While 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.
I like your optimism, but I don’t think it will play out like this- “2013 – 2014 Cavs: With the Cavs’ first round pick, P.J. Hairston of North Carolina is selected and with their second rounder, Aaron Craft of Ohio State. With the Heat and Magic picks, the Cavs choose another wing and a 5th big man. Casspi is re-signed for 4 years, $16 million and Daniel Gibson is re-signed for 3 years, $7.5 million.
The big, final free agent piece is James Harden. Harden is a restricted free agent and the Cavs can offer him a max contract of 4 years and approximately $66 million. As some background, OKC’s payroll for 6 players in 2013 – 2014 is $38.3 million. This doesn’t sound bad, except none of those players is Russell Westbrook, James Harden, or Serge Ibaka. Given that the Cavs have offered Harden $15+ million per year and Westbrook and Ibaka could cost $30 million a year; that leaves OKC looking at $84 million for 9 players. The luxury tax limit will be approximately $74 million. Are they willing to go $15 – $20 million into the luxury tax given the new CBA’s strict provisions? OKC can do a lot to juggle their roster between now and then; but for the purposes of this extremely hypothetical scenario, an assumption will be made that they won’t spend 70% of the luxury tax threshold on three backcourt players. So the Cavs convince Harden that a max contract and his ability to be a focal point of the offense make Cleveland his best destination.” [Hetrick/Cavs the Blog]
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“Lemon Face: Antawn Jamison. We’re not sure when this happened, but some time along the way, Antawn Jamison turned into the worst. And it hurts quite a bit. Just like you don’t want your role model father to be caught for tax fraud, so does it pain us to watch the “consummate professional” slack on defense and chuck his way towards 6 for 20 nights. Soneone should get this guy to a contender – not because he “deserves” it, as was the case when Cleveland salvaged him from Washington, but because watching him in the lottery stains what’s still left of our good will.” [Schiller/Hardwood Paroxysm]
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“The Buckeyes have gone from the outside looking in on the national recruiting rankings, to now sitting in the top 6 of all three major recruiting networks’ rankings. They currently reside in the Big Ten’s #2 slot, despite besting the #1 ranked Wolverines in average star ranking. Michigan gets the nod due to the total number of commitments at present, but that could change.
With the possible addition of 4-6 more prospects in this year’s class for Ohio State, they will likely continue to climb the charts before signing day gets here, a remarkably astonishing feat considering the slow start and the turmoil surrounding the program for the last 12 months.” [Eleven Warriors]
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“He won’t be taking off his Ohio State jersey, though he easily could be on the other sideline in this matchup of 6-6 teams. A native of Plantation, Fla., Shazier originally gave an oral commitment to Florida when Urban Meyer was the coach there. When Meyer retired a year ago, Shazier reopened his recruiting and chose Ohio State. Now he’s playing for the Buckeyes, in his home state, against the team he nearly played for, while getting ready to play next year for the coach he nearly committed to, Meyer, and the coach who drew him to Ohio State, Luke Fickell. “It’s crazy,” Shazier said. “I’m happy. I’m where I want to be. I’m really happy I got both of them.” [Lesmerises/Cleveland.com]
