The 2023-2024 Off-Season Thread

[The Human Q-Tip]

To me, the biggest thing is he could’ve helped the young players handle the atmosphere. He’s the only guy the Cavs had who had played in an environment like that. Just having a guy on the bench that could help steady the younger players could’ve made a huge difference.

**edit - I agree with everything you said, just adding that even if he couldn’t have contributed on the floor, guys like Allen and Mitchell specifically could’ve used his experience.

Agreed...although it does seem like he wouldn't have been that positive influence unless he was getting playing time. Or at least not told that he wouldn't be getting playing time.

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

Agreed...although it does seem like he wouldn't have been that positive influence unless he was getting playing time. Or at least not told that he wouldn't be getting playing time.

Yeah, I think that's the bigger issue at hand. Hard for any of us to know without being in the building, but for the most part it sounds like Miami simply communicated the situation better than the Cavs and they actually followed through on what they communicated to Love (unlike JBB and Cavs brining in Green).

Perhaps that's what Love really meant when he wanted to go to a team that can compete. Communication is the cornerstone of any successful high-level organization, whether that's in sports or any other business. Love would know that from the Championship and the four straight Finals runs, and understand what it actually takes in a locker room to compete at a high level outside of just having great talent. If he felt the communication wasn't there from the HC, he probably knew it wasn't going to go well in the playoffs to a degree.

Anyway, JBB has always been billed as a 'players coach,' but there have been several instances over the years where there have been clear issues with effective communication involving players.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Love also made the offense look a lot smoother. Even when he was shooting like Shaq from 3, his awareness of where to be, passing skill, and better screen setting skills made the offense always look better than when he wasnt out there. And even if he was brick city, the man has gravity on the perimeter which matters as much for spacing and flow as hitting the shots. No one was gonna defend Stevens or Okoro in the corners. But the guy who dropped 33 in a quarter? Yeah you defend him. Its why his +/- wasnt too bad even with the lack of shooting accuracy and defense. Makes me so mad everytime I think about it with this tiny brain coach who doesnt look at analytics or strategy

The thing that is the most discouraging for me in all this is that JBB literally never said he was at fault for anything. He didn't even have to be specific -- just a sort of "I know that I made some mistakes I wish I could have back, and I'm going to learn from them for next year." But nothing. Allen admitted he had to improve. Mitchell took responsibility. How can you learn from your mistakes if you refuse to acknowledge that you made any?

Here are some direct quotes from his post-game statement after Game 5:

"These are the things you go through that make you a better basketball player".

Would have been nice if he'd also said something like "And they make you a better basketball coach as well." But no. Instead, he went on to say:

"Loses like these make you aware of the areas you need to improve in."

Not "we" need to improve in. Just the players.

"They make you understand all the thing that everybody tells you about playoff basketball."

This one was my favorite because he's basically saying that he told the players the right things to do, but they just didn't do it. Again, their fault, not his. Nice. He also blamed the poor defensive rebounding on the players' "lack of physicality", with no comment on his own defensive game-planning or rotations. He could at least have said "I made some defensive decisions that impacted rebounding, and we'll have to look at the tape to see if that ultimately was the right move or not."

Later on, he actually talked about how "frustrating it is for coaches" when players develop bad habits during the regular season that show up as major flaws in the postseason. Once again, blaming his players with absolutely zero accountability on his end. I wouldn't blame Mitchell for getting the hell out of here at his first opportunity.

Definitely some Hue "My crap doesn't stink" Jackson vibes coming off JBB. Just a despicable post-game presser. Here it is again for any who missed it the first time around:

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

John Hollinger of The Athletic has a column predicting what the league's free agents will do. The Cavs have a decision to make on Cedi.

Cedi Osman, SF, Cleveland ($6,718,842): Cleveland can zap Osman’s money from its books by waiving him before June 29, but I don’t see the advantage of doing so. The Cavs already have $37 million in wiggle room below the projected luxury-tax line, which should be more than enough to re-sign Caris LeVert, add another floor spacer with their full midlevel exception and even use their biannual exception for another depth piece. If the Cavs really need to find a few extra dollars and can’t find a trade, stretching Ricky Rubio’s $6.1 million over five years (thanks to his non-guaranteed 2024-25 year) would be a better way to achieve it. Prediction: Not waived
This could be an interesting off-season. As Hollinger put it:

As it turns out, roughly one-seventh of the league — 60 players! — still have some kind of decision left before we know for sure whether they’re free agents. Those consist of three categories: player options, team options and non-guaranteed, non-minimum deals with a trigger date in June or July.

He lists 22 with player options, 21 with team options, and 17 with non or partial guarantees with trigger dates. Cedi is in the last category.

Some players Hollinger feels will be available that I think the Cavs might be interested in:

Mo Bamba
Mike Muscala
Donte DiVincenzo
Bruce Brown

Bruce Brown, SF, Denver ($6,802,950): Congratulations, Denver, on the free-agent move of the year: Brown was a screaming bargain at $6.5 million, and the Nuggets may win the title because of it. In a related story, there’s no way he’s coming back at the same price. Brown surely will opt out this summer and has a good chance to double his salary (or better) in a market thin on two-way wings. Prediction: Opt out

 

[2 For The Brew]

Living in Philly I've come to appreciate the attitude here to some extent. If this Kevin Love debacle had happened here JBB would be torn to shreds daily. Media & fans go overboard at times but screw ups like this need to be called out.

Wife has turned on her guy Embiid after the latest 2nd round collapse: "Fuck the Process." Nick Nurse has already been called out by media that ECF is a minimum expectation. JBB should be grateful he's not dealing with that level of smoke.

 

[Comeback kid]

Cedi isn’t going to come back if JB is still here.

 

[CavsKermit]

The damning thing, not only for JBB but Altman (who could've said no to the buyout) as well, is that they didn't seem to recognize the value in having options or versatility heading into the postseason. They thought bringing a bag of hammers was just as valuable as an actual toolkit.

Then you get to Game 1, the Knicks are playing 15 feet off of Okoro (which was pretty predictable), and now you're scrambling against a de facto box and one. That's as much on Altman as JBB.

What's entirely on JBB is Wade, and to a lesser extent Stevens, getting zero run while Allen looks like he's going to keel over against an opponent that is legitimately 4 deep in the front court.

I don't know. I'm hopeful that the private conversations are very different than the public statements because I'm worried we're going to burn through another season of Mitchell's contract with JBB at the helm and I'm not sure we have it to burn. Part of me also thinks you need a more seasoned coach to incorporate Mitchell into a more team-oriented offense.

 

[CavsKermit]

Cedi isn’t going to come back if JB is still here.

It's a team option. It's not up to Cedi, and frankly, Cedi is like No. 67 on the list of things Altman should be worried about.

 

[macbdog]

To me, the biggest thing is he could’ve helped the young players handle the atmosphere. He’s the only guy the Cavs had who had played in an environment like that. Just having a guy on the bench that could help steady the younger players could’ve made a huge difference.

**edit - I agree with everything you said, just adding that even if he couldn’t have contributed on the floor, guys like Allen and Mitchell specifically could’ve used his experience.

Donovan Mitchell had been to the playoffs 5 years in a row, the and number of times as Love. Wtf was Love supposed to teach him?

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

Donovan Mitchell had been to the playoffs 5 years in a row, the and number of times as Love. Wtf was Love supposed to teach him?

You’re right. I completely forgot that never making it out of the second round and going to the Finals 4 times and winning a title were the same thing. My bad.

He can help Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, and others, but can’t help an inexperienced Cavs team.

 

[Comeback kid]

It's a team option. It's not up to Cedi, and frankly, Cedi is like No. 67 on the list of things Altman should be worried about.

True, but I doubt they renew his contract if he expresses his desires.

 

[pinoycavsfan]

Wish DG and Mobley join team USA this summer. Would be great for their development.

 

[CavsKermit]

True, but I doubt they renew his contract if he expresses his desires.

With all due respect to Cedi, he's simply not good enough to flex like that. After how every many years in the league, he's still a very erratic shooter and poor defender. He's not guaranteed to get more on the open market.

 

[Jscc]

Wish DG and Mobley join team USA this summer. Would be great for their development.

When do the invites go out?

 

[Dr No]

With all due respect to Cedi, he's simply not good enough to flex like that. After how every many years in the league, he's still a very erratic shooter and poor defender. He's not guaranteed to get more on the open market.

My guess with Cedi: He would probably like to get into a different system. As a mediocre defender and good open court player, the Cavs style really doesn't help him. But, at his age and contract situation, what he probably wants most is a chance to play enough minutes to entice someone into another solid contract. If he stays in Cleveland, he probably gets more of what he's gotten and gets an offer similar to what he has. Not bad by any means, but I suspect he believes he can do better. If his people can find him a roster spot somewhere else that looks like he has a good chance for regular minutes, I think that would be his preference. He would be easily tradable at his current salary and age, but I think the Cavs will guarantee him for another year. It hard to see getting a much better player for the same dollars.