Links to the Present: April 18, 2012
2012-04-18
Our colleagues over at FTS were also appalled with last night’s performance. This is my favorite line from Angelo Benedetti’s recap: “7:52:Â Jason Maxiell strips the ball from Anthony Parker, goes coast to coast and shoves a dunk down in Casspi’s face. Jason Maxiell. JASON MAXIELL!”
Luke Harangody, professional yo-yo and amateur roots reggae bassist, has been recalled from Canton once again.
And Kyrie Irving maybe kinda might possibly return to action tonight.
As you might expect, there’s just not a lot of Cavs-related news today. We’ve hit that point in the season where there’s very little to report; people who write about the team daily are grasping at straws when it comes to crafting narratives. So, because there’s nothing linkable that’s particularly stimulating discussion-wise, I pose this question to you, because it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, in these dark days: what’s the best case scenario for the Cavs next year that isn’t wildly optimistic? Or what would you be very pleased with? Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a couple decent free agent pickups, and a seven seed? Anthony Davis and a first-round playoff upset? We’ve talked this season, both abstractly and in-depth, about what we would like to see the Cavaliers front office do this offseason, but what would we like this team to achieve when the ball is in the air, and Year Two of the Kyrie Irving Era commences?
It’s nice to think about nice things sometimes, even when they’re not happening in front of your eyes.
Sure they do. It happens every draft. Typically, teams only move down a few spots. Last draft Chicago traded with Minnesota and moved up from 28 to 23 by adding in a second round pick and cash. If the Cavs take the Lakers pick (guessing around 25), and add in two second round picks, it feasible they could jump up about 8 spots.
Nobody moves down in the first round of the NBA draft.
I wonder if the Cavs will be open to buying a late first round pick. They could use the Lakers pick & the two second round picks to move up (Doron Lamb, Jeff Taylor), then buy back in around 26 to fill the backup C spot with Festus Ezeli.
Kevin,
See my post. I really don’t know where PJ3 will end up, but in the ESPN mock draft/lottery simulation there are some situations where PJ3 goes in the late lottery. I think that will allow us to draft someone (hopefully Beal) and then trade up for him. If not, we could possibly still move up to take Zeller (along with Barnes).
Nathan,
That idea isn’t bad either. one bright side of a late first Rounder is that if you draft well, they’re really cheap role players for four years.
From what i’ve seen, it doesn’t pay off much to move up from the 30’s to the 20’s…I’d rather keep the 25, 33, 35 and hope that between them we strike gold on one solid roleplayer
If the Cavs draft 5th, 25th, 33rd and 35th, I say they trade the two second round picks to move into the late first. They can draft: Barnes, Drummond or PJ3. I’m undecided still. Then Doron Lamb and Festus Ezeli with the late first rounders. In free agency, I’m still not really excited about going out and signing 4 year or 5 year (sign and trade) contracts. Last year, the Pacers signed David West for 2 years and $20 million. The first thing I would do in free agency is offer Ray Allen 2 years and $20 million, or whatever… Read more »
Ah it’s that time of year. The time of year that fans talk themselves into mediocre free agents who are having their best year in a contract year. Seriously… Spencer Hawes? Really? One good year, and hurt for most of it? If the Cavs can’t get Batum, Gordon, or MAYBE Ryan Anderson, there’s no point in throwing big money at anyone mediocre. There are role players out there: Brandon Bass, Gerald Green, Landry Fields, and Kirk Hinrich come to mind, but there’s no guys out there flying under the radar who blow me away. I think we’d do better to… Read more »
http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/24417/lords-of-tankonia-your-crown-awaits-manny-harris Manny Harris: Lord of Tankonia. Oy.
I say best (and somewhat realistic) case scenario:
Draft MKG: take Doron Lamb with Lakers pick, and Festus Ezeli in the second round.
Draft Beal: possibly package picks to take PJ3? I love his potential and, by all accounts, is a great guy who just can’t quite find a way to stop being nice on the court.
Draft Barnes: go for more “sure” prospects considering Barnes may be a little risky at 5 or 6.
With a these prospects (and all only coming through the draft!) I think we could definitely contend for the playoffs, possibly even a six seed.
I honestly don’t care about competing with the cavaliers. Last season I had a great time following storylines and hoping for potential, the ups and downs of Hickson, Ryan Hollins sightings, etc. I love the storylines involved in development, as the front office has brought in a ton of high character players whom you want to be interested in beyond their contributions on the court and how that affects the W/L column. This season Kyrie has brought in a ton of hope. I want us to surround Kyrie like I want the Browns to surround Colt with an O-line, kyrie… Read more »
Can someone remove my comment from the comment monster please?
My comment is not showing up.
I’ve already said this in an earlier comment, but I want Barnes (i expect Kyrie to win a couple more games for us and taking us out of the Beal MKG Davis sweepstakes), Moultrie (I think thats how you spell it, use both second round picks to trade up a little bit to get Doron Lamb, and Gordan and Asik in free agency. Someone earlier mentioned that Gordan wouldn’t come here, but we have enough cap space to throw a huge contract at him for 3 years so if he doesn’t pan out he would be off the books just… Read more »
I agree with justin. Mayo will cost more than he’s worth (being an averagish 2 guard, better at D than offense when I think we need the help more on O) and Gordon isn’t realistic. I’d be up for spending some midrange money on hawes, though he’s likely not to be had at that price. I really don’t know. He is a legit 7 foot 23 year old coming off easily his best season, but he only has played 32 games this year, and still didn’t put up world beating numbers. I’d probably go up to the 7-8million/yr range for… Read more »
I would like to try to go after Mayo, especially considering Memphis is already locked into some big contracts. No way is NOLA letting Gordon get away. I would also like to see Grant make a push for someone like Gerald Green or Brandon Rush. I don’t see any SFs that are worth getting, so drafting one is a necessity, most likely Taylor, Miller, Harkless, or DGreen. Since Jamison will be gone, we need a big with some offensive skills. TT and Andy, while a good defensive combo, would allow defenses to pack the paint and take away Kyrie’s driving… Read more »
Requires insider – basically Kyrie Irving has been the best “closer” in the NBA this season. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7820540/nba-kyrie-irving-carmelo-anthony-chris-paul-top-closers
Realistically, my favorite scenario is that we take Bradley Beal with our first pick, trade Andy for Tyler Zeller, sign Omer Asik, and miss the playoffs by a few games, but are in it until the end. A couple later picks I like: Terrence Ross, Festus Ezeli, Fab Melo, Moe Harkless. If we take MKG with our first pick, I still think we should trade Andy for Tyler Zeller, but I think we should also look strongly at trading up again for Jeremy Lamb if he’s available around 14. If that doesn’t happen, we should trade up a few spots… Read more »
….people actually think that Eric Gordon is going to come play in Cleveland? When Indiana needs offense (preferably from the guard position, 1 or 2) and EG played in, and is from, Indiana? yeah, its not going to happen, although it would be a dream come true. and do we really WANT O.J. Mayo on this team? Same goes for Spencer Hawes. Best case senario is lucking out in the draft and grabbing a value big man and wing player in FA and a 6-7 seed.
Draft MKG
Sign combo of: Gordon, Mayo, Batum, and Spencer Hawes
Potentially trade up for Zeller, Rivers
Draft Harisson Barnes
Sign combo of: Gordon, Mayo, Batum, and Spencer Hawes
Draft Drummond:
Target Mayo, Gordon, Batum or other value FA
Lots of potential if Cavs get lucky with a top pick and can encourage a good FA to come here.
Best possible?
Draft MKG, Pick up Gordon in FA, move up to grab zeller or meyers leonard.
Next season end up around 3-6 in the playoffs since the east is pretty weak, and probably make it to the second round.
Beyond somewhat-fantastical notions of getting MKG or Davis, I’m very excited for the Cavs to obtain any of the remaining wings- Beal, Perry Jones, or Harrison Barnes. If any of these gentlemen can create shots and convert from midrange as advertised I think the Cavs will take a big step next season. It would also be nice to add some generic 6-10 to 7-foot depth that’s not too expensive. There seems to be a decent crop of this sort in the middle of the draft and in the upcoming free agent pool. If Varejao can stay healthy (60 games plus… Read more »
#1 – draft a SG + C this year. (a) Either Beal, then trade-up to nab the 7″ Illinois kid or Tyler Zeller (b) Or, draft Drummond, then trade up for the best SG left available around the 8-12 range #2 – sign some underrated (ie cheap) young free agents AND/OR go for someone like Gordon or Kaman, depending on who we are able to draft in #1 above, or if we are able to trade up in the first round #3 – let simmer for 2 years and then re-sign Lebron to end his career here and win a… Read more »