Hope is not lost in Cleveland

[Eric_Suede]

Yeah Lebron is gone & they'll probably cry for another week or 2 but they can build a nucleus. #1 they got byron scott who I think is a good coach. There's other free agents that are good that aren't getting any press. If I were Cavs my thing right now would be reuniting Richard Jefferson with Byron scott. You got Richard Jefferson (or possibly the other jefferson Al), they can make moves & try to get their hands on Arenas via trade (probably only would have to give up picks & telfair), Pick up AI & Al Harrington. Right now as is their roster has NO-one that sparks interest or has a name that can be marketed. So that's why I'm High on the idea that cleveland can become a "wasteland" of guys who are/were allstars with a chip on their shoulders. Even if it doesn't work and they aren't a winning team , they have nothing to lose , they weren't expected to win anyway...

Proposed starting 5

PG- Gilbert Arenas/Mo Williams/gibson
SG- Allen Iverson/West/Parker
SF- Richard Jefferson/Moon
PF- Antawn Jamison/Harrington/Hickson
C- Varejao/Ilgauskas

Championship Squad...NO
Scrappy team that would be tough with the "running" style of Coach Scott.... YES indeed
Good way to fill some seats with departure of James (getting Allen Iverson).... Oh yeah

[Bankshot]

Yuk

[Brendan]

Yeah Lebron is gone & they'll probably cry for another week or 2 but they can build a nucleus. #1 they got byron scott who I think is a good coach. There's other free agents that are good that aren't getting any press. If I were Cavs my thing right now would be Reuniting Jefferson with Byron scott. You got Richard Jefferson , they can make moves & try to get their hands on Arenas via trade (probably only would have to give up picks & telfair), Pick up AI & Al Harrington. Right now as is their roster has NO-one that sparks interest or has a name that can be marketed. So that's why I'm Hi on the idea that cleveland can become a "wasteland" of guys who are/were allstars with a chip on their shoulders. Even if it doesn't work and they aren't a winning team , they have nothing to lose , they weren't expected to win anyway...

Proposed starting 5

PG- Gilbert Arenas/Mo Williams/gibson
SG- Allen Iverson/West/Parker
SF- Richard Jefferson/Moon
PF- Antawn Jamison/Harrington/Hickson
C- Varejao/Ilgauskas

Championship Squad...NO
Scrappy team that would be tough with the "running" style of Coach Scott.... YES indeed
Good way to fill some seats with departure of James (getting AI & maybe even Mcgrady).... Oh yeah

I think Arenas and Al Jefferson are two depressed value assets that worth going after. Richard Jefferson too, if he doesn't cost too much. They could probably GET a pick for taking Arenas, WASH has to want to dump him, and CLE can provide some security blanket wings in Parker or Moon, or a shooter/bkup PG in Gibson. West would probably go too, and then have his option not picked up. Would Washington take back Jamison in order to clear Gilbert?

Mo Williams probably has value to a contender, wonder if SAS would take him if Parker is traded (or they think he's leaving.) He could play backup guard off the bench and his shooting would help space for Duncan and Ginobli.

[action781]

Yeah Lebron is gone & they'll probably cry for another week or 2 but they can build a nucleus. #1 they got byron scott who I think is a good coach. There's other free agents that are good that aren't getting any press. If I were Cavs my thing right now would be Reuniting Jefferson with Byron scott. You got Richard Jefferson , they can make moves & try to get their hands on Arenas via trade (probably only would have to give up picks & telfair), Pick up AI & Al Harrington. Right now as is their roster has NO-one that sparks interest or has a name that can be marketed. So that's why I'm Hi on the idea that cleveland can become a "wasteland" of guys who are/were allstars with a chip on their shoulders. Even if it doesn't work and they aren't a winning team , they have nothing to lose , they weren't expected to win anyway...

Proposed starting 5

PG- Gilbert Arenas/Mo Williams/gibson
SG- Allen Iverson/West/Parker
SF- Richard Jefferson/Moon
PF- Antawn Jamison/Harrington/Hickson
C- Varejao/Ilgauskas

Championship Squad...NO
Scrappy team that would be tough with the "running" style of Coach Scott.... YES indeed
Good way to fill some seats with departure of James (getting AI & maybe even Mcgrady).... Oh yeah

You're right, TP.  They have nothing to lose.  Gotta take some flyers on washed up all stars.

[Rondo2287]

Thats possibly one of the most trouble riddent starting lineups i have seen in a while. 

-You got one guy who is either hurt or playing with guns.  -Another guy that has moved from team to team the last three years and is currently out of the league. 
-The  guy the celtics picked on for an entire series. 
-And the guy who made the worst opting out decision in this offseason.

And to top it off you have a guy who doesnt seem to be phased by taking shots to the groin. 

Not a recipe for winning.

[Roy Hobbs]

In other words, hope is lost.

Honestly, I think that that team is looking at a #7 - #8 seed, at best.  They'd be better off rebuilding totally, rather than taking on terrible contracts like Gilbert's.

[Eric_Suede]

Yuk

Keep in mind, I'm thinking from the owners mindset. Realistically despite the letter, we all know Cleveland is as far away from a ring as the timberwolves are. So i'm speaking in terms of "from what's left" what lineup is possible to put butts in seats next season now that "the king" is gone. Personally I can't think of anyone with Name recognition that will spark interest other than a resurgent AI or Mcgrady, Arenas & Jefferson. Again a Wasteland of Bad boys. Who knows it just might work. What's cleveland's alternative?
Oh wait, they can be like the Timberwolves and become a puppy squad. Yeah that'll go over well with fans agonizing over the loss of Lebron. A loser puppy squad. Like I said , I'd vote for a badboy wasteland. Again they have nothing to lose. Oh yeah you may be able to get Al Jefferson up front as well , although I would prefer al Harrington at least he stays healthy.

[More Banners]

I agree with the OP completely.  The team has some assets, some scoring talent in Mo and Jamison and possibly Hickson, a starting Center, some shooters, and cap space.  That's not bad.  Actually, looking at the team w/o Lebron, they might fight for a 7-8th seed, which makes it a wonder why they didn't win it all with Lebron after all.  Perhaps he was the problem?  It's a team game, after all...

Good call on signing RJ for half of what Lebron would've gotten (I think that's the range RJ is hoping for, 3-4 years at 8-10 million per).  Definitely a playoff team with him and a good system.

Al Jefferson?  Not sure they have the pieces to get him w/o giving up Hickson, but clearly they should be making a call.

[Brendan]

Al Jefferson for Mo Williams straight up?

I'd only take Gilbert if I got to move some of my bad contracts (Jamison and Gibson) and got back pick(s).

[Truth Hurts]

Cleveland will be in the lottery. Mark it down. This team will completely suck. First of all, you can chalk up:

Boston
Miami
Orlando
Atlanta
Chicago
Milwaukee

for playoffs. Do you really think CLE will seize one of those final two spots? I don't see it.

[Mike-Dub]

After losing LeBron James and then Cleveland bringing in those players.  I would say all all hope is lost.  The Cavaliers should just blow it up now and start the rebuilding process.

[Cman]

Al Jefferson for Mo Williams straight up?

I'd only take Gilbert if I got to move some of my bad contracts (Jamison and Gibson) and got back pick(s).

Doesn't work salary wise.  CLE would have to include someone else (like Anthony Parker).

--Edited: CLE is under the cap so they'd be able to do this trade.

Al Jeff for Antawn Jamison works straight up.

If CLE call pull off a trade for Al Jefferson, that would be a very nice move, and a nice way to move forward.  I think Al Jeff and Varejao would be a nice pairing, especially with some 3 point shooters like Mo Williams and Boobie Gibson on the team.

The trick would be to use the MLE wisely, preferably to bring in a defensive oriented wing.

[Eric_Suede]

Al Jefferson for Mo Williams straight up?

I'd only take Gilbert if I got to move some of my bad contracts (Jamison and Gibson) and got back pick(s).

Maybe Gibson. I haven't analyzed this financially so I don't know how the numbers add up. maybe they do need to get rid of Gibson. but I would keep Jamison. Keep in mind when they were healthy (washington's big 3 Arenas,Butler,Jamison) they were a playoff team. So in my mind I'm thinking substitute RJ for Butler and bring in Allen iverson (mainly for marketing purposes) but still might be able to score, heh heh might have something there. That with role players and some beef up front (Although I'm not too high on him these days cause he's injury prone) but Al Jefferson or Harrington.
 Also keep in mind again this will be a BYRON SCOTT Team. think of New Jersey back when he was coaching. What beef did you have up front? their big thing (that used to kill the c's back then) were Fast break running style, & good shooters . wink wink, AI is still quick and can get to the hole. So can Arenas & williams etc,.

Maybe I just feel bad for Cleveland, couple that with my extreme hatred for the "puppy squad" method of building a team (relying on Draft picks and inexperienced players with pipe dream hopes thatone day they can blossom & be champions). I've never known that to work can't think of one example. Best you get from that are a 6th seed team. Look @ portland, Sure they're a playoff team but after all these years of watching their puppies grow, how close are they to a ring? They just suffered massive blow to their ticket sales. They need to do something to get butts back in seats.

[Cman]

Cleveland will be in the lottery. Mark it down. This team will completely suck. First of all, you can chalk up:

Boston
Miami
Orlando
Atlanta
Chicago
Milwaukee

for playoffs. Do you really think CLE will seize one of those final two spots? I don't see it.

So out of the following list of teams, who gets the final two spots?

Charlotte
Cleveland
Detroit
Indiana
New Jersey
New York
Philadelphia
Toronto
Washington

I think Cleveland has a decent shot at being one of those teams, depending on how the rest of the offseason plays out.

[Lucky17]

Cleveland will be in the lottery. Mark it down. This team will completely suck. First of all, you can chalk up:

Boston
Miami
Orlando
Atlanta
Chicago
Milwaukee

for playoffs. Do you really think CLE will seize one of those final two spots? I don't see it.

So out of the following list of teams, who gets the final two spots?

Charlotte
Cleveland
Detroit
Indiana
New Jersey
New York
Philadelphia
Toronto
Washington

I think Cleveland has a decent shot at being one of those teams, depending on how the rest of the offseason plays out.

Absolutely.

Cavs have some cap space to play with. Rather than overpaying for FA scraps, they should use the space wisely via trades.