The Worst Case Scenarios for the Cavs’ Offseason
June 23, 2013While We’re Waiting…the most powerful person in collegiate athletics
June 24, 2013Though fans have repeatedly been told that the 2013 NBA Draft has little value, more than 10 teams have reportedly inquired about the first-overall pick, currently owned by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
No less than 10 teams have inquired about Cavs' No. 1 pick, with Kings and Pelicans being the latest, source says. #NBADraft
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 24, 2013
Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio reports that Chris Grant’s phone has been seeing some increased use, most recently with the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans testing the waters. Amico adds that the Cavs appear to be most intrigued by an offer from the Minnesota Timberwolves, but are “not keen on” moving all the way down to the No. 9 selection. Recent rumors regarding the Cavaliers and Timberwolves involved tweener forward Derrick Williams.
The Cavaliers have long been rumored to exploring the trading of the No. 1 pick given the value of the asset, but are reportedly looking for a “serious haul” in return. If Grant and his staff have shown anything over the years, it is that they will not make a trade simply to make a trade—all transactions have to undoubtedly be for the betterment of the franchise.
These trade rumors are all in addition to recent speculation surrounding the Cavs entertaining discussions with the Boston Celtics for small forward Paul Pierce, and the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 13 selection in Thursday’s draft. Both trades would involve the Cavaliers taking on additional salary. The Cavs are expected to enter the free agency period with roughly $19 million in available space.
[Related: The Worst Case Scenarios for the Cavs’ Offseason]
50 Comments
Love the Pierce talk.
One year rental for even a 34 year old Pierce? I am ok with that. We need a leader like him on and off the court, especially for 2 second rounders.
He’ll be 36 before the start of next season, but I completely agree. Dealing for Pierce would do nothing to hinder the Cavs if they want to make a run at LeBron in 2014 and will still leave them with 2 first-round picks for this draft. I’d be very interested to see what the Cavs look like with Paul Pierce on the floor.
MAKE A RUN AT LEBRON???? HAHAHAHAHAHA
What’d I say?
ugh. DW+#9 still the ‘most intriguing’? cmon Kings, you want to get rid of that perrennial headache in Cousins, right?
#1+#19
for
Cousins + #7
Heck, I’m feeling generous today, so I’ll even throw in pick #33 (as long as we don’t need it for a Pierce or Dallas trade).
I find the Pierce talk less intriguing than most other commenters. Truly great player, but he’s way on the downside now and his attitude was sometimes iffy before Garnett came to Boston. Sometimes this mentoring talk is a media fantasy and instead you get an aging veteran pouting that his minutes are reduced when he’s fretting about his next contract or just wishing he could finish on a team that might win a ring.
Maybe Pierce would accept a new type of role, or maybe he’d go through the motions, be a locker room pain to Mike Brown and keep the Cavs from developing a young SF. Don’t think bringing him here is a guaranteed positive.
I’m all for adding Cousins, but I’m not sure I’d want to give him a max contract shortly afterwards.
I agree with your point, but you’d have to think that before any offer is made Grant would do his homework and make sure Pierce is the type of guy personality-wise to take on such a mentoring role.
However, the last thing you need is bad vibes in the locker room, and I definitely think Pierce will be unhappy unless he is either staying in Boston or in LA with Doc.
As of right now, I’d give Chris Grant the benefit of the doubt on bringing in Pierce. This would seem to indicate that he’s leaning towards drafting either Len or Noel with the #1 pick meaning there won’t be a small forward on the roster who should be starting unless the Cavs added one in free agency or through another trade. Even if the Cavs grab Karasev, he should be coming off the bench for a year or two. I really see no downside to bringing in Pierce if that is the plan (or close to it).
oh agreed. that’s where the risk lies. it’s a trade for potential and the hope that we can get his head straightened (like ‘Sheed in Detroit and Randolph in Memphis).
also, there have been rumors that we are interested in Deng as well (though the Chicago media seems to think they can get the #1 overall pick for him).
That move sounds great, but if the Bulls are really looking to deal Deng at 28 years old, then there should be a bunch of red warning lights flashing. His 3-pt shooting fell to 32% last year and his overall FG% was at about 42% for the second straight year. Maybe some of that can be attributed to Rose missing this past season, but I dunno… he’s supposedly a great all-around player, so why do the Bulls want to ship him? Purely salary?
also, the “Pelicans”? Look, the brown pelican (only type I’ve ever been around) is a noble and fine bird, but this is a laughable marketing department fail. Like white flag day, only permanent.
he’s 28, but entering his 10th NBA season. a ton of nagging injuries throughout his career. never a great shooter and it has started to dropoff the past 2 seasons as he has gotten less good looks at the rim. PER consistently at or below league average despite a salary that is well above (yes, PER is more offensive than defensive which hurts him).
those are the reasons I could come up with at least.
now, the reason we would consider him is that he is an absolute lockdown SF defender. opposing SFs have averaged an 11 PER each of the last 3 seasons. that is just a ridiculous number. and, Deng is a very astute passer on offense. if we think his shooting numbers can rebound and that he can continue to play into his mid-30’s, then he’s worth a look (though I’d try to get him for less than the #1 overall pick).
Yeah, I think my head might explode if they deal the #1 for DW and the #9. Williams has been nothing but a disappointment in Minn. At this rate he could be out of the league in 2 years. No thanks.
Jeez, if he’s limiting opposing SFs to an 11 PER than I withdraw the shooting concerns. You can shoot the kind of percentages he was putting up if you can do that on the defensive end… jeez. I think you also have to like how he would look on the floor with Kyrie and Dion creating for him… I could see his 3-pt shooting percentage jumping up to around 35-36% percent, maybe more.
after seeing how he played the last couple months, I don’t think I’d go that far. Minny finally just let him go out there and play and he impressed (alot due to injuries let him get the minutes and freedom).
Valentine’s Day onward: 45/34/70 (FG/3pt/FT) 15pts6rbs in 30min/game
and this is all while providing some surprisingly decent defense (what was expected to be his weakness).
no, he wasn’t great and it was a limited sample size, but he showed some promise. not enough for what Minny is asking, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him as a breakout candidate this season.
I like it. Unique, has regional appeal, and they aren’t just trying to go with some mascot that sounds fierce.
plus, the logos look nice:
http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/i.LyxZSRizMLOjk5nyYdKw–/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ–/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnbaexperts/NOLAPAlt12413.jpg
over the last 3 seasons (the first ones he shot more than 3 3pters/game), he shot just under 35%. and, the numbers drastically dropped without Rose. so, I agree he should be able to get those numbers again.
DW + #9 is silly season nonsense. If Grant didn’t think Williams worthy of #1 overall in ’11, he surely doesn’t view him that highly two disappointing seasons later.
What Grant needs is two serious contenders, with worthy assets to trade, bidding against each other as the Cavs dangle cap relief. He doesn’t need 9 teams calling, he needs two serious ones to get his sweet deal. If he has just one, he’s got nothing, and he’s keeping that pick and figuring out a way to constructively dump the second rounders.
The Fleur de Lis kinda gives me da creeps!
My man Grant c’mon lets wheel and deal baby! Although I’m with the others who would like more or I should say better then D.Williams/#9 for #1 overall. Throw in Pekovic and perhaps we can talk.
On a side note anyone watch NBA TV? They are broadcasting past drafts. I watched the 1986 draft where the Cavaliers struck gold.
I’m down with this!
Interesting. I didn’t realize he came on that much.
I still wouldn’t like to see us complete that deal (even with Minnesota sending back another protected first) because it feels like 4 quarters for a dollar, which in the NBA isn’t the direction that you want to go, but I’ll back off my “maybe out of the league in 2 years” prediction.
Are you telling me Marion, Pierce, and the 13th pick will come to the Cavs for 2 second rounders and the 19th? Thats crazy. Carter-Williams and Len/Noel could be possible for the Cavs with those picks. That makes the Cavs already 10 deep.
must disagree. The N.O. Dryer Lint would also be unique, but doesn’t need to be a mascot. The logo artist tried to make this creature into an eagle, with falsely fierce, fake-o red eyes and hiding the dorky, bi-level pelican wings. Ever see them hit the ocean after a fish? Slo-mo crusing, then collapsing like a klutzy carpenter falling off a ladder. That’s your team message – you’re gonna underestimate us, but joke’s on you when we’re burping fish.
That’s a “perfect storm” scenario like I said this weekend but hey it never hurts to dream!
I live here in Chicago and the Deng stuff is more a product of the Bulls playoff performance with Jimmy Butler. Everyone here seems to think that Butler is a future HoFer. Generally Bulls fans and media are delusional though as they all think that a Deng package will net them Kevin Love.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/look-lebron-james-nba-finals-mvp-worthy-performance-203023869.html
yeah, he’s proven himself to be a capable backup with a possibility of maturing into a starter. definitely not worth going from #1 to #9 IMO as well.
hey, most fans are delusional. look at some of the things are are proposing here 🙂
but, if Chicago FO thinks that Butler is ready to completely takeover at SF, then I will gladly take Deng off their hands. just, for a reduced rate, and definitely not for the #1 pick.
That is a damn cool GIF. LOL
Realistically, he only needs one serious suitor and at least one other semi-seriosu suitor…as long as those guys aren’t talking to each other…Grant can just use whatever poker face he used on Memphis this last year.
If he was a better defender/rim protector, it’d be worth pursuing IMO. He’s got the talent, that’s for sure. I’m actually torn on him because of the talent vs headcase dilemma.
we’ll always have Memphis …
I’d rather have Paris, though!
That’s hot!
Trade waiters and 19 pick for 2nd pick and get macklemore
he cannot even go to a Tribe game (only $20 in his pocket)
But, dryer lint isn’t an official symbol of NO. Perhaps they could try for the real (yet unofficial) symbol of NO, but I don’t think that one would make it by the censors. A couple circles and a couple dots.
Trading 1+19 for Cousins and 7 would be my top option, as long as we could sign Cousins to a long term deal. Then we could take BPA at 7, which could be KCP, Bennett, or with Grant’s track record, someone we have no idea about.
Do we really even need to throw in #19 too in this scenario? Cousins looks good as out in SacTown, so I guarantee if they can get #1 for him and #7 they would do it. Maybe we throw in C.J. Miles to match up the salaries.
I think the only way we would give up #1 and #19 is if they lift the protection on their lottery pick we have. Then I would do it, but only then.
how bout the Dehumidifiers.
(too soon?)
you do know the Maloofs are no longer Owners ? thanks for making me laugh but I think , No.
to lift the protection ? Ok , but Kings keep the # 7 and the Kings wants all the marbles ( Cav’s Picks , first rounders and second ) for Cousins because it’s a weak Draft . maybe add James Johnson in the deal to Cavs.
it’s a very weak draft , no way would the Kings agree to that.
Well, he wouldn’t be valuing him at #1 overall now. He’d value him and the #9 at #1. Still not enough to go forward with the deal imo, but if they threw in, say, Pekovic as a sign and trade plus a top-12ish protected 1st next year I would definitely have to think long and hard about it. The future pick is optional and negotiable. I might be asking slightly too much.
it only works if Sacramento wants to dump Cousins. they say no, but they have to say no.
They don’t have any leverage to trade Cousins. The trade that makes the most sense for both teams would be #1 for Cousins and lifting the protection on the lottery pick for next year. Maybe you give up one of the 2nd rounders too if you have to. That would be the best deal the Kings could get from any team in the league if they were desperate to trade him. That way we would still have #19 in play to trade up to #13 and pick whoever there, probably Karasev.
But all of that is not happening. We’re taking Noel, trading #19 for #13 and Marion (then Dallas will spin #19 to someone else for a future pick) and then the 2nd round picks will go to Boston for Pierce.
The first two should be locks, but the second rounders are probably not going to happen for Pierce.
Can somebody explain to me why New Orleans is dying for a PG when Vasquez posted 13 ppg and 9 apg? If they pick Burke, they’re retarded. Burke won’t even be a top 3 PG from this class (McCollum, MCW and Schroeder ahead of him). And I think that if Len doesn’t fall to #6 for them, they should trade the pick for Deng or a proven SF that can provide scoring from the perimeter (Aminu can’t shoot at all)