Links to the Present: Comeback Edition
2011-11-29
“Cavs Blog back! / Cavs Blog back! / There’s all these readers screamin’ that Cavs Blog back!”
— Rick Ross, sort of
As Rozay so eloquently almost proclaimed, we’re back, you guys. Or I’m back, at least. We’re still rounding up the cavalry and figuring out who will be doing what this season. But I can speak for myself: Links to the Present will be back every weekday to provide you with all the Cavs-related news you’ll need throughout the next month or so leading to the season’s opening games. I’m also going to try to write something more substantive than the links column roughly every week, so you can look forward to reading some longform-y pieces in addition to a daily dose of Cavs news. And, we’ll have game recaps again, obviously. And other things that we haven’t thought of yet. You’ll probably love those things most of all. Anyway: we’re back. It’s been a rough lockout, and we’re somewhere between three and seventeen times more excited than you could ever imagine for the return of NBA basketball.
Here are some links:
Sam Amico breaks down the pertinent details of the new CBA. This is required reading if you want to understand the new rules that govern the league.
Conrad Kaczmarek over at Fear the Sword provides us with the details of the NBA’s condensed schedule structure.
Scott Sargent over at WFNY has an excellent, informative overview of how the new CBA impacts the Cavaliers.
And for those of you wondering whether or not the Cavaliers will “amnesty” Baron Davis, CBS Sports weighs in:
“Many experts around the league think the Cavs will [use their amnesty clause on Baron] Davis now. He has two years left on his contract, worth $28 million. But he’ll likely be kept on the roster for a couple of reasons: One, he’s one of their best guards and is the incumbent starter at point guard. Two, even if the Cavs cut him now, he’d still have to be paid. The benefit to cutting him with the amnesty clause is that his contract wouldn’t count against the salary cap.” [CBS Sports]
I’m sure news will pick up as pen is officially put to paper on the deal and free agency and training camp begin. I’ll keep you posted.
True, picking up Hedo would be costly. However, that hasn’t stopped Gilbert in the past. Both Jamison and Baron Davis have pretty expensive contracts.
At any rate, it would be great if they could pick up some assets with it.
The amnesty clause and TPE aren’t exactly the same. If they offer the TPE to Philly, then the 76ers don’t have to pay Elton at all. Still have to pay him with the amnesty clause.
That said, don’t expect an unprotected 1st this year.
Amnestying a guy is EXPENSIVE. I’m not sure Gilbert wants to spend $25 mil for a first round draft pic from Orlando.
Yeah, that amnesty clause will make it difficult to use the exception in a trade. I was hoping they could offer it to philly for Elton Brand and a pick. But phiily can just waive him if they need to. Another option I can see with some potential pay-off is trading the exception for Turkoglu and a future unprotected pick. The Cavs could then waive him. The magic will probably lose Howard and become a lottery team. That could become a high pick.
So what’s going on with Eyenga/Erden/Casspi? They’ll be back from their little overseas adeventures in time for the season correct?
My bet? Take a bad player with a bad contract off a team, and amnesty him in exchange for a draft pick. Dasanga Diop could be an option. Either that or use it to be part of a 3 way in Paul or Howard trade, to get some draft picks/young talent in return. I don’t think you’ll see anything too crazy though. You could see them taking some junk/young players off a team like OKC in order to get a draft pick or give them space to sign somebody. I wouldn’t mind seeing BJ Mullins get some run. He could… Read more »
It’s about time! 66 game year means the cavs end up where? 16-50?
My question is how well does caspi fit and can he play well enough to be traded later in the year with jamison’s expiring contract to get a quality player. Hopefully we can pick up one of the plethora of good swing men.
The only two starters that I want on this team in 5 years are Kyrie and Andy. Speaking of which, how is Andy?
I heard that the Cavs will most likely have 9 days to use their 14 mil trade exception. Any thoughts on what (if anything) they will do with it?
Better lineup in 2013-2014 (or a year earlier if we get high schoolers back),
PG Ky
SG/SF Shabazz Mohammed
SF – Harrison Barnes
PF – Andy (Still Convinced Thompson’s a bust or a defensive specialist at best)
C- Andre Drummond (from that extra draft pick that Gilbert buys this year that turns into a top 3).
*Prods agreement questioningly*
“Real?”
“Yup!”
*Explodes out of sheer joy*
And just because I can’t stop thinking about prospects…
Ryan Braun’s “dearlordplease” 2012-13 starting line-up:
PG- Ky
SG- Ey
SF- Anthony Davis
PF- Tristan Thompson
C- Andy
We’re one guy away people!
McGowan FTW!!!!
I think they are over the cap, but not into the luxury tax. I’d think they would keep Baron to mentor KI, and trade Sessions because he has higher trade value.
And it goes without saying, so very good to be back.
Life just didn’t feel complete without Cavs basketball.
And God I hope Tristan Thompson has been practicing 20 footers for the last 4 months.
Don’t know why the Cavs would use the exception on Baron. This only makes sense if they’re above the luxury tax threshold, which they’re not, according to the Sargent article. Would they offer him a buyout? That makes more sense. More likely? A trade and stretch for a draft pick to take a bad contract off of a team. Who knows. One thing that the last year and a half has taught me: Dan Gilbert is all over the map.