Team-building exercises: The ultimate puzzle
February 7, 2014Will Mike Pettine’s young coordinators deliver a game-day advantage?
February 7, 2014The trade deadline is fast approaching and although the Cavs’ fired their GM, speculation surrounding possible deadline deals continues to fly.
The latest comes from Tim Kawakami, Warriors’ beat writer for the Mercury News. In his evaluation of where the Warriors stand at this point in the season, Kawakami suggests multiple scenarios in which Golden State makes a move at the deadline to go after the services of Cleveland’s Luol Deng.
–Lee and Barnes TO CLEVELAND FOR Deng and Waiters. (Because Deng was already traded once this season, he can’t be traded with another player, so these would have to be split into two separate trades.)
-Why Cleveland might consider this: Deng is a pending free agent and I highly doubt he’d want to return to the Cleveland craziness and lousiness; also, Waiters is in the middle of a second bad season after the Cavaliers drafted him 4th overall in 2012 and he reportedly is at odds with star point guard Kyrie Irving.
Also Lee and Barnes might fit that roster better than Deng and Waiters–certainly personality-wise they’d be better than having Waiters brawl with Irving.
I know that Cleveland is probably trying to do what it can to lure LeBron James back as a free agent and that adding Lee’s money won’t help that… but you won’t draw LBJ if there’s nobody any good on the team, and Cleveland probably has to get what it can for Deng right now because if he hits free agency he’s out the door and they get nothing back.
Lee is something. Barnes is something.
Despite the reported chemistry issues that surround Dion Waiters, the Cavs may not want to give up on the 22-year old just yet. If that’s the case, Kawakami outlines a Waiters-less trade, inserting former Warrior, Jarrett Jack, into the deal in Dion’s place.
An alternative deal would be Lee, Barnes, Ezeli and Nedovic TO CLEVELAND FOR Deng and Jack. The Warriors would need to add more money into this one because Jack makes more than Waiters.
Why the Warriors should try to do this: While Deng isn’t a natural PF, is a little duplicative of Iguodala, and isn’t the kind of low-post scorer the Warriors badly need, he’s an excellent all-around player who can score in multiple ways and maybe take some of the load off of Curry and the three-point bombing.
Deng, 28, can’t match-up with the great Western PFs… but Lee (who is 30) doesn’t really, either… and in the toughest situations it’s always Bogut guarding the rough PFs, anyway.
And while Waiters doesn’t have the greatest locker-room reputation, he’s a tough-guy scorer and that’s something the Warriors could use coming off the bench–somebody who is ferocious about getting buckets and not afraid to bark while he’s doing it.
By the way, the Warriors were very high on Waiters in that 2012 draft; West loved Waiters’ toughness–if Waiters got to their 7th spot, I believe the GSWs would’ve taken him over Barnes, though it was a close call. Things have not worked out for Waiters in Cleveland, but I would imagine the Warriors still like him a little bit.
If the Cavs were to make the Waiters/Deng swap for Lee and Barnes it would be a swap of draft picks from two years ago as well as the Cavs landing an All-Star power forward in Lee for, in essence, the King’s protected future first round pick and the two Portland second-rounders that the Cavs’ sent to Chicago in exchange for Deng.
If the Cavs are not going to re-sign Deng they have to trade him before the deadline. As Gilbert has spoken about before, if a high caliber player is not going to re-sign, you can’t let him walk out the door without getting something in return. The second deal outlined by Kawakami would be much more optimal for Cleveland. They could hold on to Waiters and unload Jarrett Jack, giving them a “re-do” on last summer’s signing on top of a “re-do” for the Deng trade.
Lee, while among the worst big men from a defensive standpoint, would give the Cavs a long needed scoring option in the paint. The 29-year-old is having one of his typical seasons, averaging 18.9 points and 9.7 rebounds on 51% shooting.
Exchanging Deng for Barnes in the Cavs’ starting lineup would make the Cavs younger, finally give them some more outside shooting, and make their salary cap flexibility even greater with Barnes under his rookie contract for two more seasons. Barnes is averaging 10 points per game on 39% shooting from behind the arc in his 29 minutes a night for the Warriors. He is also, reportedly, good friends with Kyrie Irving, something that we may not be able to say about others on the Cavaliers’ roster.
The NBA trade deadline rumors are just getting started, be sure to check back at WFNY for all your up to date Cavs’ chatter.
[Related: New Cavs’ GM will have tools in place to rebuild properly]
67 Comments
What’s amazing about this is (to me) that it actually came from a GS beat-writer. If a media source affiliated with the Cavs were to propose this, it seems like the type of proposal that’d be resoundingly laughed at.
Is it bad that my first thought was Deng & Iggy on the same team? Yes please.
Shed Waiters who has bad chemistry with Irving for a young player who might have good chemistry with Kyrie? While picking up a player who by default becomes your best rim protector?
Do it and do it again.
also, seems my reading of the CBA was a bit off. re-reading what I posted yesterday, I can see that it could be interpreted that he can be traded by himself. apologies.
the better trade is their alternate though I suspect it is only even listed because W fans love them some Jack. if we could get out from under Jack’s contract, get a useful player but limited back for Deng (Lee), and a young player that is willing to play some defense (Barnes) it would be a win. Then, we could flip Waiters somewhere else potentially.
Apology not accepted! I made myself look like a fool last night as I argued to the death with someone that he could not be traded, using your post as my basis.
Being an out-of-towner now, I don’t watch the team more than 2-3 times a season. So I’m hoping someone can argue as to why Dion Waiters – a disruptive malcontent with average to *possibly* above-average talent – has any value on this team. He seems to me the ultimate addition by subtraction, and I don’t see any argument for keeping him on the roster. Interested in countervailing arguments though.
I am very glad that it seems you have been able to resurrect yourself and I am sorry about that. the wording left me combining that we had to do it immediately.
here it is again.
may not trade player if:
For two months after receiving the player in trade, if the trade aggregates the player’s salary with the salaries of other players. However, the team is free to trade the player immediately, either by himself or without aggregating his salary with other salaries. This restriction applies only to teams over the salary cap.
I never said I lost, but now the blood is on your hands…
Agreed. We have a much better chance of finding another taker for Waiters, so let’s get rid of JJ as soon as we can.
My man David Lee – do it. Then turn around and trade one of if not both PFs in Thompson or Varejao.
Didn’t I mention my man David Lee yesterday – I’m part psychic too – that’s what Gilbert could have had if I hadn’t withdrawn from the GM interviews. 😉
But seriously I also saw another trade suggestion somewhere when reading about “potential players for the deadline” and saw CJ Miles and Houston. Perhaps the Cavaliers could work a deal involving Miles for Asik. Do the GS deal and this and you would significantly improve your frontcourt. The backcourt would be depleted losing Waiters and Miles but Gee is still around not to mention Karasev in dust balls on the bench.
yes please. I would swap barnes for waiters yesterday, and if deng isn’t resigning, than lee adds sugar on top.
he isn’t a terrible shooter and he can get to the rim very well (of course, he hasn’t learned to finish).
his main issues are poor shot selection, poor finishing at rim, complete lack of court awareness, and a bad attitude. those are pretty bad traits, but ones that can be masked with the right veteran team. so, he is likely an example of a player who has value in the league, but not much on our team.
ah well, he should have known not to enter into a blood battle with you in the first place.
If only I was Sicilian, then maybe he would have.
I agree. I think the prospect of flipping Waiters for another player in that draft clouded my judgement for a moment.
Maybe we could do a 1 for 1 for Barnes? Throw in a 2nd and call it a deal?
Was thinking the same thing. Lee would really make TT a waste, and Bennett would have no available minutes.
Golden State added Jordan Crawford though not sure Jack would have a place with them not to mention he just left them for more money in Cleveland.
These are not “rumors.” Not in the sense we should wonder about smoke/fire. There is no suggestion that GMs are even discussing these. A less misleading might be: “GS Writer Suggests Trades with Cleveland.”
All of the potential deals fit in with the assets story that was posted on WFNY. Whoever makes the trades at least has a lot of possibilities it’ll just be a matter of trying to piece it all together.
I’ve said it before I’m a David Lee fan have been for a number of years he would automatically be an upgrade at the PF position. The question after that is who goes? Ideally I’d say Bennett but that won’t happen which leaves Thompson and Varejao. Andy is a better fit with Lee which means Thompson is the odd man out. Not necessarily a bad thing if you ask me especially if Barnes comes with Lee.
All of the potential deals fit in with the assets story that was posted on WFNY. Whoever makes the trades at least has a lot of possibilities it’ll just be a matter of trying to piece it all together.
I’ve said it before I’m a David Lee fan have been for a number of years he would automatically be an upgrade at the PF position. The question after that is who goes? Ideally I’d say Bennett but that won’t happen which leaves Thompson and Varejao. Andy is a better fit with Lee which means Thompson is the odd man out. Not necessarily a bad thing if you ask me especially if Barnes comes with Lee.
yeah, I don’t know why GS would want Jack other than he was a fan favorite, but just going by the proposals in the article.
yeah, I don’t know why GS would want Jack other than he was a fan favorite, but just going by the proposals in the article.
It’s still fun to discuss and dream I mean at this point it’s all that’s basically left no?
It’s still fun to discuss and dream I mean at this point it’s all that’s basically left no?
Agreed all around – TT would have to go. Andy sticks around because he can play center, Bennett sticks around because he has zero value, and TT has at least improved his stats enough to have some value in a trade. I would love for this to happen.
Agreed all around – TT would have to go. Andy sticks around because he can play center, Bennett sticks around because he has zero value, and TT has at least improved his stats enough to have some value in a trade. I would love for this to happen.
Ah okay well maybe CJ Miles then although I really like the idea of flipping CJ to Houston for Asik if the financials lined up. Adding Barnes, Lee and Asik and subtracting Miles, Waiters and Deng would be a win in my books.
If you could flip CJ Miles to Houston for Asik this would make a nice secondary deal. Then you could start either one between Varejao and Asik with the other coming off the bench. I think initially I’d start Asik and bring Andy off the bench especially with Lee starting at PF. You’d save Varejao’s health plus have instant impact off the bench. Kind of like how Anderson started his career.
CJ doesn’t make enough $$$ to flip him for Asik. If we flip for Asik, it’s Andy as part of that deal.
Yea see this is what I thought. Well if you did have to include Andy with CJ to get Asik you could hang onto Tristan Thompson at least. Or look to flip him in another deal I suppose.
yes, I also think that Andy+CJ should net more than Asik. If nothing else because Asik’s impending $15mil/year pricetag after this season.
I would at least want T.Jones back and probably could get a little more.
yeah, if we did go for this trade, then it would have to be part1 of a bigger overhaul.
perhaps:
(A) Deng for Lee
(B) Jack for Barnes/Ezeli (+trade exemption)
(C) Varejao/Clark for T.Jones/Asik
(D) CJ Miles/Dellavedova for Tony Allen
(E) T.Thompson/Waiters for Kyle Lowry*
*only works if Toronto has no desire to keep Lowry past this season as is rumored. they get a Canadian back and youngish talent to work with their young team. i don’t like the trade for them though as it’s a big stretch.
That leaves our roster:
G1: Lowry/Karesev-Felix?
G2: Irving/Allen
SF: Barnes/Gee
PF: Lee/T.Jones/Bennett
C: Asik/Ezeli/Zeller
So, we still have a glut at PF though T.Jones would have some value on the market as well. We’d have to play some combination of Lowry/Irving/Allen at all times, but I don’t see an issue with it. Not sure Barnes can hold down the minutes we would need at SF. So, we’d want to flip T.Jones for a SF if we are looking at making this a competent team now (or, if we also make sure to tank, then pick one of the good SF in the top10 of the draft this year).
I’d love to keep Deng. He’s quality all around.
But, if that’s what it takes to get rid of Waiters, so be it. He’s nothing but toxic waste.
Addition though subtraction.
Well there goes my guest article titled:
“NBA Trade Rumors: LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul accidentally traded to Cleveland Cavaliers”
That would be interesting coupled with some sort of deal with Golden State.
And Mike Brown leads them to a 5th place finish…
Wow you just took those trade ideas and ran with them didn’t you? Seems a little complicated but that would definitely complete a roster overhaul.
If you need an assistant GM keep me in mind LoL.
Ideally I would like to keep Deng as well but I don’t like the chances he resigns based on the way this team is playing and the fact that the GM got fired in the middle of the season. So I say flip ’em and try and get something/someone that you know will be around at least for a year or two.
LeBron would be player/coach with the coach part free just to get rid of Mike Brown and that five yep that’s right five year contract.
Ehh… I’m envisioning 60+ wins and a third round bounce by Boston for that team.
wait a minute….
Thanks for reminding me about that…
what good is 1 rumor if you cannot create 3-4 out of it 🙂
Oh hey I don’t mind since watching them play is so painful we might as well have some fun and dream about how to change this mess around. I have long advocated being more proactive not only for the Cavaliers but the other teams in Cleveland. Reading the assets story it’s clear the new GM has plenty of options from which to work which is probably Grant’s best legacy. The only question is will the new interim GM make any moves and if so will it/they be anything substantial? Stay tuned.
It’s what Cleveland owners do so well…give multi-year deals that they have to pay out after firing the guy they gave the deal.
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww232/explainingsound/ednortonpunch.gif
To a blinded observer, that description sounds like the unfortunate love-child of Lamond Murray and Ricky Davis
hahaha, haven’t thought about Murray in years:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_R440eNEqeGY/TC4vEN_q3GI/AAAAAAAAA9w/i92-B8SD-ss/s1600/lamond.jpg
Yikes, that is terrifying on multiple levels. Now here’s the question: was that era (approx 1999-2003) worse than our recent stretch of ineptitude (2010-2014)?