While We’re Waiting… Take me out to the ballgame, Sax Man
July 12, 2013WFNY Stats & Info: Danny Salazar’s magical debut
July 12, 2013It all started July 8, 2010. That was the night that LeBron James announced on TV that he was moving on, taking his talents to South Beach. With that one awkward sentence, the previous 7 seasons of exciting Cavaliers basketball was blown up, turned upside down, and left for dead.
It’s been three long years since then. Three unbearable offseasons, really. Not that the previous few offseasons prior to The Decision had really contained all that much excitement, but compared to trading for Jeremy Pargo or signing CJ Miles1, trading for a 37 year old Shaquille O’Neal suddenly seems like the most exciting thing to ever happen.
The Cavaliers’ front office, led by GM Chris Grant, has been preaching patience, asking fans to please sit tight and just hold on. That brighter days were coming. It was a lot of necessary pain, miserable losing streaks, uninspired basketball, and a sometimes seemingly aimless pursuit of lost glory. But the Cavaliers told us they had a plan.
It’s entirely premature to say those dark, trying days are behind us. Championship contention still waits a couple years on the horizon. But there’s no denying this has been a very different offseason for the Cavaliers. And at worst, fans at least have something to be legitimately excited about. For the first time since LeBron James left, there is at least some real hope worth hanging on to in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers, whether it be from the mouth of Dan Gilbert, Chris Grant, or even Nick Gilbert, have insisted that the days of chasing Draft Lottery glory were over. That now was the time to start to make the leap forward. When you compare previous offseasons, its pretty easy to see that, at minimum, the Cavaliers are at least being truthful in taking steps forward this time around.
When LeBron left, there was no real contingency plan in place. And what could the Cavaliers have done that offseason anyway? Prior to The Decision, with LeBron showing no commitment to staying past 2010, the Cavaliers had no real choice but to try to win immediately2. So the Cavaliers took on as much salary as they could, taking on questionable long term deals to appease LeBron in the short term.
So in the 2010 offseason, LeBron was gone and so was Shaq. But the likes of Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejao, Boobie Gibson, JJ Hickson, Jamario Moon, Delonte West, etc were all still under contract. The Cavaliers had no draft picks. There wasn’t much for them to do. They signed Kyle Lowry to an offer sheet, which Houston promptly matched. They traded Delonte West for Ramon Sessions. They signed Joey Graham. That was it.
With a new GM (Chris Grant), a new coach (Byron Scott), and a dark cloud hanging overhead, the Cavaliers entered a confusing season, unsure of whether they were a team capable of fighting for a playoff spot or if they were stuck in rebuilding purgatory.
The 2011 offseason wasn’t much different. Mo Williams was already traded. They traded JJ Hickson for Omri Casspi and that infamous protected first round pick. They used their amnesty clause on Baron Davis. The best part of that offseason was adding Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, but with the NBA Lockout in place, there was really only a late, abbreviated offseason in which the Cavaliers didn’t do much.
Last offseason saw the team add draft picks Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller. They re-signed Luke Harangody, they traded for Jeremy Pargo, and they signed CJ Miles. For the 3rd year in a row, the Cavaliers entered a season without adding a single real impact player outside of the draft.
Obviously, adding players through the draft is a key part of the rebuilding process. Infusing the roster with young talent was a much needed step, but a step that brought with it a lot of growing pains. Over those 3 years, a lot has changed. The roster, the front office, the coaching staff, the culture. The Cavaliers that coach Mike Brown inherited are completely different from the Cavaliers that he last coached.
But this offseason just feels different. For the first time, the team is adding real high-caliber players, guys who deserve big minutes in the NBA. What we are seeing now is hopefully only the beginning, but it still feels like some of that patience and rebuilding process talk is starting to bear some fruit.
The free agent class of Andrew Bynum, Jarrett Jack, and Earl Clark isn’t going to transform the team into Championship contenders. Heck, if Bynum repeats last season’s performance, the Cavaliers could very well be an Anderson Varejao injury away from the Lottery again. So it might seem like these acquisitions’ impact is being overstated. But the real point is that these players are transforming the roster into something that looks like a real NBA roster.
Just take a look at last season’s opening night roster:
- Kyrie Irving
- Dion Waiters
- Alonzo Gee
- Tristan Thompson
- Anderson Varejao
- CJ Miles
- Daniel Gibson
- Tyler Zeller
- Donald Sloan
- Luke Walton
- Omri Casspi
- Jon Leuer
- Samardo Samuels
- Luke Harangody
- Jeremy Pargo
As of now the roster currently stands as:
- Kyrie Irving
- Dion Waiters
- Alonzo Gee
- Anderson Varejao
- Andrew Bynum
- Tristan Thompson
- Jarrett Jack
- Anthony Bennett
- Sergey Karasev
- Earl Clark
- Tyler Zeller
- CJ Miles
- Carrcik Felix
- Kevin Jones
- Chris Quinn
The differences here are subtle, yet tangible.
As the Cavaliers get ready for Vegas Summer League to start tonight, there’s a different feeling around this year’s event. Summer League is always fun, but in the past, Summer League served as a feeding ground for the Cavaliers’ roster. Manny Harris made the Cavaliers off a strong Summer League showing. After Samardo Samuels played well against the Cavs for Chicago, he was signed almost as soon as the Bulls released him.
This isn’t to say that there’s no chance anyone from Summer League makes the team. Rather, things are just different because this time around the Cavaliers aren’t looking for players who will play serious minutes. Manny Harris and Samardo Samuels both actually started some games for the Cavaliers. Now the guys coming from Summer League would be afterthoughts.
In a recent WFNY podcast, Jon Steiner and Craig Lyndall questioned whether Kyrie Irving was really a top player in this league. They asked how he could be, when the Cavaliers were so ineffective as a team. It’s perhaps a fair question to ask, but the team’s problem was most certainly not when Kyrie Irving was on the floor. The problem was when he was on the bench3. Initially his replacement was Donald Sloan, before Shaun Livingston took over. And while Livingston was a great story and played solid basketball, he’s not Jarrett Jack.
And perhaps that’s the biggest thing Bynum and Jack bring to Cleveland. These are not only impact veterans, but they are players who have played in the playoffs. Andrew Bynum has won an NBA Championship, and in his last year in Los Angeles he put up 16.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game in the playoffs for Mike Brown. Jack is one of the mentally toughest players in the NBA, a guy who plays hard and who, despite lacking natural defensive ability, is always giving strong defensive effort.
The Cavaliers are trying to change their culture. Mike Brown’s defensive schemes and coaching success was a start. Signing Andrew Bynum and Jarrett Jack is just the next step. No matter what the Cavaliers actually get out of Bynum, it’s hard to find a really compelling argument as to how this could be a mistake. Even in the worst case scenario the Cavaliers are out nothing more than $6 million, money that needed to be spent anyway to reach the Salary Cap Floor.
If Bynum does play, though, and can stay healthy, he will be instrumental in the Cavaliers moving from perennial Lottery contingent to a winning basketball team who will play postseason basketball. Jarrett Jack completely changes the look of an already strong backcourt and will be anchor for the bench unit. And don’t be surprised when you see Jack playing in late game scenarios. His toughness, fearlessness, and winning mentality will make it tough for Mike Brown to keep him on the bench in close games.
Unless you can trade for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, or sign LeBron James and Chris Bosh, it’s hard to become a Championship contending team in one year. Most of the time it’s a series of steps forward. This offseason feels like the first time we’re seeing “the plan” snap into action. And for the first time since 2010, the Cavaliers can actually go into the season with real hope of playing winning basketball and pushing for the playoffs. It’s a welcome change for a fan base that has been patiently waiting for things to get better.
91 Comments
w00t!
Great read…so excited for the season to start.
Chris Quinn is still on the roster? HA…awesome!
It is crucial that they change the culture. Even if Byron wasn’t part of the culture problem, the outrageous losing streaks and effortless games clearly showed he was unable to effect a solution. Andy’s floor presence changes the culture – guys just play harder when he’s out there, maybe out of embarrassment – but he doesn’t change anything sitting on the bench in a sports jacket 50-55 games each year.
Hope they get one player who demands respect and hard play from teammates. Tristan showed signs late last year of being that guy, but he has consistently to play hard himself.
I think that guy is Jarrett Jack. He is the consummate pro. Harv, as you and I have discussed a lot about the lack of effort/caring the last couple years, I am pretty confident you are going to really like watching Jack play every night.
Only 3.5 months……
summer league doesn’t count? 🙂
http://gswground.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/my-lovehate-relationship-with-jarrett-jack/
this sums up Jarrett Jack as well as is possible.
Only if we can talk about Dion being “overweight” and how it speaks to his future as an absolute bust again. :p
great article and pointing out that Gilbert/Grant are backing up what they said about not wanting to remain in the lottery anymore.
unlike Haslam/Banner who backtracked from saying that anything less than playoff contention was a failure this upcoming season. and, along with the backtracking, left $30mil in cap space (still unspent on extensions and camp is a week away), while leaving glaring holes at CB, S (depth at least), OG, FB, ILB, and TE.
the Cavs meanwhile went out and addressed almost every major concern. In no particular order:
(1) starting SF and SF depth
sure, they may not have gotten the high-caliber SF that people had hoped for (unless Bennett is better than people think AND can handle SF on both ends), but they did sign Clark & draft Bennett (even Karasev?) to give them options there.
(2) backup PG
my biggest concern going into last season w/ Sloan/Pargo. man, that was ugly. great job by Grant finding Livingston and getting some life out of him, but I am much happier with Jack.
(3) bulky defensive center
in a postseason that showed having a Hibbert/Duncan in the paint can affect LeBron/Heat, we were looking for our guy there. one of the reasons I was hesitant on Noel is he won’t be that guy (more Camby than Duncan – using best case scenarios). Grant went out and found our guy to man the middle.
also, in a division with Hibbert, Drummond/Monroe, Noah/Gibson, and, well I guess, Larry Sanders, it’s good to have a big, bulky center who can score and hold his ground on defense.
(4) wing depth
still a little shaky, but we’ll see how it plays out. Waiters, Jack, Miles, Gee, Karasev may all play some at SG. Bennett, Clark, Gee, Waiters (smallball) and Karasev may all play some SF. better options than the past few seasons at least.
(5) outside shooting
unless Karasev/Bennett comes on strong as a rookie or Gee develops that corner 3 (or Clark I guess), we are still lacking here. There has been some mention of allowing Jack to initiate with Irving playing off-ball for some sets to get more shooting/spacing that way. I do like it, but not as the main set. We’ll see.
Bennett cannot even play in the summerleague because he’s so overweight and his shoulder is made of paper mache.
(also, I have to admit that I saw some summerleague this year. I usually don’t but NBATV was showing the OKC game and Jeremy Lamb was just hitting everything)
Can’t wait for the beginning of the 4th Q when Kyrie gets his rest we’ll actually hang in there
Paper Mache has come a long way. I have personally seen kids work for hours to bust it open
it doesn’t work so well on joints though.
Cavs have not been in purgatory, more like Hell’s Juvenile center
When it comes to the presence of effort/toughness issue that characterizes an up and coming team, I only believe my own eyes, not stats, so we shall see. I read mgbode’s link and it’s ambivalent. This guy says he embraces the big moment, but unable or unaware defensively … a rich man’s Damon Jones? Our second unit absolutely needs a fiery guy who can create some offense, but I think a toughness leader must, by definition, be on the floor significant minutes.
for Jack, think Sam Cassell type guy.
I think Tristan has the makings of a “toughness” leader as a starter. He’s a veteran on this team now.
hey at least they are trying new things
Cavs play their first today I believe.
Jack will be the Cavaliers Jason Giambi only far more productive on the court.
Jack is more well rounded then Jones ever dreamed of being. He’s more grit, decent defender but has a very nice mid-range game not to mention floaters in the lane. It’s been a long time since the Cavaliers had a solid backup like Jack.
Cavs vs Lakers today they show it tonight at 8 PM on NBATV.
Irving/Jack combo might be an interesting idea, sorry Dion.
Good stuff. Thanks for the link!
New coach and new roster additions. Same thing the Indians did this offseason and it isn’t working out for them. Each year we hear how it’s “different” in Cleveland, but the results never get better.
Obviously the person who wrote that has seen Jack play more times than I have. But when I watch Jack play defense, I have never thought of him as a guy not trying, he simply lacks the quickness to defend PGs. But when he defends SGs, he’s been pretty solid every time I’ve seen him.
And I thoroughly expect he will be on the floor significant minutes.
Haha, I like that.
Good stuff there. I agree with pretty much all of that. With #5, that’s why I think we’ll see Jack on the floor in late game scenarios. If they can afford to go small, I wouldn’t even be surprised if we some sets with Irving, Jack, and Waiters all on the floor together, but with Jack handling the ball. It will require some coaching to get that done, because spacing and off-ball movement will be key, but it could create some tough matchups, especially if opposing teams have to account for Kyrie without the ball in his hands. Could really free some things up.
How is it ‘not working out for the Indians’? They’re in second place and only 2.5 games out of first. It certainly worked out for the mid-90s Indians, and this squad is similar to the one fans saw in 1994.
IMO, if Bynum is healthy he’s the starting center. If not, then Zeller. Thompson looks like he’s earned the starting PF spot. Clark and Gee would be fighting for the starting SF spot with Irving and Waiters the starting guards. Varejao seems much better (and healthier) coming off the bench. Jack would also help greatly in that regard.
Jack has never been a great defender even in his days at Indiana but he’s adequate I agree. His offense and leadership will more then make up for a lost step. Besides that’s why you have big guys like Thompson, Bynum, Clark and hopefully Bennett.
Oh hey now c’mon man the Indians even with their sketchy pitching and questionable managerial decisions are still much in the AL Central race. I think the fact that they are playing much better then alot of people thought may have moved the bar. The bar was never set high for this team, at least to me, I had hopes they could contend for a wildcard spot at best. So far they aren’t far off from where I had hoped even with alot of the deficiencies.
This season is more of a building block if you ask me. Put an end to all the past failures build towards more promising times. Plenty of work to do but it starts this year.
Typo: “This offseason feels like the first time we’re the seeing “the plan” snap into action.”
fine, that would make him our best defensive guard. After watching the roadrunner/coyote show out there the last few seasons, he’ll look like Gary Payton to me.
Sadly enough, he really probably is the Cavs best defensive guard. Although, I’m interested to see what Mike Brown can get out of Dion defensively.
Corrected. Thanks for the heads up.
They were in the same position last two seasons. Hovering around .500 at the all-star break. What happened after that? They haven’t shown any ability to improve, and in some ways are actually playing worse (bullpen).
me, too. Dion has such competitive dog in him that it’s easy to envision him relishing the idea of shutting his man down. But they need to influence him right now, before his pro career gets set in its ways, and wash way his Byron laissez-faire year. Dion would benefit from a respected, vocal, veteran defensive stalwart getting right in his Philly face, to keep him from modeling Kyrie’s attitude.
Dion played fine when matched up with his man when his man had the ball. He also fought through screens far better than say, Kyrie did. It was the rest if the time that Dion struggled. 😉
Karasev isn’t playing, right? it would be funny to see him play against the Lakers as we ask them if it was fun having Sessions for 1/2 a season.
yeah, the writer moved to the main GS site(letsgowarriors), so they don’t update it
anymore, but the Warriors have been a guilty basketball pleasure for me for years and gswground has been in my favorites tab that whole time.
“He also fought through screens far better than say, Kyrie did.”
This is true. Of course, this is not exactly the strongest argument to support a player’s defense. I think you could use that statement for most NBA players.
But yeah, Dion wasn’t always terrible on defense. I think he has some real promise there. Going away from zone was a problem for him, but it’s an adjustment. I think Mike Brown will get something extra out of Dion this year. I hope, anyway.
as a change-up, not as the fastball (back to Mike Brown terms here). so, plenty of burn for Dion too.
the 3guard lineup won’t work against all teams (Nets/Heat/Pacers would destroy it), but there are enough smaller teams out there that I can see us utilizing it for periods of time as well.
the real question is with all of these flexible pieces, how many sets can we have and still be efficient?
we are not starting Brent Lillibridge or Damon. that is certainly helpful.
you think Tyler Zeller starts over Varejao? I just don’t see that with as well as Andy was playing last year.
FYI, saw on some chart (I think Grantland put it up) that last season Earl Clark shot almost 40% from one of the two corner 3 spots (I think the left). So that’s pretty cool. More of that please.
Correct. He’s still playing with his Russian team.
That’s a good question. Is there such thing as too much flexibility? Perhaps. One man’s flexibility is another man’s team full of tweeners.
All I want is an identity, with enough flexibility to change things up every now and then to force matchups. Basketball is so talent-dependent, but there are a few coaches who know how skew things ever so slightly to their advantage. Hopefully Mike Brown is still growing as a coach.
thanks.