NBA Free Agency: Andrew Bynum decides to sign with Cavs per ESPN
July 10, 2013
Andrew Bynum! – Cavs, Indians, Browns and more – WFNY Podcast – 2013-07-11
July 11, 2013
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“Varejao and Bynum, together, is a pretty lethal combination of pure size and aggression. Varejao is somehow monstrously strong and incredibly savvy, Bynum is somehow incredibly skilled and unbelievably monstrous, physically. That’s a great pair to set up down low.
Irving can run the pick and roll with Varejao, and feed Bynum in the post, with a shooter in the corner (Waiters) Irving on the wing, and a floor-stretching shooter in the opposite corner. If Bynum shoots and misses, Varejao is there for the cleanup.
This, as your core concept, puts you at probably 45 to 48 wins and a playoff berth. Possibly a five-seed in the East. That would be pretty phenomenal growth for the Cavs.
Now you throw in Jarrett Jack, who you should believe will be on the floor late in games, with some sort of Irving-Jack-Waiters-Varejao-Bynum combination. It gives you even more options.” [Moore/CBS Sports]
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“He would hold firm at his guaranteed offer of $1,207,688 more than the Cavaliers paid Daniel Gibson last season. That was as much of the salary cap he was willing to commit.
He knew the Cavs also offered Bynum a point guard in Kyrie Irving who is capable of rejuvenating a career put on hold by injuries last season in Philadelphia.
He knew he had a professional big man in Anderson Varejao who could inspire the former Sixer to compete on a daily basis. He knew he had just won the Jackquisition when nobody thought he would, and he knew he just drafted a young star who’s been compared to Larry Johnson and Charles Barkley that nobody thought he’d take.” [Bowers/Stepien Rules]
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Ubaldo’s 1st half– “The right-hander has most notably experienced a drastic improvement against left-handed hitters. Last year, lefties posted a .271/.375/.479 slash line against Jimenez, who has altered his approach some this year. He is relying more heavily on a splitter, which he didn’t use at his peak with the Rockies. Jimenez has reduced the number of two-strike sinkers to lefties, leaning more on that split and a four-seamer (according to brooksbaseball.net) when ahead in the count or looking to put the hitter away. The result so far has been a .229/.298/.414 slash line for left-handed hitters.
Right-handed hitters have dropped to .252/.380/.388 this year from .270/.354/.424 a year ago. Jimenez has increased his slider usage early in counts and reduced sinker usage with two strikes. Remember, that sinker was Jimenez’s main weapon back in his prime with Colorado. With its diminished velocity, he’s worked other pitches in more often. Jimenez has also cut down the number of curveballs he’s thrown this season.” [Castrovince/MLB]
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Some hope for Trent Richardson– “A player’s yards per carry average can be inflated by a few large runs, and it can be deflated by the lack thereof. Richardson’s longest run was 32 yards; his second longest was 26, and both of those went for touchdowns. Those were Richardson’s only two carries of 20+ yards last year, and a 19-yarder against the Ravens was his only other run that cracked 15 yards. Personally, I’m not worried about Richardson’s ability to hit the home run. I suspect Richardson will easily eclipse two 20+ yard runs and three 15+ yard runs in 2013.
What’s more important is consistent success in the running game. One thing I like to look at is 1st and 10 runs. There were 24 players with 100 rush attempts in that situation last year. On average, the group gained at least 4 yards on 46.0% of their carries. Richardson actually eclipsed the average there, picking up 4 yards on 47.3% of his runs.” [Stuart/Football Perspective]
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“Over the next decade or so, Thornton would become the main power source on the mostly second division Tribe teams. In his first season (1977) with the Tribe, he smacked 28 HR in route to a 263/378/527 149 OPS+ line. But shortly after the season ended, heartbreak would devastate Thornton and his family. On a drive back to West Chester, PA a sudden snowstorm broke out on October 17. Thornton’s wife Gertrude and his daughter Theresa lost their lives when the family van flipped into a ditch due to the icy road and heavy winds. His son Andre Jr. did survive the accident. Somehow, Andre came back in 1978 even more focused, 262/377/516 151 OPS+, 33 HR, 105 RBI and finishing 20th in MVP voting. That season even included him hitting for the cycle at Fenway Park, off 4 separate pitchers (April 22, 1978).” [Let’s Go Tribe]
17 Comments
Happy Andrew Bynum Day!
do we all have to wear afro-wigs and go to our nearest bowling alley?
http://i.imgur.com/qjFPj.gif
Absolutely. We can also play “bowling with crutches” if we are feeling bold.
OK, this is good but I hope we’re all still laughing in March ’14, rather than just saying, “no biggie, it was just $6m of someone else’s money and the sideshow will be gone soon.”
Oh of course. I mean, it is not a signing without significant risk. However, the Cavs pulled a really strong CYA with the deal they offered.
hey, if that’s what we are doing, then that’s fine. better to take the chance than to let it go.
for instance, Bill Simmons recently wrote that we should do this instead of signing Bynum:
“Why not use your excess cap space to upgrade from Anderson Varejao ($9.8 million expiring) to Gasol ($19.3 million) and flip the Lakers your 2014 no. 1 pick for their trouble?”
Despite disregarding that Andy could be a better fit for our team when he’s healthy, we could have Andy+Bynum rather than just 1 guy, Gasol likely would be gone in a year (where we get possibly 2 years of the other 2), or how about that he wants us to give up our 2014 1st round pick for no real reason.
I like the risk we took.
Listen, both of youse, I love the signing at $6m guaranteed, it’s no-brainer. But I’m seeing giddiness up there in your comments. Bynum doesn’t make me giddy, he’s the proven enemy of giddiness.
I’m looking at this like Grant. Bynum is not our future, he’s a commodity we can afford. The deal incentivizes him to avoid bowling and the rehab period idiocies he’s famous for, and helps us make a jump. Maybe he’ll grow up a little, or at least pretend he has until he gets a huge next deal. Maybe not. Whatever, I’m ready, eyes wide open. But not giddy.
and that is understood.
the reason I am giddy is I wasn’t truly sure that Grant was going to be willing to make such a gamble. it’s one that should have us giddy if it pays off. if it doesn’t, then I am more confident now that Grant will make another bold move in the future. when coupled with the lack of other enticing moves we could have made, it makes me happy we saved possible assets for another bold move in the future.
ok, so you have new toy giddiness. Fine, but please stop by tomorrow. I need somebody else to stay sober around here.
Ugh, Matt Moore… that guy grinds my gears. He’s a troll who tries to convince himself that he’s not a troll. Followed his tweets for a while last night as he used ALL CAPS and RTs to mock Cavs fans in between little blurbs about how he’s not trolling while never explaining why $6 million is too much to pay for one year of Bynum or offering a better solution for the Cavs to get over the salary floor. Obnoxious.
well, if the Indians keep blowing games like they did last night, then I am not sure I can guarantee staying sober. Oh, you meant that figuratively. Sure, no problem 🙂
I thought Moore was busy playing baseball for Tampa Bay?
I’m not exactly giddy either I mean I had ?s about Noel and Len and now you have Bynum. That being said at least Bynum’s talents are more known the only question will be whether he’s healthy enough to contribute using those known talents.
Nonetheless I’m happy with the move. Grant was very strategic with the offer to Bynum all but ensuring that the Cavaliers didn’t get hosed like Philadelphia. Still it’s $12M or $6M either way but it shows Gilbert putting his $ where his mouth is which has been absent for three years. Not only this but the Cavaliers I believe had something like $12-13M left that they needed to spend this offseason so mission accomplished. Sure they could have added a few more veteran pieces but for me I like the roll of the dice Grant made with Bynum.
Not only this but I’m going to go ahead and type it and address the rather large elephant in the room. If you look at the way the Cavaliers are currently constructed a certain former multiple MVP and two-time NBA champion would slot in absolutely perfectly. I’m just sayin’!
I like Simmons but that was a really dumb trade idea. It’s the exact type of thing he rails about when GMs actually do.
“but it shows Gilbert putting his $ where his mouth is which has been absent for three years.”
I have no idea what you’re talking about. Almost every deal we’ve pulled off over the last 3 years (taking on extra Baron Davis $$$ to get the Clippers pick which turned into Kyrie Irving, pulling that trade with Memphis last year which was all about taking on short-term money to get a future pick, trading Sessions to LA to pick up a bunch of crappy contracts like Luke Walton for a draft pick) have been a result of Gilbert being willing to spend money. You’re not making sense.
I was looking at $ to land a player but you are right $ to get draft picks helps in the long run as well.
only every 5th game