My 2005 Offseason Predictions

[LyXo]

June.

1. Firing of Jim Paxson
: This would have happened when those rumors were coming out. But didn't because of the media hype that it created. Gilbert held out because he didn't want to create more turmoil in the organization for no good reason.

2. New GM: John Hammond
: I don't really have a good preference for the future GM, but John Hammond seems like a good candidate: working with Joe Dumars probably gave him a lot of experience in judging good talent.

3. New Head Coach: Phil Jackson
: Dan Gilbert negotiates with Phil Jackson and pays him about 12 million per year for his coaching duties. Gilbert is willing to dish out the cash to make this a world-class organization.

July
4. Acquisition of Ray Allen from Seattle
: I can't judge the future of negotiations, but if Rudoy can't work out a sign-and-trade with Seattle in swift time, we might just renounce Z's rights and throw money at Allen. Allen doesn't really show loyalty to a certain organization, I think he's only there for the money. However, he has immense talent and experience that our team needs. He knows what LeBron James is capable of, and he's aware of what he, himself, is capable of, and would work well together.

-After a bunch of media thrashing at the Cavs organization for the past two months, Gilbert decides he needs to do something quick to set the tone for the market. Waiting on Joe Johnson for 14 days is too much to bank on given the risks of the market. He seizes opportunities, that's why I think JJ and Bobby Simmons are unlikely candidates. Michael Redd will likely sign a max deal with the Bucks, something we're not going to be willing to pay for his defensive deficiencies.

5. Buy-out of Lucious Harris' contract
: Not really much to say here, it's definitely going to happen

6. Rights of DeSagana Diop, Jeff McInnis renounced
: We have not shown the interest of retaining these players to the least.

7. Option of Robert Traylor exercised
: He has shown his strengths as a backup. Given that it's a team option, we will exercise it because the size of the contract is too attractive to turn down.

8. Sign Dan Dickau from the New Orleans Hornets
: Young point guard with tons of potential. Shown to be a leader for a struggling team. Can learn a lot from Eric Snow. Contract would be somewhere around 5yr 20 mil, starting around 3.5-4 mil.

9: Trade: Drew Gooden and Sasha Pavlovic to the Denver Nuggets for Nene Hilario

10. Sign Stromile Swfit from the Memphis Grizzlies
: Around 5 yr, 45-50 mil

Our Team:

PG: Eric Snow
SG: Ray Allen
SF: LeBron James
PF: Stromile Swift
C: Nene Hilario

Key Reserves:
PG: Dan Dickau
SG/SF: Luke Jackson
SG/SF: Jiri Welsch
PF/C: Anderson Varejao
PF/C: Robert Traylor

 

[MarkPrice25]

Are these your predictions, or what you and I and everyone else would LOVE to see happen? Excellent work. I like everything except for signing Dan Dickau. I'm not sold on him, but if the money is what you think it is, it can be a very good move.

Getting Phillip and Allen are my two biggest wishes. There hasn't been much love for Ray Allen in this town, but he's BY FAR the best of the shooting guards out there. You're going to have to pay Redd max money and overpay for a Joe Johnson to keep Phoenix from matching, so you may as well pay the max to the BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE.

Outstanding job......let's hope that you are right. If you're right on 2/3 of it, we are a 50+ win team by accident as long as no major injuries occur.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

I would think that Dickau would start over Snow. Snow cannot log the minutes of a starte anymore.

 

[DDJ7777]

I said in another thread that I think Dickau will be hard to get away from the Hornets. Most fans like him more than Baron even. I would not mind having him and learning the ropes from E Snow, though.

 

[King]

I really like that roster. With Allen and Bron along with that solid supporting cast we could be contenders.

But I dont see why Denver does that trade. Acquiring Sasha would make sense for them, but I dont think they need Drew. They already have KMart at pf and Najera, who has been a great roleplayer for the Nuggets, as his backup. I would love to have nene tho. Him pairing up with AV to form a Brazilian big man combo would be fun to watch.

 

[NarlCavs]

I wouldn't spend that much on either Dickau or Swift. Swift is a little overrated. Gooden is a more multi talented player.
I wouldn't give up that much for Nene either.

I do agree about not going after Joe Johnson. The Cavs can't waste 15 days waiting for Phoenix to decide whether to match an offer. Also, all signs point to the Suns doing everything to keep Johnson.

I also think Ray Allen could be targeted. He appears to be the top FA SG most likely to possibly move on. Redd is still worth going after too. It's far from a sure thing that he'll go back to Milwaukee.

 

[Karma]

Nene and Swift are 2 very inconsistent players like Gooden. So committing so much to them is a big risk. Allen is rising back up my list as well. We can only hope Seattle stink it up in the playoffs, so he may want out of there. As for a backup point guard, I'd prefer to chase a quicker guy. We do lack footspeed.

 

[Slim Sheedy]

i pretty much agree with you on these predictions but i honestly think we cant get rid of Sasha.. his shot is pure and i really like seeing him out there...

I think the main reason nene was inconsistent was because he was a starter in denver and than had to come off the bench..

Stro' is inconsistent and I think he can become consistent on a daily basis if he stays healthy..

 

[Glen Infante]

I agree with Karma on the PG situation. We need a penatrater, someone like Damon Stoudamire pops in my mind as a good starting pg for the Cavaliers. He may have some issues in the past, but he's a vet now and the guy knows how to play.