Out of the Rafters's Analysis of the Trade Deadline (LONG)

[mixman]

Nice write up rafters, definitely disagree with you on Iggy though. I think a Lebron / Iggy duo would be dynamite. While Iggy might not be the best shooter in the league, he's not exactly a slouch either, and Lebron's shooting has improved to the point where I don't think putting him on the floor with a non-shooting 2 would be a problem. Plus, a Mo+Iggy core would give Lebron more reason to stay then a 34 and over starting frontcourt we'd have with someone like Jamison.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Unlike many of you here, I just don't think Iguodala is attainable ...

Mike Miller's always high on my list, but do we really need ANOTHER SG/SF?

If Philly decides to rebuild, they'll use Iguodala to dump either Brand or Dalembert. They would build around Thaddeus Young at SF and Speights at PF.

Are you comfortable with Parker guarding Kobe Bryant? Are you comfortable with relying on Jamario Moon to hit open shots?

Mike Miller is a SG/SF that would instantly be our second best wing player. He is one of the best shooters in the league, a good character guy, and a good passer. Parker and Moon were fantastic stopgaps to pick up in free agency after Ariza/Artest were off the board, but neither of them is the solution I want long term.

Mo/West
Miller/West/Parker
LeBron/Miller/Moon

Playing Mo 38 minutes at pg, and West for 10
Miller gets 20, West gets 20, and Parker gets the remaining 8 minutes at SG.
LeBron gets 40 minutes, but 10 of those at PF. You play Miller at SF for 10 minutes and Moon for about 8.

Doesn't that rotation look a lot more effective than:

Mo/West
Parker/West
LeBron/Moon

Personally, Anthony Parker is our weakest link in the starting lineup. He can shoot the three, but he is too slow to be a good defender, and he doesn't score off the ball or handle the ball particularly well.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Nice write up rafters, definitely disagree with you on Iggy though. I think a Lebron / Iggy duo would be dynamite. While Iggy might not be the best shooter in the league, he's not exactly a slouch either, and Lebron's shooting has improved to the point where I don't think putting him on the floor with a non-shooting 2 would be a problem. Plus, a Mo+Iggy core would give Lebron more reason to stay then a 34 and over starting frontcourt we'd have with someone like Jamison.

Ehh, to each his own. I just feel like Iguodala is a player that needs the ball in his hands to be effective. On top of that, he is a natural SF. Our offense revolves around having the ball in LeBron's hands, along with forcing defenses to collapse so we can kick the ball out for an open three. While Iguodala is more talented than the rest, he doesn't really bring a dimension that LeBron doesn't already bring, and he'd be playing out of position (Where he's struggled at in Philly). Combine that with the value we'd have to give up to get him and I think that Miller is more easily obtainable and fits better.

 

[abuC]

Ehh, to each his own. I just feel like Iguodala is a player that needs the ball in his hands to be effective. On top of that, he is a natural SF. Our offense revolves around having the ball in LeBron's hands, along with forcing defenses to collapse so we can kick the ball out for an open three. While Iguodala is more talented than the rest, he doesn't really bring a dimension that LeBron doesn't already bring, and he'd be playing out of position (Where he's struggled at in Philly). Combine that with the value we'd have to give up to get him and I think that Miller is more easily obtainable and fits better.

I don't think he needs the ball all the time to be effective, his usage rate is actually lower than Jamisons. Also, the Bobcats are currently starting two SFs in Jackson and Wallace and they are doing well, neither guy has a truly reliable jumpshot, both LeBron and Iggy are hitting their jumpers at higher rates than both of those guys. If you look at Iguodala's shot numbers from 82games you can also see that a lot of his jumpers are unassisted (39%). So, if he's making them at a respectable 41% now while creating so many of them off the dribble, it stands to reason that he should become a slightly more efficient shooter in catch/shoot situations. He's not a bad shooter, I think he's forced into a situation where he's trying to be something he's not which is a guy that create off the dribble all the time.

I think he would be an excellent fit on both sides of the ball, his ability to get to the rim would put pressure on opposing teams, and he'd add to the overall physical nature of the Cavs.

 

[Surge]

I'd take Iggy, and I'd actually be happy to take Brand back too... I believe he's got some juice left...

Mo, Iggy, LBJ, Brand, Shaq? That's a scary good lineup... All-Star caliber talent at all 5 spots... (Not that I see it happening)

 

[Mdog1]

Very detailed and very long post OOTR. I disagree very much so with you about Iggy though. Iggy to me is like LeBron, just not as good at any thing. With the pair of them on the wings we would have a very strong defense, and Iggy is shooting the ball fairly well as the number one option, something that he clearly is not. If you look at all of the players we trade for, especially perimiter guys their percentages sky rocket when they come here and begin to reap the benefits of having so many open jump shots because teams pay so much attention to LeBron. Parker is a prime example. His three point shooting percentage went up 8% by coming to our team, and his overall FG% is up 2%. Mo is another guy whos 3pt% skyrocketed 8% when he became a member. With Shaq and LeBron drawing so much attention away from Iggy I doubt his 3pt% would go up by 8 % but he should be around 35% and his overall FG% should also go up. Also when LeBron went to get a good rest we could potentially keep a lead with a line up of Mo/Delonte/Iggy/AV/Shaq instead of always giving the lead up and having to bring LBJ in to quickly.

A trade for Iggy would most definately involve us taking on Brand, something that every Cavs fan should be absolutely thrilled with. Brand is a guy that is on a terrible shooing team and is still putting up very respectable percentages especially on his jumper. A trade for these two guys would shore up every single Cavs weak spot on the roster.

 

[cavsguy13]

A healthy Kevin Martin would be almost perfect for our team. But since thats not happening i would pick iggy, then west, then jamison, then butler, then murphy, and finally salmons. any of those players would be an upgrade and an exciting addition.

 

[abraxas]

I've always been a huge Mike Miller fan as well, but I just don't fully understand how it would help the Wiz to get rid of him, a big expiring contract this year? Unless they were able to really throw away their huge contracts, which wouldn't really be the case with us getting Jamison. The deal you proposed doesn't make sense from that perspective, though if we did this (Z and Wally for Miller and Jamison) I'd be so happy!

 

[wwe101]

give me in this order
(this is assuming bosh and amare are way out of our reach)

1. iggy
2. jamison
3. martin
4.david west

please no troy murphy at all, he is a younger Z with more range

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I've always been a huge Mike Miller fan as well, but I just don't fully understand how it would help the Wiz to get rid of him, a big expiring contract this year? Unless they were able to really throw away their huge contracts, which wouldn't really be the case with us getting Jamison. The deal you proposed doesn't make sense from that perspective, though if we did this (Z and Wally for Miller and Jamison) I'd be so happy!

Besides Arenas (whose contract may get voided out) Jamison is Washington's worst contract. Not many teams are willing to pay someone 15 million dollars when he's 36 years old. I believe I also mentioned we may have to take back their other bad contracts (Blatche/Stevenson) or add more talent (Hickson, Picks).

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Very detailed and very long post OOTR. I disagree very much so with you about Iggy though. Iggy to me is like LeBron, just not as good at any thing. With the pair of them on the wings we would have a very strong defense, and Iggy is shooting the ball fairly well as the number one option, something that he clearly is not. If you look at all of the players we trade for, especially perimiter guys their percentages sky rocket when they come here and begin to reap the benefits of having so many open jump shots because teams pay so much attention to LeBron. Parker is a prime example. His three point shooting percentage went up 8% by coming to our team, and his overall FG% is up 2%. Mo is another guy whos 3pt% skyrocketed 8% when he became a member. With Shaq and LeBron drawing so much attention away from Iggy I doubt his 3pt% would go up by 8 % but he should be around 35% and his overall FG% should also go up. Also when LeBron went to get a good rest we could potentially keep a lead with a line up of Mo/Delonte/Iggy/AV/Shaq instead of always giving the lead up and having to bring LBJ in to quickly.

A trade for Iggy would most definately involve us taking on Brand, something that every Cavs fan should be absolutely thrilled with. Brand is a guy that is on a terrible shooing team and is still putting up very respectable percentages especially on his jumper. A trade for these two guys would shore up every single Cavs weak spot on the roster.

You're starting to sway me towards liking the idea of Iguodala on the Cavs. However, it would take a lot of good fortune on our part for Philly to say "Fine, we need to get rid of Brand and the only way we can do it is to package Iggy with him. Take them both for expiring contracts, we're fine with not getting any real talent in return."

Adding any combination of players from this list for just expirings would be phenomenal. Brand/Iggy, Miller/Jamison, Salmons/Murphy any of those combinations would make us a vastly improved team.

 

[abuC]

Very detailed and very long post OOTR. I disagree very much so with you about Iggy though. Iggy to me is like LeBron, just not as good at any thing. With the pair of them on the wings we would have a very strong defense, and Iggy is shooting the ball fairly well as the number one option, something that he clearly is not. If you look at all of the players we trade for, especially perimiter guys their percentages sky rocket when they come here and begin to reap the benefits of having so many open jump shots because teams pay so much attention to LeBron. Parker is a prime example. His three point shooting percentage went up 8% by coming to our team, and his overall FG% is up 2%. Mo is another guy whos 3pt% skyrocketed 8% when he became a member. With Shaq and LeBron drawing so much attention away from Iggy I doubt his 3pt% would go up by 8 % but he should be around 35% and his overall FG% should also go up. .

Good point, and in the case of Iggy, if teams start respecting his 3, unlike any of the Cavs shooters if you close out too hard on Iggy he'll put the ball on the deck and your big man will end up on ESPN.

 

[BadLabDad]

I voted Butler first. I think he's dissatisfied playing for/with this Lower Whizzers team.
When he is good-he is good.

After reading your analysis I think Mike Miller is the man to get.
I'm a lot more worried about our guard play than front line.

Awesome post.

 

[-Akronite-]

I don't understand Miller. We have lots of shooters and isn't his weakness defense? I'd take him if it was a good deal, but I don't see him as a game-changer.

Iguodala, that's a game-changer. A young talent with "Pippen" potential (in relation to LeBron). As he and LBJ improve their jumpers and enter their prime it would be an exciting dynasty. I see this as the kind of player that could convince LeBron to stay without a ship. I can't see that with anyone else other than maybe a guy like Martin.

Jamison, that's a game-changer. JJ looked good against the Lakers, but is not consistent. Having a crafty consistent guy who spreads the floor would make us unbelievably dangerous. He has the skills to give us the stretch four we've prayed for since Shaq came to Cleveland and the second option LeBron deserves for the next couple years. This is a championship addition.

I'm going Iggy, because I'd assume that we'd take Brand back as well and he's one of the younger, more-defensive minded guys.

 

[foucault87]

Great analysis. I hadn't considered Salmons or Miller earlier...
That sets up this scale for me:
1. Iggy
2. Martin(assuming health)
3. Miller
4. West
5. Antawn
6. Salmons(hopefully with Tyrus)
7. Murphy
8. AK-47
9. Injured Martin

I would really not want Brand or Butler.