I'm gonna try to play the devil's advocate here. If I am Ferry, I honestly would do this. I would first ask LeBron what he think about it, if LBJ wants him, go get him.
Everybody already knows the talent he has. So I don't even need to talk about that.
I realize he is a "cancer", but he is on a team that is the joke of the NBA and they are all a bunch of cancers. Like CavsRules said, maybe being a good team can change things.
Let me just bring up a couple examples of this. Two of the biggest hot-heads/cancers in the NBA a couple years ago, Sheed and Artest are toned down now. Once Sheed went to the Pistons who had other respected players and a chance at winning, he turned into a great teammate. Look at Artest, maybe the biggest "cancer" ever. He was on a horrible team in Sacramento and he even turned it down.
Another reason is this whole 2010 thing. Listen, until LeBron said "Im here to stay" at the Obama thing, most people thought he was a goner (most outside Cleveland still do). What he said at the Obama campaign means nothing, just like what all the "experts" say about him leaving means nothing.
Now I can accept it if we do everything we can to win now and he still leaves. There is nothing the organization could of done about it. But if we don't try everything we can, and he walks, I will be extremely pissed. I think everyone will be thinking "What if we got Zach?" (because we all know we can get him). Lets be realistic, this team has a very very slim chance of winning the Finals. We still need one more piece. I think Zach can do it IF he decided to be a team player. I realize that is a big IF, but it's a chance I am willing to take.
And for those of you that wouldn't do Ben for Zach and Lee, no offense but I think you are nuts. We CAN'T assume in 2010 we're getting Bosh or Wade or someone else. That is just talking crazy. The chances of that happening are WAY less than LeBron leaving. What superstar would want to come to CLEVELAND and play second fiddle to LeBron??
Lastly, we all know that HOPEFULLY we trade Wally for a SG or PF this season. I believe we need that PF more than the SG. I can live with Delonte/Boobie/Sasha getting the minutes there. There is no chance we win a title with Ben and JJ holding down the PF (unless we got a SG, I guess it would be possible). But you get what I am saying. West/Boobie/Sasha is better than Ben/JJ.
I was looking at teams that might suck this year and be looking to unload a PF for an expiring. Well if you look around, there aren't too many.
Here is a list of some PF's that might be available (a lot of them we wouldn't even want).
- Randolph
- David Lee
- Villanueva (nobody wants him)
- Nene & K-mart (horrible contracts)
- Hackim Warrick (undersized)
- Chris Wilcox (good addition but does it put us over the top? No)
- Nick Collison (see Wilcox)
- Al Harrington (undersized, could be decent)
- Marion (undersized, Heat have said they want a star in return)
- Odom (undersized, lack of heart, doubt L.A. trades him for expiring)
- C.Frye (would be an o.k. backup)
There are a ton of SG's I see becoming available, but is it worth the risk? I ask LeBron, I tell LeBron to talk to Zach, I talk to Zach, I make the trade. But hey that's just me, I am a risk taker. I am not satisfied with an aging often injured 4 ppg on 39% shooting PF.
DO IT FERRY
...ok maybe that one is to far, lol
