Looks like we dodged a bullet with the Cavs getting Shaq...

[colincb]

Shaq vs Ben Wallace?

I think it's a big improvement for the Cavs.

[nickagneta]

I just have no idea what Danny Ferry is doing and how he continues to keep a job.

First, he doesn't trade Wally Szczerbiak at the deadline to get any help in the frontcourt. Instead he keeps the slow, unathletic Wally, signs a much slower and playing much older than expected, Joe Smith.

Now, he trades for a huge, slow, old amd limited Shaq. I say limited because the Cavs lost in the playoffs because they just weren't athletic enough up front to contain Howard, Turk, and Lewis. Their other major competitor in the East is Boston with Perk, Pierce and KG, three other athletic guys.

What are they thinking?

Their big guys right now are Shaq, Z and Hickson and that's it!!!!

[JSD]

I just have no idea what Danny Ferry is doing and how he continues to keep a job.

First, he doesn't trade Wally Szczerbiak at the deadline to get any help in the frontcourt. Instead he keeps the slow, unathletic Wally, signs a much slower and playing much older than expected, Joe Smith.

Now, he trades for a huge, slow, old amd limited Shaq. I say limited because the Cavs lost in the playoffs because they just weren't athletic enough up front to contain Howard, Turk, and Lewis. Their other major competitor in the East is Boston with Perk, Pierce and KG, three other athletic guys.

What are they thinking?

Their big guys right now are Shaq, Z and Hickson and that's it!!!!

It's a little premature to assume that they're going into next season with just Shaq, Z and Hickson. What if they add Wallace to that rotation? The Cavs would be pretty dangerous in any halfcourt set. Ferry has a dilemma, he wants to win now but be in position to sign 2 max guys (1 being James) next summer. What would you have done? I think this is a great trade for the Cavs for now and the future.

[Roy Hobbs]

For next season, I think Shaq is a much better fit than Chandler.  I think Chandler has become a bit overrated, especially with his injury concerns.

[dark_lord]

For next season, I think Shaq is a much better fit than Chandler.  I think Chandler has become a bit overrated, especially with his injury concerns.

co-sign!  this is bad news for us

[GroverTheClover]

If I'm a Cavs fan I don't know what to think. Shaq can give them what Big Ben did on defense and rebounding plus the offense. On one hand, it having Shaq in the low post will give them another option in the half court but wouldn't Shaq also clog the lane?

At least Z could step out and hit those midrange shots and space the floor better for Lebron. I don't know what to think about this trade.

[Cman]

Shaq vs Ben Wallace?

I think it's a big improvement for the Cavs.

Agreed.  Good move for the Cavs.  It doesn't make them much better, but it definitely makes them better. 

[Fafnir]

For next season, I think Shaq is a much better fit than Chandler.  I think Chandler has become a bit overrated, especially with his injury concerns.

Especially for the Cavs, they need offense out of their Bigs. Chandler is limited on that end.

[Moranis]

Shaq was still an 18/8/1.5 player in just over 30 minutes.  That is a massive improvement for the Cavs in the low post. 

Look for Cleveland to re-sign Varejao and also add a wing with the MLE (Charlie V talked about signing in Cleveland for the MLE, but he is restricted and I would think Milwaukee would match that)

[Greenbean]

For next season, I think Shaq is a much better fit than Chandler.  I think Chandler has become a bit overrated, especially with his injury concerns.

Especially for the Cavs, they need offense out of their Bigs. Chandler is limited on that end.

It is true that Chandler has no post game, but having Shaq means they will have to slow down the tempo even morethan they already do for him to get his touches. IMO they get even more predictable and stale on offense. It is time for the Cavs to start pushing the tempo a little more frequently to take advantage of Lebron's abilities. With Chandler, they would have had an athletic big who makes them dynamic on defense against the pick and roll (something Shaq and Z are god awful against) and who can run the floor with Lebron. I completely agree that Shaq makes more sense for financial flexibility and hence, they made the right move, but you cannot convince me that Shaq is a better fit than a healthy Chandler.

[hwangjini_1]

Shaq vs Ben Wallace?

I think it's a big improvement for the Cavs.

Agreed.  Good move for the Cavs.  It doesn't make them much better, but it definitely makes them better. 

agreed. but where it makes them better is exactly in the area of weakness that killed them in the playoffs with orlando....

they were unable to contend with howard down low. at least with shaq, they have the possibility of containing howard better, allowing the rest of the team to play better perimeter defense on orlando's 3 point shooters.

cleveland is better than they were at the end of this year. it's going to be tough and entertaining playoffs next season.

[Greenbean]

Of course if Chandler is hurt I am completely wrong.

[Fafnir]

For next season, I think Shaq is a much better fit than Chandler.  I think Chandler has become a bit overrated, especially with his injury concerns.

Especially for the Cavs, they need offense out of their Bigs. Chandler is limited on that end.

It is true that Chandler has no post game, but having Shaq means they will have to slow down the tempo even morethan they already do for him to get his touches. IMO they get even more predictable and stale on offense. It is time for the Cavs to start pushing the tempo a little more frequently to take advantage of Lebron's abilities. With Chandler, they would have had an athletic big who makes them dynamic on defense against the pick and roll (something Shaq and Z are god awful against) and who can run the floor with Lebron. I completely agree that Shaq makes more sense for financial flexibility and hence, they made the right move, but you cannot convince me that Shaq is a better fit than a healthy Chandler.

They already play slow, Shaq will fit right in. Instead of so many LeBron isos they can run a few posts for Shaq.

[Who]

I'm not wild about the Tyson Chandler fit, I think the Cavs would need to bring in a jump shooting solid scoring power forward in order to make it work. But if they got that, they'd be incredible.

I think the Cavs need a jump shooting big man to space the floor for LeBron.

[KCattheStripe]

I'm not wild about the Tyson Chandler fit, I think the Cavs would need to bring in a jump shooting solid scoring power forward in order to make it work. But if they got that, they'd be incredible.

I think the Cavs need a jump shooting big man to space the floor for LeBron.

You mean like Joe Smith?