If the Cavs end up being bad...

[nickagneta]

what do you think Danny ferry should do?

I'm asking this because I was taking a glance at CavsGM.com the other day, oops, I mean realGM.com, and read the 8 headlines they had posted there and 4 were about the Cavs.

Lebron and Paul ride bikes through Akron.
Lebron says he's loyal to Akron not Cleveland.
Shaq on trading block if things don't work out.
Ilgauskas on the trading block!

The common thread amongst these threads was the fear that seems to be mounting in the Cleveland front office about making sure that Lebron is happy so that he re-signs with the team. But is that Ferry's best move? For instance, I wonder what ferry does if a worst case scenario occurs?

Let's say for instance the Cavs lose two important players to injury, like Williams and Varejao. then let's say Shaq falls way off because he doesn't have the Phoenix medical squad around and because age has caught up to him. Let's say that Lebron doesn't like losing and gets obnoxious and suddenly players are giving up on the team. If come the trade deadline, the Cavs are hovering below .500, a couple of regulars are untradeable because they are hurt, Shaq is looking like it's time to retire and the playoffs look like a dream, one wonders if Lebron goes on the market?

Could Cavs ownership and management really think that if this team lays a stink bomb that there would be any reason whatsoever for lebron to return to Cleveland? Would they move him and what could they expect to get? Would they trade him to a Western conference team only or would they trade him to anyone, including an eastern rival?

If the Cavs stink this year, I just can't see how they could ever think to not trade Lebron as I would believe that there would be no way of the King returning and then the Cavs get nothing in return for him.

What do you think?

[Eja117]

Yes, I'd say keeping Lebron happy is Ferry's best move. I can't think of a better free agent.

If they are bad...get creative. Solid gold toilets or something.

[Roy Hobbs]

They'll still be able to add a ton of salary, with the $21 million expiring contract of Shaq and the $11.5 million expiring of Z.  If things don't work out, I can see them trading one or both of them (plus maybe Hickson) to try to bring in a legit player or two.

[Fafnir]

They'll still be able to add a ton of salary, with the $21 million expiring contract of Shaq and the $11.5 million expiring of Z.  If things don't work out, I can see them trading one or both of them (plus maybe Hickson) to try to bring in a legit player or two.

Is that the best long term move if LeBron might leave?

[Celtic]

Unless Lebron is the injured player, they are still going to at least make the playoffs, but probably wont go far. If they are in that position there will definitely be a deal, Cleveland is desperate to keep the one we are all witnesses to. 

[Fafnir]

Unless Lebron is the injured player, they are still going to at least make the playoffs, but probably wont go far. If they are in that position there will definitely be a deal, Cleveland is desperate to keep the one we are all witnesses to. 

But if they really can offer a second near max deal to another FA would it make sense to trade for a lesser talent?

Their entire plan has been compete with LeBron now and keep as much cap space as possible for the year he can hit FA.

[the_Bird]

They'll never, ever trade LeBron.

If LeBron walks as a free agent, the common perception will be that it was inevitable he was going to leave; most people, right or wrong, won't directly blame Ferry (they'll assign some blame for his not assembling a better squad, but he'll also be able to spin that LeBron would have walked even from a Championship team).

If he TRADES LeBron, he'll forever be the guy that traded the best player of his generation.  He'll be the guy that gave up on LeBron even though he was going to be able to offer him the most money in free agency. 

It's one thing to lose a player to free agency, that doesn't paint the executive in a good light but it's not as bad as being the guy who pulled the trigger on the trade. 

[RebusRankin]

Slightly different tangent, has Ferry done a good job of building around Lebron?

[Fafnir]

Slightly different tangent, has Ferry done a good job of building around Lebron?

The past three years, yes. The 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 teams were very good. The 08 team took a while to come together after their big trade though.

He's had a lot of big misses in FA. Huges and Gooden were bad deals. Nor have his draft picks been all that helpful.

[Roy Hobbs]

They'll still be able to add a ton of salary, with the $21 million expiring contract of Shaq and the $11.5 million expiring of Z.  If things don't work out, I can see them trading one or both of them (plus maybe Hickson) to try to bring in a legit player or two.

Is that the best long term move if LeBron might leave?

If Shaq is a horrible fit (I don't think he will be) I can see them attempting to acquire somebody else.  Also, we have no idea what other teams will be doing.  Maybe Utah wants to move Boozer for Big Z.  Maybe Toronto would be tempted to move Bosh.  Maybe another great player gets put on the market.  If so, Cleveland may think they're better off making a move now, than waiting until next summer.

I do think if Cleveland starts to do poorly, they almost have to make moves to right the ship immediately.  The only way that franchise has continued viability, period, is with Lebron.

[ManUp]

I can't see Cleveland hovering below 500. while Lebron is healthy. At the very least It'd take more than an injury to Williams and Varejao. If the Cavs did get to the point where they knew he was Bolting they are screwed. No team would trade for him if they didn't think he'd resign.

[JBcat]

Well I think it comes down to this.  Lebron will need a legit sidekick a star that can play alongside him for the next 5 to 10 years.  Williams is not the answer in my opinion.  On top of that I don't think they have enough trade assets to bring in another star.   Big Z's expiring contract and what any mix of Hickson, Varejo (if anyone wants that contract), West, Williams, Gibson I don't think will be enough to bring in someone like Bosh.   If the Cavs did a little better job of developing young talent they might be able to.  I think it was amazing what they did last year because if you take Lebron away from that team they would have been a bad team I think. 

[Eja117]

The only way I trade Lebron is if he swears on his pinky toe there is no way on this Earth he comes back.

To just trade him I need something bizzare to take place like D Wade, Bosh, Tay Prince, and Perk and I get to drop a contract I don't like

That's the only way I do it.

[Fafnir]

I can't see Cleveland hovering below 500. while Lebron is healthy. At the very least It'd take more than an injury to Williams and Varejao. If the Cavs did get to the point where they knew he was Bolting they are screwed. No team would trade for him if they didn't think he'd resign.

In 2007-2008 they were around a .500 team for much of the year. Its not unthinkable if they get injured badly.

[RAcker]

One thing is for sure in my mind, if the Cavs with Shaq go the way of the Suns with Shaq, it's time for Shaq to hang it up.