Still think Gooden should be "traded"?

[acesclone]

Hmmm, without Hughes the team has struggled. Without Gooden the team positively stinks. I say we have 2 wins with DG palying the last 2. What do you say?

He is worth a good contract. He is rebounding well, and if we need him to score he can. Yes, he does some dumb things, but who on this team DOESN'T? I see a team that may just be unstoppable when LH comes back.

 

[KI4MVP]

I never wanted to trade Drew - I don't understand why he's not more liked by cavs fans. He's basically a more athletic Boozer and people loved Boozer (before the betrayal). Sure, Drew tended to make bonehead plays last year, but he's not doing it this year. I can think of only 1 bonehead play he's made all year - weeks ago he tried to take the ball up on a break and turned it over. He's out there working hard, grabbing the rebounds, playing decent defense and gets his share of points, yet everyone wants to trade him away.

 

[Maximus]

I can think of only 1 bonehead play he's made all year

I guess we have different definitions for "bonehead play"? I count missed rotations, losing your man on D, and the real special plays like when he tried stealing a rebound from Donyell Marshall and scored for the other team....that was priceless.
Overall I like Drew, but I also think PG & PF are the two starting positions that need to be upgraded for us to win a title.

 

[KI4MVP]

I write that tip into the wrong basket off as a bad break on a hustle play. I don't think either guy realized the other was there.

 

[TruBuckeye22]

i don't think not having Gooden cost the Cavs either of the last 2 games, Henderson played well against the Nuggets in his place. besides that is an arguement that can't be proved either way so it is pointless to bring it up.

i for 1 have said from the begining that i didn't see Gooden on this team after the trade deadline. it is the same thing with Coco and the Indians it's not because they can't play it is because those are the only expendible guys who could bring anything of value in return. not to mention i don't think they will bring Drew back at the end of the year, someone will go over top of the Cavs best offer and he will be gone.

not saying he should go, just think he will be gone.

 

[Recluse]

Gooden didn't tip the ball in--Marshall did. And it was Marshall's fault.

 

[KI4MVP]

Why don't we bring Drew back? He's a restricted free agent and we have bird rights - there really is no good reason we can't sign him to a fair contract and keep him on the roster. Just assuming AV can step up and do the same job Drew does is not the answer for this team. AV is great in the role of energy guy off of the bench, there is no need to take a hit and rush his development.

 

[LyXo]

It's not mainly about his talent, or fit with the team. It has much to do with his contract year. He'll be getting good offers from teams looking for post scoring from the 4. Do we want to give him a 5 year, 50+ mil deal? Will he get that? Who knows, but it's definitely possible in this market. Offense gives you money, that's what got Boozer his 60 million dollar contract: his potential to put up 20/10. If there is someone out there with cap space and that same need, look for a sizeable offer... (see: Chicago Bulls)

Even though we're going to eventually be far over the cap after LeBron's max deal, we still need to make good business decisions. Do we want Drew here long term for a large deal? Is he really the best fit here?

Remember when, this summer, rumors came out that we were pursuing Udonis Haslem, hard? We wanted that defensive-minded, tough bruiser that grabs boards and plays interior D... And this was when Gooden was still on board, before we signed Marshall. After this, it became clear what we wanted out of the power forward position. Someone that will come relatively cheap, that does dirty work.

Drew Gooden... if he wants to stay here, he must do the following:
1. Learn the defensive system: no more missed assignments
2. Forge consistency on both ends: he's been doing a good job of this... except on defense
3. Take a pay cut: we're not giving him more than 50 million, 5 years. Maybe 6 year, 50 mil, but even that's a stretch.

 

[KI4MVP]

what other PFs are free agents this year? And are we sure we want to give up a PF who can potentially put up 20/10? This is a perfect situation for Drew - he doesn't have to do too much and his responsibilities will grow over the next few years as Z gets closer to the end of his deal. Over time our front court should transition from Z/Drew to Drew/Z. Drew has plenty of upside to his game. Who wants to see him come back and haunt us like giving up Brand haunts the Bulls. I'm not saying he reaches Brand's level, but there clearly is more to his potential than what we've gotten out of it thus far.

 

[Glen Infante]

I believe Drew Gooden is a fine player. But I think we either need to find a far better talent at the 4 spot.

Z doesn't have too many years left to score double digits every night. We are going to need a force down low, and Drew Gooden is only capable of scoring good numbers against inferior PF's.

He would be a nice piece off the bench though. I don't see him being LeBron's starting PF in the future.

 

[KI4MVP]

Do you mean like when Jermaine O'Neal held Drew to 21/12?

 

[Glen Infante]

Ok, you got me on that one.

 

[Mac]

Gooden just doesn't get it...he hustles and he can score, we appreciate that. But do we really want to give this guy a lot of money when his defense is down right terrible?

And I dont really think we need a scorer at the four spot, I think we need an inforcer much like a Danny Fortson, if he was ever healthy. A Udonis Haslim, etc..etc..you get the point.

He just doesn't fit here..but there isnt much out there to get and with his current contract, we wont get equal value in return.

 

[Maximus]

This is a perfect situation for Drew - he doesn't have to do too much.

Unfortunately I think he agrees with you there. There are far too many nights where he simply doesn't show up. On nights when he does stuff the stat sheet he can still be a big defensive liability.
With Lebron, Larry and Z on this team Drew will never average 20 & 10 for the Cavs....never. Take Z out of the equation and Drew still doesn't do it. Only way he averages those numbers are on a bad team with no stars....even then I think he lacks the consistency to do it.
There have been several times this year where Brown has benched him because he can't play defense.....do you really want to pay someone like that 10M a year? I'm thinking Ferry will do a sign and trade this summer to get max value in return. Chances of him being in a Cav's uniform a year from now are less than 10%.
Again, I like Drew but he is not the PF to lead us to a title.

 

[Wine and Gold]

Gooden just doesn't get it...he hustles and he can score, we appreciate that. But do we really want to give this guy a lot of money when his defense is down right terrible?

And I dont really think we need a scorer at the four spot, I think we need an inforcer much like a Danny Fortson, if he was ever healthy. A Udonis Haslim, etc..etc..you get the point.

He just doesn't fit here..but there isnt much out there to get and with his current contract, we wont get equal value in return.

Ditto. It's not that DG isn't a solid player ....it's that he's really not a perfect fit here. Due to circumstances, he is the one negotiating piece that is out there that provides an opportunity for us to improve ourselves. Moving players like Snow and DJ would be salary dumps and wouldn't provide us with anything of substance on the playing end ....I don't write it down as a foregone conclusion that we have to move Gooden. But, it's imperitive that we look at all available options that are out there, to see if we can come out of it with a player that fits what we need to a greater degree than what Drew does.

I truly am beginning to realize that he's just one of those players that doesn't have the ability to grasp any defensive philosophy ....his perfect place to play would be in Dallas or Phoenix ....a style that pushes the ball at all times.

Here, he is a talented player whose best assets aren't needed, and his worst assets are required. That sums up Drew Gooden in Cleveland ...