where does the focus shift now ? IMO RAY ALLEN

[PIP]

because to be honest 'WE AINT GETTIN' "HUGHES" or "JOE JOHNSON" and weren't we under the assumption that JOE was the #1 target ?

so if it was down to these two, where do we go ?

MIKE REDD or RAY ALLEN

for me it's a tough call-- if they were both the same age, RAY ALLEN hands down..but mike is younger

i also think ray is a better fit because he moves so well without the ball, ( so does mike, but not like ray )
i've also seen MIKE shoot milwaukee OUT of a couple games, where as ray seems to always play smooth, and under control

also, there is strong talk that COACH MAC could be coaching the blazers next season ? i wonder if that would help us ? considering ray liked playing for him-and there is no way ray will be a blazer...

considering the teams that have the money to sign ray, and without potentially thier coach in seattle ? i just wonder if that could increase are likley hood to land one of the games best SG'S ?

 

[Mac]

I think at this stage in his career, Ray Allen wants to put himself in the best situation to win a championship.

Lets be honest, with the Spurs, Suns and Mavs, the Sonics have a tough task if they were to make it to the conference championship, let alone the Finals.

Now in the East, you have Detroit and Indiana...Miami has about one year left cause Shaq is done.

Now before our breakdown, we were #2 in the East. There isnt a doubt in my mind with Z back and Ray Allen, or Redd, that we would easly be a top four seed and in the playoffs with so many scoring options, that is very hard to stop.

It just comes down to Mike Brown teaching these guys how to play D IMO

 

[Glen Infante]

I would be happy with either or but if I had to choose one, it would probably be Ray Allen.

He is just a better player overall. I am not sure what direction the new GM is leaning towards, but I doubt it is still in the building processs to get younger. If you fill your roster with veteran players that want to win, you get results. Fill your roster with young talent that hasn't accomplished anything in the NBA, and you get the result we have gotten for the past 2 seasons.

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

Yep - look at guys like Horry (maybe Ferry will bring him along :chuckles: ). He was instrumental to the Spurs success in the Finals - honestly, during the regular season, I never heard about him or let alone thought he was as big a Spur in the San Antonio cog (ain't that clever).

Obviously, Allen is superior to Redd skill-wise. Ray is one of those guys that I can see playing good well into his 30s, ala Reggie Miller, although not that long. I can see Redd's skills diminishing for some reason. Therefore, long term, I see Allen as the better fit, even though he is older. It's the next 3 years that really count - when LeBron needs to be re-signed. Get Allen for 5 years, make sure Z retires a Cav (if that is in fact what LeBron wants), and the chances of him staying get much better. All that is needed is role players - AV is a role player, Luke can be a solid role player, taking over when Allen fades, an unselfish PG, and a scoring option at 4 would be nice (Gooden).

Allen also gives us the best chance to win next year (better than Redd). I also don't necessarily think Redd would come cheaper than Allen. They will both command a ton a dough, and a difference will be minimal to pull them away.

 

[Shakey]

According to Peter Vecsey, the Cavs are prepared to offer JJ a max contract. Without a front office in place, who would make such a decsision?

 

[LyXo]

Ray Allen will be the most expensive out of all of them. A max contract would probably start around 14 million. It's because he's already had a large contract, thus allowing an even longer one (like Shaq).

Michael Redd, on the other hand, along with Joe Johnson, have not recieved those contracts. Theirs can only start around 10 mil, I believe. Same with Bobby Simmons.

Regardless, we have to offer the maximum to each of these FA's. It would be sorely regretted if we wouldn't shell out an extra 5 million on the contract for a marquee FA and then completely miss out. Might as well unload the minigun and see what hits we got.

 

[E-Light]

I think redd's max can start ever than 10.9 mill now with the change in the cba. It will be close now between him and ray allen. I bet they'll get similar deals. Ray Allen is our guy, if we want to win now. redd is still inexperienced, and has played for a loser his whole career. Get the vet in allen, we need the on court leadership. I think LeBron benefits more from ray allen on and off the court than michael redd.

It is imperative we develope a winning attitude. We need to bring players in who have tasted success.

 

[TruBuckeye22]

i am just not ready to say that Hughes is heading back to the Wizards hands down. i am not saying that the Cavaliers are going to snatch him up but i think he will be tempted away by a team that is closer to winning something then the Wiz.

that being said Ray Ray would be my hands down number 1 target because i think the prospects got grim in the JJ sweepstakes. like others have said i think he brings a lot more to the table then Redd.

 

[LyXo]

i am just not ready to say that Hughes is heading back to the Wizards hands down. i am not saying that the Cavaliers are going to snatch him up but i think he will be tempted away by a team that is closer to winning something then the Wiz.

I have no belief whatsoever that Hughes will move. Tempted away by a better team? It's all a matter of perspective. Of course, as Cavs fans, we want to believe that we're better than any other team in the NBA. Being realistic, we're not the best, but right about par with the Wizards. Wizards fans, on the other hand, believe the opposite: the trio of Arenas-Hughes-Jamison is the best in the NBA. I'm sure Hughes shares the same opinion. New team, young, upcoming, surprising. They're going places. Remember, they made the playoffs, and we didn't. I believe it's pretty much a lock that Hughes is staying in Washington, I just can't see him leaving. Washington will have to give him as much as any other, possibly more. There's absolutely no incentive to leave.

Right now as I see it, the only viable options remaining are Ray Allen, Michael Redd, Bobby Simmons, and possibly Cuttino Mobley.

Joe Johnson is out of the mix. Phoenix will match. It's not a bluff anymore now that they've traded Q. They won't negotiate with JJ directly. Why not? Not because they're bluffing, but they'd have to offer an extra year or JJ won't sign it. If he signs with another team, it'll be a 5 year contract. If he signs with Phoenix, it'll be a 6 year. I see Phoenix spending the least amount of money possible.

If McMillan leaves Seattle, Ray Allen will.
If Milwaukee lands a top tier coach (McMillan or Flip), then Redd is staying.

So, worst case scenario, McMillan stays in Seattle, Saunders lands the Milwaukee job, we're left with the bottom end of SG's. If we want Bobby Simmons then we have to overpay. LAC sucks, but there are going to be other teams in the hunt for him as well. Cuttino Mobley too. There's a chance he'll pick up his player option, but also one that he won't and try to skirt somewhere for an overinflated contract.

Jeez man, this offseason SG situation is killin me

 

[Rimage]

JJ in my mind has never been on the table. I have been sure Phoenix would resign for a long time, and recent events have only solidified that feeling.

I want Redd. His shooting and work ethic are rare commodities. He is not a guy that is going to cause you any sort of offcourt problems. He isn't a bad defender now, but I think if asked to improve on his defense he would work to do so.

He would benefit immensely from Lebron penetrating and dishing. I could see Redd scoring more than James if he came to the Cavs and Lebron's assists skyrocketing.

Allen is complainer and whiner. I just think that the Cavs are looking for more than just a great player but someone with great character. Redd has great character.

I think the Cavs will make the push for Redd first and foremost, then Hughes who is good team player as well.

Only then will the Cavs consider JJ, Allen or whoever else.

 

[LyXo]

Redd would be my top priority now too. But all signs seem to be pointing to him re-signing.

What the Cavaliers have to offer Redd:
Max contract: 5 years in length
Home State: Live near family and hometown
LeBron James: Best player to play with in the NBA, arguably

What the Bucks have to offer Redd:
Max contract: 6 years in length
Loyalty factor: Noble players love to stay at one team their whole career (John Stockton, Larry Bird, etc.)
Andrew Bogut: #1 pick shows promise and fits an immediate need
New Coach: Be it Flip Saunders, Nate McMillan, or any coach, whoever it is will show Redd that Milwaukee is committed to winning.
First option: Given the max contract, he'll continue to be the go-to guy there. Coming to Cleveland, he'll be second fiddle to LeBron with no guarantee of winning.

Dunno man, try to make that decision. Looks kinda bleak.

 

[Pioneer10]

If we resign Z, then Allen might be the top choice.

Figure Z has 3 or 4 years left. Allen is 29 so he should be able to put a good 3 or 4 years as well.

A triumvariate of Z, Allen, Lebron would be contenders then for 3 or 4 years before the wheels fall off. I'm starting to think throwing a max contract at Allen (especially with his play last year) would be worth it

 

[Rimage]

Redd would be my top priority now too. But all signs seem to be pointing to him re-signing.

What the Cavaliers have to offer Redd:
Max contract: 5 years in length
Home State: Live near family and hometown
LeBron James: Best player to play with in the NBA, arguably

What the Bucks have to offer Redd:
Max contract: 6 years in length
Loyalty factor: Noble players love to stay at one team their whole career (John Stockton, Larry Bird, etc.)
Andrew Bogut: #1 pick shows promise and fits an immediate need
New Coach: Be it Flip Saunders, Nate McMillan, or any coach, whoever it is will show Redd that Milwaukee is committed to winning.
First option: Given the max contract, he'll continue to be the go-to guy there. Coming to Cleveland, he'll be second fiddle to LeBron with no guarantee of winning.

Dunno man, try to make that decision. Looks kinda bleak.

Some of those pros for the Bucks aren't really much of anything, IMO.

Loyalty factor: Sure, Redd is an upstanding guy, but going to another team is not something underhanded and this seems like it could be a minor factor real quick.
Number #1 draft pick: Draft is pretty weak this year and Bogut could be brilliant or a bust.
New Coach: This represents uncertainty in my mind. The Bucks are changing and Redd may not feel like it is the same team after all is said and done.

There is no gaurantee of winning on any team. To be honest, I have no idea what Redd, the Bucks, or the Cavs are going to do. I just think getting Redd would be the best for us.

 

[LyXo]

Some of those pros for the Bucks aren't really much of anything, IMO.

Loyalty factor: Sure, Redd is an upstanding guy, but going to another team is not something underhanded and this seems like it could be a minor factor real quick.
Number #1 draft pick: Draft is pretty weak this year and Bogut could be brilliant or a bust.
New Coach: This represents uncertainty in my mind. The Bucks are changing and Redd may not feel like it is the same team after all is said and done.

There is no gaurantee of winning on any team. To be honest, I have no idea what Redd, the Bucks, or the Cavs are going to do. I just think getting Redd would be the best for us.

All these things are true. But the Cavs have just as much uncertainty as the Bucks do. It just needs to come down to what Redd wants. Go to the Cavs, play with LeBron, potentially get a championship second fiddle. Stay with the Bucks, be the first option, have his own team and own run at his own championship. And get paid more.

I hate to say it, but it's gonna be tough to see Redd leave. But who knows what could happen, this is the NBA.

 

[King]

Between Redd and Ray I would choose Redd. Ray is clearly the better player, but Redd is younger and will cost us less. I want LeBron to have someone next to him on the perimeter that will be in his prime or near it when LeBron is in his prime. Redd could help put us in a position to contend for more years than Ray would. I would be very happy with either though. Although I honestly dont see either of them signing with us.