Dog Days of Summer

I haven't written a lot about the Browns and Indians latley, but here is an update.

Indians

-The Indians traded closer Kerry Wood, OF Austin Kearns to the Yankees for cash considerations and prospects, then dealt SP Jake Westbrook along with cash to the Cardinals for minor-league pitcher Corey Kluber. Kluber comes from the San Diego Padres farm system and was drafted in the 4th round of the 2007 MLB Draft. Kluber was 6-6 with a 3.45ERA in AA San Antonio. Its obvious the Indians are now going to let the kids play as they have traded away the heavy contracts of Kerry Wood and Jake Westbook. I think its a good idea because the Indians can get rid of some salary, and see what they have waiting in the wings. Giving starts to guys like Jeanmar Gomez and Josh Tomlin makes more sense than giving them to Jake Westbrook, especially when you know Westbrook is gone after this year and the season is lost.

-The trade of Jhonny Peralta was one that Tribe fans had longed for. Peralta reminds me of former Cavs guard Sasha Pavlovic. He had a lot of talent, but just didn't push himself enough to do get better. He seemed content hitting .250 with 24 HR a year, when he could have batted .285 and 30 HR a year. He did just enough to get by. The Indians picked up P Giovanni Soto, who is only 19 years old. He was 6-6 with a 2.61 ERA in Single A West Michigan. In his first start in Mahoning Valley, he went 5 innings, gave up 1 hit, 1 earned run, and 7 strike outs.

-Going forward, I think the Indians can be competitive in 2 years. They need to first figure out who is going to fill in the rotation. Past Fausto Carmona, the Indians need to get themselves 4 solid starters. Justin Masterson looks like a promising #3, Josh Tomlin and Jeanmar Gomez have looked good in the limited starts they had, Mitch Talbot was doing ok until he got hurt. Also, the Indians have stockpiled many young pitchers with Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp, and Nick Hagadone waiting in the wings. Secondly, the Indians have to figure out who is going to play 2B and 3B. Lonnie Chisenhall (.276 11 HR 51 RBI in AA) and Jared Goedert (.296 17 HR 37 RBI in AAA) are seen as their heir apparents at third base. Goedert will probably be a September call-up, especially after the Peralta trade. Luis Valbuena is not going to cut it with a .164 average at 2B and Jayson Nix seems more like on the bench than starting at 2B. Jason Donald came in the Cliff Lee trade, and he has been solid but an upgrade must be made.

-Our outfield seems set for the future with Trevor Crowe, Michael Brantley, Sin-Soo Choo, Grady Sizemore all in the fold, with Nick Welgarz coming in the future. Carlos Santana looks like a stud at C, Matt LaPorta is improving after coming back from the minors at 1B, Asdrubal Cabrera is a great fielder and solid hitter at SS. The bullpen seems to be coming along with Chris Perez filling in the closers role (12 saves 2.18 ERA this year), along with Tony Sipp, Rafael Perez, Frank Herrmann, and Joe Smith pitching much better. First round pick Alex White was projected to be the closer of the future but he has been starting at Class AA Akron (6-4, 1.49 ERA 57K in 78 innings).

-As I have said before, the Dolan's inability to spend a lot of money has hurt the Indians, but they did give out big contracts. The problem is they gave out big ones to the wrong players (Kerry Wood, Travis Hafner, Jhonny Peralta). Grady has been hurt for the past two years and Fausto did not pitch well last year. Had the Indians spent this money on retaining Victor Martinez or Cliff Lee, we would be a much more competitive team. The team does not have a lot of high salaries left on the books, so the Indians should identify the best talent going forward, then do the best to lock them up long term. This way we won't have to go with the "lightning in the bottle" theory, where we hope 4-5 guys on the team all have career years together, only too falter the next year. From 1995 to 1999 the Indians had consistent contributors in Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Brian Giles, Paul Shuey, Orel Hershieser, Charles Nagy, Omar Vizquel, Jim Thome, Sandy Alomar Jr., David Justice, and Robbie Alomar. This is what the Indians need, a steady stream of players who can contribue consistently over a 4-5 year period.

Browns

-Browns 1st round pick Joe Haden signed his contract yesterday and practiced for the first time today. He is practicing with the 2nd team defense and is projected to be a backup to Sheldon Brown and Eric Wright. He will probably see time at nickleback. His deal calls for $50 million over 5 years, with $26 million guaranteed. Mike Lombardi of SI reported that Haden looked slow in OTA's. At the combine he ran a 4.57 40 time, but this was due to a back injury. At the Florida Pro Day he ran a much better 4.43 40 time. I think Haden is going to be just fine.

-Montario Hardesty twisted his knee and is out for a month. This should give Jerome Harrison the inside track to becoming the starter at RB. I think even if Harrison wins the job, Hardesty will slowly ease his way into getting some carries. With the Browns running the ball more this year, I can see Harrison getting 14-16 carries a game, with Hardesty getting 18-20. As the season goes along and the weather gets worse, I think Hardesty will see more time because he is more of a bruising back who can play in the cold weather and get the tough yards. Harrison has dealt with injury issues in the past and I doubt he can last the whole season, carrying the full load in the back field.

-I am very interested in seeing who the starters will be at S. I think Abe Elam and TJ Ward will end up starting. Elam did not do well last year and Ward is the teams 2nd round pick from the Draft. Ward is seen as a hard hitter who can stop the run, but is not good in coverage. Since their return in 1999, the Browns on average have ranked 27th against the run, and they were 27th last year. They need guys who can stop backs at the line of scrimmage. Mike Adams is suited as a backup and 5th round pick Larry Asante is seen more a special teamer. This will probably be the weakest part of the defense going into the season.

-I don't expect big things from QB Jake Delhomme. I just hope he can run the offense, not turn the ball over, and make key passes. We won't be a pass happy offense, so I don't want him throwing the ball 35 times. He was not good last year and he has to provide stability in the offense. Also, don't expect Colt McCoy to play this year, he is better off holding the clipboard and learning from Delhomme and Holmgren (who is known for developing QB's).

-I get the sense that the team is cautiously optimistic this year. We finally have some stability in the front office with team president Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert. The players are getting used to Eric Mangini's no nonsense style of coaching as their have been less problems this year. Gone is Josh Cribbs complaining about a contract, gone are players running laps for missed snaps, gone are players being fined $1,700 for not paying for a bottle of water. The players seem to be buying into the culture, and it was evident in the last four games last year as the Browns were playing for nothing but beat the Steelers and Jaguars (both teams who had a lot more talent than the Browns). I will write my Browns preview in my next blog.

Thanks for reading guys. Go Cleveland!

-Raz

Class is in Session

The Cavs today traded SG Delonte West, PG Sebastian Telfair to the Minnesota Timberwolves for PG Ramon Sessions, C Ryan Hollins, and a 2nd round pick in 2013. Here are my thoughts:

-I think this is a very good move for the Cavs. We have a PG in Sessions who can run the offense, distribute (had 24 assists in a game once), and get to the free throw line. He will fit well with the up-tempo offense the Cavs will run this year. He is 24 years old and has 3 more years left on his deal, for $4 million a deal. He has a very cap friendly contract.

-C Ryan Hollins is an unknown to most, but he is another young C who probably won't develop into much more than a big man off the bench. He is 7 feet and very athletic, thats it. He is a good finesse defender but doesn't do well against aggressive post players. He is 25 years old and has 2 years left on his contract at $2 million a year. He will throw down some nasty dunks and that is how he will get most of his points. He doesn't have a lot of skills in the post. He will serve as a solid backup to Andy and JJ.

-Seeing Delonte go is somewhat sad, but it had to happen. His off the court issues really hurt the team as the organizaiton could not depend on him on a daily basis. His play really fell off this year and he could never get it together. He was one of our most important players in 2008 and 2009, but he just didn't seem to have it this year. His contract will save the Wolves about $4 million in cap space because he can be bought out for $500K. He was one of my favorite players due to the grit and determination he showed on the court. I remember during game 6 versus the Magic in 2009, he was the only Cavs player hustling on the court at the end of the game. He is a fearless player who was a solid player when healthy.

-PG Sebastian Telfair was a throw in as his contract is an expiring one as well. Not much to miss here.

-This deal shows you how incompetent Wolves GM David Kahn is. He drafts point guards Ricky Rubio, and Johnny Flynn, signs Ramon Sessions, and then signs PG Luke Ridnour the next year. He had to give away Sessions for free, along with a draft pick. Flynn is now hurt and out for 3-4 months. This was the same guy who gave C Darko Milicic $20 million. As Bill Simmons calls him "KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHN!"

-The main reasons I like this deal for the Cavs are the fact that we got a young, cheap PG who can continue to improve, and we added an asset in the 2nd round pick. Most people will say the 2nd round pick is worthless, but in 2013 it will still probably be a high 2nd rounder. You can always find solid talent in the 2nd round. The Cavs are now asset collectors, which is good for a rebuilding team. This squad is going to be painful to watch for a couple years, but as long as we continue to add draft picks, we can build a young roster. We have 4 draft picks coming from the Heat in the next 6 years, and another 2nd rounder here. I hope we can add a couple more picks in the next few years.

-A stark departure from the LeBron era can be seen here. Most of the time we were trading draft picks for longer, more expensive contracts. Now we are adding cheap young talent, with shorter contracts and draft picks. Tear the team down, gather draft picks, and save cap space. If we draft well, this team could see a quicker turn around. Lets hope we don't rebuild on the fly.

-The Cavs signing PF Samardo Samuels was a move to add depth to the team. He played well for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Summer League. He is small at 6'8 and not overly athletic, but he has great skills around the basket. If he can improve upon his athleticism, and work hard, he will have a place on this team.

-Bringing Christian Eyenga over here was also a solid move. He will probably spend some time in the D-League where he can continue to develop. He is going to wow some fans with his athleticism. I hope he gets some minutes here and there because he has the tools to thrive in Byron Scott's uptempo system. If he can continue to improve his overall feel for the game, then he can become a Mickael Pietrus type of player. I see him as a solid wing defender who can score in spurts in a up tempo offense.

I think that just about does it. Thanks for reading guys, go Cleveland!

-Raz

I Knew It Was You Fredo

Well folks, I am sure we all know what happend with LeBron and the Cavs. I am not going to add any facts to the story, we are all seeing it come out now. Here are some thoughts:

-Seeing LeBron in a Heat uniform just sucks. Never could I imagine him anywhere else. I can see why he would want to go win a championship ring, but the best players who have won rings did it with one team and didn't go chasing. Its obvious LeBron understands he can't do it himself and needs to go elsewhere. Guys like Magic, Larry, Kobe, Michael, Duncan all did it with the teams that drafted them. I know one day LeBron is going to regret what he did. He failed here, plain and simple.

-What disgusts me the most is that it seems that he planned this for a long time. The writing was on the wall the whole time and I just didn't want to believe it. He never recruited free agents, didn't commit when Trevor Ariza and Ron Artest came for their visits last year, and didn't speak with Tom Izzo. I think after the Orlando series in 2009, LeBron knew he was going to leave for sure. I say this because he played amazingly in the 2007 playoffs and he gave it his all versus Boston in 2008. I think him, Wade, and Bosh thought of the idea in the Olympics in 2008, then when LeBron saw he couldn't get help here, he punched his ticket out of Cleveland.

-Notice how no one is talking about his elbow "injury". I wouldn't be shocked if LeBron decided to just float throughout the series. He obviously quit in game 5, and he didn't do well in game 2 and game 4. LeBron knew if he played to his abilities, the Cavs would have won that series, and I think he just got tired of his situation here in Cleveland. The way he ripped off his Cavs jersey after the loss gave me some shivers, but again I didn't want to believe he was going to leave.

-People cannot blame Dan Gilbert and Danny Ferry for this. Maybe Gilbert gave LeBron some special privileges here and there, but they spend tons and tons of money on the team. Whether it was new jerseys, stadium upgrades, a new practice facility, or added payroll, the Cavs did it. Any trade the Cavs made during Ferry's tenure, we took on more money. We had one of the highest payrolls in the NBA and the Cavs tried their best to get a #2 guy. They made offers for Jason Kidd, Amare, Pau Gasol, Kevin Garnett, and Chris Paul. I honestly believe the team the Cavs had this past year could have won it all, but the guy who was supposed to take us there failed.

-Dan Gilbert's letter, no matter how crazy and unrealistic it was, was pretty awesome. We know we aren't going to win a ring before LeBron does, but seeing an owner speak the words every Cavs fan was thinking is refreshing. Seeing how passionate Gilbert was in that letter was great, and he did not hold anything back. Clevelanders really needed to hear that letter.

-The way in which LeBron did what he did was horrible. Going on national television, saying your going to call it "The Decision", then leaving is sad. This is after LeBron said he understood the Drive, the Fumble, and the Shot. LeBron never respected Cleveland and never showed the love that we showed him. Wearing Yankees and Cowboys gear was just sad. I feel that LeBron just didn't have any good advice in this situation, he needed a male adult figure to sit him down and be stern with him. LeBron lives in his own little world and he thinks he is invincible from criticism at times. He is a very selfish person who did not think about the repercussions of his actions. Not once did he even mention the Cleveland fans who supported his every move here. For someone who always spoke of loyalty and family, LeBron left both of those behind to go to Miami. I guess he fooled us all.

-Where do the Cavs go from here? I say blow up the team up. Trade any old players (Parker/Jamison), long contracts (Jamison/Andy) for young players and draft picks. Clear cap space, not to sign big name free agents (they won't come here), but to use it in trades. We can use our salary cap space to take on big contracts for some players. The Cavs got 4 draft picks for LeBron, and I hope the Cavs continue to stockpile picks. Take the Oklahoma City Thunder route, load up on draft picks, and use your salary cap space to collect more assets. I am fine with the Cavs being bad for a year or two, but with solid drafting and some luck, you will see a good basketball team in Cleveland. There is no reason to try to re-tool this team, so forget guys like Monta Ellis and Andre Igoudala. Think guys like DJ Augistin, and Kyle Lowry.

-This has got to be one of the worst moments in Cleveland sports history. We always thought we could have a savior for this town with the Browns and Indians struggling. We were always scared we couldn't pay our superstars money (Manny, Thome, CC, Cliff Lee), but we could offer the most to LeBron and the saddest thing is, he is actually from this area. Since it is hard to attract free agents to Cleveland, we all thought if we could get a homegrown talent to play for us, he would never leave. Akron was so important to LeBron and he always spoke about how he wanted to put it on the map. Well he did just that, but for all the wrong reasons. LeBron can never show his face in Akron, Cleveland, let alone Ohio ever again. Its sad that we had our native son turn his back on us. I guess we just have to re-group and keep our heads up. As Terry Fox once said "Somewhere, the hurting must stop".

Thanks for reading, go Cleveland.

-Raz

Bosher-Nation

Resident insider on RealCavsFans.com (great forum) W&G has informed us that the Cavs and Raptors have been discussing a sign and trade for F Chris Bosh. Here is what he said exactly:

"Can't really say this is a source that is totally in the know on this subject, but he tells me that in talking to a guy within the Raptors org., that they are disgusted with Bosh. He wants hius cake and wants to eat it too. He wants to dictate everything, but the fact is they are trying to force his hand and accept the trade to CLE. Lebron should talk to Bosh, basically ..and get this deal done. But., my guess from trying to piece the puzzle together ...a good chance exists that when Lebron decides and makes his announcement, it could be coupled with Bosh ending up alongside him here in CLE. If not, then Bosh can accept far less, and go elsewhere. We'll see how it ultimately plays out."

He also noted this:

"From what I gather, his stance is he'll play anywhere with Lebron BUT Cleveland. Toronto prefers the CLE offer to all others. They are now telling him, if he doesn't accept the CLE trade, then he can just cut another deal with another team and make far less cash. What happens now, I presume, is either some other team (Bulls, Heat) somehow come up with a trade that better satisfies TOR, and he joins either Wade at either, or James in Chicago,... or eventually accepts coming to CLE with Lebron in a S/T."

Reports that the Raptors will not help Bosh in a sign and trade probably aren't true. The Raps are probably trying to force Bosh's hand into taking a sign and trade deal. He hasn't talked with the Raptors brass and they want answers soon. It seems as if LeBron will have some major recruiting to do with Bosh. I am hoping that if LeBron commits, he will tell Bosh "Listen, come play with me in Cleveland. We will get national media attention all the time, and we will win a ring. You can't pass up $30 million by playing elsewhere." If LeBron re-signs in Cleveland, Bosh will have to ask himself, would I rather have a chance to play with LeBron, increase my chances of winning a ring, and make $30 million more or go elsewhere with maybe D-Wade, and make less money. Again, the Heat can only offer Beasley, Chalmers, and Anthony for Bosh. That offer doesn't come close to the Andy, JJ, West offer the Cavs could give the Raptors. Besides the Rockets (Scola, Battier, Brooks), I think the Cavs have one of the most competitive offers for Bosh. We offer talent, young players, and salary cap relief for the Raptors. As I said earlier, the Cavs held onto all of their assets after the NBA Draft and into free agency. I think there was a reason for that. The Cavs brass has to know that they had a legit shot at Bosh or they would've moved their attention elsewhere. The Raptors and Cavs have to work together to force Bosh to come to Cleveland because its what the Cavs, Raptors, and hopefully LeBron want.

For those of you who don't know who Wine and Gold is from RCF, he is a reliable source who gives great bits of info. on the website. He used to work for the Cavs and he still has some connections to the team. He informed us that Joe Smith was re-signing with the Cavs hours before it happend, the Shaq trade hours before it happend, the fact that the Cavs were close to getting Amare (Windhorst echoed the same things he said 30 min. after W&G posted), and the Mo Williams trade the weekend before it happend. He is a great source of information and I wouldn't post his thoughts unless I thought they were legitimate.

As developments continue to come in, I will update the blog. Thanks for reading, and go Cleveland!

-Raz

Great Scott

Well its been a pretty wild couple days in the NBA. The Cavs hired their head coach in Byron Scott. I am not a huge fan of Scott as he is known as someone who doesn't game plan that well, stick to his lineups to closely, loses his team after 2-3 years, and runs a slow paced Princeton offense (in 2008-2009 the Hornets were 28th in offensive pace). I did enjoy the fact that he said he wanted to run more with LeBron. The difference between Scott and Mike Brown is that Scott has had previous head coaching experience before taking this job, played in the NBA, won NBA championships as a player, and seems to be able to rebuild teams. I think LeBron will respect a guy like Scott much more than he did MB because of Scott's previous experience in the NBA, both as a player and a coach (went to the Finals twice). I am not in love with this hire, but I don't hate it either. I just feel that its very telling that Scott lost both his teams after 2 years. Maybe he worked them too hard? Maybe he couldn't motivate his players after they overachieved? He sounds too similar to Mike Brown for me to like the hire a lot (slow offense, not a good game planner, bad in game adjustments).

Now, onto this whole free agency issue. The Nets, Knicks, Heat, and Clippers have all made their pitches to LeBron. I think the only real threats to getting LeBron are the Knicks and Bulls. I think the Cavs are the frontrunners, with the Bulls and Knicks being right behind. I think he will stay because he can make more money here in Cleveland ($30 million over 6 years, he gets a 2% higher raise per year), the Cavs were still one of the best teams in the NBA the past 2 years (won over 60 games past two years), the Cavs can still improve their roster through trades and the MLE (West expiring, Hickson, Andy), the Cavs have one of the best owners in the NBA in Dan Gilbert, and lastly this is his home. I'll go through each reason more in depth:

Money- We all know LeBron can make more money here in Cleveland than any other team can offer him due to the fact that the Cavs own his Bird-Rights. The reason why the free agent class this year features so many great players is because all these players want to get as much money as they can before the CBA expires next year. The CBA in 2011 is expected to be much more strict than the current one set in place. The hype surrounding this class has been crazy and media outlets made it seem like every free agent was going to change teams. Have you noticed that Rudy Gay is staying in Memphis? Joe Johnson is close to staying with the Hawks (every ESPN analyst was asked to predict where Johnson would go and none of them said the Hawks). Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitzki are both expected to stay with their respective teams.

Can you name me 2 or 3 superstars who have taken less money in the prime of their careers to play with other players? I didn't think so. People have to understand these superstars have huge egos and they won't take less money to be on another team. Passing up $30 million would be really hard for LeBron to do. Some have thrown the idea that LeBron will make more in endorsements by going to a larger market, but the amount of money made from endorsements is not as high as people think. With the way the economy has been the past 2 years many companies have been scaling back their marketing efforts. Money always talks, remember that.

Cavs Roster/Moves- The Cavs have won 127 games the past two years, the most of any team in the NBA. Yes, we failed in the playoffs but this past year I attribute the collapse to Mike Brown's inability to make adjustments and LeBron's elbow injury. The Cavs were the number 1 seed in the NBA playoffs for 2 years in a row. Everyone makes it seem like our roster is horrible, but we have Mo Williams, Andy, Jamison, and Hickson already. I don't think you can have a bad roster and win 127 games in 2 seasons.

The Cavs have flexibility to make moves. Just because we don't have cap space does not mean we cannot make moves. Again we have the $4.5 million super expiring of Delonte West, along with $7 million of other expirings. JJ Hickson is a very attractive commodity, and Andy is a coveted big man for many teams. Did you notice the Cavs haven't made any moves yet on any trades? I think they are saving all their assets to attempt to make a sign and trade for Chris Bosh. The Cavs sales pitch tomorrow will be, if you re-sign with the Cavs, we can get you Bosh if you convince him to come. Brian Windhorst of the PD stated that his sources said that the Raptors were interested in the assets the Cavs have in a potential sign and trade. Think about this, Chris Bosh wants to get the maximum deal (the one LeBron will get if he signs with the Cavs), and in order to do this you must sign and trade him. The Cavs can offer the package of Delonte (immediate cap relief), Andy (great defender, something the Raps needs), JJ Hickson (promising big man), Jamario Moon ($3 million expiring), and the rights to Christian Eyenga (the Raps were interested in him in 2009). Now what deal sounds better, the one I outlined above, or trading Bosh to the Heat for Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, and Joel Anthony? In addition to having attractive assets, the Cavs could take on a bad deal that the Raps have, something the Bulls and Heat cannot do (will ruin their cap space). This means a guy like Hedo Turkoglu, or Jose Calderon could be traded as well. The national media hasn't really covered this, but if LeBron can convince Bosh to come here, I could definitely see this happening. Also, I have to appreciate the patient approach the Cavs have taken this offseason. They haven't rushed into a trade and I have to think LeBron might have given them some sort of indication that he would stay, or else I think the Cavs would've made a move by now. Theres too much risk and uncertainty involved in keeping all your assets in an attempt to sign and trade for Chris Bosh.

Ownership- Dan Gilbert is not going to go down without a fight. He has been putting up signs all over downtown Cleveland that say "Home" on them. Everyone seems to discount the Cavs and assume that LeBron is gone, but Gilbert will pull out all the stops for LeBron. He has always been willing and able to make any move to improve the Cavs roster. The Cavs took on the deals of Jamison, Mo, and Shaq, along with re-signing Andy and Boobie. Never has Gilbert vetoed a deal due to money considerations and he is willing to do anything to improve the roster. We have had one of the highest payrolls in the NBA for the past two years, and we had the 3rd highest last year. It was noted that LeBron wanted a coach who had played in the NBA previously and he got just that in Byron Scott. Gilbert even signed up LeBron to go to a workshop for billionaire businessmen. Anything LeBron has ever wanted, Gilbert has given him and will continue to give him.

One of the concerns LeBron might have with the Bulls is that their owner Jerry Reinsdorf is known for being cheap and not paying the luxury tax. If the Bulls bring in two big players, LeBron has to wonder if the Bulls will pay Derek Rose or Joakim Noah when they become free agents in a couple years. Also, Reinsdorf and then GM Jerry Krause were known for never giving into any demand Michael Jordan had, and we all know LeBron likes to have some sort of say in personel moves. I think LeBron is very comfortable with Dan Gilbert going forward because Gilbert and Co. have always supported LeBron, and will continue to do everything to make the team better.

Home- I will never forget seeing a poster for his high school documentary "More Than A Game" which featured LeBron and the rest of the SVSM starters along with coach Dru Joyce. Right under it, it said "Loyalty Never Dies". LeBron has always talked about how loyalty is so important to him, and that he loves Akron so much. When he accepted his MVP awards, he did so in Akron. His brand is predicated on being the local hometown guy, and being loyal. Leaving Cleveland (which is right near Akron), would go against everything LeBron has said in the past 7 years. He would be at the level of Art Modell is he left, and I don't think he could ever come back. Cleveland fans have suffered so much already and LeBron is seen as our beaming light of hope. If he left it would hurt our sports scene greatly, and even downtown Cleveland. Imagine not having any of those bars in downtown Cleveland packed if the Cavs stopped making the playoffs. Cleveland fans have fiercely defended LeBron in everything he has done (not shaking hands in the Orlando series, poor performance in NBA finals, constantly talking about free agency), and I do believe that no set of fans will ever LeBron as much we as do. We have never had a superstar of this caliber in our own backyard, and we will do anything to keep him. I just hope LeBron's loyalty to Cleveland and Akron, will never die.....

Well, I know this has been a lot, but I think in the end LeBron stays. When you add it all up the Cavs can get better, pay LeBron more, he can stay home with a great owner and organization. I just don't see LeBron passing up money to play elsewhere.

When looking at the Bulls and Knicks, here is what I think. The Bulls have a great player in Derek Rose and a solid player in Joakim Noah. Luol Deng is a good starter, and thats it. As I outlined above, they have a cheap owner who does not yield power to superstars. The Bulls can trade Deng and a couple other pieces to the Raptors in a sign and trade but he will offer no salary cap relief (3 years left at $12 mil a year). Plus, I think people overrate Joakim Noah as he averaged 11 pts 11 reb. a game this past year. He had one good playoff series and everyone believes he is an amazing player. Also, Rose is a PG who needs the ball in his hands to be successful, and we know how much LeBron loves having the ball in his hand. Rose and LeBron are both drive and kick players, and they don't have any shooters on the team now. The Knicks roster is Danilo Galinari, Toney Douglas, and Wilson Chandler. Even if you added 2 max players, the team wouldn't be as good as the Lakers. There would be no depth, and I don't think LeBron and Bosh would play for less than full max. money. Their owner James Dolan was the man who hired Isiah Thomas as GM and coach, enough said.....

I think by next week we might know what LeBron will do, but who knows how long he will drag this out. What will everyone else do? I think Amare will go to the Knicks, Wade will stay in Miami, and Bosh to me is the wildcard. Bosh will either go to the Bulls or Cavs depending on what LeBron does. If LeBron stays I think it enhances our chances to get Bosh because he wants a 6 year max deal and we can give him that in a sign and trade. I can see Carlos Boozer and David Lee going to the Nets, Bulls, and Heat if they strikeout on LeBron and Bosh. It's going to be a pretty wild weekend, we're going to hear a lot of speculation going forward. Remember, its always more news worthy to report that LeBron might leave and is leaning towards somewhere else, than if he stayed in Cleveland. Lets just hope LeBron stays at home.

Thanks for reading guys, go Cleveland!

-Raz

A Draft Ahead

Its been awhile since I have written and the whole Tom Izzo situation has now passed. I didnt write a lot about him because I was waiting for the situation to play out. I didn't really know how I felt about Izzo being that he was a college coach and unproven at the NBA level. At the same time he did a great job with teams with marginal talent. The success rate of college coaches transitioning to the NBA has been very low. Because of this I really wasn't excited by the Izzo offer, and I think Gilbert was trying to swing for the fences.

The Cavs are now looking for a new coach and it seems to be down to a few names, Byron Scott and Brian Shaw. Scott is someone who I don't really get excited about. He seems like a solid coach but he is not known as someone who is a great gameplanner and runs an offense at a slow pace. Sounds like a coach you've heard before? Shaw to me would be an interesting candidate because LeBron is interested in a coach who has had NBA playing experience. Shaw has been a Lakers assistant for the past 7 years and has worked with Phil Jackson. He has experience running the triangle offense and the Lakers have won the past 2 NBA Championships. Personally, I prefer Shaw because he seems like a coach who has a solid background, played in the NBA, and has seen what it takes to win a NBA title. The problem with Shaw is that he has not had any head coaching experience, and if Phil Jackson decides to leave LA, Shaw could be his replace.

Going away from our coaching search, the NBA Draft is 2 days away. The Cavs currently hold no draft picks as they traded these picks in the Shaq and Jamison deals. Brian Windhorst is reporting that the Cavs have increased their efforts to acquire a late first or second round pick. I have always been an advocate for acquiring draft picks because it is imperative to continue to surround LeBron with young talent and to build your team through the draft. This years draft class is one that had one of two players with great potential (John Wall, Even Turner) and the rest of the draft is filled with either solid players or raw, unproven, high ceiling guys.

The biggest need the Cavs have to address going forward is PG and C. Mo Williams is likely to be dealt this offseason and Yahoo Sports had a report today that linked him to the Portland Trailblazers. I think the Cavs should draft a player they could maybe plug at the end of their rotation, and a developmental guy as well. This would require that the Cavs buy or trade for 2 draft picks. Here are some NBA Draft names the Cavs could consider:

Craig Brackins, PF, Iowa State- He is a 6'10 inside/outside forward. He has very good offensive skills who has a solid motor. He is athletic but is older for his class (22), can be inconsistent at times, and isn't a solid defender. I feel that Brackins would be a good fit here because he would add another big body downlow to our team and he could contribute immediately. He should be available near picks 20-35.

Solomon Alabi, C, Florida State- Here is a legit 7 footer with an amazing wingspan, high motor, and great athletic skills. He is a great shot blocker (2.3 per game) and has a developing post game. Some concerns I have with him are that he had average rebounding numbers for a 7-1 player (6.2 per game), and his offensive game has a ways to go. He would be a good C to groom and plug in the lineup in a couple years. He should be around during picks 20-35.

Kevin Seraphin, PF, France- I know, I know everyone is screaming to not draft a foriegn guy, but Seraphin is a guy who has a lot of value. He has an NBA body at 6'10, atheltic, and can finish downlow. He doesn't have much of a perimeter game, and needs to gain more experience playing. He seems like a guy you could draft and put in the D-League, a la Serge Ibaka. He had some injury issues at the NBA Combine so his stock has been slipping, so I expect him to be taken around 22-35.

Jerome Jordan, C, Tulsa- Jordan is another 7 foot prospect who can run the floor and rebound the ball. He is athletic but has struggled devolping an offensive game and his motor runs hot and cold. He is a developmental prospect who should be around in round 2.

Eric Bledsoe, PG, Memphis- John Wall's backup has been up and down draft boards. He would fill a need for the Cavs as a PG who is tough, can defend the perimeter, and the pass the ball well. He still needs to develop a jumpshot and cut down on his turnovers. He has solid size for a PG at 6'2 and is lightning quick. He should be around from 14-20.

Larry Sanders, PF, VCU- Here is another wiry forward with solid length and size (6-11 with a 7-6 wingspan). He is a high energy rebounder and defender who has slowly been developing his offensive game. The only concern on him is continuing to develop his offensive game. With the correct coaching, I think Sanders could become a really good low post player. He should be available from picks 23-30.

The odds are the Cavs won't end up drafting any of these guys. There have been reports today that the Cavs have ramped up their efforts to get a late first-second round pick for Thursday. We have already seen a flurry activity with the trades of Corey Maggette, Chris Douglas Roberts, and Daequan Cook. Expect there to be more moves on Draft Day.

I know want to take some time to talk about our offseason. I know I haven't written much but its been pretty quiet. I think the Cavs are really working hard behind the scenes to make a big splash. According to a source on RealCavsFans, the Cavs "...have big trade options on the burner that could answer many of his concerns (LeBron's concerns)" I don't know what to make of this but I assume the Cavs are working on a deal to get some draft picks or a big name player. Who are some guys you might hear linked here? Lets dig in:

Chris Paul, PG, New Orleans Hornets- I will start with this one because I think its the most unlikely. The Hornets have no reason to trade Paul, he is their franchise player and is getting paid only $15 million a year. I think the Hornets would prefer to trade Darren Collison instead of him because Paul attracts so much more attention, is a better player, and can sell tickets. The reason why his name is catching steam is for a few reasons. One, World Wide Wes has been telling teams if they acquire Paul, along with some cap space it will greatly enhance their chance to sign LeBron James. Two, Paul came out today and said if the Hornets weren't committed to winning, he would be open to a trade. He did reiterate that he was still happy with the Hornets and that it was his first choice. Three, their has been a delay in the sale of the Hornets from George Shinn to Gary Chouest due to financial reasons. Shinn's only source of income is the Hornets and he must pay the luxury tax straight out of his pocket. Many people believe he cannot afford Paul and that he should just trade him.

I'm sorry I hate to sound pessimistic, but I just don't see this happening. The Hornets would have to be crazy to trade one of the best PG's in the NBA and a top 10 NBA player. Second, I have read that teams have offered players such as OJ Mayo, Devin Harris, Vince Carter, and Jameer Nelson for Paul. The Cavs don't have a player of that caliber to trade to the Hornets, the only players to me that hold talent value to other teams is Andy, Mo, and JJ Hickson. Grant it, I would trade those guys any day for Paul, but I think the Hornets if they decided to trade Paul could find a much better deal.

Chris Bosh, F, Toronto Raptors- I will say this, the Cavs have a better chance of landing Bosh than they do Paul. With that said, I still don't think he will come here. It is Bosh who will decide where he lands and while we don't have any cap room for him, we could acquire him in a sign and trade. Sign and trades are complicated to pull off but they can be done. The 2 reasons I think the Cavs have a chance for Bosh is one, he is close friends with LeBron. If Bosh decides that he wants to go where LeBron will and LeBron commits to Cleveland, Bosh can tell the Raptors to sign and trade him to Cleveland. The Raptors, knowing that Bosh will leave will not want to let him walk for free, so they will try to negotiate a trade with the Cavs. The Cavs would probably offer a combination of cash, young players, and expiring contracts. A hypothetical trade could be Delonte West, Eyenga, Andy, and Hickson plus cash. The second reason I think the Cavs could make a move is because I think the Cavs could actually put together one of the better offers the Raptors could see. The Raptors were apparently one of the teams who were looking into drafting Eyenga last year. According to Brian Windhorst the Raptors have always liked Andy. Reports came out last week that the Cavs did call the Raptors about their asking price for Bosh. I still think its unlikely, but it should be a fun story to watch.

Al Jefferson, C, Minnesota Timberwolves- Jefferson has apparently been on the block due to his knee injury last year and inability to adjust with Kevin Love downlow. I would love to get Jefferson because he has great size at 6'11 who has some of the best footwork in the post. He would solve our issues at C for the next 5 years and he has a very affordable contract at $12 million a year. He is still young at the age of 25. The only risk I see with acquiring Jefferson is that he blew his knee out 2 years ago, but he should play much better this coming year as he continues to recover. He put up 17 and 9 this year and I would love to see him in a Cavs uniform. What would it take to get him? Well for one you would have to part with Andy and JJ, throw in West or Parker and you might get a competitive offer. I think the Wolves could get better offers for Jefferson, so I don't think he is coming here.

JJ Redick, SG, Orlando Magic- Redick improved by leaps and bounds this year in Orlando. He shot 40% from 3 and averaged nearly 10 points per game. He is an excellent shooter and someone who tries on defense. Coming off the bench, I think Redick could be very effective with so many open looks that LeBron could create. He is a free agent this year and we could offer some or most of the Mid Level Exception the Cavs have. If the Cavs end up trading Anthony Parker they could use a guy like Redick on the team.

These are all the names I can think of now. As I said earlier I think everyone on the team should be made available. To me Hickson (improving big man, still young), Andy (bigman entering his prime who is a good defender), West (super expiring), and Mo (solid PG who can shoot the ball well but doesn't defend) hold the most value on the Cavs. I wouldn't trade Mo unless we were able to get a PG who was of equal talent level back. I am fine with trading Andy or Hickson if it will net us a high draft pick or big name player. West should be added to a deal to help sweeten the pot for a team trying to save luxury tax money.

The next couple days should be very exciting. There will be a lot of activity and I think the Cavs will make a move because they HAVE to make a move. We have no coach, our roster is exactly the same as it was last year, and some guy named LeBron is a free agent. Brian Windhorst a couple weeks ago noted that Dan Gilbert wants to make blockbuster moves left and right and wants to turn the roster over. I am interested in seeing what the Cavs come up with after Thursday. Check back for any updates or breaking news that may occur. Thank you for reading and go Cleveland!

-Raz

The Ferry Has Sailed

About an hour ago Brian Windhorst reported that Cavs GM Danny Ferry has resigned from his position. His contract was due up at the end of this month. The move was seen as one that was mutual. Cavs assistant GM Chris Grant has been moved up to GM now. Grant has been with Ferry since 2005 and two years ago Grant rejected a GM job offer from the Atlanta Hawks. Here are some thoughts of mine.

-Danny Ferry was a great GM. He learned from his mistakes in 2005 and he drafted Daniel Gibson, JJ Hickson, Shannon Brown, and Danny Green. He traded for Mo, Antawn, and Shaq. He never got ripped off in a trade and always maximized value. We go Mo, Jamison, and Shaq for nothing.

-One of my friends made a great point that while Ferry always maximized value, he sometimes was better off getting the BEST player available. Getting Jamison and Mo for nothing was great, but their contracts are going to weigh on our cap for a couple more years.

-I think this move indicated that Gilbert is indeed putting his foot on the pedal to get a big name coach. This includes Phil Jackson, Coach K, Tom Izzo, John Calipari, and Larry Brown. These coaches are going to want to have a say in personnel matters. Former Lakers GM Jerry West left LA because Jackson wanted more power within the organization. Ferry did not want to give up the power he had over all personnel and draft moves.

-I think Ferry wanted to go after a more conservative assistant coach (Kelvin Sampson) and Gilbert wanted to swing for the fences. Ferry would not be comfortable with a coach he did not hire.

-I am not sure if this is a smart move. We had back to back 60 win seasons but we failed twice in the playoffs. Gilbert is a successful businessman and I put a lot of trust in him. The organization needs stability. I know he has a plan going forward. He would not let Ferry go without knowing what he would do in the coming weeks.

-GM Chris Grant was Ferry's right hand man. He ran the Cavs draft and he was a part of many of the free agent signings and trades. I am sure he has learned a lot from Ferry and that we will see a similar strategy employed by Grant. The difference is I don't think Grant will want as much power as Ferry did, or Gilbert would have got rid of him as well.

-Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown was asked today about his coaching situation and he said "I don't have anything to say. Dan Gilbert fervently pursued Brown in 2005 to become out team president....

I think that just about does it. Again these next 5-6 weeks will be pretty intense, especially with the uncertainty of LeBron, along with a new coach and GM coming on board. Thanks for reading and go Cleveland!

-Raz

Brown Out

Last week Mike Brown was let go by the Cavs. This was a widely expected move. I always thought MB was a solid coach, but his weaknesses could not be masked in the last 2 years. His inability to make in-game adjustments, develop young players, and handle egos ended up hurting him. Brown was not good at adjusting to his opponent during the game, he rarely played young players (Ferry called for Hickson to start), and LeBron seemed to lose trust in him along with a few other players in the playoffs. He did a great job in terms of team defense as the Cavs were repeatedly at the top of the NBA when it came to defensive rankings. Twice he exceeded expectations by beating the Detroit Pistons in 6 games to make it to the NBA Finals in 2007 and he took the eventual NBA Champion Celtics to 7 games in 2008. The past 2 years the Cavs had the best record in the NBA going into the playoffs, and they exited early each time.

GM Danny Ferry's contract expired at the end of June, but Brian Windhorst is reporting that he will probably be back. Ferry has done a great job of getting good players to put around LeBron James even though we have not won an NBA Championship. I would love to have Ferry back because he does not over pay for players and he is very patient when it comes to trades.

What do the Cavs need now? In my opinion they need a coach who will command respect in the huddle, can coach an offense, develop young players, and make sound in-game adjustments. MB was on and off when it came to playing Shannon Brown and he is currently a rotation player on the LA Lakers, Danny Green rarely played last year even when Delonte was hurt, and MB struggled to give Hickson minutes throughout the season and the playoffs. With Sasha Kaun and Christian Eyenga coming in the next couple years, it is important to find a coach who will develop players. Also, it will be very hard for a coach to commit to the Cavs without knowing what LeBron will do. Here are some candidates for the next Cavs job:

Phil Jackson- Jackson called the Cavs job an "odd" one. His contract expires this year and Lakers owner Jerry Buss is going to ask him to take a $5 million pay cut. Jackson currently is making $12 million and I am sure Cavs owner Dan Gilbert will outspend Buss for Jackson' services. The problem is he already has a great team in LA and his girlfriend is Buss' daughter. Jackson interviewed with Gilbert during our first coaching search, but I think its unlikely he leaves the Lakers.

Coach K- Again I find it hard to believe he will leave Duke. He just won a championship and he rejected a lucrative offer from the Lakers years ago. It will take a lot of money to get him over here. He has solid experience coaching Team USA and the players seem to respect him. I wouldn't mind seeing him here, but again I think its unlikely.

Tom Izzo- Much like Coach K, I don't think Izzo is going anywhere. He is a highly accomplished NCAA coach, and I wouldn't mind seeing him here. It will take a lot of money to pry him away from Michigan State.

Byron Scott- He is an interesting pick because he led the New Jersey Nets to the Finals twice, and he led to the New Orleans Hornets to the Western Conference Finals. He worked well with PG's Jason Kidd and Chris Paul. The problem I have with him is after 2-3 years he seemed to lose control of the locker room and his players seemed happy that he got fired. He appears to be a likely candidate to interview with the Cavs.

Kelvin Sampson- Brian Windhorst reported that Sampson was high up on Ferry's list. I don't know much about Sampson other than the fact the he helped tutor and develop Brandon Jennings in Milwaukee this past year and that he had numerous NCAA infractions at Oklahoma and Indiana. He has no prior head coaching experience in the NBA. He seems like the developmental coach that the Cavs would hire if LeBron left.

Tom Thibodeau- While his name has not been linked with the Cavs, I wouldn't mind Gilbert and Co. interviewing this guy. Everything I have read and heard about Thibodeau is that he is the technician behind the Celtics defense. If he can develop players and command their respect than he would seem like a good fit for the Cavs. It is reported that the Hornets are in deep negotiations with him for their head coaching vacancy.

Larry Brown- He is currently under contract with the Charlotte Bobcats. I personally would like to see him here because he can deal with egos and he does not put up with players shit. He does not like playing young players and he and LeBron did not see eye to eye during the 2004 Olympics. Its highly unlikely the Cavs go after him.

Well I think these are the names you might hear in the coming months. If LeBron re-signs (which I think he will), then look for the Cavs to try and land a big name. If LeBron leaves, then look for a young developmental coach to come on board. Gilbert and Co. shrewdly kept Brown' assistants (Chris Jent, Mike Malone, Melvin Hunt). Jent became LeBron's personal shooting coach and he had input on the offense. Malone was defensive coordinator last year and this past year he took over for John Kuester on the offense. Malone is seen as an upcoming head coach in the NBA. These assistants can asses the NBA Draft and could even stay on with the next coach of the Cavs. It will be a roller coaster ride of an offseason with a new coach, and the uncertainty surrounding LeBron. Buckle up......

Thanks for reading and go Cleveland!

-Raz

The Future is Unwritten

Well the Cavs season came to a quick end last week, and I don't know what to say about it. I am extremely disappointed in the team, and it is sad how everything just vanished so quickly. I put most of the blame on LeBron James as he just did not play well in the series, sans game 3. Everyone keeps talking about what he is going to do this summer, and I don't think LeBron even knows what he is going to do this summer. I think he will stay for a few reasons. One, this is his hometown and he has to know how important it is to build a legacy with one team. Two, he can get more money by re-signing in Cleveland. Three, the Cavs have one of the best owners in the NBA in Dan Gilbert and he has shown LeBron that he will do whatever it takes to bring an NBA Championship to Cleveland. Four, it seems that LeBron no longer has a want for Mike Brown as his head coach anymore and there is little doubt that Brown will be gone in the next few days.

Watching ESPN and other major news media outlets, you would have thought LeBron had already signed with the Chicago Bulls or the New York Knicks. Its funny how bad they want him out of here and they are making it a foregone conclusion that he has already left. Everyone makes it seem like he would do better in New York or New Jersey, but he won't as their teams lack serious depth (Knicks can sign 2 max free agents, but they would have to fill the rest of the roster with min. contracts) and the Nets don't move to Brooklyn for another 2-3 years. Chicago is the toughest player of all in this because they have two young pieces in Derek Rose and Joakim Noah. Would he be willing to play in Jordan's shadow? Would he take a risk of going to a front office that has historically fought with their coaches (physically and verbally)? Would he risk leaving money on the table to become public enemy #1 forever in Ohio? LeBron always talks about how important loyalty is to him and the Cavs have been nothing but that to him. Anything he ever asked for they gave him. After the Celtics series in 2008 he said we need to get better, we got him Mo Williams and JJ Hickson. After we lost to the Magic in 2009, we got Shaq, Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker, Danny Green, and Antawn Jamison in a midseason trade. The Cavs have tried their hardest and will continue to try to make the Cavs the best team they can possibly be. Finally, I find it very hard for LeBron to make the argument that he tried his best and couldn't get it done here, because he didn't. It is obvious that he either was hurt or just didn't try hard enough in this series. Had he dropped 40 a game, and we lost the series, then he would be packing his bags now. The reason we lost was mostly on LeBron and his lackluster effort. As Brian Windhorst put it, "The blood of this series is solely on LeBron"...

What do the Cavs do from here? Well I am not going to write my offseason preview here, but I will give you a little taste of what the Cavs SHOULD do.

Hire a new coach
-It is obvious MB lost most of the locker room and that LeBron was longer in his corner. MB's inability to make in-game adjustments killed this team. Playing JJ Hickson zero minutes in game 6 was horrible (in the 108-88 Cavs win in Boston in Feb. Hickson played 23 minutes, had 8 points and a +27 +/-), and playing Jamario Moon 9 minutes was also a dumb move as he should have had more minutes. The strategy to beating the Celtics was pretty simple, run. Shaq can start the quarters playing 4-5 minutes, then you put in Andy, Hickson, Moon, and West. Andy should have been guarding KG, not a combination of Z, Shaq, and Jamison. It was tactical errors like this during games that cost the Cavs. Also, MB has not been an expert at developing talent as Shannon Brown is now a rotation player on the champion LA Lakers. While I thought MB was a great defensive coach and an overall solid coach, I think his inability to make adjustments in games really hurt the Cavs. I think the newest coach will have a great impact on whether LeBron stays or goes. If the Cavs can get themselves a big name who LeBron will respect, then I think it only helps out chances. Later, I will write who I believe should coach the Cavs next year.

Buy a draft pick
-This team needs to continue to get younger and surround itself with young talent. The Minnesota Timberwolves have 3 first round picks, The OKC Thunder have 2 first round picks, and the Atlanta Hawks have expressed interest in selling their first round pick as well. Dan Gilbert has deep pockets and must be willing to spend $2-3 million on a first round pick.

Keep GM Danny Ferry
-Ferry's contract is up after this year, but I would love to have him back. He turned around as a GM after his horrible signings of Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, and Damon Jones. He drafted Shannon Brown, Daniel Gibson, JJ Hickson, and Danny Green. He got Mo Williams for Damon Jones, Jamison for a first round pick, Shaq for nothing, and signed Parker and Moon to small cheap contracts. He re-signed Andy at a reasonable price and put team options on the last years of Andy's, Boobie's, and Moon's contracts. He did a great job of taking advantage of other teams financial hardships by acquiring talent for pennies on the dollar.

Use the expirings of West/Parker/Moon/Telfair
-The Cavs have about $13 million worth of expirings between these 4 guys. Moon's deal goes until next year, but it is a team option so a team can decline the option and not pay his salary. West' deal is a super expiring contract as he is due $4.6 million but a team can buy him out for $500,000 and not pay the rest of his salary. West could be hard to trade as his mental issues took a toll on him this past year and his pending legal case (will probably be settled). Use these expirings to acquire some young talent, draft picks, or as a package with JJ Hickson. Expiring deals are very valuable in the NBA now a days.

Put everyone on the trade market
-Make everyone on the Cavs available. Seriously, the Cavs need to find a trust #2 guy, and they must find a way to do so. By putting the expirings of the 4 players listed above, a high energy bigman Andy, a young developing big man in Hickson, a solid PG in Mo, one of the best 3 point shooters in the NBA Daniel Gibson on the market, the Cavs could get some interesting offers.

Bring Sasha Kaun and Christian Eyenga to the Cavs
-I think it is quite obvious that Shaq will not be back here next year as he feuded with MB over minutes. Z is basically finished and the Cavs need a legit C. Sasha Kaun has improved greatly overseas and he could provide the team with a solid backup C. He has size (7'0) and solid rebounding and defensive abilities. Eyenga would be brought over because he his minutes overseas have been spotty, and there will probably be an opportunity for him to play here. With a new coach coming in he will probably get more minutes than if MB was our coach and I don't think your going to see a combination of Parker/West/Gibson here next year. Eyenga has amazing athleticism, solid size (6'5), and a good defender. He still has a shaky jumper. If he could develop a solid shot, I see a lot of Mickael Pietrus in him.

Well, I think this just about does it. I say all this assuming LeBron re-signs. If he doesn't I have no idea what should happen. My next blog will get into specifics about how we should use our Mid Level Exception and what coaches to bring in. It is going to be a wild couple months and we're going to hear a lot of crazy rumors. The key is to decipher the ones who come from solid sources (Brian Windhorst) from bad ones (New York Daily News). Keep your head up and go Cleveland!

-Raz

Cleveland, We have a problem

Well, I don't even think its necessary to talk about the loss last night against the Celtics. In general this Cavs team has played with no heart, no desire, no passion, and no hustle. They thought this Celtics team would just roll over and they didn't. This team is over and done with, they aren't going to win game 6 in Boston.

I think there are some bigger issues arising with this team and Brian Windhorst pointed them out pretty clearly last night. He is reporting that there are some chemistry problems right now. Players are upset with Mike Brown's erratic rotation and in-game adjustments. LeBron seems to be not taking an active leadership role since this series began. After our game 2 loss, he went to the podium completley stoic, while MB was pulling the fire alarm.

I ask myself why is LeBron playing the way he is? He had 3 field goals all last game. I have a couple reasons for why he seems disinterested out there. One, he is unsatisfied with MB, and no longer trusts him. I can believe this because MB is not a master of in-game adjustments (which confuses our players), and these two seem to be echoing two different trains of thought. MB is trying to warn the team to wake up, while LeBron is saying "We'll get them next game". Often times player and coaches echo the same tune when it comes to post-game press conferences, but this has not been the case. Also after game 4, Shaq did not speak to the media as he was upset that he did not play in the 4th quarter. Shaq is known to have a massive ego, and while we haven't seen much of it, it seems to be flaring up now. If LeBron is indeed tuning out MB, he is doing it at the worst time. He needs to be a man and just go out there and play as hard as he can and not use this series as an excuse to get rid of your coach. The problem lies even deeper than LeBron can do this because he knows every single team in the NBA would do anything to get their hands on him, teams will still want to sign him despite what happens in this series.

The second issue I see is LeBron's elbow is much more injured then we have been led to believe. Although the team has done an MRI on his elbow, LeBron has not been the same "attack mode" player we are used to seeing in the playoffs and regular season. He was settling for jumpers yesturday and was not taking an active role in the offense. I wouldn't be suprised if in a few weeks from now we heard that LeBron's elbow was a much more serious injury than previously reported.

What do I make of this series debacle? For one, I am shocked. I knew this team sometimes would get complacent, but not for stretches of 3-4 games. I knew if this team turned the light on and kept it on that no team would beat us in a 7 game series. Who do I point the blame at? 2 people, LeBron James for one, especially if he is trying to show up Mike Brown by playing disinterested basketball, and two Mike Brown for not being able to enable the trust of his players in the most important time of the year and get on the same page with all of them. His inability to manage in-game adjustments has finally taken precedent here. Shaq, Z, and LeBron have all been upset with MB this series, and it is up to him as a coach not only to solve these problems, but to motivate his team. I find it hard to believe that all these chemistry issues will be solved in a matter of 2 days. I don't think I have ever been this dissapointed in a team before in my life. At least the Indians and Browns when they played in high level games showed some fight and heart. Yes, the Orlando Magic were down 3-2 and had to play a game 7 in Boston and won, but I don't see that coming from this team. This team is like the Night of the Living Dead, just a bunch of zombies walking around with no signs of life......

The most important question everyone is asking is LeBron going to stay in Cleveland? I think he is because of the fact that we have a great owner, GM, and we can pay him the most money. The Gilbert/Ferry team has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to put a winner on the court. I defintley MB is fired after we lose this series, so I am sure we will be looking at long list of new coaches (cough cough John Calipari). This offseason is going to be interesting because we have the expirings of Parker/Telfair/West, a reliable 3 point shooter in Gibson, the Mid-Level Exception to sign a free agent, a young piece in Hickson, and the issue of Z/Shaq coming back. This has defintley been an extremely dissapointing season, but it should be a very interesting offseason.....

-Raz