CtB Trifecta: Caps, Preview, and Live Thread (or, RICK ROLLING)
2023-01-12Good evening CtB!
Time to clean out the backlog and get back to business! Some random thoughts heading into tonight’s action…
1. Quickcap: Cavs 112, Suns 98 (or, Pro-Caris, Pro-Neto Agendas Victorious)
The story of this game was about the bench gang of Raul Neto, Caris LeVert, and Lamar Stevens clamping the game down on defense and putting away the hospital Phoenix Suns in the Valley of the Sun, 112-98. Those (me) who have been clamoring for Neto backup PG minutes have won the war of ideas. He’s been playing winning basketball for the past couple of weeks, and it would behoove Coach J.B. Bickerstaff to get over his trust issues with Neto and put some respect on the man’s game. Any time the point of attack defense is lacking, Neto should be in the game to change the dynamics.
Even though the counting stats don’t pop off, Caris LeVert may have had his best game as a Cav from an impact standpoint with a +28 plus/minus in 28 minutes off the bench against Phoenix. He’s been trending in the right direction over the past few weeks (Utah notwithstanding) looking more decisive with the ball (6-10 shooting, seven assists to one turnover), and being extremely active on defense (three steals). After some cursory research, Caris is comfortably a top 10 third offensive option in the NBA. This is relevant given all of the trade talk surrounding LeVert. Trying to improve upon LeVert means trying to acquire a player too good to be available for cheap: guys such as Bradley Beal, Jimmy Butler, Malcolm Brogdon, Michael Porter Jr., or CJ McCollum. Given the smoke regarding Tim Hardaway Jr., it’s safe to say any player the Cavs do acquire in a LeVert trade is highly likely to be a lesser player that they’re banking on “fit” to make up for the loss in talent/skill. To that, yours truly says “that’s some bozo shit!”
2. Quickcap: Cavs 114, Jazz 116 (or, Fat Cats, the Sequel)
The Cavs fell into their “fat cats” trap in this game, getting torched on the boards (outrebounded 54-37) and playing selfish basketball (outassisted 21-18). There were bright spots starting off with Donovan Mitchell entertaining the former home crowd with a 40-burger (46 points total). Also, Lamar Stevens had a great game off the bench and guarding Lauri Markkanen. But Cedi Osman was awful off the bench, NBA Champion Kevin Love had an ice cold night shooting, and Caris LeVert got refballed into oblivion. J.B. could’ve helped sticking with some more Love for rebounding and some more Neto for perimeter defense. All in all, it was a game the Cavs deserved to lose and did.
3. RICKY RUBIO IS BACK
ESPN Sources: After a full year of rehabilitating an ACL tear in his left knee, Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio is targeting a return against the Trail Blazers on Thursday. Rubio will practice today, and if all goes well, play in Portland tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/wB5RzNhRdy
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 11, 2023
WELCOME BACK KING! LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo
4. NBA Champion Kevin Love goes home
The Cavs travel to the City of Roses to take on the Portland Trail Blazers in some late night basketball action. It’s a homecoming game for Love so hopefully he can get his shot going in the friendly confines of Moda Center. This season the Blazers are the poster child of mediocrity. The Cavs need to handle their business and it starts on the defensive end forcing turnovers against the turnover-happy Blazers. Ricky’s back, the squad is deep, it’s time to get excited about the second half of the season, Go Cavs!
Cap up!
https://www.nba.com/news/top-scorers-pull-up-shots-2022-23-so-far
Donovan is 3rd at 11.7 ppg with a 59.2% EFG.
Looks like KAT is out tonight
We need to capitalize.
AGREE JASON—YES CARIS IS BETTER LEFT “UNTRADED ‘ AS FAR AS WHAT I SEE THEY WOULD GET IN RETURN——-HOPE ICE CONTINUES HIS UPWARD TREND// THAT WOULD BE HUGE ——FROM WHAT I SEE FROM DIOP// RAW BUT WITH EXTREME ATHLETICISM// UPSIDE —–DO YOU THINK CARIS// LOVE ‘WORK ‘ WITH THE CAVS ON A TEAM FRIENDLY DEAL(S )
My hope is they will. Maybe I’m delusional. Caris signed his current deal as a 20 ppg guy who was gonna be a top 3 option on offense. He is not that here. 12.4 ppg. More like #4 or #5. But I love his attitude and willingness to play different roles. Still fairly young. Maybe another year on the deal buys us a bit of a discount. Ohio guy. $15 mil? Love has to feel like he was stealing for some of those years on that big contract, right? Right? Take a small haircut now & help us win a… Read more »
Definitely think KLove should take less, even $10 million is a crazy amount of money in perspective. I don’t see Caris taking $15 million and I actually think he deserves more. He’s 26 and this is going to be his prime earning contract. He’s definitely worth more than Colin Sexton making almost $18 mil. Someone’s going to pay Caris, I’d guess $20-25. He’s become a two way player, he’s 6’6”, can distribute and get his own shot. That’s money in this league.
Yup, WCC correct… if I’m the Cavs i’d try to get him ~20m and call it a day, maybe do a team option year 3/4
I think there is a good chance Love will take a big discount. He has a pile of money, has made local roots, is in his last years playing, the team is a major contender, and the guys are great. Otherwise, he could go to a new place for a few million more, maybe be on a losing team with some a$$holes. How would you like to be on a team with Draymond Green? How often does he beat someone up?
Caris might think the same way.
SO TRUE JASON——–“ELDER” MOBES WITH HUGE GAME LAST NIGHT–30//10 —-THINK HE WILL BE A GOOD ROLE PLAYER—–WAS 3/5 FROM 3’S –NEEDS TO COACH HIS YOUNGER BROTHER ON THIS——NOW THAT WE HAVE “WILD THING ” BACK IT IS ONLY MORE FITTING TO GO FETCH ” HARD ROCK “
Thanks for keeping track of goings on with the Charge, NOMAD. I have hopes for I. Mobley & Diakite.
As for Hard Rock, I think our limited funds in FA will be spent on the wing. Trying to land that 3&D guy with some length. Mobley is effectively the backup C. Love in extremis. I. Mobley being groomed as a 5 out C. I think Diop coming over next year is also a possibility.
If I had to guess at next year’s roster…..
We have 9 guys signed for next year, 7 of whom are fully guaranteed: Garland ($33.5), Mitchell ($33.1), Allen ($20), Okoro ($8.9), Mobley ($8.9), Rubio ($6.1), Wade ($5.7). With Ice showing signs of progress, I think all come back. Just over $116 mil (cap at $134).
Love & LeVert I think are both back. I do not like any of the rumored trade candidates more than Caris, and Love has value and gravity from deep and is still an elite defensive rebounder.
Plus, if we renounced everyone (LeVert, Love, Windler, Neto, Lopez) AND waive Cedi/Stevens, that $18 mil means we only have one significant non-vet min contract to hand out, maybe two. Better off keeping our guys and using the MLE/TPMLE.
Once Caris & Love are back, the question then becomes, can we stay under the tax ($162 mil)? Gilbert might not care, but we could sign a slightly bigger fish with the MLE ($11) rather than the taxpaying version ($6.8).
Gonna be tough. 162-116 is 46. Minus the $11 is 35. LeVert + Love for $25 is a bargain, and would leave us with $10 mil for everyone else (5 more players). 7 + Love & LeVert + TPE guy.
I *think* the capology is that you have to be under the tax line, inclusive of the TPE signing and you cap holds. IDK if two-ways count.
Stevens for $1.9 is good business. Neto/vet min PG for $1.9 is as well. A second round pick COULD make the roster. Diop/vet min C. Plus I. Mobley or Diakite and boom, we are under.
This scenario involves renouncing Windler ($12 mil cap hold), renouncing Lopez, getting Caris & Love back at a bargain, and cutting Cedi.
I could be wrong on the capology, and there might be othercways to finagle the order of things. We also have a $3.5 mil trade exception from the Mitchell trade (Agbaji).
agree
“Rock & Wild”!
I know this was always unlikely, but the NBA should all be thanking Danny Ainge. If he’d have preferred LeVert to Markkanen, they’d all be in a world of hurt right now.
WCC// JASON VERY GOOD POINTS ON DISTIBUTION OF MINUTES —-GOOD PROBLEM FOR A COACH TO HAVE —-STILL THINK YOU CAN PUT NETO IN AND HAVE HIM GO ” FULL PIT BULL ” ON HIS OPPONENTS // BE AS DISRUTIVE AS YOU CAN —IF NOTHING ELSE IT GIVES YOU 6 MORE FOULS TO WORK WITH STRATEGICALLY
agree with the NOMAD.
WCC—–YEP —-MY NEW MOTTO IS ” IF MAMA AIN’T HAPPY -NOBODY IS HAPPY–IF GRAMMY AIN’T HAPPY–RUN LIKE HELL ” !!
Wolves play the Suns tonight, so they’ll be on a b2b when they play us. Hope tonight goes to triple OT.
Per Jason, The writing is on the wall for minutes. Neto performed admirably in the minutes and the role we needed him. That said I don’t see where there’s minutes for him with Ricky’s return. Barring injuries, he’s not playing other than garbage time. As Okoro ascends (and he truly looks better every night) and Wade returns, Cedi’s minutes are also going to shrink. KLove will eventually find his shot again and meaningful minutes. Stevens is a niche role player, hustle guy and probably finding a seat at the end of the bench. Wade’s health and play are the X… Read more »
Per NOMAD, HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE.
JASON -GREAT REPLIES TO MY ” CONCERN LISTS “—-YOU DID OMIT ANSWERING MY BIGGEST CONCERN——” THE MRS NOMADS HONEYDO LIST ” :-)
I ain’t touching that one!
GREAT HIRE BY THE CAVS —NOW GO DO THE SAME WITH DELLY !!
Peanut butter and Delly time!
Delly is still playing.
https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2023/01/anderson-varejao-hired-by-cleveland-cavaliers-as-player-development-consultant-and-global-ambassador-sources-say.html?outputType=amp
Wild Thing, you make my heart sing!
How long til Arch wants him over JB ;)
HaHa!
So great to see DG taking over in crunch time, getting to the cup and (finally) getting his shots to fall. Should have been three of them in about 2 minutes (that offensive foul against Nurk was such BS).
Loved how pumped he was in that stretch — and even more so how thrilled his teammates obviously were for him.
Of course, you have to give REEEEEEEEEKKKEEEEE the JYD last night, but if it’s on merit alone, I think it’s DG’s last night, with JA a close #2 for carrying the load like the stout yeoman he is.
Agree! When DG and DM learn to take over a game as a pair, we will be in business!