively and it might give Mobley some easy mismatches offensively or some easy open jumpers on the perimeter depending how teams play him.
Lots. You just cannot play him starter minutes.
We all agree letting LNJ go to a contender was the right thing to do — let it go.
As pointed out, the salary cap is going way up soon, what looks high now will be a bargain then.
I get where you are coming from, and you are not wrong, but…
1) It weakens the team. He was our best 2 way player.
2) We had better offers last year (2 firsts!). Instead we get a guy who washed out with the team that drafted him, bid against ouselves to overpay him at $17 mil a year, AND he plays the same position as Mobley & Love.
3) Portland is not a contender.
Agree on 1 & 3, taking a maybe on 2. Is the 2 firsts meme a fact or a theory? And what did they turn out to be?
Totally agree that R.E.M. keeps getting better.
Chris Fedor broke that news of two late FRPs, it’s legit.
Based on the meetings the Cavs took pre-draft, two of the targets could’ve been Jalen Johnson who went 20th, and Bones Hyland who went 26th.
Think I’d rather have the picks than Markkanen if those were the targets.
one thing I will say re: Markkanen is that he at least fits a vision of a Mobley-led team, which is important.
Agree — and not at all clear that Markk is a lost cause at 24. Last week, age 24 Malik McDowell was one of the best players in the NFL in his first game. I wish he could have been on the Cavs back when the Pistons were beating up Mark Price.
Awesome job guys, very entertaining discussion.
Thanks Bw as always!!!!
“HO LEE CHIT”– GUYS GREAT JOB !!!!—–REALLY GOT INTO THE NEGATIVES// POSITIVES OF THE CAVS OFF SEASON MOVES ——I AM A “GLASS HALF FULL ‘ TYPE OF GUY—–THINK VALENTINE RETURNS TO HIS 2018 TYPE OF PLAY——LAURRI BECOMES “MOTIVATED ‘ ONCE AGAIN// PROVE TO THE BULLS THEY MIS HANDLED HIS PLAYING SKILLS // PERSONALITY —-RUBIO COMES IN AND ADDS GREAT VETERAN LEADESHIP AND GETS LOVE BACK INTO THE GROOVE AGAIN …..MOBLEY LOOKS LIKE// PLAYS LIKE THE ‘2ND COMING OF THE GREEK FREAK ” ONLY MORE SKILLED …………….OK I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF …….”MORE BEER PLEASE ‘……CAN’T WAIT FOR TRAINING CAMP TO… Read more »
hell yeah NOMAD, “MORE BEER PLEASE”~~!!!! LMFAOO
I’m drinking a MHL ever as we type. Then, more later
I’m with NOMAD on the “half full” attitude. There is a good chance a lot of things might go right!
100% Raoul, that’s what’s up!!!
NOMAD bro.. from your lips to G-d’s ear..
Nice! Thanks for posting. You had me at Samardo Samuels but love the McGlaughlin Group homage as well. I also like going chronologically (starting with Hartenstein), “B-minus [or ‘what used to be a C adjusted for inflation’, TM Dani] in a one-credit class”
hell yeah Adam thanks for listening!!! All credit to Nate for the McLaughlin Group idea, it’s a great bit! LMFAOOO
This was one of the best yet, lots of insights, not least was the Denzel Valentine (meme potential and more important metrics) vs. Lamar Stevens dynamic, in terms of minutes and role. Good points made on “this may be his last stop in the league” (about DV/Valentine) if it doesn’t go well, but also Dani’s insight about unfulfilled potential as not necessarily all bad (can’t remember if this was about Valentine or Markkanen). The KPJ mini-conversation also had me rolling, I think CtB has by far the best blend of human compassion / empathy with humor and flinty skepticism that… Read more »
Re: unfulfilled potential was definitely about Markkanen, it’s definitely a reason for hope/optimism about the move for sure!
And we definitely need to screenshot your post and use it as a review!!! LMFAOOOOOOOO