Jealous of Expansion Teams?
July 8, 20082009 Spring Training Begins…
July 9, 2008
Entering the playoffs of the past season, the Cavaliers landed the fourth seed by winning the now infamous game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Reports have now come out that one of the three teams ahead of us last year has made another effort to improve, as the Orlando Magic have signed former Golden State gunner Mickael Pietrus. Adding Pietrus to a corps of swingmen that already features Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis and rookie Courtney “Rock’s boy” Lee is just icing on the Orlando-made cake.
But this news out of Philadelphia is even more disheartening.
NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that Brand has verbally agreed to sign a five-year deal worth an estimated $82 million with the Sixers, who feared as recently as late last week that they wouldn’t be able to compete financially for Brand with the Clippers and Golden State Warriors.
What makes matters worse is that Philly had just cleared said cap space not even 24 hours prior to signing Brand – a guy that Cavs fans everywhere were hoping could just somehow don the wine and gold next season. Now we can scratch him off of the list; the same one that featured Michael Redd, Corey Maggette, and Baron Davis. How did Philly clear the space? The same way that Danny Ferry would have to; ship of expiring deals. I know that Ben Wallace and Wally Szczerbiak are overpaid and all, but come on. Calvin Booth? Plus, the Sixers received a second round pick from Wolves as well.
Couple this with the fact that Brand has reportedly agreed to terms that are considerably less than those he was offered by Golden State, and it makes you really think that it could have happened. It wasn’t as far-fetched as it seemed. Yes, we don’t have next to any cap space. And yes, our expiring deals are a lot more attractive mid-season. But we now have another team in the East that wasworse than the Cavaliers per their record that now has six guys that are arguably better (or higher ceilings) than every player on our roster save LeBron James.
Overreaction? Possibly. But I just cannot take another offseason of other teams around us making moves to get better while we run in place. Tigers. White Sox. Now we can add in the Magic and Sixers. With all of these names getting checked-off, this summer just wreaks of another Donyell Marshall-type addition. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
14 Comments
this makes me sick. we all know the only reason Lebron will ever leave (God help us if he does) will be because the FO doesn’t do anything to improve the team and ready us for a championship run. I don’t feel that Ferry is willing to take ANY gambles or give up ANYONE to improve the team. Why the man crush on every player on our roster? sure they are nice guys, but the fact of the matter is – Lebron needs help.
JJ- I’m really hoping that is sarcasm…Ferry does gamble…like say trading half your team away last year?
The moves he has made haven’t panned out, but you can’t say that he isn’t willing to try.
I think he does what he can with what he’s dealt … it just sucks that we sit here and wait for that last card to fall all too often.
and there’s always “the conspiracy”…
I share in your frustration, Scott, but we shouldn’t let ourselves be fooled into thinking there was any way imaginable for us to get Brand. There was just no way we could take on $82 million in salary right now. It’s one thing to dump $3 million to clear some cap space (plus get Minnesota to give you their trade exception), it’s a completely different thing to move Wally’s albatross $13 million contract. That alone wouldn’t be enough to take on Brand’s $16.5 million annual salary.
Scott, this isn’t an overreaction at all. Given what has transpired over the past year or so in Cleveland sports, it’s a legit concern. And you hit the nail on the head with the Tigers/Sox and Sixers/Magic comparison.
Now, this will likely get me drawn and quartered around here (not a good first post, I suppose), but I am starting to worry about the upcoming football season. Granted, Phil and the front office actually made an effort to get better (unlike Shapiro and, thus far, Danny Boy), but the scenarios are eerily similar otherwise:
Cavs: High hopes coming off a Finals appearance, followed by a less-than-stellar regular season and an early-round playoff exit. Maybe others disagree, but I see the season as ultimately disappointing.
Tribe: High hopes coming off a great regular season, though somewhat dampened by a terrible ALCS flameout. The upside? The team looks to be a lock to be battling for another pennant and a shot to get back to the Series in ’08. The reality? The white flag being raised above the Jake before the All-Star break.
Browns: High hopes coming off a great regular season, tempered (somewhat) by a bad loss in Cincy when it counted most. The team proceeds to “win” free agency, jacking up expectations further. Add to that the failures of the Cavs and Tribe to live up to expectations, and suddenly the pressure on the Browns to come through with a huge year is through the roof.
It’s enough to make the Cleveland sports fan fatalist in me nervous…
@Rock: Oh, I know. Perhaps some of it is due to Windy not being around, but we’re not getting ANY cavs news; so while these other teams are making moves, it feels like we’re standing still a la Shapiro 07
Philly is a contender now. I don’t think Pietrus will make Orlando all that much better unless Rashard Lewis starts playing up to his contract, but Brand puts Philly on the same level or close to the same level as Boston, Cleveland and Detroit. Granted, Boston and Detroit will not be as good as they were last year unless they make some moves since they will be older, and in Bostons case there will be no sense of urgency to win a title, but still. Philly is a 50+ win team, easy
@B-bo: Hopefully you won’t get drawn and quartered, we invite disenting opinions here. The thing is, Ferry HAS made an effort to make this team better. He’s trying. The problem is circumstances. The NBA has a salary cap, and you have to operate inside those rules. What, specifically, would you be doing that Ferry hasn’t? How would you clear the $16.5 million necessary to sign Elton Brand? Remember, you can’t just trade away salary in the NBA, because you have to take back an equal amount in salary. Until we can find someone willing to take on Wally’s $13 million contract, the Cavaliers hands are completely tied. We all have a right to be frustrated by this. I’m just as frustrated as everyone else. I’m sick and tired of watching everyone else get better. But I also understand WHY the Cavaliers are unable to do anything.
@Scott: I’m sure Windy absence has a lot to do with it. That said, though, Bob Finnan said the Cavs talked to Golden State about Ellis. They offered Maggette, they offered Posey. They wanted to talk to Baron Davis, but Baron wasn’t interested. It’s just the same old thing we’ve discussed before….nobody will deal with Ferry. It’s fishy.
@Ricky: I would still probably take Orlando over Philly and Cleveland. But if Cleveland has injuries or a down year or anything, they could easily slip to a 5 or 6 seed.
Speaking of Windy:
“Monday (July 7) evening — Brian is conscious, aware of where he is, how sick he is and is able to communicate with his family, who report increased organ function, all good signs. He continues to have assistance breathing, and still has a long way to go. Once again, the family sends its thanks for the prayers and support from everyone.”
http://neorh.royhobbs.com/?q=node/60
I don’t think we had the first clue just how serious his illness is/was. Please, everyone, continue to keep Brian and his family in your thoughts. Lets send as much good karma his way as we can.
@Rock: Well first allow me to say that I would not have expected Elton Brand specifically. Personally, I’d have liked to see Baron come to Cleveland, but point well taken regarding the intricacies of the cap. In the case of Baron, it likely would have required a sign-and-trade scenario, but it at least seems plausible–moreso, at least, than Elton Brand. Further, I’m still a bit shocked (though it’s pro sports, so by now I know I shouldn’t be) that Brand jumped ship knowing that Davis is coming to town. That would have been impressive, even in a stacked Western Conference.
My biggest issue is what Ferry DID do–sign Larry Hughes to a monster contract. That signing can be pointed to as reason number one (but not the ONLY reason) that the Cavs have faced such salary cap woes since. Hughes was not a player worthy of that money at the time, and he only got worse. I do give Ferry credit for finding some way to unload Hughes for what is now the very valuable expiring contract of Wally, even if it meant taking the corpse of Ben Wallace as well.
My final thought would be that if Danny does have final say in basketball operations, then he should put his foot down this offseason and tell Mike Brown that he either needs to get an offensive coordinator-type or say goodbye. I know that coaching flux is the last thing the Cavs need at this point, but another season of 1-on-5 between LeBron and the opposition is unacceptable. If James leaves, it’s because the team isn’t doing enough to win a title. And leaving not-well-enough alone with the style of play is a perfect example of not doing enough.
I wonder if players would be hesitant to sign with Cleveland because…
1) LeBron won’t comment past 2 years, so why would someone want to sign a 5 yr MLE and risk being stuck on the worst team in the league for 3 years.
You’d think if LeBron wanted to stay he’s be txting FAs saying “yo, come play with me for the next 5-6 years, lets win multiple championships”, but he’s obviously not. (I realize we don’t really have cap room, but something to think about)
2) We’ve shown nothing that resembles an offensive philosophy beyond “give LeBron the ball”
Ben Wallace isn’t going anywhere until 2009/2010. But the Cavs still have about $30 million in expiring contracts for the upcoming season. Who do you guys have in your sights?
That’s the problem, Brandon. Who are the rebuilding teams that have an exciting player to give the Cavs that would be interested in just taking expiring money in return? That’s why we all thought Redd was the perfect fit, until the New Jersey trade. I’ve been studying the rosters, looking at contracts, guessing where teams will be, etc, and I’m having a hard time finding a good answer. I think the Cavs best bet now is to wait and see which teams underperform and find themselves out of contention come trade deadline time. That’s when the Cavs will get the most for their expiring contracts. At least that’s the way I see it.
I am still trying to be as optimistic as possible but the “clock” is ticking. I know Ferry is handcuffed with contacts but thats mostly his doing… when towel boys like Damon Jones is making 4+ mil and Eric Snow is making amlonst 8 mil and can barely walk!!! this is a huge concern. yes we have some expiring contracts for next year but still we can just make a sign and trade to get the other piece (or 2) we need, and even with letting those contracts come off the books we would still be over the cap meaning free agency would look the same for the cavs next offseason. With a 76 mil dollar payroll this team should have much more talent instead of 4 of the top 5 paid players being way past thier prime. Hopefully Ferry can be as creative or more so than he was with the hughes deal after all thats what he’s getting paid for, I would hate to see him be a bust as a player as well as a gm. I really hope we can see the light at the end of the tunnel soon (and i’m praying thats before the 09-10 season!)
— thoughts and prayers with the Windhorst family.