Looking Ahead: 2013-2014 Cleveland Cavaliers

[Henry Tuttle]

Re: Truth And Rumors (trade deadline talk)

It'd be cool to do a poll of free agent philosophies vs when you started following the Cavs seriously. I have a feeling that those who adamantly followed the 2005 FA period may be a little more reserved with their pretend spending.

 

[Ohio]

There is a difference between overpaying role players, and "overpaying" perennial all-stars.

 

[ajz20]

Dont see anything besides a couple under the radar one year contracts over the summer. i know we play this game in other threads but here is my guess at the guys making up our 10 man rotation on opening day. Wonder i we can get Ellington to do a cj miles type deal, where we control the cards for 2014.

Irving
Waiters
Ellington
mccullum
Len
TT
Spieghts
Andy
Zeller
Gee

Is this a playoff team next year/ very curious to hear your responses!

 

[davedugan43]

Dont see anything besides a couple under the radar one year contracts over the summer. i know we play this game in other threads but here is my guess at the guys making up our 10 man rotation on opening day. Wonder i we can get Ellington to do a cj miles type deal, where we control the cards for 2014.

Irving
Waiters
Ellington
mccullum
Len
TT
Spieghts
Andy
Zeller
Gee

Is this a playoff team next year/ very curious to hear your responses!

If Andy stays healthy all year, yes.

 

[gratefuldead]

i wonder how cheap we could get danny granger

i wouldnt wanna give up too much for him

however im in camp we NEED to make the playoffs next year

we have to show kyrie we are trying to get better....we cant miss the post season

 

[Henry Tuttle]

i wonder how cheap we could get danny granger

i wouldnt wanna give up too much for him

however im in camp we NEED to make the playoffs next year

we have to show kyrie we are trying to get better....we cant miss the post season

Just to clarify - the site posted was for 2014 FA's (after next season).

 

[Ohio]

Barring any injuries I fully expect this team to make the playoffs next season.

 

[jpow6636]

Almost thought this should be the start of a new thread because to me it shows what a truly bright future we have. Amazing to think of what one more year of growth, one more draft and a healthy Varejao might look like.

With Wednesday’s win over Toronto, the Cavaliers completed their most successful month of the season – having lost just a single game since the All-Star Break. As the Wine and Gold prepare for a Friday night contest with the Clippers, here are some interesting integers from their recent run …

3 … straight games that Dion Waiters has topped the 20-point plateau

11 … games that Waiters has topped that mark this season

12-10 … Irving, Waiters, Gee, Thompson and Zeller's record as a starting unit

9-2 … Cavaliers record against their last 11 Eastern Conference opponents

6-0 … Cavaliers record against Eastern Conference opponents at The Q during that timespan

.809 … Cavaliers free throw shooting percentage since December 28

20.3 … points per game Dion Waiters is averaging over the last six games

9, 11 … games (of the 15 that they’ve played as Cavaliers) that Wayne Ellington and Marreese Speights, respectively, have notched double-figures

38.8 … points per game the Cavaliers’ second unit is averaging since the All-Star Break

0 … combined games that Tristan Thompson and Alonzo Gee have missed this season

6-0 … Cavs record at The Q when they shoot between 45 and 50 percent from the floor

6.1 … rebounds per game Tyler Zeller is averaging this year, 3rd best among all rookies

15.9 … second-chance points the Cavaliers are averaging this season, good for 2nd in the NBA

1 … Dion Waiters’ rank among all Eastern Conference rookies in scoring (14.6), assists (3.1) and steals (1.0)

106.4 … points per game the Cavaliers averaged in February, their second-highest scoring month since February 1993 and 2nd highest in the Eastern Conference

14 … double-doubles Tristan Thompson has notched over his last 32 games

8.3 … points Kyrie Irving averaged in the fourth quarter since January 8, best in the Eastern Conference

4.4 … points Kyrie Irving averaged in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, best in the NBA during that same stretch

0 … Cavaliers to ever tally at least 10 points and 5 rebounds in his first seven games before Marreese Speights did so

13 … combined wins for the Cavaliers in January and February, six more than in the first three months of the season

8-0 … Cavaliers record when they outshoot their opponent at The Q

27, 24 … games this season that Tristan Thompson has led the team in rebounding and blocked shots, respectively

38, 7, 30, 20, 9 … games this season that Kyrie Irving has led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocked shots, respectively

link

 

[Stark]

Since this Philly game is upsetting a good amount of people and the season is already over, figured I'd bump this up now.

Updated the original post with guaranteed contracts and stuff like that. Let the fighting commence.

 

[Andy7207]

I was thinking about the Wizards the other day. They effectively started their rebuild one year before us by getting John Wall, and only this season post-All-Star Break are they starting to see the results. I'm still confident we can make the playoffs next year... but as much as I hate to say it, maybe the Cavs need to add another season into their rebuild timeline?

 

[Revenged25]

My plan for 2013/14:
Pre-Draft
-Trade the Lakers pick #17, to the Indiana Pacers for SF Danny Granger. The Pacers have their backs against the wall with their cap situation. They have 48 million in guaranteed contracts going into next season with David West and DJ Augustin being FAs, several with qualifying offers, and Paul George needing a contract extension by next year. The Pacers have also shown they can make the playoffs without Danny Granger but aren't as good of a team without his outside shooting, spacing, and elite defense he provides. So with needing to either bring back David West or bring in another PF, there are a few good ones in FA, as well as needing to get another outside shooter to provide spacing, clearing $14 million from their books will help them do that and the #17 pick can get them either position of need in the draft so they can have a better idea of what to focus on in FA. For the Cavaliers the SF FA market is bare, the best options will want large multi year deals or you'll have to pay for a G/F combo player that will want something similar. In the draft there is really only one good SF that's worthy of a top pick, Otto Porter and even if he was available and drafted if LeBron James returns in 2014 then the pick will be a little redundant unless he plays the Thabo role as a SG with Waiters coming off the bench in the Harden role. So the Cavs get a proven veteran SF that can provide spacing, outside shooting, elite defense, rebounding, and he comes attached to an expiring contract that keeps our options to toss a max contract at LeBron or SF if he doesn't come back.

-Speight's doesn't pick up his option.

Draft-
#4-Alex Len, C Maryland
-Likely the best center prospect we can get in this draft. Noel will be picked before us and even then he'll be likely to miss the entire year or most of it due to rehabbing his knee. I also think that Len is a better fit for the Cavs in the long run as he's made big strides from year 1 to year 2 in learning to play the center position. He's also shown the ability to dominate other top prospects, but needs to add strength which he added 30 pounds of muscle from year 1 to year 2 as well without losing any athleticism and could easily add another 30+ lbs without any difficulties. Also the trade for Danny Granger makes selection Otto Porter unnecessary.

#32-Lorenzo Brown, PG N.C. State
-Shaun Livingston likely won't be returning to the Cavs, at least not at a good value, so in comes Lorenzo Brown. He's a big PG that although his shooting isn't great he's a very good distributor that could provide quality back-up minutes.

#34-Sergey Karasev, PG/SG/SF Russia
-He's young and definitely needs to add strength but he can play anywhere in the backcourt with good ball handing, great passing/court vision, great shooting, and very high basketball IQ. He's 6'7 205 lbs, so he'll definitely need to add more strength, but he's your typical Cavaliers Stash-a-Euro pick if there ever was one. He's currently averaging 16.1 ppgs and 49% from 3 in Eurocup play so even if he decides to come over/they bring him over early he'll be able to find a role on the team.

Free Agency:
-Sign C Greg Oden, 3 yr 12 million 3/4/5. Team option in year 2, player option in year 3. By structuring the contract like this the Cavs protect themselves from Oden not being able to come back and gives Oden the opportunity to opt out in year 3 if he can show he's able to stay healthy and play at a high level. Oden will bring much needed depth and a defensive presence if he's able to see the court.

-Sign Chauncey Billups, 1 yr 2.5 million. Everyone talks about needing a veteran presence to help develop Irving, but we need someone to help develop Waiters as well. Billups has battled numerous injuries the past few seasons but he's able to play both PG and SG so he would be a very valuable back-up at both positions and give us someone that can be a leader in the locker room with his experience and championship ring already.

-Sign Corey Brewer, 3 yr 15 million, 5/5/5. 1 million guaranteed in year 3.

Waive Omri Cassippi.

2013/14 Depth Chart
PG-Kyrie Irving/Chauncey Billups/Lorenzo Brown
SG-Corey Brewer/Dion Waiters
SF-Danny Granger/Alonzo Gee
PF-Tristan Thompson/Tyler Zeller
C-Greg Oden/Anderson Varejao/Alex Len

2013/14 salaries: 56,231,672
2014/15 Salaries: 27,869,160-40,573,705 (Depends on if we waive any or all of Gee/Oden/Andy) Hopefully by then the max cap will be slightly increased giving us a few extra million as well.

 

[Gimme Some Mo]

Either tank again or actually do something significant this offseason... No inbetween moves that will just add a few wins (role player types).

If we are trying to win next year and aren't counting on the fantasy of LeBron coming back, I'd try to get Al Jefferson. He is a great fit next to Tristan and has about 4 prime years remaining if you go by typical big men aging patterns. He is a borderline all star that will give you 18 and 10 every night. Sorry guys, we aren't getting a superstar to come here in Free Agency. It is sad, but I really believe Jefferson is the best FA that would ever come to Cleveland.

Draft Otto Porter

Irving
Waiters
Porter
Thompson
Jefferson

Bench bigs: Varejao and Zeller

Bench swings: Gee, FA/Draft?, Miles?

Bench guards: Resign Livington, FA/Draft?

I don't know. This team will not be a quick fix, but IMO waiting on the thought of a superstar signing here in 2014 is just incredibly stupid and it is a waste of an offseason. I cannot be more clear... A superstar is not signing in Cleveland. It has never happened and it never will. Unless LeBron has some serious regret and wants to make things better, he isn't coming here. The HEAT are an absolute dominant force and they will constantly be able to bring in the top of the line aging vets trying to chase a ring.

 

[Revenged25]

The HEAT can't keep the team together. Unless Miami wants to pay 50 million in luxury tax each year, the team will need to be broken up. Not to mention Wade isn't getting any younger and could be broken down in by end of next year, Bosh is at best a 3rd wheel, and those aging vets eventually won't always be there. LeBron like has a better chance of coming back to Cleveland than he does staying in Miami with both Wade and Bosh. As in either he comes back to Cleveland or you see LeBron with only one of Wade/Bosh, like at a less than max contract, and then have to bring in a 3rd person. Him coming back to Cleveland isn't far fetched. The best chance at getting a superstar in Cleveland though, outside of LeBron, is to trade for one, show them that with Irving, Waiters, Thompson, and them together can win a championship. I also don't fall into the category that feel Jefferson is a superstar. All-Star, definitely, but not a superstar and definitely not a player I would want to be used in selling Irving/Waiters on why they should stay.

 

[Surge]

I don't know what he'd be looking for, but Earl Clark is a free agent this offseason and I like his game.

 

[Ohio]

1. Fire Byron Scott, hire Brian Shaw
2. Draft Otto Porter
3. Acquire a big via signing or trade. I'd trade Varejao and as many of our future picks (including Lakers pick) as it would take to land Horford, Love, or another all-star caliber big. If you can't pull of a trade, you have to strongly consider signing Al Jefferson or Andrew Bynum. Hell, might as well even offer Dwight a contract.
4. Re-sign Livingston, Ellington, and Speights. If not, find suitable replacements.

Ideally:

Kyrie/Livingston
Waiters/Ellington
Porter/Gee
Tristan/Speights
Horford/Zeller

More likely:

Kyrie/Livingston
Waiters/Ellington
Porter/Gee
Tristan/Varejao/Speights
Jefferson/Varejao/Speights

Most likely/pessimistic:

Kyrie/Livingston
Waiters/Ellington
Porter/Gee
Tristan/Speights
Varejao/Zeller