Addressing the hole at center

Fun tangent: Remember how Jason Kidd gives his players written tests every game day? Rick Carlisle still does that in Dallas. A couple of weeks ago, he let the Mavs partner up for the test and gave Monta Ellis the right to pick his partner, according to several guys on the team. Ellis picked Brandan Wright. They were among the slowest pairs in finishing the test, and Dirk Nowitzki began shouting about how Wright was a modern-day draft bust. “I killed B-Wright,” Nowitzki remembers.

What camaraderie! Two weeks later, bam, Wright is gone. The NBA is a hard business.

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http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-nbas-western-conference-power-rankings/

Love to get Wright but we'd have to add one more big body if we are able to acquire him. He's not a good rebounder and he's also light so we would still need somebody who could defend traditional 5's. JO or Okafur could fit the bill

I don't know how many times I have had to remind people of this, but the Cavs have no second round picks (not till 2019 anyway), so they can't just "throw in" a couple of them to grease the skids on a trade. Griffin basically gave them all away to create the TPE.

Griffin absolutely has to use the TPE. Cavs also have to commit to the luxury tax this year, using either the TPE or the injured player exception they will likely be granted for Varejao.

Injured player exception would be ideal for Jermaine O'Neil, who has said he wants to decide what to do in early January. Cavs could easily outbid the potential competition. Arguably JO fits this team better than Andy at this point anyway, and I am a huge Andy fan.

In particular, it really hurts that Griffin gave away Zeller, and then amazingly didn't even bother to replace him, except for Haywood who has something like 30 minutes all year.

I don't know why people assume the Memphis pick isn't on the table. If nothing else, Griffin has made it clear from his tenure that he is more than willing to burn assets. At least I am glad he didn't overpay for Brewer, which is what some on RCF wanted him to do.

Jason Lloyd reported, before the Varejao injury, that the Cavs were considering using Haywood as a trade chip this season, given that he does have value to a team that may want to use his contract next off-season. Surprised no one has mentioned this important piece of reporting, since most have dismissed suggestions that Haywood could be traded prior to the trade deadline. Maybe people aren't reading Lloyd because of the ABJ paywall issue.

So the Haywood chip is also on the table.

Even if you include Haywood and Waiters, there is really no way to trade for Hibbert during this season. Salaries won't match unless you include Thompson etc., and that obviously isn't going to happen.

For those who continue to claim that Hibbert is good at finishing and a good rebounder, he is neither. Don't think he can do these things simply because he is tall, because he cannot. He can block shots. But again Hibbert is a moot point for this season.

There is a reason why Samuel Dalembert is more available than others. I'd much rather go after Jermaine O'Neal if we are talking "last resorts".

So team now has 2 trade exception(can't use both same time)

killerkev369 said:

There is a reason why Samuel Dalembert is more available than others. I'd much rather go after Jermaine O'Neal if we are talking "last resorts".

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Yeah, because he's significantly older than Mozgov and Koufos and plays on by far the worst team of the three.

The other two are better than him too, but doesn't mean he couldn't contribute here. Definitely wouldn't give up Dion or a 1st for him though, not that I would for Koufos either.

Now that we just got a DPE from the Varejao injury, I would definitely send it to the Knicks for Dalembert. Whether or not they'd take that, I don't know. Right now they rotate around 3 centers on equal minutes, with Aldrich being their starter.

I dont think I would give up Dion for any of the guys being discussed.

I personally wouldn't move Haywood or the Memphis pick unless it gets a guy like one of the Lopez brothers, Mozgov, etc... Or a young guy like a Henson or a Plumlee. We are in no position to be moving assets for lesser value. I don't add Dion to any deal unless what we get back is significant enough. He has talent and value that the centers available don't give you right now.

cavs need to apply for a disabled player exception and try to get dalembart using it.

(can only be used on 1 year deals)

knicks are not using him nearly enough, while for the cavs he could be a difference maker.

only question is what would be the price tag.
possibly some combination of picks (but probably no more than a couple of 2nd rounders or a 1st rd swap that shouldn't include the memphis pick)


but dpe and then dalembart is the next logical move.

gotta hold on to haywood.
next summer he's your trump card.

can't make a panic move unless an all star caliber player becomes available now.

Jermaine O'Neal needs to be signed ASAP with the extra money we have to offer now if we can't pick up Mozgov from the Nuggets and we probably can't pick him up without giving up Waiters and the Memphis pick (Denver may still say no). They have him under control for cheap for yet another year so he may not be available at all.

breaking bad said:

cavs need to apply for a disabled player exception and try to get dalembart using it.

(can only be used on 1 year deals)

knicks are not using him nearly enough, while for the cavs he could be a difference maker.

only question is what would be the price tag.
possibly some combination of picks (but probably no more than a couple of 2nd rounders or a 1st rd swap that shouldn't include the memphis pick)


but dpe and then dalembart is the next logical move.

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Even if we had second round picks to give New York for Dalembert, I'm not giving them more than one for him. By the way, why would New York agree to a first round swap with us? We are going to be better than them for years to come, that would have no value to them.

Caffegy said:

So team now has 2 trade exception(can't use both same time)

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but the injury exception can only be used on guys on their last year.