With a week left before the NBA trade deadline, we've asked our Cavs expert Jeffrey Jerome to update us on the trade talk around the NBA and specifically any juicy nuggests regarding your Cleveland Cavaliers.
If you ever want to know, I suggest you take a ganders at it for yourself:
Well here we are basketball noobs, everyone’s favorite week of the NBA season: the trade deadline. Are the Cavs making a move? What about the rest of the east? Let’s get right to it…
Your… Cleveland… Cavalieeeeeeeeeeers
Are we making a move? Yes. YES. YES! Ok, maybe. Look, last year the Cavs passed on the same exact trade we made for Shaq this past off-season. It was on the table, and we said no. Um, oops. I’m not saying Shaq would have guaranteed a championship but based on our meeting with Orlando this year, perhaps we make the Finals. If you think we can afford to keep missing the Finals and keep LeBron, you're sorely mistaken. That one may have already cost us.
So, with this in mind, Danny Ferry is pulling the trigger this week. He has to. He knows it. The bigger problem is that everyone else knows this too. Here’s what we’re hearing:
Amare Stoudemire: (PER: 20.18) Would he be LBJ’s first legit second banana? Obviously. Would it work? Uhhh, no. First, Amare and Shaq both score at the basket, and we need a jump shooter. Second, even I could score on him because he doesn’t play any defense. Not happening.
Andre Iguodola: (PER: 17.84) Doesn’t fit the shooting PF role that we are looking for but would be able to be a legit Number Two for BronBron. He’s only 26 and probably going to peak in the next 3 years which means paying his contract (four years, $57 mil) isn’t a terrible thing. Rumor is that any Iggy trade will include Dalembert’s horrible contract, something we want no part of.
Antawn Jamison: (PER 17.87) Perfect Fit. Great player, and a great human being. Problems: First, he’s making a ton of money at 33 years of age (two years, $28 mil). Second, Washington is supposedly asking the world for him and we may not be willing to give up the extra pieces.
Troy Murphy: (PER: 18.02) Murphy was fourth in the league last year in double-doubles with 49. He is a 6’11 PF that roams around the three point line and is not afraid to hoist given the opportunity. But really, who’s afraid of Troy Murphy? The other three names seem to be big-time acquisitions. All things considered, he wouldn’t be a bad role player on our squad but if he is our sole midseason move, we can’t give up a lot. Rumor is we’re offering Z and only Z.
The Other Three
Here’s what we see regarding the rest of the so-called “Big Four.”
Boston: Far and away the most likely to make a move. The team has completely fallen apart (mentally and physically) over the past few weeks. Rumors continue that Danny Ainge is dangling Ray Allen’s corpse (and $19 mil expiring contract) for a player that can take the scoring load off of Pierce’s and Rondo’s hands. Expect something to happen.
Orlando: They spent a ton of money to secure their bench this off-season. If you spend money like they did and the team got worse, it may be worth spending a little more to right the ship. Expect Brandon Bass to be moved by the deadline bringing in another quality bench player.
Hotlanta: Would probably like to make a move, but I sincerely doubt they have the pieces for it. Their only expiring deal is Joe Johnson and he isn’t going anywhere (until this summer). Also, the team isn’t known for making a huge money push, even if most would argue they’ve finally made it to elite status. I expect little to no movement.
- Jeffrey Jerome
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
February 11, 2010
January 26, 2010
Update on YOUR CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Occasionally, we here at SBS will venture outside the wide world of football and hear from our valued experts on other topics. Today we welcome Jeff Jerome to SBS to share his thoughts on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jeff Jerome is a longtime Cavs fan and NBA enthusiast. Check back from time to time to get his no nonsense look at our favorite basketball team.
We hope you enjoy Jeff's contribution.
Last night, the cavaliers survived a close one in South Beach. Undoubtedly, beating the Heat means more than adding one to the ‘W’ column.
Cavs-Heat impressions:
First, the Heat currently hold the fifth playoff position in the East behind the Big Four. This shows the ridiculous amount of disparity in our conference. This is nothing new, but consider this. The Cavs went into South Beach without Mo Williams, the leader of our offense that sets the pace for our entire team. Delonte West, the player typically called upon to cover Dwyane Wade, missed the game with a fractured finger. The Cavs held D-Wade to 2 points in the second half without forcing LeBron to cover D-Wade until the end of the game. Miami had a full and healthy squad last night. The Cavs were a shadow of themselves last night (health-wise) and still ended up winning.
All-in-all, this reaffirms our initial belief that aside from Boston, Orlando, and Atlanta, there are no threats in the Eastern Conference this season. And I mean NO threats. If Miami represents the rest of the field, it is pretty embarrassing for the Eastern Conference.
Of second note, can we please put the LeBron-to-Miami rumors to rest? Look when you’re given that much talent, you grow up with every coach having you control the ball the majority of the time. I’d wager the same applies to D-Wade and every other great scorer in the league who needs the ball in their hands. And we think two players like this are going to co-exist on one team? I’m not buying it.
Last night showed us exactly that. Mike Brown drew up a defensive set for the final play that had D-Wade doubled (no kidding Mike) and LeBron called it off saying that he would cover him one-on-one. LeBron wants the spotlight even on the closing defensive sets. Look, we should all be grateful that LeBron thinks the way he does, but I can’t see him coexisting on the same team as a player who acts, plays, and thinks the same way. What were the odds last night D-Wade wasn’t taking the final shot? 2%? Maybe. Now who gets that shot if LeBron and D-Wade are playing on the same team?
What seems to be skewing the view of so many in the situation is the friendship that exists between LeBron and D-Wade. This as a league-wide trend as opposed to an isolated issue with LeBron. In the 80’s and early 90’s it was clear that players of certain teams were not fond of players on the opposition. (The Bad Boy Pistons, Jordan’s Bulls, etc.) The league isn’t like that anymore. Players will be competitive on the floor, and close friends immediately thereafter. LeBron is friends with a lot of the top players in the league. Will they play hard against each other? Of course. But will they eat dinner with each other’s families that night? Not a doubt in my mind. This is a business. Who else can a twenty-four year old making nine-figures really relate to, much less become friends with?
- Jeffrey Jerome
We hope you enjoy Jeff's contribution.
Last night, the cavaliers survived a close one in South Beach. Undoubtedly, beating the Heat means more than adding one to the ‘W’ column.
Cavs-Heat impressions:
First, the Heat currently hold the fifth playoff position in the East behind the Big Four. This shows the ridiculous amount of disparity in our conference. This is nothing new, but consider this. The Cavs went into South Beach without Mo Williams, the leader of our offense that sets the pace for our entire team. Delonte West, the player typically called upon to cover Dwyane Wade, missed the game with a fractured finger. The Cavs held D-Wade to 2 points in the second half without forcing LeBron to cover D-Wade until the end of the game. Miami had a full and healthy squad last night. The Cavs were a shadow of themselves last night (health-wise) and still ended up winning.
All-in-all, this reaffirms our initial belief that aside from Boston, Orlando, and Atlanta, there are no threats in the Eastern Conference this season. And I mean NO threats. If Miami represents the rest of the field, it is pretty embarrassing for the Eastern Conference.
Of second note, can we please put the LeBron-to-Miami rumors to rest? Look when you’re given that much talent, you grow up with every coach having you control the ball the majority of the time. I’d wager the same applies to D-Wade and every other great scorer in the league who needs the ball in their hands. And we think two players like this are going to co-exist on one team? I’m not buying it.
Last night showed us exactly that. Mike Brown drew up a defensive set for the final play that had D-Wade doubled (no kidding Mike) and LeBron called it off saying that he would cover him one-on-one. LeBron wants the spotlight even on the closing defensive sets. Look, we should all be grateful that LeBron thinks the way he does, but I can’t see him coexisting on the same team as a player who acts, plays, and thinks the same way. What were the odds last night D-Wade wasn’t taking the final shot? 2%? Maybe. Now who gets that shot if LeBron and D-Wade are playing on the same team?
What seems to be skewing the view of so many in the situation is the friendship that exists between LeBron and D-Wade. This as a league-wide trend as opposed to an isolated issue with LeBron. In the 80’s and early 90’s it was clear that players of certain teams were not fond of players on the opposition. (The Bad Boy Pistons, Jordan’s Bulls, etc.) The league isn’t like that anymore. Players will be competitive on the floor, and close friends immediately thereafter. LeBron is friends with a lot of the top players in the league. Will they play hard against each other? Of course. But will they eat dinner with each other’s families that night? Not a doubt in my mind. This is a business. Who else can a twenty-four year old making nine-figures really relate to, much less become friends with?
- Jeffrey Jerome
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