JMoneyYourHoney
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Wanted to generate a discussion on the topic of our depth. I realize that this summer may not have produced the "big" player that we were hoping to maintain via Haywood's contract, but I think we've quietly transformed from a top-heavy team to one of the deepest in the league.
But let's back up a bit and recap where we were circa a year ago. Our starting 5 outside the big 3 consisted of Dion Waiters and Anderson Varejao; AJ Price and Will Cherry III competed for time and roster stuffers like Lou Amundsen and Alex Kirk rode the bench. Jump forward to the end of the year and we're dramatically improved, but our reserves are aged veterans whose tanks had long emptied....Kendrick Perkins, Mike Miller, Shawn Marion, and Brendan Haywood. We were a wheezing and depleted unit that struggled valiantly against the top team in the league on the biggest stage but predictably fell short of immortality.
Heading into this season, we've casted off all the driftwood that watched hopelessly from the bench and vault into the upcoming season with a seasoned playmaker who can initiate an offense and provide a potent scoring punch, a consistent threat from the arc who can finish at the rim, and a true backup 5 coming off his best season and who has the added advantage of experience playing with the head coach and the team's starting center. Above all else, we've retained all of core pieces and we welcome a recovering Andy into the fold. We of course won't truly know how we measure on the depth chart until the season kicks into gear, and we could see precipitous fall-offs the like we're accustomed to, but I really like these signings. From top to bottom our 1-10 is as legit as it gets, and you're doing something right when your 11-14 consists of Varejao (a former borderline all-star), James Jones (former 3-point champion who has proven he can still be an effective scorer when his number is called), Delly (a young, improving talent who showed fierce heart and determination when we needed it most), and Joe Harris.
To top it off we have two trade exemptions and an open roster spot at our disposal...we can be even more loaded. It's funny, I've viewed the Clippers as our closest comparison in the West and they went out and plugged some holes this offseason. But while our utter lack of contributors on the bench has been the Achilles Heel we've limped with in the past, I'm very excited with what the Cavs come to the banquet with this year. I truly think this is our year to feast.
I think we're stacked guys; we finally have a deep team in Cleveland, one very deserving of the best player of his generation. The FO should be proud and Gilbert should be exalted. What are your thoughts?
But let's back up a bit and recap where we were circa a year ago. Our starting 5 outside the big 3 consisted of Dion Waiters and Anderson Varejao; AJ Price and Will Cherry III competed for time and roster stuffers like Lou Amundsen and Alex Kirk rode the bench. Jump forward to the end of the year and we're dramatically improved, but our reserves are aged veterans whose tanks had long emptied....Kendrick Perkins, Mike Miller, Shawn Marion, and Brendan Haywood. We were a wheezing and depleted unit that struggled valiantly against the top team in the league on the biggest stage but predictably fell short of immortality.
Heading into this season, we've casted off all the driftwood that watched hopelessly from the bench and vault into the upcoming season with a seasoned playmaker who can initiate an offense and provide a potent scoring punch, a consistent threat from the arc who can finish at the rim, and a true backup 5 coming off his best season and who has the added advantage of experience playing with the head coach and the team's starting center. Above all else, we've retained all of core pieces and we welcome a recovering Andy into the fold. We of course won't truly know how we measure on the depth chart until the season kicks into gear, and we could see precipitous fall-offs the like we're accustomed to, but I really like these signings. From top to bottom our 1-10 is as legit as it gets, and you're doing something right when your 11-14 consists of Varejao (a former borderline all-star), James Jones (former 3-point champion who has proven he can still be an effective scorer when his number is called), Delly (a young, improving talent who showed fierce heart and determination when we needed it most), and Joe Harris.
To top it off we have two trade exemptions and an open roster spot at our disposal...we can be even more loaded. It's funny, I've viewed the Clippers as our closest comparison in the West and they went out and plugged some holes this offseason. But while our utter lack of contributors on the bench has been the Achilles Heel we've limped with in the past, I'm very excited with what the Cavs come to the banquet with this year. I truly think this is our year to feast.
I think we're stacked guys; we finally have a deep team in Cleveland, one very deserving of the best player of his generation. The FO should be proud and Gilbert should be exalted. What are your thoughts?
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