New Favorite for LeBron?

[SparzWizard]

And now to see my friend bandwagon back to the Cavs.

[Snakehead]

how did a thread about LeBron to Cleveland turn into a Varejao evaluation thread???

We talk about the important things here.

[P2]

I think LeBron would have a better team in Cleveland with Irving, Wiggins and their solid but young supporting cast. 2 to 3 seed in the East, and then in the playoffs, who knows.

[SHAQATTACK]

I can see Melo taking CB s spot in Miami.  I still want Melo on the Lakers with Kobe .

[Who]

Speaking of the Cavs keeping varejao...  Something I found interesting in that "trade for Larry Sanders" thread yesterday...

I tracked down the actual paper that compared interior defenders statistically:  http://www.sloansportsconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/The%20Dwight%20Effect%20A%20New%20Ensemble%20of%20Interior%20Defense%20Analytics%20for%20the%20NBA.pdf

Not surprisingly, Larry Sanders and Roy Hibbert were two of the best while Kevin Love was one of the worst.   But even worse than Love... Anderson Varejao.  Sup with that?  I thought the perception was that he was an elite defender.  I remember quite a few Boston fans that wanted him.

Varejao was always a limited shot-blocker. A lot of his defensive value came from his quickness and mobility in team defense (interior rotations, PnR defense, transition defense, closing out on shooters, switching onto smaller players) and his very good physical man-to-man defense. Nowadays, Varejao, because of all the injuries he has suffered, doesn't even have that quickness & mobility anymore so he has become a fairly mediocre defensive player. His decline has largely gone unnoticed because of the empty stat lines he puts up and because he plays on a very bad team in Cleveland.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Well, it makes sense for LeBron to go back.

He's got a young version of D-Wade in Kyrie Irving, a potential stud in Andrew Wiggins and if Tristan Thompson is steadily developing into a good PF. Add to it a potential Love trade, if that's what they are selling, I dont see a reason why LeBron wont buy that.

That coward...

[gpap]

Personally, I think it's more likely Lebron stays in Miami, Bosh goes to Houston and Miami uses their savings to get Melo and Gasol.

What doesn't make sense about Lebron going back to Cleveland is, why did he leave there in the first place?

[P2]

Personally, I think it's more likely Lebron stays in Miami, Bosh goes to Houston and Miami uses their savings to get Melo and Gasol.

What doesn't make sense about Lebron going back to Cleveland is, why did he leave there in the first place?

Because his team was lacking talent and got destroyed in the playoffs by your very own 2010 Boston Celtics. Going to Miami and setting up a Big Three of their own was his only chance to win a ring. But since he seems to be very loyal to his roots, he will give Cleveland's offer a serious thought, also in part because of Cleveland's present and future talent situation. I think Cleveland is going to be a big player in the East again for years to come if they get LeBron back.

[gpap]

Personally, I think it's more likely Lebron stays in Miami, Bosh goes to Houston and Miami uses their savings to get Melo and Gasol.

What doesn't make sense about Lebron going back to Cleveland is, why did he leave there in the first place?

Because his team was lacking talent and got destroyed in the playoffs by your very own 2010 Boston Celtics. Going to Miami and setting up a Big Three of their own was his only chance to win a ring. But since he seems to be very loyal to his roots, he will give Cleveland's offer a serious thought, also in part because of Cleveland's present and future talent situation. I think Cleveland is going to be a big player in the East again for years to come if they get LeBron back.

But if he goes to Cleveland, who is the new "big 3" going to consist of?

Lebron, Kyrie and Wiggins?

Is that really a big 3?

I am sure Cleveland will try pursuing other avenues to add more talent, but who's to say they will end up being successful?

And who ends up playing center for the Cavs?

I've always felt that Lebron should go to Houston.

I think him, Howard, Harden, Parsons and either Beverly or another halfway decent guard like Mo Williams would be unstoppable.

[hpantazo]

Personally, I think it's more likely Lebron stays in Miami, Bosh goes to Houston and Miami uses their savings to get Melo and Gasol.

What doesn't make sense about Lebron going back to Cleveland is, why did he leave there in the first place?

Because his team was lacking talent and got destroyed in the playoffs by your very own 2010 Boston Celtics. Going to Miami and setting up a Big Three of their own was his only chance to win a ring. But since he seems to be very loyal to his roots, he will give Cleveland's offer a serious thought, also in part because of Cleveland's present and future talent situation. I think Cleveland is going to be a big player in the East again for years to come if they get LeBron back.

But if he goes to Cleveland, who is the new "big 3" going to consist of?

Lebron, Kyrie and Wiggins?

Is that really a big 3?

I am sure Cleveland will try pursuing other avenues to add more talent, but who's to say they will end up being successful?

And who ends up playing center for the Cavs?

I've always felt that Lebron should go to Houston.

I think him, Howard and Harden would be unstoppable.

that's a shortsighted approach. The Cavs have reportedly explained their plans to bring in other top tier free agents if Lebron decides to join their team. They have the assets to do it as well. It's a no-brainer that they could trade Wiggins for Love or Melo for example, and they have Bennett, Tristan Thompson, Zeller, and Waiters to offer as well.

[Fafnir]

Speaking of the Cavs keeping varejao...  Something I found interesting in that "trade for Larry Sanders" thread yesterday...

I tracked down the actual paper that compared interior defenders statistically:  http://www.sloansportsconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/The%20Dwight%20Effect%20A%20New%20Ensemble%20of%20Interior%20Defense%20Analytics%20for%20the%20NBA.pdf

Not surprisingly, Larry Sanders and Roy Hibbert were two of the best while Kevin Love was one of the worst.   But even worse than Love... Anderson Varejao.  Sup with that?  I thought the perception was that he was an elite defender.  I remember quite a few Boston fans that wanted him.

Varejao was always a limited shot-blocker. A lot of his defensive value came from his quickness and mobility in team defense (interior rotations, PnR defense, transition defense, closing out on shooters, switching onto smaller players) and his very good physical man-to-man defense. Nowadays, Varejao, because of all the injuries he has suffered, doesn't even have that quickness & mobility anymore so he has become a fairly mediocre defensive player. His decline has largely gone unnoticed because of the empty stat lines he puts up and because he plays on a very bad team in Cleveland.

Also the press/fans there still like him.

Anyways I think if LeBron goes to Cleveland like others have said they're going to explore a Wiggins for Love deal and try to build around Love/LBJ. Though who knows, I don't have a ton of faith in their ownership so they could try and keep Wiggins.

[Fafnir]

Well, it makes sense for LeBron to go back.

He's got a young version of D-Wade in Kyrie Irving, a potential stud in Andrew Wiggins and if Tristan Thompson is steadily developing into a good PF. Add to it a potential Love trade, if that's what they are selling, I dont see a reason why LeBron wont buy that.

That coward...

Wade was 22 when he came into the league, but by his second year he was far better than Kyrie.

I don't have a lot of faith in Kyrie anymore becoming much better than his is now. Maybe LeBron coming in and forcing him to change his game would help him develop in a different direction.

[manl_lui]

Speaking of the Cavs keeping varejao...  Something I found interesting in that "trade for Larry Sanders" thread yesterday...

I tracked down the actual paper that compared interior defenders statistically:  http://www.sloansportsconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/The%20Dwight%20Effect%20A%20New%20Ensemble%20of%20Interior%20Defense%20Analytics%20for%20the%20NBA.pdf

Not surprisingly, Larry Sanders and Roy Hibbert were two of the best while Kevin Love was one of the worst.   But even worse than Love... Anderson Varejao.  Sup with that?  I thought the perception was that he was an elite defender.  I remember quite a few Boston fans that wanted him.

Varejao was always a limited shot-blocker. A lot of his defensive value came from his quickness and mobility in team defense (interior rotations, PnR defense, transition defense, closing out on shooters, switching onto smaller players) and his very good physical man-to-man defense. Nowadays, Varejao, because of all the injuries he has suffered, doesn't even have that quickness & mobility anymore so he has become a fairly mediocre defensive player. His decline has largely gone unnoticed because of the empty stat lines he puts up and because he plays on a very bad team in Cleveland.

Also the press/fans there still like him.

Anyways I think if LeBron goes to Cleveland like others have said they're going to explore a Wiggins for Love deal and try to build around Love/LBJ. Though who knows, I don't have a ton of faith in their ownership so they could try and keep Wiggins.

I won't be surprised if CLE signs Bosh as option 2 if they cannot get Love. Can you imagine if Cleveland manages to trade Dion Waiters in a sign and trade and fillers for Bosh.

Irving/Wiggins/Lebron/Bosh/Varejao

Ray Allen off the bench

yikes!

[Fafnir]

I don't think that'd work for Bosh. If he leaves Miami he's going to want to get paid, that sort of sign and trade likely wouldn't pay him as much as what the Rockets are prepared to offer.

[Moranis]

Not a bomb, BUT...

@WojYahooNBA  18s
In pursuit of max slot for LeBron James, Cavs searching for team to take Nets' Marcus Thornton in deal to unload Jarrett Jack, sources say.

Wow the Cavaliers have come out of nowhere and are making strides to trying to sign James. Miami might be screwed lol.

come out of nowhere?  It was almost always going to be Miami or Cleveland.