A New Sidekick for LeBron: Baron or Michael Redd?
LeftyLeBron has publicly said that he’s going to take some time this summer to turn up the heat on Cleveland’s front office to find him some more help. It worked for Kobe, right?
With news that Michael Redd is “disenchanted” with the Bucks, he’s apparently been moved to the trading block. Though Redd has posted gaudy numbers as the primary option in Milwaukee, his style of play is better suited as a second option. He’s best when catching and shooting - if teams have to help as someone penetrates in the lane, Redd could really rip the nets from deep. He was courted by Cleveland when he was a free agent last time, but decided to take a bigger payday in Milwaukee. Now, he’s still under contract until ‘09-10 with an option for the following year.
The Cavs have $20 million in expiring contracts (both Wally Szczerbiak and Eric Snow) after the ‘08-09 season, and could use those to leverage a position on Redd. Or, they could work a sign-and-trade with the Warriors to land Baron Davis. While Cavs fans would drool over the possibility of Redd knocking down open triples off of passes from King James, what about Baron getting LeBron easy buckets on the break?
Davis’ name has only surfaced in rumors, while the Redd rumblings are growing louder. But for Cavs fans, shouldn’t the priority to find ways to make LeBron’s life easier instead of using him as a one-man support system?
May 28th, 2008 at 9:03 am
bsteezy3 says:
Hey, I don’t think the Bay Area is gonna part ways with Baron Davis yet. Hopefully Nellie will be out of there so they can use some common sense and get the deal done to keep Baron there. If not, I think the Cavs HAVE to go after him. Realistically though, the Cavs would be better with Michael Redd. I think he would be better in the Cavalier’s offense–pass it to LeBron, hope me makes a shot or makes a play. I’d be more worried about Michael Redd catching and shooting than Daniel Gibson…(D.West stepped up though, but Redd is better than him too). I just dont’ want Baron to leave G-State…
May 28th, 2008 at 9:03 am
C says:
He needs Baron much more than Redd. Get the ball out of his hands and into a real PG’s and you won’t have as stagnant an offense. If Redd went to Cleveland, he would suffer the same fate as Hughes and Wally.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:12 am
bsteezy3 says:
Redd is better than Wally by a long shot, and Hughes just had too many injuries. They would benefit with Redd and then get a cheaper, “run-the-offense” type point guard. Baron Davis is a playmaker–you can’t expect him to play second fiddle to LeBron. The perfect PG for this offense would be someone like Jason Kidd (with a better jumper)–why? Because all he has to do is pass it to LeBron and the shooters. That what the next starting PG for the Cavs will be expected to do–especially if they get a scorer like Redd.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Quedas says:
I really don’t agree that LeBron needs an exceptional point guard by his side. What makes his game unique is that he is such a good passer off the penetration - why would you want to kill off that part of his game? He needs a potent threat from beyond the arc and a good post presence - kind of like what Boston did. Also, if MJ didn’t need a QB-like PG and Kobe doesn’t need a QB-like PG, why does LeBron, who is actually a better passer than both of them, need one? I could never really understand this fixation…
PS: Before the fight even begins, for me MJ is untouchable as the best ever. I’m just saying LeBron is a better PASSER.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Craig says:
thats the thing, no matter what shooter they put with lebron, one bad game, or a streak and the guys rep is defamed. he needs b-diddy, redd will miss and go through a dry spell like any shooter and then people are going to say the same things. give it to a strong trip doub threat like diddy and watch him with it
May 28th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Dagomar says:
The Cavs have so many different needs. They need a point because Lebron’s their best finisher. They need a dynamic big man who can get points in the paint; Z is getting too old for the role. And they need better shooting.
If anything, shooting might be the lowest priority right now. But Redd would help, if he wouldn’t completely demolish the Cavs’ chances at making another deal. Still, will the Bucks want only expiring contracts and some mediocre young players?
May 28th, 2008 at 10:04 am
DaPro says:
The Cavs need someone to handle or at least bring the ball up for Cleveland so Lebron can catch the ball in his sweet spots to put pressure on the d.
Baron can help with that but the problem is what plays will Brown/Woodson call?
Iso for both players????
May 28th, 2008 at 11:25 am
mambo mamba says:
Funny that Redd wasted the opportunity to sign in cleveland a few years back when he was a FA along with Shuttlesworth and Hughes.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:35 am
dukesman2000 says:
Michael Redd would be a great fit in Cleveland…Tell Lebron to leave Boom Dizzle alone, cause BD is coming to the Knicks…(wishful thinking on my part)
May 28th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Celts Fan says:
Want to make LeBron’s life easier? Get him someone else that’s worth a damn. Big Z, Delonte, and Gibson are all important to the team and fill important roles, but none of them would ever be considered a second option on a contending team.
I’d say go after Michael Redd before Baron without question. Completely ignoring the injury questions with Baron, would you rather have a guard tandem of Delonte/Boobie and Redd or Baron Davis and Wally (or Devin Brown if Wally’s included in a Baron deal which would almost certainly have to happen)
May 28th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Celts Fan says:
If you get Redd, you have a deadeye shooter that teams absolutely have to stay with, leaving that much more space for LeBron to work with (and Big Z, Delonte, and Boobie are all plenty capable of knocking down open looks LeBron finds them for, which there should be more of with Redd out there, forcing a defender to stay tight to him.)
May 28th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Octopus Jonny says:
The problem with sending Redd to the Cavs is that the Cavs don’t really have anyone that helps the Bucks outside of expiring contracts. The only way I see this happening is if more teams become involved in the process. Possibly Dallas sending Josh Howard and someone to the Bucks and taking the expiring contracts from Cleveland?
May 28th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Celts Fan says:
Very true, but if the Bucks are actually done with Redd, I’d take that as a signal that they’re about to start rebuilding AGAIN, so $15M in expiring contracts, a draft pick or 2, and someone like Boobie Gibson, Varajao, or Delonte (young, cheap talent) could get it done. It’s not something I’d recommend or take if I’m Milwaukee, but it’s entirely possible that it could work.
This day was set in motion and became inevitable 3 years ago with the sentence that we all knew was a HUGE mistake, “With the first pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks select Andrew Bogut.”
May 28th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
BlazeMcHerbs says:
Baron Davis will complement Lebron and let him be a finisher also. And they both want rings
May 28th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
doc says:
I think Michael Redd a good look in Cleveland.I dont really know about Bron and Diddy.That could be crazy good or crazy bad.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Ding Dong the Knicks are Dead says:
Lebron should stop whining and use the energy in the off season developing post moves and a reliable short range jumper instead of pressuring management for band aid solutions. He should take responsibility for the team and stop pointing fingers. Yes, his supporting cast sucks, but it begins with him.
May 29th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Cammy Z says:
The Cavs need to think long-term. Lebron’s like what, 23, 24. And I think Redd is around 27 and he’s been much healthier than Baron Davis (who’s 29 or so). I say, go for Redd and you can have a sidekick for the next, say, 8 years or so (remember, shooters can usually be effective late into their careers) whereas Baron might only give Lebron a good 2 years or so.
May 29th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
sans says:
I like a backcourt of Diddy/Delonte better than Delonte/Redd. Why? Because Delonte cannot pass the basketball at all. We saw this the entire playoffs, and his inability to hit a cutter, coupled with the idiocy of Mike Brown’s complete lack of an offensive scheme, is the Cavs most glaring weakness. Honestly though, I wish they would start talking to AI about opting out. Yeah, he won’t make any money out of it, but Answer has oodles of stashed cash and Lebron distributes the ball for the Cavs so Allen can keep up his jacking habits and guard the opposing squads point during games. I love Michael Redd, but I would take a couple players over him.
This offseason, the Cavs need to do a few things, namely:
1)Fire Mike Brown because you cannot demote him to being an assistant coach that pushes hard D and rebounding while the real coach gets the Cavs to run offensive plays;
2)Buyout Ben Wallace; they need his cap room to make any significant deals and Big Ben doesn’t have it anymore, no hustle, all he does is hold other players on D (and gets called for it), and the player who “guards” him is often the final obstacle that Bron has to get through to get the ball in the cup;
3)Make a move. Get ANYONE that can legitimately ball, no prospects that might work in time. AI, Baron, Elton Brand, Zach Randolph (who would be a monster as Bron’s 2nd option), Eddy Curry (who I wonder if they can get for Ben), Micheal Redd, Melo, ANYONE THAT CAN LEGITIMATELY BALL! That said, Charlie V on the cheap, Corey Maggette, even Steph (despite the hate between him and King) would help, let alone if they could bring Andre Miller back into the fold.
4)Fire Danny Ferry on principle. “There’s principalities involved” when someone steals money from your organization both in the front office and as a player. Did you know, based only on his first deal, Ferry was the highest paid player, per minute, in the history of the NBA, while playing for the Cavaliers? Fuck that guy.
peace.