Iman Shumpert: Gone! Thank God!

This guy is young. Relishes playing defense. Would play 48 minutes if coach let him. Doesn't force offense, but is not afraid to take shots, whether catch and shoot or creating off the dribble. He's learning from the best and he can be here for another 4-5 years minimum. Great trade.

In the beginning of the season, people laughed off Griff being Exec of the year because the notion was that it all fell into his lap. but when you view the totality of the year and especially the two trades in January that he set up and then executed, this guy was far more deserving of more GM of the Year votes than he got.

Way to go Griff.

And Shump is fantastic.

Someone call the police, Griff stole a valuable asset from Phil Jackson.
Hopefully an asset that will be here for years.

For the win-now Cavs, I'd rather have Shump. And he's still only 24. Wiggins will most likely be a superstar/near-superstar down the road, but right now, I'd rather have Shump and what he brings.

David. said:

How different is shump than Wiggins really?

Taking right now. Not future.

Did we get Wiggins first couple years for nothing?

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Is shump the best defender in the nba?

Out of all the guys who need to be paid this summer, this is the guy that I think should be priority number 1. Elite perimeter defense is so important in today's NBA. If the guy could just stay healthy he could start making all NBA defensive teams regularly.

Last year, I didn't think he was that good or even worth trading Dion for.

Now, I'm like "what the fuck was I smoking last year?"

Looks great coming off those surgeries.

Most importantly, he and LeBron have a pretty hilarious handshake.
https://instagram.com/p/3AjccHRh60/

The very last question of the LeBron/Shumpert podium presser really speaks to how beneficial it is for young players to get to play on winning teams with leaders like LeBron, Miller, Jones, Perk etc.

The question was to Shump and about how much playing with LeBron has helped his game. Imans responds that in the past, he's found himself indecisive on offense and too concerned with showing his "full" game. Since coming here, its been drilled in every day by his teammates to simplify the game, do what he does best, act decisicely, and then move on mentally from the play whether it was a success or not. it sounds like an easy concept but when two young guys on a losing team are telling it to another young teammate, does it really stick and make an impact? Not nearly the same way it does when 10 year vets with championship rings tell it to you every day, believe in you, and the results work on the court.

What LeBron and his Lietenenants(plus some pretty good coaches) do for young guys like Delly, TT, Kyrie, Love, and Shump is like "finishing school". It accelerates their IQ and game at a much faster and efficient rate than what happens on losing teams or treadmill teams, if at all.

Both long pressers tonight(Blatt and LBJ/Shump) are really insightful and worth watching.

Shump is doing everything that we would have hoped Wiggins could do. Wiggins might be more of an explosive offensive finisher, but I think is playing less defense and cant shoot as well as Shump is now. Shump checking Korver has been the key defensively this series. It allows the rest of the defense to concentrate more on their guy, you'll notice no frantic late close outs on Korver. The trade off has been allowing penetration, and though it seems that Teague and Schroeder are able to weave in whenever they want, they often dont finish, kick out, and just lose shot clock.

Anyone have that Shump City pic with his flat top turned into the Cleveland Skyline?

Can only find the NYC version.

Huge block from Shump to help send the game to OT when we were defending 4 on 5. He's been incredible these playoffs.

El_diablo_03 said:

Huge block from Shump to help send the game to OT when we were defending 4 on 5. He's been incredible these playoffs.

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Tristan blocked it, not Shump. But Shump has been great this postseason, I agree.

Despite his injury history I think Shump's proven that he's worth a big extension at the end of the season. He's capable of playing elite defense on three positions (1-3), and he can even hold his own in the post against most power forwards. His off-the-bounce game was huge against Chicago, and when he gets hot like tonight he can be our most efficient shooter.

I think the baseline is Alec Burke's contract, 4 years for between $40-45 million. If that's what it takes lock this guy up long term, if he can stay healthy he's going to make multiple All-NBA defensive teams.

Bump the Shump. Another great game from him tonight. Couldn't be happier with the way this kid is playing on both ends.

Yea I'm ok with giving Shumpert 10 million a year. On a bad team, with bad players, he's not worth but maybe half that. But on a good team, where he can just be a defensive stalwart with just enough off the dribble game on offense to keep people honest he's worth a lot more.

It's funny. Last year I wouldn't have traded Waiters for Shumpert straight up. Waiters has (and still has) more tools available. But this is the difference between one guy who understands his role, accepts it, and plays to his strengths and another guy who has no clue what his strengths and weaknesses are. On a team trying to win a title Shumpert has way more value than a guy like Waiters does.