Well, speaking of rules HB doesn't know ... Windhorst just reported the Cavs cannot trade the Brooklyn pick now. Barred from doing so due to league rules. So I can finally go to bed.

civ ollilavad wrote:So if someone could give a quick rundown on:

Who are the current big guys, besides Thompson and Zizic [and injured Love]?
Who are the point guards besides Calderon?
Which of the new guys are known as tough defenders?
Which of the new guys are quick agile and athletic?
Which of the new guys are free agents this offseason?

Thank you,.

1. Larry Nance has a Tristan Thompson type body but more athletic. Kevin Love back in the playoffs. Holdover Jeff Green can play power forward and is incredibly athletic. But TT, Nance and Love are all not true centers (welcome to the NBA 2018) but can and will play there.

2. George Hill is the point guard now. Tough defender who can hit 3s and is veteran smart. Perfect fit guy

3. George Hill and the point guard defense gets DRASTIC upgrade over Isiah Thomas. Drastic. Larry Nance has a huge wingspan.

4. Jordan Clarkson was a 6th man instant offense kind of guy in LA. Very athletic but more a scorer than a shooter. Rodney Hood (lefty) is very athletic as well and is another shooter and scoring machine. As a restricted free agent Cavs can match any offer or let him go.

So Hood is the only guy they can let walk if they choose.

To be clear, the main reason they got so much talent was because guys like Clarkson and Hill have contracts that extend out to the future and their teams wanted off the books (typical Cavs pickups in the Lebron/Gilbert era).

Utah obviously decided they were going to let Hood walk (Donovan Mitchell's superstar trajectory on a rookie contract made that choice for them) so they get assets for a guy who was walking.

So much of these things are contractual moves in the NBA. Bottom line Hill fits a perfect role for the team, Clarkson is an athletic scorer so the baggage of their contracts was worthwhile. By the way they did get to shed Shumpert's crap deal so that's a plus.

Hillbilly wrote:Well, speaking of rules HB doesn't know ... Windhorst just reported the Cavs cannot trade the Brooklyn pick now. Barred from doing so due to league rules. So I can finally go to bed.

Right. Because you can only trade so many first rounders in consecutive years. More accurately, you have to OWN a first rounder after a number (2? 3?) consecutive years of not having one.

So in essence getting the Nets' pick also served the dual purpose of freeing their trading their own pick because they would still have one.

Again - more evidence that the deals are hedging by keeping the Nets' pick AND getting younger in the trades. Much smarter than the first time he left where they had no such things on their roster.

Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor 17 minutes ago
#Cavs source to @clevelanddotcom on the deals today: "We all needed some wind in our sails." Front office spoke to LeBron James last night before the Minnesota game about potential deals they were gaining traction on. LeBron seemed re-invigorated didn't he?

Also saw a report that they asked LeBron and Wade before making that trade. Wanted to make sure LBJ was OK with that.

Maybe they're talking more than I know. Hopefully LBJ is happy now, we make another long run in playoffs, and see LBJ around for a long time.

Thanks TFIR. I'll even the score with a preseason run down of the RubbeDucks.

here's some other summary:

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/2/8/ ... es-ranking

Just enjoyed a conversation with David Aldridge and David Griffin on NBA TV.

They both agreed that personally, Dan Gilbert and Lebron will never get along.

That said, it's about business. And once again Gilbert adds another $7 million to the tax situation which they already led the league in.

Bottom line Gilbert makes a statement that he keeps his promise to spend whatever is necessary.

Griffin said that statement is important - but by no means does it mean Lebron is staying.

I say it can't hurt.

Win now and keep LeBron James? NBA source says Cavaliers' trades a 'win-win'

Updated 1:03 PM; Posted 1:03 PM

By Joe Vardon, Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers do not have a formal commitment from LeBron James to remain with the organization past this season.

Nor did general manager Koby Altman or owner Dan Gilbert ask for one, sources told cleveland.com. Rather, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, committed to new money beyond this season, got much younger and, according to league sources, gave themselves a better chance to get to and compete in the Finals in June.

Which is what matters to James.

"What this shows is the organization did right by the organization and by its players," one league source who's close to multiple Cavs players told cleveland.com. "They're trying to finish this season strong. If LeBron decides to leave, they're better set up for the future than they were 48 hours ago. And if he decides to stay, the Cavs are set up for winning long term.

"It's really a win win. The Cavs did a great job."

Cavs send:

Isaiah Thomas to the Lakers
Channing Frye to the Lakers
Jae Crowder to Utah
Derrick Rose to Utah
Iman Shumpert to Sacramento
Their own 2018 first-round pick to the Lakers
Dwyane Wade to Miami
2020 second-round pick to Sacramento

Cavs get::

Larry Nance Jr. from the Lakers
Jordan Clarkson from the Lakers
George Hill from Sacramento
Rodney Hood from Utah
Protected second-round pick from Miami

James, 33, can be a free agent at season's end. He has a $35.6 million player's option in his contract.

When James first returned to Cleveland in 2014, and as recently as the start of training camp in September, James said his intention was to retire with the Cavs.

But to maintain flexibility and leverage over the front office, James never gave a formal commitment to stay past this season. He wanted the team to make roster upgrades to remain competitive with, and close the gap on, the Golden State Warriors.

Team owner Dan Gilbert, meanwhile, wanted the commitment from James before taking on more money. Gilbert may pay $50 million in luxury taxes for this season after all the moves that were made.

With the Cavs' season quickly going down the drain -- they are 7-13 since Christmas and have lost four times by 24 or more points -- and the roster apparently broken, Altman and Gilbert swung into action.

Altman made moves which address James' concerns, even if he did not ask for these specific players (he didn't), and not merely because James wanted change. Altman knew what needed to be done, too.

James felt Isaiah Thomas was not a good fit on the Cavs, especially because of his injured hip, and trading Kyrie Irving for Thomas and Jae Crowder was a mistake.

The Cavs traded Thomas to the Lakers and Crowder to the Utah Jazz.

James and other players on the Cavs felt the team needed to get younger, more athletic, and versatile to compete with the Warriors. Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., and and Rodney Hood are all 25.

Clarkson's averaging about 14.5 points for the Lakers and Hood is scoring 16.8 points for the Jazz. Clarkson has two years and about $26 million on his contract, George Hill (a new point guard, replacing Thomas) has $19 million on his contract for next season, and Hood could be in line for a big contract as a restricted free agent.

That's new money.

James told people close to him recently that he doubted the Cavs could pull off what they did on Thursday. He was skeptical of their chances of doing anything at the trade deadline, let alone this entire roster shakeup.

If James was stunned that Irving wanted out of Cleveland after three Finals runs, and upset with the Cavs for trading him for Thomas, Crowder, and Brooklyn's No. 1 pick, he must be equally stunned and pleased by the moves Thursday. He endorsed the trade of his best friend, Dwyane Wade, back to the Miami Heat.

And, the Cavs kept the Brooklyn pick.

None of what happened Thursday means James is definitively staying in Cleveland. But as the trades were flying off the stove, the Cavs stood closer to ninth place than first in the East.

Altman and Gilbert did something about it.

Amen - good article.

I think there may be something to that reinvigorated comment. In recent games LeBron looked like he did in the last game of the playoffs against the Celtics 8 years ago. Last night, after talking to Altman about trades, he puts up 37-10-15 on 70% shooting. Oh, and hitting game winner.

J.R. has looked much better last couple games too. I think his shot is finally coming around. Might have something to do with being told he isn't going anywhere.

Remains to be seen if they can get some chemistry in the 29 games that are left but if they do we will make another deep run.

I want to kick the Celtics ass.

Don't forget buyouts:

Joe Johnson - G/F - Kings

Joe Johnson will seek a buyout from Sacramento, according to NBA reporter David Aldridge.

Johnson was shipped from Utah to Sacramento as part of a three-team deal at the deadline. Johnson will have plenty of interested suitors. Aldridge notes that the Rockets are one of the teams that will pursue Johnson.

Hillbilly wrote:We have two open roster spots now too, so watch out for buy out market. (I was hoping Frye might get bought out and we bring him back but Lakers announced they're keeping him)

Can not get back Frye under any circumstance this year.

LeBron is gone ! No matter what happens this year. Remind me of this if it goes any other way.

Most likely which is why getting younger and more athletic today is a win/win!

This time yesterday I would have totally agreed with you, Rusty. I'm not so sure now. Let's see how the new look Cavs perform.