Looking Ahead: 2013-2014 Cleveland Cavaliers

[Revenged25]

@Bimbo-even if he doesn't sign with Cleveland, there are a lot of other SFs in the 2014 FA class that are likely better than anything that would be found at #17. Only SF in this draft that I would touch is Otto Porter and we can't get him and a big man. So you get a SF via trade at #17 and draft your big man at #4-7 in Alex Len and look to compete for the playoffs.

Also even if LeBron stays in Miami, they can't keep their big 3 together. With the new luxury tax implications unless they are all wanting to resign for much cheaper deals yet again, or Miami is willing to pay $28,750,000 for being more than $15 million in salary already, if the players get what their value is, as in they don't take big pay cuts to stay together, they are going to be paying the repeat offender tax. http://www.hoopsworld.com/miami-heat-team-salary/. And that's on an even more depleted roster made up of only 3 players... it'll be like year 1 of the Miami Heat experience all over again, or they can keep the capholds, of 23 million and then proceed to resign them all, maybe to lesser deals, but that's still going to be a hole lot of money...

 

[mhi]

He's 7'1", put on 30 lbs last summer and still has room to add more, has above average athleticism, blocks shots, has a euro style offense that fits next to Tristan, and is a high character guy. Other than that, I have no idea.

So Jonas Valencius again ? I am scared of a center that ranks below Cody Zeller according to Chad Ford.

 

[Revenged25]

So Jonas Valencius again ? I am scared of a center that ranks below Cody Zeller according to Chad Ford.

Cody Zeller is ranked higher because he started higher. Zeller also has a more developed game at this point, mainly because he's been playing the position longer. Len has been rising and is inconsistent as it's only his 2nd year playing center, had a year where he was learning not only how to play center but also because he knew no english. Zeller is better right now, I see him as more of PF anyways, but Len has a much higher ceiling IMO although he might take a year or two longer to develop. Also Len might currently be ranked lower than Zeller in his overall rankings but in his mock draft Len goes 3 spots higher than Zeller. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/id/9146975/2013-nba-draft-chad-ford-debuts-first-mock-draft

 

[RedBlackAttack]

Cody Zeller is ranked higher because he started higher. Zeller also has a more developed game at this point, mainly because he's been playing the position longer. Len has been rising and is inconsistent as it's only his 2nd year playing center, had a year where he was learning not only how to play center but also because he knew no english. Zeller is better right now, I see him as more of PF anyways, but Len has a much higher ceiling IMO although he might take a year or two longer to develop. Also Len might currently be ranked lower than Zeller in his overall rankings but in his mock draft Len goes 3 spots higher than Zeller. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/id/9146975/2013-nba-draft-chad-ford-debuts-first-mock-draft

I like Len, but I'm hoping Noel is the guy. I've studied both as best I could at this stage of the process and, not only does Noel have a higher ceiling (imo, of course), but we need a rim protector in the worst way. Nerlens could be the best shot blocking big to come out in a long time.

For a long time, I was against the idea of having Noel and Tristan in the same frontcourt, but with the strides Tristan has made offensively this year, I think it could work. And, defensively, they would set us up to have a terrific frontline of the future.

On top of that, Len has been dropping in the mocks I've seen over the last couple months. DraftExpress currently has him at the 11th best player right now. I've seen some where he drops into the 15-20 area. We'll see if that changes and Grant has shown time and again that he isn't opposed to go against conventional wisdom if the guy is right.

We'll see.

 

[Revenged25]

I think that the mock drafters are going to be surprised by when Len gets drafted. I don't see him getting out of the top 10. I think several of the players that made Len drop are players that had huge tournament runs, guys like Trey Burke who were in the 20's and now being touted as top 5-7 prospects, though with Burke it might be rightfully so.

Also Len was no slouch at shot blocking and several others have noted how quick he is able to leave his feet. He might not ever be the shot blocker that Noel would be, but would you rather Serge Ibaka/Joakim Noah or Pau Gasol/Al Horford. I don't think Len will ever be the defensive presence that Noel will be, but he's going to be good, and I don't think Noel will ever be the offensive presence that Len will be, but he won't be horrible. So it's more would you rather 13/12/3 or 17/11/1.5 at their primes.

 

[polklop1]

I don't care what we do (within reason), just do not sign Al Jefferson.

 

[malus]

So Jonas Valencius again ? I am scared of a center that ranks below Cody Zeller according to Chad Ford.

Valanciunas isn't far removed from winning rook of the month.

 

[Sir John]

The one thing the Cavs need to add more than anything this particular offseason is veteran leadership. It doesn't even so much matter if that's a starting caliber player or a bench/role player so long as they are well-respected, experienced, vocal, and proven leaders. The primary high-quality talent additions can come through the "core four" improving, our high pick this year, and then in the summer of 2014, adding a top tier free agent, so that's gonna happen pretty much no matter what. If they can figure out how to add talent and leadership in the same player this off-season, so much the better. But if they can't, they should concentrate on leadership first. They need real leadership and they need it now.

 

[Stark]

Well, our season is officially done AND we have the Lakers pick to go along with our own top five pick!

Best of all, Omri Casspi is done with this team. Time to get speculating!

GO CAVS!

 

[Ohio]

It has probably been said before, but I see this Cavs team becoming like the mid 2000's Detroit Pistons.

Kyrie is a much better version of Chauncey.
Dion isn't quite on Rip's level yet but certainly has the potential to be.
Unlike Kyrie/Chauncey and Dion/Rip, Tristan isn't very similar to Rasheed, but, can still have an impact on the game, just in a different way.
If we draft Porter, the Tayshaun Prince comparison seems pretty spot on.
If we draft Noel, seems like he would be our Ben Wallace. If not, we still have Varejao, who impacts the game differently, but still greatly.

So after this draft, we're similar to a team that:

-Lost to the Nets in the ECF in 2003 (without Rasheed).
-Ended the Lakers dynasty in 2004.
-Lost to the Spurs dynasty in 2005.
-Lost to the NBA Champion Miami Heat in the ECF in 2006.
-Lost to us in the ECF in 2007
-Lost to the NBA Champion Boston Celtics in the ECF in 2008.

Good times are coming, should be a fun ride. Porter or Noel or bust!

 

[chrisrich91]

I must have missed this thread...I read through the last couple pages and they made me sick. Terrible vision and straight NBA ignorance by some posters on here.

When trying to reconstruct the team, for God's sake keep these things in mind:

Salary situation
Age/recent performance of players
Meshing play styles
FLOOR SPACING

I'll never understand why people can't grasp these concepts...a page back there was someone hoping for a 1-2-3 of Kyrie-Brewer-Granger. Is that a joke? Ugh.

 

[Ohio]

I must have missed this thread...I read through the last couple pages and they made me sick. Terrible vision and straight NBA ignorance by some posters on here.

When trying to reconstruct the team, for God's sake keep these things in mind:

Salary situation
Age/recent performance of players
Meshing play styles
FLOOR SPACING

I'll never understand why people can't grasp these concepts...a page back there was someone hoping for a 1-2-3 of Kyrie-Brewer-Granger. Is that a joke? Ugh.

Lol ya, that's the guy that posts about Granger 95% of the time. I tend to skip his posts.

 

[Stark]

I don't understand the Danny Granger infatuation that is going across this board.

Thirty years old, played five games last year, numbers had been dropping a good deal before he went down, average defense at best, making over ten million next year...

If the Pacers want to give him to us for our two second round picks, then sure, but I'm not sure I would even give up somebody like Zeller for a one year rental of a declining wing.

 

[Revenged25]

I don't understand the Danny Granger infatuation that is going across this board.

Thirty years old, played five games last year, numbers had been dropping a good deal before he went down, average defense at best, making over ten million next year...

If the Pacers want to give him to us for our two second round picks, then sure, but I'm not sure I would even give up somebody like Zeller for a one year rental of a declining wing.

Still better than Alonzo Gee and would be better for this team than any SF in this draft outside of Otto Porter. Would provide defense, rebounding, another scoring option, and fill a hole if we end up going center instead of SF with our first pick. If we draft a SF then I would say no to any Danny Granger trade.

 

[Scholar]

Still better than Alonzo Gee and would be better for this team than any SF in this draft outside of Otto Porter. Would provide defense, rebounding, another scoring option, and fill a hole if we end up going center instead of SF with our first pick. If we draft a SF then I would say no to any Danny Granger trade.

Actually, at 14 million for the season, he is a worse value then Gee. I don't want Granger on this team, even if he is free. He messes up our salary flexibility for a player who is clearly on the decline and with health issues. That 14 million is better used to try to work a trade next deadline for someone that actually is still good at basketball. Someone that will help in a longer term. Some of you have this image of the Granger from four years ago in your heads. That player no longer exists.