Are the Cavaliers on the verge of making a huge mistake?
June 25, 20132013 NBA Draft – All you need to know about the Cavs from Joe Kotoch – WFNY Podcast – 2013-06-25
June 25, 2013The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly one of a few teams who are interested in acquiring Houston Rockets forward Thomas Robinson. Jonathan Feigan of the Houston Chronicle reports that the Rockets are looking to clear salary, presumably in attempt to sign free agent center Dwight Howard, and that a salary cap-clearing trade involving Robinson is “imminent.”
“There are 16 teams with the cap room, trade exceptions or non-guaranteed contracts needed to make such a deal without sending the Rockets corresponding salaries,” writes Feigan. “The Cavaliers can make that kind of deal with some of their available cap room. In addition to their own pick, the Cavaliers have the 19th pick and two second-round picks before the Rockets’ selection with the 34th pick.”
Robinson, the fifth-overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft, is still on a rookie pay scale, due to make just $3.5 million in 2013-14. This past weekend, it was reported that the Rockets had been offered a first-round draft pick for Robinson. The 6-foot-10-inch forward averaged just 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds during his rookie campaign, split between the Sacramento Kings and Rockets. When provided the playing time, the Kansas product did show some flashes of brilliance, averaging 11.4 points, 10.7 rebounds and a block on a per-36 minute basis.
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34 Comments
How’s this for a Draft Day scenario?
#1, #19 and Thompson for Aldridge
#31 and #33 for Robinson
Cavs go from having four picks to none, but add two nice pieces to the team
Irving-Waiters-Gee-Varejao-Aldridge starting lineup would be pretty solid, with Robinson as sixth man.
Houston should be paying us to take T-Rob or at least a very small deal. They need to clear salary to go after Dwight/Paul. I know it’s counter-intuitive, but it’s how it usually works.
And, 1+19+Thompson is better than Aldridge IMO.
Whenever I see a projected 2013/2014 lineup with Gee penciled in as the starter I can’t help but cringe.
Agreed. I bet we could get Robinson for just the #33 pick.
And I’d only part with 1+19+Thompson if that landed us Kevin Love and either the #9 pick or Derrick Williams.
This is not a football draft. Basketball has only 5 players on the court, so each one is critical. We can’t even decide who the #1 pick is so that tells you how weak this class is. 1 very good player > 1 average and 2 unknowns.
I agree with your point, but I think the flaw comes in calling Thompson “average”. Yes, he hasn’t lit up the NBA quite like Kyrie, but disregarding him is premature at this point.
Houston is a team always rumored to be looking for a deal, but like the Cavs, typically they’re the ones collecting the assets/offering relief. I very much doubt that Morey and Grant are going to come to an agreement as it takes at least one owner willing to take an added risk…
they were the one giving assets for Harden and are apparently looking to do it again to land Dwight. they need as few cap-holds as possible, so they ideally want ‘0’ (we are one of the few teams that can offer that to them as 2nd rounders can be stashed in Europe with no initial caphold).
Hmmm … does this mean they’re about to move Tristan in a multi-team deal?
If so I’d be sad. He may never be great but I love how hard he works and his emerging leadership on the team.
as JHop notes, we don’t know if Tristan is average quite yet. we’ll see.
also, you have to factor in the cap space that Aldridge is eating up because that means you are not necessarily going out there with the ability to grab a starting SF.
I think Portland would have to include #10 in such a deal and I’d still be leery at that point (though I think it’s a fair deal for both sides).
I’d much prefer Noel + Bullock + Thompson vs Aldridge.
Even given your scenario we’d need to sign a starting caliber SF so we could bring Gee off the bench when he belongs.
I’d also be sad. I like Tristan a lot and think the Cavs would have to be getting back something quite special in return. I know the guy’s not an elite player and we probably overvalue him, but like you said he is a hard worker and a leader.
Having Robinson as Thompson’s back up would be low risk-high reward. Thompson could still develop into a starting caliber player, and his rookie contract is by far cheaper than any veteran depth we’d bring in (i.e. resigning Speights)
or, we could be ready to move Andy (duh)
Poor Robinson is being passed around like a you know what!
Potato salad?
The anticipation and all these rumors are killing me, will it just be Thursday already!
I’m confident Grant will make some moves and pretty sure it will all be for the good but I just want to know the end result!!
On the first guess DAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!
Bro…….
Houston and Dallas are in the Howard Sweeps!
Hey leave my man 3Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee alone!
Andy should definitely be considered been saying it for a few years. Only thing is Brown loves him so…
I don’t think either deal returns enough value. Not that the above lineup wouldn’t be improved, but there are other things to do with those assets. I don’t know how many teams are interested in Robinson, but I’d suspect the highest second round pick offered gets him. We certainly wouldn’t give both if we could flip both second rounders for #13 from Dallas. (don’t know if either will happen)
And Aldridge would be a great player to have, but Tristan Thompson is a very young (22) very promising young player, and you have to assume a #1 pick gets you somebody with all star potential. If you’re going to give up a #1, a mid first round pick, AND a 22 year old PF who’s already averaging (nearly) a double-double you have to get more than one very good player. I think they’d be willing to move the first pick to get A.dridge, and they’d probably be willing to part with Thompson to get Aldridge, but both gets sketchy. I don’t think the Blazers would do #19 and Thompson for Aldridge.
Maybe #1 and Thompson for #10 and Aldridge. That allows the Blazers to get a little younger and build around Lillard with Thompson and whoever they draft #1, plus a probable better draft position in next year’s stronger draft. And they move their biggest contract so they can go after somebody in free agency next year. The Cavs get better right now and can still draft a solid piece at #10.
Dallas claims it bought a powerball ticket, but it’s just a scratch-off.
Andy has to be healthy at the trade deadline to extract the most value. Grant wants the most value. That has been an issue.
Hey if I’m the Cavaliers I gladly assist either in their pursuits of the real big baby!
Scratch-n-stiff?
Yes unfortunately it has believe me you are preaching to the choir on this one.
straight up for the #19? sure.
Zeller with the 31 and 33 for Marion and Dallas #13? Now we’re in business.
Take some combination of Len/porter with the 1 and Karasev/best available center and I’d be happy
Andy has played 31, 25 and 25 games the last 3 years. Means this is the week he’s healthiest and his value is highest. Not advocating they do it but if they do, now’s the time.
It’s not quite that simple. You don’t trade a young and improving player, a #1 pick and more for a guy who has 2 years left on his contract and who’s game has peaked as a very good (but not championship caliber) player. You’re selling low. You’re hurting your already limited depth. And you’re not fixing your biggest problems (interior defense, hole at center and hole at SF). You’re actually exacerbating them.
Robinson for the two second rounders would be an absolute steal! I’d even consider trading the 19 for him straight up. Take Porter #1 and we would have one of the best foundations of youth/talent in the NBA. Come on Grant, we are so close, keep up the magic talk!
just a refresh on the last T-Rob deal from SI:
Along with Robinson, the fifth pick in the 2012 draft, Sacramento sent
forwards Francisco Garcia and Tyler Honeycutt to the Rockets for forward
Patrick Patterson, center Cole Aldrich, guard Toney Douglas and $1
million.
….
In total, the Kings will send out $10.3 million in salary commitments
this season while receiving just $6.6 million in return. Sacramento’s
financial savings in the deal amounts to a pro-rated portion of that
$3.7 million difference in salary.
No, no, no! You have to eat your vegetables before you can have any pudding!