Zydrunas Ilgauskas Deserves Better From Mike Brown
December 1, 2009Tribe News: Sarbaugh Takes Over in C-Bus, Skins To Akron
December 1, 2009
The Cavaliers aren’t and shouldn’t be a desperate team. They aren’t on a bubble for contention to the playoffs this year. They are far removed from their neediest days when they had both Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden anchoring the starting lineup. They are having some growing pains getting used to playing with Shaquille O’Neal and coming up with consistent, productive rotations. While the Cavaliers aren’t in desperate need to change things, they need to be open and willing to consider anything this year. Well, other than trading LeBron James, of course.
I have been thinking about this especially considering the recent hand-wringing over Mike Brown’s decision to sit Zydrunas Ilgauskas for a game where the Cavs defeated the Dallas Mavericks. While I don’t necessarily agree with Mike Brown’s decision to sit Ilgauskas, it is a reminder of just how emotions can bubble up and cloud our vision. We can’t really say that the Cavs won that game (111-95) because they sat Zydrunas for the entire game. Then again, without defending Mike Brown’s decision to sit Z, going small was probably the right strategy overall for the Cavs and it was proven out as they won the game handily. They won the game. Isn’t that the point?
Speaking of which, as Cavs fans, I think we really need to prepare ourselves for anything this year. This includes the trade of any player on the roster not named LeBron James. I certainly can’t imagine Mo Williams or Anderson Varejao going anywhere. The same can’t be said of both Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Shaquille O’Neal. I know the idea with bringing Shaq in was to get ready to battle Dwight Howard this year in the playoffs, but this franchise is bigger than a single matchup from a year ago in the playoffs. The NBA has become a game of talent infusion by trading older, expiring contracts for costly, younger, longer-running contracts. I still feel as if the Cavs missed an opportunity last year by allowing Szczerbiak to expire.
Yes, we learned during the Stephen Jackson rumors that Wally Szczerbiak is apparently still ready, willing and able to be signed and traded in a Keith Van Horn lottery-winning scenario. Still, if the right player becomes available and it requires moving contracts other than a farcical Wally contract, I am already preparing myself for it. It would hurt a lot to see Zydrunas Ilagauskas get traded, but I will just hope he demands a buyout and comes back to the Cavaliers within 30 days. Danny Ferry has earned our trust, and if he feels compelled to do anything at all, I will trust in him until I have reason to believe otherwise.
We just don’t know how the season will develop for other teams and what they may be looking to unload as we get closer to the trade deadline. You never know who the next Shawn Marion is going to be. And before you think I am just preaching at the rest of you, I am also trying to talk myself into it. I have sworn never to forgive and forget, but what happens if Carlos Boozer becomes available? He definitely provides a clear and obvious upgrade in talent to this roster. As I said, despite my own emotional reactions, the Cavaliers need to be willing to consider anything.
26 Comments
Anyone but Lebron out, anyone but Boozer in.
I’d take Boozer. The NBA is a gentlemen’s league and I’m sure a vast majority of NBA players wouldn’t blame Boozer for “getting his” when he bolted on Cleveland. I think LeBron wants to win more than he wants to hold a grudge. I really want to keep Shaq though because I really don’t see Z or Andy being able to slow down Howard enough to put us in the position to win. If Delonte is able to continue to stay locked in then I really don’t want to lose him either but I would be fine with virtually anyone else. I would feel bad using Z but I would do it only if he could be brought back via a buy out.
The Cavs need to make moves though because with their current payroll they aren’t going to be able to sign anybody that would make an impact next offseason. The only way they are going to add a star is to trade for one.
I hate Boozer. I would take him back, though, if it meant a ring; winning a championship has to be the most important goal for this team, no matter what it takes.
On the other hand, what happens if Lebron leaves? Then you’re overpaying secondary players and your hands are tied for years.
I know Boozer is a good player, but I haven’t followed him that closely since he stabbed the Cavaliers in the back. However, if he is an obvious upgrade and the right trade came-up, I wouldn’t be opposed to bringing him back. He’s a d-bag, but… I’m desperate to see a Cleveland team win a championship in my lifetime. I’m nearly ready to sell my soul for the opportunity.
@ #4,
I think we have to go as hard as possible as if LBJ is staying. We are screwed if he leaves either way.
I think we can get secondary players through the MLE or by trading draft picks/Eyenga. That option will be there. I want to trade and get the David Wests/Troy Murphys of the world. Guys that make 9-11 million a year and could make an instant impact and who couldn’t be obtained any other way besides trading Z. If LeBron leaves this organization is screwed no matter who is on the roster.
Boozer really isn’t an option anyway. He, too, has an expiring contract. So, in order to get him, the Cavs couldn’t just trade expiring contracts with the Jazz. The Jazz would want talent back, which the Cavs haven’t been willing to deal (rightfully so). I do think something will go down, but it won’t be for Boozer.
@#2: There’s a difference between “Getting yours” and conspiring to break a rule and then stabbing your co-conspirators in the back.
@8: it will be possible to get some guys for just a monetary savings, i.e. a salary that is 15% less, or a non-guaranteed contract.
Trading Shaq would be just about the dumbest move ever. We can own Orlando when we don’t have to double-team.
Two Words: RUDY. GAY.
We neeeeeed a real 2-guard with some size. Or else we are going to still have match-up problems on the perimeter.
#9-
What he did was a terrible thing and there are some people that will never forgive him for it and there are others that don’t like what he did and would be willing to overlook it to win. I don’t think anyone is right or wrong it’s just a preference thing. I see where you are coming from, but the only person who’s opinion matters is probably LeBron since Brown, Gilbert and Ferry weren’t attached to the Cavs yet. That being the case I think LeBron would probably be in the camp of people that wants to win at all costs.
@ 8- Completely agreed. A deal for Boozer, regardless of its merits, is unlikely because we’re unlikely to give up anything other than expiring contracts plus maybe Delonte.
I’d keep a close eye on the Hornets. Their owner is notoriously cheap and they are losing money hand over fist. David West would look REALLY good in a Cavaliers uni.
personally, im sick of the boozer vitriol. hes he was a jerk about the whole thing but paxson/gund were STUPID for going along with it. does anyone know if boozer approached the cavs or if the cavs approached boozer? either way, it was complete stupidity by paxson (and gund) to go along with that idea. frankly, the cavs were probably just trying to be cheap long-term by paying boozer more at that time, but less than they would have to pay him as a restricted free agent. boozer may have “stabbed the cavs in the back” but he never should have been given that opportunity in the first place by paxson. lets not forget that!
i dont see Mo WIlliams being involved in any trades, unless the hornets decide to cut ties with chris paul for some unbelievable reason. i dont see that happening.
Mike-
You should pick up The Franchise by Terry Pluto and Brian Windhorst. Excellent behind the scenes stuff about Boozer and the Cavs.
thanks for the tip clown baby. what kind of inside stuff ?
Just about what happened and the circumstances involved. A lot of it was driven by Boozer’s wife at the time. It’s really just a small piece of the book though. It traces the history of the franchise from the start, to how the Cavs landed LeBron and ends with them making the Finals a few years ago. Great read.
The Franchise. Due check it out.
/Kurt Loder’d
Even if we could get Boozer I don’t know that I’d really want him, and that’s not even considering the way he left the Cavs.
He’s spent a lot of his time in a Jazz uni injured, and if not for his contract he’d probably be playing behind Paul Millsap right now. I wouldn’t want to pay real money for him. If we could trade him for Wally’s contract and then if he’d want to sign for the MLE next year I’d be down with that but until he plays one good, non-injury plagued season I don’t think he’s a player we really need.
I’d much rather see us get David West from NO.
i had heard that boozer’s wife had alot to do with it as well. does it answer the question of did the cavs approach boozer or did boozer approach the cavs? if boozer approached the cavs, then i would assume he had plans to bolt if the cavs said yes and that really shows how stupid paxson was to agree.
I’m a little foggy but I believe the Cavs at the time were going to have to under pay Boozer (which they admitted to him) for payroll reasons. I believe they were going to make it up to him once the restructured deal ran out. I think his wife that it was BS and he shouldn’t be under paid out of loyalty to the Cavs. It wasn’t as black and white as everyone thinks. I hated the guy until I read it and I still disliked him but I understood a little about where he was coming from. In pro sports your value is expressed in dollars.
@13 – David West would look really nice at PF for the Cavs. I’d be surprised if Charlotte, err… New Orleans dealt him though. How long is he signed for? Maybe if he has an expensive/long term deal they would consider.
nice post Craig…i, too would hate to see Z go, but Ferry has earned trust. hard to argue with most of the moves he’s made.
Shaq has to be considered in a trade but I don’t see a scenario where we could deal that $20M and actually get anything of value back. We traded for him with garbage because no other team really wanted him. Wally and Sasha would’ve gotten it done but the Suns pulled back. Realizing they couldn’t win or get anything of value they dumped him.
Say NO would trade West in a deal with Shaq, We’d have to take back Posey’s terrible deal or more than likely Emeka’s garbage contract. Now West’s deal actually declines but Emeka’s is astronomical. Could LBJ make Emeka better? Probably, but that deal is MISERABLE.
Jax MIGHT still be a possibility depending on how the Bobcats are looking toward the deadline, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
A guy the fans should really start talking about trying to acquire is Shane Battier, there might not be a better fit in the NBA for this team than him.