May 18, 2013

Kyrie Irving: Where do we go from here?

June 26, 2011 by 14 Comments

Los Angeles Lakers center.  Green Bay Packers quarterback.  New York Yankees center fielder.  Cleveland Cavaliers point guard.

These are all positions that carry with them the weight of decades of legendary figures.  Kyrie Irving was taken with the first pick overall this week by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  He was instantly compared to recent first pick point guards John Wall and Derrick Rose.  He’s apparently not as quick or athletic as those two but a better shooter.  Many don’t expect him to as good as those two – Rose is, after all, the MVP.

But let’s slow down for a minute.  How will Kyrie stack up against the point guards of Cavalier past?

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Cavaliers Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Sport Science Studies Tristan Thompson’s Dunking Ability

June 25, 2011 by 3 Comments

A commenter first alerted us on Thursday night to this Sport Science clip after the Cavs, somewhat surprisingly, took Tristan Thompson with the fourth overall pick. It has been making its way around Cavs circles on the internet this weekend. In the video, John Brenkus and his team study Tristan’s arms and wingspan, his 38.5 inch vertical, and how that translates to his incredible dunking ability. The Canadian import was a favorite of the stat community heading into the draft. This is a different kind of analysis but it’s good to know all the nerds love our new draft pick.

Filed Under: Cavaliers Tagged With: , , ,

While We’re Waiting…Cavs Interested in Lighty, Browns Workouts, Greg Little Background

June 25, 2011 by 4 Comments

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

More Draft analysis and looking at how to rebuild this roster: “My reaction to the Cavs’ draft is confusion. Draft day started with so much promise. The Cavs had the 1st and 4th picks, two second rounders, a huge trade exception, and an owner willing to spend money. The options seemed limitless and, at a minimum, it appeared the day should end with the Cavs having two long-term starters and a quality role player in tow. Something completely different happened. No picks were bought or traded for; instead a pick was traded away. At #4, the Cavs reached for a player that most had in the 8 – 10 range; who also plays the same position as two of their three best players under the age of thirty. Of their fifteen players, the Cavs have four point guards and six power forwards. Are the Cavs trying to remake themselves as the Minnesota Timberwolves? The trade exception expires in two weeks. Surely a trade is coming. This can’t be the last memory prior to a depressing lockout, can it?” [Kevin Hetrick/Cavs:TheBlog]

[Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Chris Grant and the Cavaliers’ Leadership Dynamic

June 20, 2011 by 5 Comments

Over the weekend the conversation around Twitter about the Cavs and the draft turned toward the dynamic in the Cavs’ organization.  It is only natural when the owner of the team is as strong a personality as Dan Gilbert.  Love him or hate him (I know people in both camps) he isn’t an owner to just sit back without having a strong opinion.  From the early days of his ownership of the team when he cleaned house to his infamous letter, we know what kind of guy Dan Gilbert is.  That makes it reasonable to wonder just how much power and autonomy Chris Grant has in the Cavs’ organization.

It is assumed that Dan Gilbert wants to win right away.  We assume this about most rich people who can afford instant gratification in so many phases of their lives.  What else could you possibly presume about a guy who has his own private jet?  Is that sense of entitlement for instant gratification so strong that it might overrule Chris Grant’s attempt to build the Cavaliers for the long haul because his boss might be impatient?  Some of you obviously believe that to be the case. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cavaliers Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

While We’re Waiting… Cavs Draft Strategies, Indians Draft Prospects, Actaball

May 30, 2011 by 4 Comments

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.

More on the Cavs draft: “If the [trade exception] is going to be used, I continue to think that will happen on Draft Night.  So what does all this trade talk mean at this point for the Cavaliers? To me it’s exactly what I thought the night Nick won the lottery.  The Cavaliers are good with Irving at 1, as they should be.  Beyond that, they are exploring every - and I mean each and every single - trade opportunity out there with respect to both the TE as well as that 4th pick overall.  I continue to think they will not pick 4th on Draft Night.  All the smoke that appears to be coming off the keyboard of Chris Grant’s blackberry seems to support this too.  Cavs don’t look too content at that position.”  [Bowers/Stepien Rules]

[Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

While We’re Waiting…Mike Brown’s stock rising, Browns to work out QB Dalton, Sullinger a No.1 pick?

March 13, 2011 by 10 Comments

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.

Reasons why Mike Brown’s stock is rising without ever coaching a game this year – So. Beach developments help: “But this isn’t a diatribe about LeBron or Coach Spo.  It’s simply a commentary on a ex-Cleveland Cavaliers Coach, and embraced memeber of the Cleveland community, that I think did a much better job all around than anybody ever gave him credit for.  Until now maybe, because I have a feeling that he will be the most coveted coach in the NBA carousel this off-season.” [Bowers/Stepien Rules] [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Boots: Cavs Future, 2011 NBA Draft, Basketball Parity, Carmelo’s Knicks

February 27, 2011 by 10 Comments

The Boots are my method of applauding or criticizing various newsworthy events in the world of sports. The word “Boot” refers to a torturous childhood nickname, and thus, now serves as my own personal sports writing payback. More of these features can be found with the University of Dayton’s Flyer News, and topics for future articles can be sent to tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

Boot Up: Building Blocks – There’s no question in my mind that last week’s trade with the Los Angeles Clippers assured the Cleveland Cavaliers of a more straight-forward rebuild process. Yes, you can go ahead and read Kelly Dwyer’s drivel all you want, but you really can’t afford to contradict yourself so many times.

Dwyer makes the point that Mo Williams should have been traded months ago, but then he’s overweight anyway. He says Baron Davis is a team cancer, but that he will actually be a major aspect of the Cavs’ future. That’s my criticism for Dwyer because it’s simply obvious that Davis is not a long-term solution to anything here in Cleveland. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cavaliers Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

NBA Draft: What the Scouts Are Saying

February 15, 2011 by 11 Comments

In case you hadn’t noticed or have been living on the moon for the past four months, the Cleveland Cavaliers have turned into the worst team in the NBA. The only silver lining in hitting rock bottom (which is the correct way to rebuild, might I add) is that the Wine and Gold will have the most ping pong balls in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery. They will have the best shot of getting the #1 pick.

Naturally, this year’s draft class does not boast a clear-cut top pick as in years past with a John Wall or a Blake Griffin or a Kevin Durant (I know that he was the #2 pick after Greg Oden). A number of kids are getting top pick buzz.

Every year, SI.com’s signature College Basketball writer Seth Davis talks to a gaggle of NBA scouts about the top prospects, puts together their comments and gives them to his readers. Its a great read if you are a big college basketball fan, or a big NBA fan who doesn’t watch a lot of the college game. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cavaliers Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

NBA Draft: On the Road With Chris Grant

January 18, 2011 by 18 Comments

I actually feel sorry for Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant.

During the summer, his mentor Danny Ferry stepped down from his position and Grant was handed the reins by owner Dan Gilbert. He had finally gotten his big chance after paying his dues in Atlanta and Cleveland. However, that job was going to go one of two ways for him – rising with LeBron James and continue to add pieces to a contender, or falling with a roster full of complimentary pieces and no star.

We all know which direction NBA Basketball has turned in Cleveland.

So Grant, in his first year on the job, has his work cut out for him and is in a completely different mode than he has been going through with the Cavs for the past five years – rebuilding. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cavaliers Tagged With: , , , , , ,