Remembering just how good Travis Hafner was all over again
May 14, 2011On the availability of Gold Pants and Tressel’s new lawyer
May 15, 2011While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
Golden State interested in Mike Brown: “Meanwhile in Oakland, a source with knowledge of the Warriors’ search said that former Cleveland coach Mike Brown and Dwane Casey met with Golden State front office officials last week and that more interviews will take place this week. Lakers assistant Chuck Person is scheduled to be among that group, with fellow Lakers assistant Brian Shaw and Frank likely close behind.
One of the sources said the Warriors had “moved past” the idea of hiring former Utah coach Jerry Sloan or former Houston and New York coach Jeff Van Gundy, and CSNBayArea.com reported Friday that both had declined interviews. Only two of the candidates are expected to eventually meet with the team’s owners, but that process won’t likely take place until after pre-draft camp in Chicago next week because co-owner Joe Lacob is out of the country.
The Warriors, who decided not to retain Keith Smart after one season, have quite the quandary on their hands. There is obviously a strong desire for a defense-first coach and culture after so many years of Don Nelson’s one-way play, but the fans that have so staunchly supported a losing product might revolt if the Warriors brass takes all the excitement away with the next hire.
Brown is certainly highly regarded as a defensive mind, but has never been accused of being a dynamic offensive coach no matter how many times he told LeBron James to go it alone on that end. Here are his team’s rankings in points per game leading up to his firing last summer: 15th, 19th, 24th, 13th, ninth.” [Sam Amick / SI]
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Questions about Tribe’s offense: “The Indians are now 37 games into the season and are a healthy 24-13, good for the best record in the American League. But with 125 games to go – 77.2% of the schedule – it is still very early in the season and things can still go either way for this team.
There is no doubt that this team has the pitching to sustain their success and win a lot of games this year and beyond. The depth in the starting rotation is unheard of, and they have a solid bullpen with several options with impact ability looming on the horizon in the minors. Also, even though the defense has struggled a little of late, it has been solid all year and is much improved over last season.
The offense is also much improved this season, but it continues to be the biggest question mark and will probably be what determines the fate for the team this season. They were locked in at the plate in April as they ranked first in almost every category offensively as a team, but in May the warts are starting to show. Some of it is the result of facing some very good pitching, but good pitching also helps expose weaknesses that are otherwise overlooked because some hitters take advantage of performing against lesser pitching.
Outfielder Michael Brantley and Grady Sizemore as well as shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, first baseman Matt LaPorta and designated hitter Travis Hafner have all performed solid to very good this year. But there are a few spots in the lineup in need of a jolt.” [Tony / Indians Prospect Insider]
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Cavs trade talk: “There isn’t much brewing with the Cavs’ trade exception, mainly because no one knows where anyone is drafting yet. Any sort of trade talk will heat up again closer to the June 23 draft.
The acquisition of Davis and the Clippers’ lottery pick has taken some of the pressure off management to use the $14.5 million trade exception acquired in the LeBron James deal last summer with the Miami Heat. The Cavs know it would’ve been a public relations disaster and they would’ve been sharply criticized by fans had they let the exception expire and not made any moves to improve this team.
They correctly view the trade that brought the Clippers’ pick as a move equivalent to using the trade exception.
There is belief around the league that injured Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay could be had in the right deal. Gay, 25, has about $68 million left on his contract for the next four years. The Grizzlies have already given Zach Randolph a monster $71 million extension this spring and Marc Gasol’s expiring contract is up next.” [Jason Lloyd / ABJ]
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On Derrick Rose and LeBron: “The assumption that Rose would’ve jumped into the free-agent fray with public statements, secret meetings or a barrage of text messages if he really wanted to attract one of the top 2010 free agents was flawed from the beginning. Rose only stepped in when his silence was spun as reluctance to team up with James, whose immaturity with the whole process belied his more seasoned status in the league.
Rose’s lone foray into the world of free-agent recruitment was a single text message to James, sent more to clear the air than to woo the Cleveland star. As revealed in a Sports Illustrated profile in March, Rose succumbed and texted James in his typically understated way to shoot down speculation that he didn’t want him in Chicago.
“I’m just hitting you up to kill all the rumors that I don’t want to play with you,” Rose wrote. “I’d like to play with you. I just want to win.”
Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but that’s Rose. That’s a basketball talent who in less than a year would become the youngest MVP in league history — in large part, because he was more obsessed with improving his game last summer than sucking up to free agents. He was more interested in bonding with the teammates he had than importing new ones.” [Ken Berger / CBS Sports]
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Steve Kerr on Magic following Cavs path with Howard: “I just feel like they’ve kind of gone down the same path as Cleveland went around LeBron [James],” Steve Kerr, an analyst for TNT and the former general manager of the Phoenix Suns, said during an interview Friday.
“Not to make it an ominous sign, but they’ve really tried hard and they’ve spent a ton of money to put people around Dwight hoping that that would convince him to stay, hoping that that would get the franchise over the top.
“But in the end, the risk was extending themselves on the cap and really hamstringing their future options. It was very similar to Cleveland, and I think that’s where Orlando is now. There’s no way — there’s no way — you can get Chris Paul or Deron Williams when you don’t have cap room and you don’t have assets.”
Last December, the Magic made two major trades that allowed the team to shed Rashard Lewis’ long-term contract. At the same time, however, the transactions tethered the team to Hedo Turkoglu’s lucrative deal and Gilbert Arenas’ even more lucrative deal.”
Arenas is owed about $62 million over the next three years if he doesn’t take a bizarre step and invoke his early termination option after the 2011-12 season. Turkoglu, meanwhile, is owed $23 million over the next two seasons and has an unguaranteed year in place for 2013-14. [Josh Robbins / Orlando Sentinel]
3 Comments
Rudy Gay and his $68 million can stay in Memphis, thank you very much. Just look at those numbers the Magic have tied up with Arenas and Turk. I know Gay is younger, but the Cavs don’t need that kind of fiscal nightmare hanging over the team.
we should try to trade for a short, overpriced contract and a decent young player (probably not a great one) off some team looking to lure free agents. we need to develop a young core these next couple years then fill in the pieces later. rudy gay will only make us marginally competitive and will limit our future draft options
I heard a while back the idea of getting a younger player with injury issues that could potentially become good if staying healthy. The only person that I know is Greg Oden, but Im sure there are a few others that would fit the bill.