LeBron appears to be gone

[theshow]

Lets be honest: As much as the NBA has become all about money and marketing, and their superstars are all ghetto trash from da hood, basketball is still a great sport.

The NHL sucks. It is just be a nuisance listening to WKNR and having Johnny Hockey calling up and talking about the NHL franchise. You can't see the stupid puck. Hockey is for losers.

Well.....gotta disagree 100% here. May want to get your eyes looked at or upgrade your TV if you ca'nt see the puck, lol.

Won't get too into this. But personally think hockey is a great sport (way, WAY better than the NBA-style basketball IMO). Love the Blue Jackets and Monsters games are more fun than Cavs games (though would be nice if beers didn't cost the same price lol).

Everyone has their opinions though I guess....

Fair enough! You are entitled to enjoying hockey. It is good to have hobbies in life that you find interesting.

I like sports where it is skill and not just luck. Soccer is stupid to me because every goal is luck, or just a some sort of fluky mistake. Soccer also has that stupid "offsides" rule that ruins the game. I feel like hockey is sort of the same way, but I am probably wrong. At least their are more goals than soccer, but the goals in hockey are not as exciting to me as Lebron doing something athletically you have never seen before. Never in hockey is your reaction just "wow," like it is when watching basketball stars.

Hockey might be good though because like the NFL it seems like every team has a fair chance. With free agency, it is not like that in the NBA and NFL anymore. I guess if we had hockey I would try to embrace it, but more than likely I would get bored, and turn the games off for something more exciting that is on TV.

[Hermie13]

Fair enough! You are entitled to enjoying hockey. It is good to have hobbies in life that you find interesting.

I like sports where it is skill and not just luck. Soccer is stupid to me because every goal is luck, or just a some sort of fluky mistake. Soccer also has that stupid "offsides" rule that ruins the game. I feel like hockey is sort of the same way, but I am probably wrong. At least their are more goals than soccer, but the goals in hockey are not as exciting to me as Lebron doing something athletically you have never seen before. Never in hockey is your reaction just "wow," like it is when watching basketball stars.

Hockey might be good though because like the NFL it seems like every team has a fair chance. With free agency, it is not like that in the NBA and NFL anymore. I guess if we had hockey I would try to embrace it, but more than likely I would get bored, and turn the games off for something more exciting that is on TV.

Disagree (strongly) with everything else you said.....but this post nails it. While I know I'd watch/go to hockey games....99% of Clevelanders would be the same as you (not saying anything is wrong with that).

Simply not enough interest here.

[Hermie13]

Cool! I'm not the only Jackets fan up here. Most of the hockey fans I meet in NE Ohio are Penguins or Red Wings fans (with ex-Detroiters making up a good % of the Red Wing fans). Since this thread has already been hijacked into oblivion (sorry 'bout that), what do you think of Arniel as the new coach. I would've preferred keeping Noel, but i can see how they might want a clean break from the Hitchcock era (even though I think he got way too quick of a hook only a year after taking them to the playoffs).

Exactly. It really wasn't the smartest thing to even put a team in C-bus because of this....and the fact that there were back-to-back Red Wings-Penguins Finals recently didn't help matters.

Cleveland has 3 NHL teams within a 3 hour drive......and Buffalo isn't horribly far either.



As far as the new coach....meh. I find it hard to get pumped about any coach in Hockey as it wouldn't shock me if he's fired by December lol

[Upper Box Woodchuck]

I'm going to the Clippers game tonight. I'm hoping that being at a baseball game in a not-exactly-NBA-hotbed (seriously, the Cavs have been the best team in Cleveland the last few years and are still the only one that the Dispatch doesn't assign a writer to) will be sufficient to insulate me from Lebron-a-palooza until I get into my car after the game and turn on the radio. What are my chances of success? (Remeber that I am keeping score and tracking pitch counts - thus putting me in a state of relative obliviousness to the outside world during the game*).

*As evidenced by some of the inane stuff I think up while scoring baseball games. I can post a couple prime examples upon request.

[Hermie13]

I'm going to the Clippers game tonight. I'm hoping that being at a baseball game in a not-exactly-NBA-hotbed (seriously, the Cavs have been the best team in Cleveland the last few years and are still the only one that the Dispatch doesn't assign a writer to) will be sufficient to insulate me from Lebron-a-palooza until I get into my car after the game and turn on the radio. What are my chances of success? (Remeber that I am keeping score and tracking pitch counts - thus putting me in a state of relative obliviousness to the outside world during the game*).

*As evidenced by some of the inane stuff I think up while scoring baseball games. I can post a couple prime examples upon request.

Or Lebronocalypse........depending on how things turn out.....lol

[Hermie13]

And the plot thickens.....

Chris Paul has left his agency and joined Lebron's LRMR marketing company (first big star to move there).....

[TonyIBI]

And the plot thickens.....

Chris Paul has left his agency and joined Lebron's LRMR marketing company (first big star to move there).....

No affect on LeBron decision though as Paul is not being traded.

[Hermie13]

And the plot thickens.....

Chris Paul has left his agency and joined Lebron's LRMR marketing company (first big star to move there).....

No affect on LeBron decision though as Paul is not being traded.

O I bet it has some Effect on his decision. Probably not enough to sway him one way or another though. Lebron has also repeatedly said he wants to play with Chris Paul (not just Wade and Bosh).

People said the same things when Garnett demanded a trade: won't happen, especially to the Celtics for what they were offering. Yet in the end the star got his wish as they almost always do in basketball. Either Paul is getting traded in the next two years, leave after 2012 (coincidently the same year Cleveland will have enough cap space to sign him to a max deal even with Lebron), or the Hornets must bring in a Pau type player for him.

Don't see the Hornets being able to pull a deal like that off while remaining under the luxury tax (which they're barely under as is), something their owner seems dead set on right now.



Definitely going to be interesting to see how the Hornets handle Paul these next two seasons. Seeing the debacle in Toronto on how they handled Bosh....wouldn't suprise me if Paul is dealt sooner rather than later (though I do doubt it's to Cleveland).

[TonyIBI]

Herm, Cavs already tried hard the last two days to acquire Paul but Hornets not interested. It's a lost cause.

[Hermie13]

Herm, Cavs already tried hard the last two days to acquire Paul but Hornets not interested. It's a lost cause.

Con, I know. Hence why I never said the Cavs would trade for Paul.

You said Paul is not being traded. I'd bet my life he will be. Just not soon enough to help the Cavs.

The scary thing is....it may end up being Miami next year.....

[Hermie13]

ha, and for what it's worth....D'Antoni stated this morning that he'd be "shocked" if Lebron doesn't go to NY.... lol

[jellis]

Herm, Cavs already tried hard the last two days to acquire Paul but Hornets not interested. It's a lost cause.

Con, I know. Hence why I never said the Cavs would trade for Paul.

You said Paul is not being traded. I'd bet my life he will be. Just not soon enough to help the Cavs.

The scary thing is....it may end up being Miami next year.....

I wonder if Paul wouldn't come to Cleveland next year, we I think should have the room for him. He loves Scott and I imagine a lot of players would love to have an owner like gilbert.

I will stay a cavs fan, Gilbert is the best owner I have ever had for a team i follow, and I got faith this team will be good, and players will want to play here

[TonyIBI]

I wonder if Paul wouldn't come to Cleveland next year, we I think should have the room for him. He loves Scott and I imagine a lot of players would love to have an owner like gilbert.

I will stay a cavs fan, Gilbert is the best owner I have ever had for a team i follow, and I got faith this team will be good, and players will want to play here

No freaking chance.

No FA wants to come here. Never have, never will. Especially now that James has bolted. Doesn't matter how much money Gilbert has, it's a losing proposition. The only way anyone can come here is if you overpay FAs the likes of Larry Hughes. Joy.

[Hermie13]

I wonder if Paul wouldn't come to Cleveland next year, we I think should have the room for him. He loves Scott and I imagine a lot of players would love to have an owner like gilbert.

I will stay a cavs fan, Gilbert is the best owner I have ever had for a team i follow, and I got faith this team will be good, and players will want to play here

Depends what you mean by room for him next year....Cavs will still be over the cap (assuming they get Lebron obviously). Obviously any team can trade for any player provided they have the contracts to match up (which the Cavs do have both this year and next).

I don't doubt Paul would like to come to Cleveland (he does talk a lot about Scott)....but unfortunately it's not up to him.....at least not yet.


Disagree a bit on Gilbert. Personally think he's only an ok owner. He spends....but needs to stay the hell out of the GM office and off the court. How soon we forget when he first bought the team and was in huddles during timeouts telling Silas what plays to call. Then last year he's calling games with the TV crew....for an entire quarter?! I get he can do whatever he wants.....but that's going a bit far.

He's a wannabe Mark Cuban. Spends....but is much too involved for my tastes. Fully believe this is the main reason Ferry left.


Best Cleveland owner in recent memory was Al Lerner IMO. Sad we lost him so soon after he got the new Browns.....and that his son cares more about his soccer team....

[jellis]

I wonder if Paul wouldn't come to Cleveland next year, we I think should have the room for him. He loves Scott and I imagine a lot of players would love to have an owner like gilbert.

I will stay a cavs fan, Gilbert is the best owner I have ever had for a team i follow, and I got faith this team will be good, and players will want to play here

No freaking chance.

No FA wants to come here. Never have, never will. Especially now that James has bolted. Doesn't matter how much money Gilbert has, it's a losing proposition. The only way anyone can come here is if you overpay FAs the likes of Larry Hughes. Joy.

money is still money, and guys will sign for money. I think this team is on life support but its not dead

[Hermie13]

I wonder if Paul wouldn't come to Cleveland next year, we I think should have the room for him. He loves Scott and I imagine a lot of players would love to have an owner like gilbert.

I will stay a cavs fan, Gilbert is the best owner I have ever had for a team i follow, and I got faith this team will be good, and players will want to play here

No freaking chance.

No FA wants to come here. Never have, never will. Especially now that James has bolted. Doesn't matter how much money Gilbert has, it's a losing proposition. The only way anyone can come here is if you overpay FAs the likes of Larry Hughes. Joy.

Paul is not a free agent next year....FYI.....so getting a FA to come here is illrelevant in this case.


Agree though, once he's a free agent the year AFTER it will be impossible to get him (Cavs will be under the cap enough then) without Lebron

[A.Zajac]

FWIW, Bucher reporting there's 0 chance LBJ lands in Miami.

[Hermie13]

FWIW, Bucher reporting there's 0 chance LBJ lands in Miami.

I'm going otu on a limb here......33% chance Cleveland, 33% chance Miami, 33% NY, and 1% he signs a $50M deal to play in Spain


ha, but seriously....seems like every half hour there's a new rumor. Fanhouse seems 100% convinced he's staying in Cleveland. ESPN is/was 100% convinced it's Miami. D'Antoni is convinced it's NY.

[TonyIBI]

This whole things is insane. No matter what happens, he's getting crushed nationally for this (already is). What a horrible PR machine.

[Hermie13]

This whole things is insane. No matter what happens, he's getting crushed nationally for this (already is). What a horrible PR machine.

Agree.....and yet, for some reason Chris Paul decided to join.....


Agree it's probably nothing....but I think that makes even less sense than anything Lebron has done in the last 2 weeks...

[endlesssleeper]

Lets be honest: As much as the NBA has become all about money and marketing, and their superstars are all ghetto trash from da hood, basketball is still a great sport.

The NHL sucks. It is just be a nuisance listening to WKNR and having Johnny Hockey calling up and talking about the NHL franchise. You can't see the stupid puck. Hockey is for losers.

Well.....gotta disagree 100% here. May want to get your eyes looked at or upgrade your TV if you ca'nt see the puck, lol.

Won't get too into this. But personally think hockey is a great sport (way, WAY better than the NBA-style basketball IMO). Love the Blue Jackets and Monsters games are more fun than Cavs games (though would be nice if beers didn't cost the same price lol).

Everyone has their opinions though I guess....

Fair enough! You are entitled to enjoying hockey. It is good to have hobbies in life that you find interesting.

I like sports where it is skill and not just luck. Soccer is stupid to me because every goal is luck, or just a some sort of fluky mistake. Soccer also has that stupid "offsides" rule that ruins the game. I feel like hockey is sort of the same way, but I am probably wrong. At least their are more goals than soccer, but the goals in hockey are not as exciting to me as Lebron doing something athletically you have never seen before. Never in hockey is your reaction just "wow," like it is when watching basketball stars.

Hockey might be good though because like the NFL it seems like every team has a fair chance. With free agency, it is not like that in the NBA and NFL anymore. I guess if we had hockey I would try to embrace it, but more than likely I would get bored, and turn the games off for something more exciting that is on TV.

you couldn't be more off base. you're clearly ignorant and know nothing about soccer or hockey.

[A.Zajac]

Almost the moment of truth...

[dnosco]

Art Modell can breath easier now. He is no longer enemy #1 in Cleveland.

We're from Cleveland. What should we expect?

[artgold]

Oh well, back to the drawing board. In all fairness though, they should be able to build the team into a decent contender within a few years if they draft well. Overpaying for free agents is really counterproductive though.

[MadThinker88]

I'm done with basketball. You won't be able to pay me to go to a game.

With the NBA now free to move out of the state (the sooner the better), it means more entertainment dollars for the baseball and football teams.

[A.Zajac]

Words cannot describe my level of anger...

[dazindiansfanuk]

Words cannot describe my level of anger...

At least you can console yourself with the knowledge that, if the Cavs had let LeBron go, his family wouldn't have burnt down the team!

That was brilliant!

[dnosco]

As I said, they need to dismantle this team. Everybody over 26 years old gets traded and they field a CBA team this year and go for draft choices. Hey, the lower you finish, the more balls you get in the tub at lottery time.

[MadThinker88]

IF any members of the James clan and 'running' crew are still in the state, they are strongly encouraged to leave.

I would humbly suggest they stay within all traffic laws as they go. Otherwise being held without bail and the most severe of fines and punishment will be the norm (local judges are people too).

[A.Zajac]

Seriously, Mark Jackson must be just as much of an egotistical idiot as LeBron is if he thinks LBJ handled this "perfectly".

[A.Zajac]

Dan Gilbert... is my hero.

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbe ... 00708.html

[theshow]

Dan Gilbert... is my hero.

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbe ... 00708.html

That letter made me want to run out and buy Cavs season tickets. Wish someone in the Indians organization would show that kind of fire (I do realize there is no way Gilbert makes good on his word to win a championship before Lebron, but I love how he is not backing down).

[TonyIBI]

Art Modell can breath easier now. He is no longer enemy #1 in Cleveland.

We're from Cleveland. What should we expect?

No way.

LeBron simply left town. Really, he owed nothing to us and it was his decision. He needed to go where he wanted to and I can't fault him for that. As a Cavs fan I am very much disappointed and pissed, but that is because I am emotionally vested, so things are not necessarily clear.....but really, at the end of the day it is about what is best for LeBron James and not Cleveland/Gilbert.

Modell took the team and left. Screwed everyone. Completely different story. He is BY FAR Public Enemy #1.

[TonyIBI]

Dan Gilbert... is my hero.

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbe ... 00708.html

That letter made me want to run out and buy Cavs season tickets. Wish someone in the Indians organization would show that kind of fire (I do realize there is no way Gilbert makes good on his word to win a championship before Lebron, but I love how he is not backing down).

I appreciate Gilbert's venom and love he held nothing back....but in honesty here he is playing up to the emotions of the fans and protecting his interest. I think in the long term, this statement will be regretted.

There is absolutely no way the Cavs are going to win a title before James does. None. Cavs at best will be a 5-8 seed, and get eliminated by....the Heat.

[TonyIBI]

PDcavsinsider He's trying to channel fan anger into support for his team, which makes sense. Throwing down the gaunlet on title, that he may regret.
27 minutes ago via web

[osueddy]

LeBron's comment that a title anywhere would mean as much as one in Cleveland hurt a little. He can't honestly believe that?

The Cavs did everything they could for him, and we don't have draft picks to rebuild because we traded them away to win now....and we didn't.

I'm just upset that it had to be an hour long show to stick it to us....but he doesn't see it that way.

September 2.....Ohio State hopefully sticks it to Marshall by 50 to make me feel better about myself.

The Browns have to get better quickly!

[petes999]

PDcavsinsider He's trying to channel fan anger into support for his team, which makes sense. Throwing down the gaunlet on title, that he may regret.
27 minutes ago via web

I see it as a bold move by him. I don't think that he will regret it, if he does what he says and goes out and takes on additional salaries to get talent. Everyone knows that he is in a rock and a hard place because he built the team to win 1 or 2 titles to keep Lebron, leaving little salary cap room. No one is going to remember that he promised a title as everyone expects Miami to win 2 to 3 out of the next 4. What they will remember though is if he sits on his hands and does nothing to revamp the team.

Also, I will like to hear more about how he sees James as betraying him. He said more was to come.... Wonder if James promised something or said something and did another thing. That will get the fans behind him. We gave Lerner many years to try to rebuild the Browns. I think Gilbert deserves a few years to rebuild the Cavs. And, if either wins it all, we will forget about how we felt betrayed.

Also, if Gilbert did nothing, fans would blame him for not doing enough (either with not getting Amare/Shaq two years ago or not taking on more salaries to get that last piece ...). Fans would think about what could have been. So, he had to say something bold to get those few years to rebuild.

[dnosco]

Dan Gilbert... is my hero.

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbe ... 00708.html

That letter made me want to run out and buy Cavs season tickets. Wish someone in the Indians organization would show that kind of fire (I do realize there is no way Gilbert makes good on his word to win a championship before Lebron, but I love how he is not backing down).

Here's the thing, Dan. Let's do it this way. We (the fans) will stay home. We will come to one game per year apiece just so the place isn't empty. We'll watch on TV, listen on the radio. When it looks like you are really doing things that will bring a championship to Cleveland and are not just thrashing around, making noise, or doing desperate and/or stupid things, we'll pay real attention and plunk down our money more than once a year.

I know this is coming from a guy who doesn't live in Cleveland and doesn't go to Cavs games and is not a huge NBA fan.

However, this is the motto that Cleveland fans should adopt: We believe you Dan. We trust you Dan. Now prove it...and then we'll see you at the game!

You see, I've seen foolish zealousness before. Things like this take YEARS and if you try to do it quickly and take shortcuts you wind up sucking even worse and have an even worse future.

Yeah, I LOVE the words. I also know how stupid those words are and how they make no practical sense at all. Yeah, you'll get the NBA equivalent of Kerry Wood to come here, eat up the owner's money and produce squat. Yeah, that can happen quickly. However, if you want a winner here, trade all available veterans for draft choices and field a CBA team for two years and THEN try to compete. Anything else, IMHO, is foolishness.

Here is where we start:

Daniel Gibson - Keeper
Daniel Green – Keeper
JJ Hickson - Keeper
Zydrunas Ilgauskas – Gone – FA, too old - Where we are going, we don't need him
Antawn Jamison – Gone – too old, way, way too expensive (13 Mil) - How you are going to dump this salary is beyond me but it needs to be dumped. Man, what an anchor this guy is to a rebuidling team.
Jamario Moon – Gone – too old, too expensive for his age and production - Where we are going a REAL CBA guy will do.
Shaquille O’Neal – Gone – too old - FA so not an issue. If they sign him he instantly becomes Kerry Wood.
Anthony Parker – Keeper
Leon Powe - Keeper
Sebastian Telfair - Keeper
Anderson Varejao – Gone – Too expensive (7 mil) - Nice role player but won't bring in fans so dump him
Delonte West – Keeper
Jawad Williams - Gone
Mo Williams – Gone – too old, too expensive (9 mil) - No way a team that will suck this bad pays Mr on and off this much. It is a waste of cash

So that leaves West, Gibson, Hickson, Parker, Powe, Telfair. We only need 6 or 7 more cheap FAs or CBA guys and we have a team that won't require us to have many fans at the gate.

I am telling you, keeping any of the other guys is a HUGE waste of money and, if Gilbert tries to compete this year with this group and some second rate FAs or trading draft choices (the future) to put a bandaid on this thing he is a freaking idiot. He built to win this year and next. It didn't and ain't happening. Tear it down and rebuild it from the ground up.

No expensive FA signings

Trading veterans for quality draft picks

Eating some salary to dump salary

Make this team the Florida Marlins of the NBA. If done right it can tread water cheaply for a few years. Anything else is thrashing and a waste of money and rebuilding time.


BTW, it is 11:45 and LeBron James still sucks. You don't screw this way with Cleveland fans, because Cleveland fans never forget. Just ask Art Modell.

[El Em]

Art Modell can breath easier now. He is no longer enemy #1 in Cleveland.

We're from Cleveland. What should we expect?

No way.

LeBron simply left town. Really, he owed nothing to us and it was his decision. He needed to go where he wanted to and I can't fault him for that. As a Cavs fan I am very much disappointed and pissed, but that is because I am emotionally vested, so things are not necessarily clear.....but really, at the end of the day it is about what is best for LeBron James and not Cleveland/Gilbert.

Modell took the team and left. Screwed everyone. Completely different story. He is BY FAR Public Enemy #1.

Tony

I've read through your board for months -- thanks for all the great info, and to all in the forum for such interesting discussion.

Considering my love of baseball/Indians, it is very odd that my first post is LeBron related... He was free to go where he pleased, and I'm OK with that. That said, I believe he "owes" Northeast Ohio decency and decorum with his departure. His method of leaving was deplorable. This spectacle he and his people created lacked class and any sense of grace. Go if you must, but the fans, teammates, and ownership deserved a better exit.

Regards,
Larry

[npc29]

I think he could have gone without the guarantee about a championship and he is most definitely protecting his investment by drawing off the fans fire...

But that statement was fantastic in a "heat of the moment" and "frustrated response" sort of a way.

Rotten thing LeBron has done to the city. I really only support the Indians, but I can still feel a little bit of that angst most die-hard Cleveland fans are feeling now. No fan base deserves that type of public humiliation.

[Hermie13]

Art Modell can breath easier now. He is no longer enemy #1 in Cleveland.

We're from Cleveland. What should we expect?

No way.

LeBron simply left town. Really, he owed nothing to us and it was his decision. He needed to go where he wanted to and I can't fault him for that. As a Cavs fan I am very much disappointed and pissed, but that is because I am emotionally vested, so things are not necessarily clear.....but really, at the end of the day it is about what is best for LeBron James and not Cleveland/Gilbert.

Modell took the team and left. Screwed everyone. Completely different story. He is BY FAR Public Enemy #1.

I actrually agree with dnosco here (scary I know). Lebron has surpassed Art for the time being. In a year or two Art will reclaim the title though.


At least Art didn't go on TV and gloat about his move.


Not sure how this is that different than Art. He didn't owe us anything more than Lebron did. He owned the team AND the stadium. He had the right to do what he wanted. Absolutely horrible the way he did it.....just like with Lebron.


And it's not what's best for Lebron. If he did what was best he'd have gone to Chicago. He and his buddies are like 5 year olds on the playground. He wants to play with his friends, period.

Maybe it's just the shock and I'm being biased....but I don't even think Miami is the best team in the East right now, let alone the NBA. I'd still take Boston (and Orlando) over Miami in the East. Who's going to guard Dwight on Miami? Scary thing is....Lebron is probably the only one that can. Unless they get Camby to come to Miami, they are screwed in that department with Haywood and Jermaine O'Neal off the market (GREAT add by Boston by the way).

And LA is still better. Kobe > Wade. Pau > Bosh. Lebron is cleary the best 3.....but throw in Fisher over Chalmers, Bynum over....., Heck Odom on LA's bench woudl be the 4th best on the Heat.


But we shall see I guess. Maybe they can convince Camby and a few others to play for less than elsewhere....if they can't, it's gonna be a long season for them.

[TonyIBI]

Tony

I've read through your board for months -- thanks for all the great info, and to all in the forum for such interesting discussion.

Considering my love of baseball/Indians, it is very odd that my first post is LeBron related... He was free to go where he pleased, and I'm OK with that. That said, I believe he "owes" Northeast Ohio decency and decorum with his departure. His method of leaving was deplorable. This spectacle he and his people created lacked class and any sense of grace. Go if you must, but the fans, teammates, and ownership deserved a better exit.

Regards,
Larry

Larry, thanks and welcome. I agree with exactly what you said. The way this whole thing was handled lacked class and was a joke. He can do what he wants, he has that right, and I have no problem with him leaving. But for goodness sakes, show some class and not be an arrogant ass about it and drive a stake into the Cleveland fans' hearts.

[dnosco]

Just because you are from Cleveland and have seen it before doesn't mean you have to rationalize or accept getting crapped on by these guys.

[Hermie13]

As I said, they need to dismantle this team. Everybody over 26 years old gets traded and they field a CBA team this year and go for draft choices. Hey, the lower you finish, the more balls you get in the tub at lottery time.

Unfortuantely, this is not possible in the NBA. There's a cap floor. They have to spend a minimum of around $43.5M. They are actually looking at just under $50M if the sign no one ($45M if they cut D-West). So they can't just start dumping players.


Plus even if they could go lower than $43.5M, what players would teams want? Mo? meh, maybe....Andy? roll player making over $7M each year from here til the end of the world? Can do just as well on the open market. Jamison played himself out of any market value.

JJ will attract attention...but that's you're one building block.


So while you can continue to say what the Cavs "should" do....it's not truely feasible at the moment unfortunately.

[theshow]

Adrien Wojenowski with another article. I have never seen a journalist write an article that so perfectly describes an event. Lebron trusted a bunch of high school dropouts with his marketing, and they ruined his image in the worst way imaginable. It's not just Cleveland, no one likes Lebron and his ego anywhere anymore:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=a ... sion070910

[A.Zajac]

Adrien Wojenowski with another article. I have never seen a journalist write an article that so perfectly describes an event. Lebron trusted a bunch of high school dropouts with his marketing, and they ruined his image in the worst way imaginable. It's not just Cleveland, no one likes Lebron and his ego anywhere anymore:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=a ... sion070910

I read that this morning. GREAT article.

[TonyIBI]

Wojo has been dead nuts on throughout this whole spectacle. Two people to blame the most for this is GIlbert and James.

[Hermie13]

Yeah.....you know it's bad when even ESPN has writers ripping Lebron for how things were handled (JA Adande among others).

[A.Zajac]

Yeah.....you know it's bad when even ESPN has writers ripping Lebron for how things were handled (JA Adande among others).

Read JA's column first this morning, followed by Woj's. I really liked Adande's also.

[dnosco]

As I said, they need to dismantle this team. Everybody over 26 years old gets traded and they field a CBA team this year and go for draft choices. Hey, the lower you finish, the more balls you get in the tub at lottery time.

Unfortuantely, this is not possible in the NBA. There's a cap floor. They have to spend a minimum of around $43.5M. They are actually looking at just under $50M if the sign no one ($45M if they cut D-West). So they can't just start dumping players.


Plus even if they could go lower than $43.5M, what players would teams want? Mo? meh, maybe....Andy? roll player making over $7M each year from here til the end of the world? Can do just as well on the open market. Jamison played himself out of any market value.

JJ will attract attention...but that's you're one building block.


So while you can continue to say what the Cavs "should" do....it's not truely feasible at the moment unfortunately.

Thanks. You're right. I have no idea of the cap floor or ceiling. I guess they could trade young guys who have short contracts for Mo and Andy if the salaries mesh. Jamison is like Hafner, I guess.

The point is: get as young as you can within the rules. The details should be left to the people expert at this. But I still think that is the goal. Young and inexperienced? Who gives a flying flip? The problem, as I said, is if Gilbert does something stupid (see Jamison contract) and makes acquisitions that cost us future draft choices just trying to fulfill his promise. He fails, no one shows up, he gets pissed and sells/moves the team or we are in for years of bad basketball.

So, yeah, the details are difficult but the premise is still a very valid and viable one, IMHO.