Video: One of Kenny Lofton’s greatest games
May 31, 2013Cavs ranked eighth in ESPN’s NBA Future Power Rankings
May 31, 2013
“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.
“We see it, especially, with these 2013 Indians, who have been streaky enough this season to offer plenty of opportunity for debate. You’re either convinced that Ubaldo’s turned a corner and the rotation is going to hang tough or you’re just waiting for the wheels to fall off and burn. You’re either undaunted by that stretch of six losses in seven games and the betrayal provided by the bullpen or you’re convinced Chris Perez is one setback away from shoulder surgery and Vinnie Pestano’s going to blow out his elbow and a funk is going to envelop the late-inning efforts. You’re either utterly enamored with the offense or concerned it is too home run-reliant and strikeout-prone. The Trevor Bauer-penned theme song is either music to your ears or 99 seconds of your life you wish you had back.
I’m on record, for better or worse, that I believe this is a fundamentally different ballclub than the ones in recent years past. I don’t believe the Indians are going to completely collapse. Do I think they can give the Tigers an honest, earnest run for their money (quite literally) in the AL Central? Well, that’s complicated, to say the least. But with two Wild Cards on the table, if you can simply hover north of .500 into the late summer, you’re in the conversation. And this is a town that could use a good conversation.” [Castrovince/MLB.com]
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Oof. “Pavano, 37, suffered severe bleeding and internal injuries when he fell while shoveling snow at his Vermont home, he has said. Pavano, the former Twin, Yankee, Indian, Expo and Marlin right-hander, visited three hospitals and dealt with the loss of 6½ liters of blood, he told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “I’m just lucky to be alive,” he told the Minneapolis newspaper in February.” [Heyman/CBS Sports]
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“Because ultimately, I feel like punting on the first pick. On the spectrum of thirty NBA’s teams current tolerance for risk, I’ll assume the Cavs fall in the middle. They are still young and buidling, but there is a definite desire to see signficant improvement next year. So in this hypothetical “risk aversion ranking”, there are many teams willing to roll the dice more than Cleveland. Teams willing to take the potential franchise center with the health issues, coupled with a desire to tank in 2014. There could even be a team that decides Trey Burke is the next big thing and wants to snag him before Orlando does. Six weeks ago, David Thorpe was already advocating for Burke at the top of the draft.” [Hetrick/Cavs the Blog]
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Video of the Tribe scoring seven runs in one inning after two men were out. You’re welcome. [MLB.com]
14 Comments
Surprised these Cavs draft analyses and predictions don’t place a few central truths front and center:
1) They will trade some of their 4 picks, because there’s no room for all of them and a team ready for a playoff push needs some degree of experience. So you have to consider when, not if, the trade will occur, and what they will attempt to acquire;
2) This year is crucial for Chris Grant’s future, which may lead him to avoid a player in need of significant game development and added strength/weight but whose NBA baptism would be in mid-season with no training camp while coming off a significant injury. Not saying this means he won’t draft Noel (Grant’s as unpredictable as anyone) but may foretell that if he suspects Noel will still be there at #2 or #3 he’ll try to parlay all these accumulated picks into a blockbuster.
You are correct on both points.
I’ve been trying to think what team Noel fits with best if we do trade him. What I have come up with is that the team he undoubtedly fits in with best is the Toronto Raptors. They have JonasV to cover things down-low and can allow Noel to just be a floating helper. Plus, it would add even more ridiculous athleticism to their corps (Lowry, DeRozan, T.Ross, Gay).
Now, they do NOT have a 2013 1st rounder. So, they would have to give up 2014 (better draft) unprotected (and we’d have to hope it’s a good pick — or protect us and make it protected in the lottery). And a 2016 1st round pick. Plus, Amir Johnson (young, solid PF).
And, I’m not sure that is really enough because they could end up being a good team next year (even with Noel not contributing much), but it’s interesting at least (I’d love to steal T.Ross + A.Johnson in that deal).
I’m missing something – what does Grant get for #1 overall, a future pick and Amir? Nah, this is the year he must turn the assets into great young players. What I can see is the makings of maybe the wildest #1 overall selection ever, a complicated three or four-team trade that remakes our roster in one night and scatters our draft picks, this year’s and maybe some future extra ones, all over the league.
’14 1st rounder, ’16 1st rounder, Amir Johnson and possibly Terrence Ross.
Then, if we feel Toronto will be bad next year (Wiggins, Smart and others), we keep that pick. If not, then we start shopping our assets for more veteran help.
And, as I mentioned, I don’t think it is enough. I was just trying to match a team that Noel fits really well with and see what I could come up with.
So what this will be a six-eight year rebuilding plan? Man I guess LeBron James really did carry that team on his back!
Move it over Harv ‘cuz I’m with you. Popcorn?
The fact that you could only come up with Toronto as a team that Noel fits best if traded kind of speaks for itself. I still maintain the #1 overall pick should be traded but I’m wrestling with the idea that there just may not be any substantial interest in trading for it.
Btw I’ve been an Otto Porter Jr. proponent but of late I’m starting to think about Mr. McLemore. He next to Irving moving Waiters to the bench to come off with Zeller in addition to another guy who can handle the ball when Irving is out. Not to mention an ability to have some three guard offensive schemes – whoa – the Suns hockey named coach will be in heaven!
fitting best was a personal opinion based on how they have been constructing their roster. nothing more.
What, no facts included? Expect a comment from Steven soon!
The baseball draft is soon where’s the chatter come on people?????
There’s too many factors in the baseball draft, not to mention the top picks usually take a few years to even make the major league roster. It’s hard to get excited about picking a player that won’t help your team for at least three years.
I only watch the draft with snowcaps. A bucket of them. By the second round I’m stumbling around, sucking up the loose confectionery sugar with the bucket stuck on my face like Winnie the Poo and his honey jar.
Unless you are the St. Louis Cardinals you see what Wacha did last night? If it wasn’t for Mitchell Boggs the kid would have gotten the “W” too. But I generally agree with everything you said but still, it’s a draft, I love sports drafts!
if you are a pitcher for the Cardinals, then to do well all you have to do is show up. seriously, how nice would it be to just have an assembly line of great SPs like they seem to always have (and yes, Molina deserves credit, but he cannot possibly deserve ALL the credit, right?)