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December 20, 2009
This week marked the unofficial date when NBA trade season really starts to kick into high gear with the deadline for those who were signed this past summer now eligible to be moved. The Dan Gilbert and Danny Ferry era Cavaliers have always been in the middle of the NBA trade market and are always considered “buyers” looking to improve the team around Lebron. That is once again the case this winter with the added urgency imposed upon the front office as LBJ’s free agency looms. On Friday night, Cavaliers beat writer extraordinaire Brian Windhorst provided this tantalizing tweet, “For 1st time this season, I started hearing behind scenes trade rumors w/Cavs this wk.” He frustratingly did not elaborate and used it as a tease for his Sunday notes column in the PD.Â
This morning Windhorst wrote that he has started to hear rumors that the Cavs are actively looking to improve at the power forward position. Specifically, they are looking for the highly coveted stretch forward who can shoot from outside. The prototype for this kind of player is Rashard Lewis and the Cavs are certainly looking for a player who can counter that kind of PF on defense but the priority is always to surround LeBron with the best possible shooters and that seems to be the case with these particular rumors. Windhorst wrote:
This has been a mission since last summer when the Cavs tried and failed to sign several players — including Channing Frye, who signed with the Phoenix Suns instead. They also made a play for Hakim Warrick and talked to Linas Kleiza, but Warrick chose the Bucks and Kleiza signed overseas.
With the constant need to put shooters on the floor around LeBron James and the strength of top opponents at this position — Rasheed Wallace of the Celtics, Lamar Odom of the Lakers and Rashard Lewis of the Magic in particular — this continues to be a position of need.
Windhorst went on to single out three specific players he has either directly heard are rumored to be on the market or could potentially become available – Anthony Randolph, Troy Murphy, and Antawn Jamison.Â
For me, Randolph is the most intriguing option. He is being held hostage by an organization in complete disarray. He is definitely a freak of nature with a ton of potential who has a cult following among NBA superfans and pundits. Of the three, Randolph would be the best option defensively. I had seen on the internet this week that his name is now being floated out there because of the conflicts with head coach Don Nelson. It’s a shame that such a talented prospect wastes away on the bench. Most consider him to have an unlimited ceiling. He is averaging only 22 minutes but is only 20 years old. He is 6’11 with great length, adequate range, and can even handle the ball when called upon to do so. I could see the Warriors getting cold feet about trading such an untapped prospect who is considered a fan favorite in the Bay Area, but who really knows what anyone with decision-making powers in the Warriors organization is thinking?
The other two players Windhorst specifically cites are more proven NBA commodities at the stretch forward position. The Cavs and Wizards flirted with a deal centered around Antawn Jamison last year. Over the past 5 years, the Wizards have never felt that a rebuild was necessary. They often felt they had the core to contend and just had to stay healthy. But perhaps with this year’s 8-17 start and brewing chemistry problems, the Wizards might acknowledge that some sort of rebuilding of the core is required. Jamison has 2yrs/28M left on his contract. The only drawback with Jamison is a tendency to get injured. He is average, at best, defensively but would provide a top notch offensive option alongside LeBron and is the consummate teammate.Â
Murphy has one more year left on his contract and is owed almost 12M next season. At 6’11, he is averaging a 13-9 in his 8th year out of ND. He would be a liability defensively when it comes to matching up with someone like Rashard Lewis, but again, Murphy is the definition of stretch when it comes to the offensive end. He is shooting almost 49% from the field but 37% from three this season (career he is around 44% from the field and 40% from 3). Murphy is most definitely a productive player but he has also never been forced to produce down the stretch on a competitive team or in a playoff series.
These are just three names that Windhorst heard this past week that fit what the Cavs want and what I think most fans are looking for. Obviously, we need to give up something to get something. There are so many hypotheticals and Danny Ferry has shown himself to be the creative sort when it comes to major trades. Most likely a deal would involve the expiring contract of Z or even the expiring deal of Shaq, if it was for the right player, and some combination of young cheap talent. That pretty much means JJ Hickson when it comes to the Cavaliers roster. Trade rumors always prompt banter and discussion because of their indefinite and hypothetical nature. It’s good to know, however, that the Cavs, according to our beat writer, are staying on top of things with three potential talents in mind as the trade season warms up.
(Photo: Santa Rosa Press Democrat)
34 Comments
Corey Maggette would kill us with that contract. But he gets to the rim. Which is a good thing.
Would you take him on for Anthony Randolph?
Because we are not getting him w/o taking on Corey’s contract.
I’d love to have Jamison. Would the Cavs trade Z and Hickson for Jamison, with Z coming back in a buyout? Would the Wiz be willing to part with one of their “big 3” for cap relief and a young prospect?
Most likely you will see a Wally Szczerbiak sign and trade to make the money work. Wally could work if the Cavs need to take on someone like Maggette or need to make the money match on Troy Murphy. In order to do a Jamison deal, the Cavs would need more, I think. Jamison makes over $16 million per season, I think.
From what I have seen, I am still in favor of trading Shaq. Honestly, he is out of shape and they don’t necessarily need him to beat the Magic. Having Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon, JJ Hickson and a resurgent Daniel Gibson have already changed the matchups we saw in the playoffs last year. Add in whoever the Cavs get in exchange for Shaq and it would be staggering.
Anthony Randolph is a goldmine of untapped talent. My only fear is that Mike Brown will not be able to use him in the way he is wired. He’s a taller, more-explosive Josh Smith. Needs plays to be run for him, loves transition. Plus, of those options, he’s the only one I could still see playing here three years from now.
What, you don’t think CLE could get Randolph for Hickson straight up?
Nope. The Warriors need to figure out how to unload a salary or two. Corey Maggette is going to be one of those contracts they are going to want to rid themselves of. Maggette makes just over $8 million I think.
@ jcm – talk around DC is that the Wiz have to do something. There’s been a few Butler trade rumors, etc. but I don’t think they’re going to blow it all up. A trade is likely, and odds are it’ll include one of their big 3. But, with Mike Miller currently out they’d like to see what the team is capable of when healthy, before shipping anybody out. Add to this the death of Abe Polian, and Ted Leonsis coming in as the new owner, it’s up in the air what route they’ll take. Leonsis has shown the willingness to spend with the Capitals, and likely will do the same with the Wiz. It’ll be a trade more about team makeup than salary dumping.
Either way it’s become clear that the Wiz, even with all three of their best guys, aren’t a top-tier team. This realization has people bumming a bit, which is nice.
So wiz fans finally realized what we have been telling them for years? 🙂
I’m a little confused… you talk about the Cavs needing a 4 who can stretch the floor and shoot from outside, then talk about how great it would be to acquire Anthony Randolph? I think Randolph is certainly talented, but he’s an upgraded JJ Hickson. He can’t shoot a lick from outside.
I agree, P@. It’s a tough call. The team is desperately looking for a “stretch” four that can help space things out. While Randolph isn’t of the same mold as ‘Shard Lewis, his abilities on offense at least force opposing defenses to cover him.
Right now, you have teams doubling James and occasionally doubling O’Neal. This would force teams to square up in the front court.
Also, I think it bares repeating that Randolph would be a guy that could be here for a run of potential championships – very different from the older shooter types that are listed above. If Ferry wants to show LBJ that this isn’t going to be year after year of adding one-year rentals, Randolph would be a huge get.
Also something to consider….
If Shaq is dealt, Randolph is more than capable to play the center position – a 21.6 PER/48 thus far through 2009-10. I know that Brown isn’t a huge fan of it, but say Maggette did have to be included, you’d have a potential lineup of Mo, Parker, Maggette, James and Randolph. Let the running commence…
@ Craig – To say we don’t need Shaq for the Magic is a bit premature. Right now we have solid wing players and a pretty good presence inside so we’ve matched ORL in both areas, why give up one of those? If we can get a steady seven-footer for him then fine, but I don’t think there is one on the table. As Windhosrt always says, we’ve worked very hard to get our height, we’re not going to give it up now.
P@ you’re wrong. Randolph can’t consistently shoot the 3 but he can hit it a step inside the line and he doesn’t have the baby hands that JJ has. I really don’t ever see Hickson being a good ball handler with his hands being so small.
Honestly Randolph is already better at almost everything than Hickson and he is almost a full year younger. If he could fill out his skinny frame he could be a complete force in this league for many years.
The ONLY way we should trade Shaq is if we get Okafor back. Otherwise Howard and Bynum will kill us in the playoffs. We need a big strong center to contain them.
Sorry I was a little unclear in writing this about Randolph. I agree he is not the stretch or shooter but he is a pure offensive threat as Scott alluded to. What was unclear from the post is that the Cavs are ideally looking for the stretch but also Randolph’s name is one which is confirmed by Windy to have been discussed in trade rumors. He is an offensive threat we do not have at that position now but is obviously not the shooter of the other two.
I view getting a stretch forward as a luxury more than a necessity…we are already one of the top 5 three point shooting teams in the league…a pure scorer is more necessary in my mind than a big man shooter…look at the history…while we haven’t brought in a big-man pure shooter in the past, we have signed players deemed “pure shooters” only to see them run cold in cleveland: wally, lucius harris, jiri welsch, luke hackson/jackson, etc…give me athleticism and scoring ability (randolph) over pure shooting any day…obviously, jamison is a great scorer and shooter, but i don’t see him going before caron butler or in the near future…murphy is solid and puts up #s in the pacer’s offense, but they also play at the second fastest pace in the league, and he has never, like windhorst said, contributed on a team like the cavs (he has been a warrior or pacer his whole career)…our trade assets are Z (who we previously said we would only trade id he could buy out and come back), Shaq (who hasn’t been great on offense, not as much lift as years past, yet has gotten opposing big men in foul trouble and has helped on D), Wally (sign and trade for cap relief), JJ (value is decreasing with inconsistencies yet still is high bc of athleticism), and delonte (mostly cap relief due to mental issues and inconsistencies)…wally i would love to trade if he passes a physical and agrees to it, Z i would only trade if a buy out was agreed to, shaq I would only trade for a Jamison or randolph and if Z gets back to his career form, JJ i love and would only move for randolph, and delonte i would keep because he has proven to be a great perimeter defender and ball handler when “healthy”
and for the record if a trade materialized like Wally and JJ for randolph and we had to take maggette too, i’d too it in a second…though maggette is a huge pill to swallow contract-wise, he is not a terrible player, can score, and could be a solid pure scorer off the bench for us a-la manu, JET, or even flip murray like in 2007
We really do need Shaq if we want to win an NBA Championship. Not only to guard Dwight Howard, but also to guard Andrew Bynum. The Lakers have a lot of weapons but other than Shaq, Andy is the only person on our team who can really cover him, and if Andy is on Bynum then someone is guarding Pau Gasol that shouldn’t be. Shaq could check Bynum and Andy (and possibly Randolph) could help slow down Gasol a little bit. Also, Shaqs biggest weakness, defending the pick and roll, would not hurt us against LA as they hardly ever run that play.
Parker and Moon do help a great deal against Orlando, but we already know what will happen once we double Dwight every time he touches the ball, and we already know what happens when he gets the ball 2 ft from the hoop. It won’t work
Also, even though Randolph has a lot more potential than JJ, I don’t want to lose JJ to get Randolph, we need to stockpile promising young talent in order to build a core around LeBron, and athletic bigs that can score don’t exactly grow on trees. I’d be willing to trade Delonte to get Randolph, although I am probably in the minority. Love Delonte of course, but to get Randolph the Warriors will want talent in return. If we have to swallow Magettes contract we will need to make room for him in the rotation anyways
Dear Danny Ferry,
Please trade for Anthony Randolph. He is an absolute freak and would help form a young nucleus to keep LeBron where he belongs. Thanks.
I’m sure that the Cavs will try to pry Randolph away from G-State, but why would they trade him away for our poo poo platter of expiring contracts and maybe Hickson if they wouldn’t accept that deal for Stephen Jackson, who they desperately wanted to get rid of?
I’d love Randolph, but I’m not sure we’ve got the goods to get him. I think Jamieson is a more realistic possibility, and at least for this year, he would be a perfect fit – a stretch 4 who can play down in the post too – he would provide an excellent second banana for LeBron and a first scoring option with LeBron on the bench. He plays with a ton of grit and would immediately have LeBron’s respect. I put it into the trade machine, and we could get him straight up for Z, though I expect the Wizards would want someone like JJ in the mix. I don’t think the Wiz would have much use for Z, so the Cavs could execute the buy-out thing in that scenario.
Randolph is ok. Magette is a guy we can take on. Even though his deal sucks. He would still help us and make Parker move to the bench. Not to mention, he’s a decent defender.
Jamison makes $11.6M this year. I like him a lot. But his deal is 2 years after this year and ends with him taking up $15M in cap. He’d be 35 at that point I believe. That doesn’t bode well for us, but he could possibly be our ticket to a championship.
Murphy is garbage defensively and should be avoided unless it’s a straight salary dump with a Wally sign and trade.
The guy we should really be looking at is Boris Diaw. He is a stretch 4, who can bang inside, shoot outside, defend big athletic 4’s (Rashard Lewis/Lamar Odom) and his passing skills are equal to Mo Williams. He’d be great right along Shaq. He has fallen out of favor in Charlotte. He makes $9M this year and 2 more years after. He’s only 27 so his contract will end just as he’s turning 30. That’s the type of player we can put with LBJ and Mo for the next few years to have a solid 3-headed monster.
Rip Hamilton Tayshaun Prince, Boozer (not happening), and Maybe David West are guys to consider also.
S-Dub, just to correct you on one point…Corey Maggette is not even a decent defender, he shows no effort, gets beat off the dribble easily, and doesn’t make any weakside rotations
@Ricky: I really only watch his game when he plays the Cavs and he seems to give effort when checking LBJ. As far as the other stuff, I’ll take your word.
@Ricky – The Warriors probably don’t want a player like Delonte given they currently have a backcourt chock-full of talented combo guards: Curry, Ellis, and Morrow.
It’s odd to me that everyone is willing to take on Corey’s contract which runs for the next FOUR YEARS and not Jackson’s contract. We needed us some Stephen Jackson.
Still, I’m all for taking on Magette’s contract if we can get Randolph.
@AMC – By the way, the goods we have to pry Randolph away are $$$. If they can get Maggette off their books, then they will give up Randolph and build around their backcourt, waiting for Biedrins to return. Not a lot of teams would be willing to bail out former GM Mullins and that horrible contract.
Mo, West, Bron, Randolph, Shaq
Andy, Powe, Parker, Moon, Gibson
Not too shabby…
randolph and magette…great….but still need to work that deal for an allstar mate. Like usual….nice trades to SUPPLEMENT, but still no legit scoring star who can make this team win if lebron is sitting.
Z is not looking very good this year. I think we can all agree.
Danny Ferry,
Get Jamison to the team to make CAVS a better contender for the Champion ship. He is the only one in the market who can make the difference. Rest all will be just an add on to the team.
I would say trade jamison and don’t loose any big players who are set in the team. Worst case loose Darnell Jakson or Jawad Williams who are yet to fit in the team.
Thnx.
CAVS FAN
Whoever the Cavaliers get, one thing is for sure: They need SOMEONE!!! Hickson plays no defense as it is, so even if we got murphy, it’d be a huge upgrade. I personally love the idea of getting Randolph & Maggette, even with Corey’s contract. However, I would still want to make another move if we did that… get someone with some experience because JJ is not doing any of us any favors, and is the reason we have played so poorly IMHO.
Boris Diaw is an intriguing idea. Perhaps Diaw & Tyson Chandler for Shaq & Jawad Williams?
Ok, so basically, if the Cavs find a way to work out basically JJ for randolph (with the switching of some bad/expiring contracts) I think it could work out. Randolph would probably be the C for next year with Andy and Powe (hopefully) at the 4. LBJ can line up as a stretch 4 if needed as well. They don’t really need another “super star” around LeBron, and randolph would help for more then the immediate future. Also, why dont they just sit Shaq until they play the Magic or LAL? Seems like a win-win, since the Cavs need him against their bigs, but can also rest when the Cavs will need to be athletic. Andy and potentially randolph could rotate with Z at C when Shaq has off days.
[…] teased us a few days ago via his twitter account, and Brendan followed up with the news that our options appear to be three-fold:Â Rumored to be targets are Anthony Randolph of the Warriors, Antawn Jamison of the Wizards and […]
[…] Brendan analyzed some of the possible individuals that could be new in a Cavalier uniform a week ago, but now it is time to jump to the other side of the table. Many trade rumors are out there and in order to bring in some sort of difference maker or All-Star, it will probably require some fat contracts as well as some talented prospects. The pickings are slim when it comes to our roster overall and after the jump, here are the main four candidates for a potential trade by the Cavaliers: […]
Everyone has talks about trading Shaq!!! but as I just read he has a Trade clause that allows him to turn down a deal! Why would he want to be traded away when he has said he is willing and plans on retiring in Cleveland?
The Lakers would be willing to trade Andrew Bynum & Bill Walton for Marc Gasol & either CP3, D Williams or Harris from the Nicks…. The Lakers need a real point & a defensive center, Andrew would be great for a young team in the building stage.The Lakers have plenty of scoring & they lack real defense & a REAL point…. Get one in & move fish to the bench & now you have a real leader for the bench crew to light a fire under them…
Marty