Does Utah hold the key to Cleveland's future?

[Randolphkeys]

If Jefferson could "find his game" much like Randolph has since he's grown up and played in Memphis and have the same impact on a game that Z-Bo has, that combined with the perimeter talent that the Cavs have could develop into a contending team.

My concern with Jefferson isn't that he's too much like Z-Bo, it's that he isn't quite enough like Z-Bo. Jefferson has pretty moves and good touch, but Randolph is a bull in the paint..an unstoppable force--- I'm not sure if Jefferson can replicate that part of Z-Bo's game...pure force. If he could, you combine that with a dynamic back-court, a superstar pg, a defensive-stud big man and a good bench and you could have a contender on your hands.

Good points. Paul Millsap seems to be a better player for what Byron Scott is trying to do with a high post Princeton offense. I see Jefferson as an inside out player who gets fed the ball and makes his move. He doesn't pass like a "hub" player, he's no Zeller or Varejao. That guy finishes. If he misses, he goes after the offensive rebound and goes back up. He's what I'd kill a guy for Tristan Thompson to become. He still runs the risk of clogging things up for Dion and Kyrie driving to the rim, but at the other hand he would demand double teams. Can you imagine what Kyrie and Dion can do with a defense that is worried about an interior scorer?

This all adds up to the Cavs cutting off a tank season short, so I don't know if we will see the Cavs play the role of buyer before the trade deadline. Still, how often do you see a player like this ready to get traded? The Cavs have the assets and the cap space... weirder things could happen.

 

[adriano_leite]

Good points. Paul Millsap seems to be a better player for what Byron Scott is trying to do with a high post Princeton offense. I see Jefferson as an inside out player who gets fed the ball and makes his move. He doesn't pass like a "hub" player, he's no Zeller or Varejao. That guy finishes. If he misses, he goes after the offensive rebound and goes back up. He's what I'd kill a guy for Tristan Thompson to become. He still runs the risk of clogging things up for Dion and Kyrie driving to the rim, but at the other hand he would demand double teams. Can you imagine what Kyrie and Dion can do with a defense that is worried about an interior scorer?

This all adds up to the Cavs cutting off a tank season short, so I don't know if we will see the Cavs play the role of buyer before the trade deadline. Still, how often do you see a player like this ready to get traded? The Cavs have the assets and the cap space... weirder things could happen.

Both of them are better than what we already have. They are both 27 years old so you can count on them in the future. Both of them with Gee, Dion and Kyrie would make this team to be playoff team.

 

[Homestar]

Jefferson Safari.

 

[BigErieCavsFan]

I've always liked both guys, but I'm not sure either really fits Scott's vision. And I'm not sure I would be willing to give up what we would have to give up. If we could do it with a steal (only giving up a few 2nds, 1 or 2 future 1sts, with no KI, DW, AV, TZ?), I would love seeing us get better faster...

 

[Randolphkeys]

Both Jefferson and Millsap are going to be UFAs this offseason. As long as Utah is in the running for a low playoff seed, neither player will be coming to the Cavs cheap. I think the matter will heat up in free agency.

 

[Chris]

With the way the this team is heading, it seems a top 5 pick is probably out of the question. But this doesn't rule out the possibility of trading into a top 5 spot....especially with all the assets the cavs have.

Yes, our record of being 2-5 certainly indicates we're on our way to not a top 5 pick. Definitely.

 

[pr26]

Not sure if we're gonna be a buyer or seller at the deadline or offseason, but I do know this: If we plan on having Kyrie and Waiters be dual 20ppg threats nightly, the Cavs will need to SERIOUSLY look at a big who can score in the post and help with lane spacing for the guards.

Whether or not the Cavs want THESE specific players or not, these are the type of moves we may see the Cavs make in the next few seasons as we try to put a legit roster on the court.

 

[Frank Reynolds]

AC would cream if we got Millsap, he's always been a huge Paul Millsap fan.

 

[Hydroponic3385]

Both Jefferson and Millsap are going to be UFAs this offseason. As long as Utah is in the running for a low playoff seed, neither player will be coming to the Cavs cheap. I think the matter will heat up in free agency.

Exactly.

The great thing about having so much cap space is what that we can use it via trade and/or free agency. Jefferson & Millsap are not the type of guys I want to blow our (non-cap space) trade assets on this early, but they are guys I'd entertain the idea of signing in the off-season. Adding a Jefferson/Millsap while losing draft picks or Andy isn't very helpful at the current stage of our rebuild. However, signing one of those guys as an UFA while retaining our trade assets is worth entertaining (although far from a guarantee the Cavs would sign either, as our cap space is coveted and needs to be used as effectively as possible).

Like others have stated, Utah's current situation is exactly the type of situation the Cavs should capitalize on in the future (whether that's by this coming off-season, or in the next 2-3 years).

 

[MD13]

Here's an interesting question: I think most of us on these forums agree the Cavs need to look for a young, dynamic big man to pair with our explosive backcourt to take the next step. Which young bigs in the NBA would you give up all of our future assets for in a trade? Off the top of my head, I can think of three: (in no particular order) DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors, and Greg Monroe.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I think giving up "all our future assets" for a scoring bigman is a huge mistake because the swingman positions are killing the team right now. I'd move one protected first rounder and two second rounders (maybe the unexciting Memphis second rounder) for Jefferson if he agrees to a max extension before the trade.

 

[MD13]

I think giving up "all our future assets" for a scoring bigman is a huge mistake because the swingman positions are killing the team right now. I'd move one protected first rounder and two second rounders (maybe the unexciting Memphis second rounder) for Jefferson if he agrees to a max extension before the trade.

Maybe "all" was a bad word choice. More like "whatever reasonable price it takes to get a deal done".

 

[PosterTime]

Yes, our record of being 2-5 certainly indicates we're on our way to not a top 5 pick. Definitely.

We could easily be 4-3.

The Bucks game should have been ours and the Suns game was a joke. It's too early to really guess what seed/lottery spot we'll be right now. One thing is for sure though, our bench sucks some massive cock and they are the reason we're losing games.

Our starters are already pretty damn good. Irving, D3Waiters, and Andy are all great, Gee is a good defender and TT is.....developing. If we had an average NBA bench we'd easily be a 6-8 seed THIS YEAR (with two developing 20 year olds as the best players keep in mind.) Imagine adding a very solid big man like Josh Smith, along with our first rounder this year.

This team has so much hope and it's very exciting. I don't want Grant to make moves just to make moves, but he MUST make the right moves when they're presented to him. We have the core, we have the assets, but now it's a waiting game.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I've got half an eye on the Utah/Raptors game right now because of this thread... So far Bargnani has Jefferson pulled pretty far out of the paint defensively. Millsap has some perimeter skills, but he is just such a dangerous weapon with the way he runs the floor and hunts down rebounds. He defends, he hits step back jumpers... Millsap is just impressing the hell out of me right now.

 

[Frank Reynolds]

Here's an interesting question: I think most of us on these forums agree the Cavs need to look for a young, dynamic big man to pair with our explosive backcourt to take the next step. Which young bigs in the NBA would you give up all of our future assets for in a trade? Off the top of my head, I can think of three: (in no particular order) DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors, and Greg Monroe.

I'd say Lamarcus Aldridge or Kevin Love are the only ones that would be worth it IMO. I suppose I'd take Boogie Cousins too.