NBA Free Agency: Cavaliers
LeBron covers Dime #47
Although the ‘09 NBA free agent class isn’t as stacked as in years past — not to mention the League is being more thrifty than ever due to the slumping economy — teams still have holes they want to plug, and players have moves they want to make. On the eve of the negotiation period (players can’t officially sign until July 8), we’re taking the next few days to break down each team’s free agent situation…
ROSTER
G – Mo Williams, Delonte West, Daniel Gibson, Wally Szczerbiak, Danny Green, Christian Eyenga
F – LeBron James, Anderson Varejao, Joe Smith, J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson, Tarence Kinsey, Jawad Williams
C – Shaquille O’Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Lorenzen Wright
FREE AGENTS
Varejao, Szczerbiak, Smith, Wright
ANALYSIS
Danny Ferry might as well give LeBron the routing number, PIN number and whatever else LBJ needs in order to feel like he’s in charge here. In the summer before LeBron’s likely 2010 free agency, and coming off another playoff exit in which his teammates didn’t pull their weight, it’s all about keeping ‘Bron happy in Cleveland.
The Cavs already made their biggest offseason splash by trading for Shaq, and otherwise don’t have a lot of money or roster space to work with. There have 16 players on the roster, which drops to 15 if they do the sensible thing and keep 1st-round pick Eyenga overseas for at least a year, and will have a couple of open spots assuming they don’t re-sign all their free agents. Ilgauskas has an $11.5 million player option, and while Big Z is the quintessential unselfish team guy, there’s no way he’s passing that up, even if he knows he’s gonna be a backup to Shaq now.
If the Cavs lose Varejao, they’ll need a big body to replace his rebounding, defense, hustle and overall glue-guy-ability (sounds like a word Jay Bilas would make up). Size in the backcourt is a priority, plus somebody who can create their own shot and not just watch LeBron. And if there’s a young center to be had cheap, that would be a smart move given Shaq and Big Z’s injury history. Nobody wants to venture into the luxury tax, but if that’s what it takes to keep LeBron, the Cavs have to do it.
IDEAL TARGETS
SG – Grant Hill, Marquis Daniels, Von Wafer
PF – Charlie Villanueva, Birdman Andersen, Brandon Bass, Leon Powe (R), Mikki Moore, Pops Mensah-Bonsu
C – Channing Frye, Aaron Gray (R), Ryan Hollins, Joel Anthony (R)
NBA FREE AGENCY ANALYSIS
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Cleveland Cavaliers
Los Angeles Clippers
June 30th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
doc says:
That roster stinks besides you know who and if they dont want him to leave they better keep getting whoever they can get who can contribute to the cause.But they skys the limit either way it just depends on how the 25 year old Bron putting in that work.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Wow looking at that roster it really does stink lol. Like in creating teams on videogames you would neverrrrr go after any of them cats cept Shaq and LeBron lol.
Hope they still dont’ win it all.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
that_dude says:
they need varejao more than they think they do!
June 30th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
dk says:
Of your ” ideal targets ” Only Bass and Hill are worth anything to that team. Daniels has an outside chance but every one else either sucks or will kill the chemistry… Wafer’s garbage and is a number one option on a NBADL team….
June 30th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Ansonious says:
What would be more ideal in my eyes is trading Verajao for what they can get maybe a future draft pick, then get Birdman away from Denver, and if they could pull Daniels out of there ass somehow I’d say they would have one sweet rotation working for them. I was real surprised how much Birdman hustled last year, would be a huge upgrade from Verajao, and of coarse I realize this is my opinion PEACE!
June 30th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Jason says:
Wow, apparently basketball knowledge isn’t required to post comments here.. Once Charlie Villanueva is signed in the upcoming week, this is the team to beat in the East, hands down.
How does the roster stink when there are 3 starters that were all-stars last year? Delonte West is incredible for the Cavs (minus part of the post-season), and Andy has more heart and hustle than any big man in the league. We added a bonafide shot maker in Danny Green and JJ Hickson/Darnell Jackson are both young big men that showed a lot of potential last year.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Coop says:
They don’t stink you morons. You don’t need names to win as they already proved. You’re probably the same guys who were riding Mo Will’s jock throughout the regular season. Just because they had one bad series doesn’t write off all the evidence to the contrary. Daniels/Charlie V might be good.
June 30th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Scott says:
Gotta agree with Coop.
Marquis has quietly impressed a lot of people during his time on the Pacers. Good on defense and crafty on O. He’d probably be a better starter at the 2, than West or Mo. Daniels at the 2, Mo at the 1, and West/Boobie backing them up.
Charlie V you would think would be the IDEAL PF for the Cavs. He’s like a younger Lamar Odom, he has all the tools to be a real talent in the L. But more so, he can hit the 3, he can board, he can handle the rock, basically he’s what the Cavs need at that spot, plus he’s a ton more athletic than anyone upfront on their squad.
June 30th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
samkim says:
no rasheeD?
June 30th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
JHUSTLE says:
Charlie V is the man 4 that team. Just think when LBJ comes drivin thru the lane and the D collapses on him…he’s gonna dish to charlie who can hit mid or long range, dump it off 2 shaq for the easy dunk or hit mo or delonte for a wide open 3. Sheed would give you the same option but he cant run the floor or handle the rock as good as charlie V. Gotta make that move IMO
June 30th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Arrogant says:
Boozer excersizes his player option
http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/09_boozer_opts.html
June 30th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
flavur says:
I hope they sign Von wafer and Brandon Bass
June 30th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Rushshane says:
Everyone who thinks Charlie V is the one for Cleveland are completely correct. I feel as though a guy who can average 17 and 7 with almost 30 minutes a game to just be plugged into the roster of a championship caliber team is amazing. I’m not ignoring the fact that he cant play D, yet. He will make up for his lack of D with outstanding offense but he I am certain Lebron and crews Defense first will rub off even a little bit on him.
And I have a question of the GM variety.
Big Z.
Yes he’s a Cleveland favorite but he also has a huge expiring contract and we have more needs like reserve bigs and a big 2 guard. Are we even shopping him? And if so for who?
June 30th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
"Tha Boddy" Bad Like Michael says:
Grant Hill would go to the Cavs ez he really enjoyed playing with Shaq last year and isn’t in it for the money…If they get GH they are deadly
June 30th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Celts Fan says:
Just putting this out there to dudes bashing him. Von Wafer’s a damn good backup/4th or 5th option starter. He put up 20+ many times in TMacs absence. I’d kill for the Celtics to pick him up.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:08 am
ponky_alolor says:
Okay peeps… i know that line-up is not the most ideal line-up but heck these are basically the same core of guys who won a lot of games last year. PLUS the remnants of Shaq who is still an upgrade over Big Ben and Sasha.
At the very least, I’d be killing using this line-up in Playstation.
Charlie V. come to Cleveland and be the Lamar Odom-type of guy that the team needs.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:40 am
Sweet English says:
How does that roster Stink? that roster is deep! Talking about ‘oh you wouldnt go for them cats on NBA 2k9′. No, you go after Lebron and Kobe and Wade and Dwight, but unfortunately shit ain’t all cookies and milk and you ain’t Santa Claus, so as teams go, Cav’s are looking like a stronghold right now.
I was gonna say that need a lil help in the at the 3 and 4 by the looks of things, but bringing Charlie V in at the 4 is a solid (enough) and not too expensive option.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:59 am
doc says:
Yeah if they so deep and talented why they get they ass whipped best he best teams all year.They aint fucking deep yall some idiots if u think they are.Its only one reason they won a lot of games and it aint because of no damn deep team.If u knew basketball like u say u do or if u was a real baller like me u would know one motherfucker can carry u to the playoffs or even the championship series but they CAN NOT win it all alone.EXHIBIT A-Shaq dickheads.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Bola says:
It was a pretty weak team no question, yup they have LBJ and a borderline allstar choker-in-the-playoffs in Mo Williams (although i still think blended well with the team on his first season) and won 66 games but the league standing is so deceiving, they failed to match up with the elite teams in the NBA.. Shaq will be a good compliment to LBJ but somehow I still believe they need to add another quality player (charlie v. is out of the market.. damn you, joe d.)to make it all the way. Maybe Rasheed or Artest could come to Cleveland??