The front office of the Cavs made the situation worse by catering to Quits' every whim.

The off the court things were bad enough.

The most glaring examples were shown on the court- poor FA signings and trades in hopes of small improvements to satisfy Quit. He never gave the Cavs a chance to build via an OKC type model before OKC. Then the front office wasted what few draft choices they did keep.


The path was set in a downward spiral.

In no way should my post be interpreted in any way as a defense of Quit. He's lower than Pierce and for me that's right at the bottom.

The Cavaliers led the NBA in wins in 2009 and 2010. Hard to believe they did much wrong. Did LeBron look like a player in the 2011 Finals that could lead a team to the most regular season wins twice without any help ?

The only way to tell that catering to a players every whim will not work is to actually do it. Dan Gilbert did it. Fortunately because he did, LeBron proved that nothing would have kept him in Cleveland. Nothing !

CAvs had decent complimentary pieces to Quit, but they were never in a position to get the other star usually needed to push a team over the top. Those pieces burned $$$ and draft picks that could have been used to acquire an alpha star.

FAs might have signed here if Quit had actually tried to help in the recruitment.

Then there is Quit always extending his contract for minimum length. Moves had to be made to plug holes with duct tape for the short term.

I think the Cavs had a trade lined up for Bosh this past year, had he been willing to come here...but that's water under the bridge.

Well I found a redeeming note to the TT selection, he is great friends with Kyrie. That is the type of situation where we can build an OKC type of team. That gives me some longer term hope as I had always figured Derek Williams would be gone as soon as he could.

Don't look now, but if the CBA doesn't push the the years required to be eligible for the draft, next year's draft is loaded with forwards (one of the reasons I wanted JV1). I can take another miserable year with the records to get a top 5 pick again. If we don't trade anyone, we will have Sessions, Jamison, JJ and AV all available to secure a lottery selection.

Also, who new when the Cavs drafted LeQuit, they were actually drafting Robin instead of Batman.

Magic have handcuffed themselves roster-wise in a similar way trying to please Howard.

Former deputy commissioner Russ Granik, lead negotiator in the past four collective bargaining agreements, said the view of management has changed dramatically since the last labor deal in 2005.

"The sense I'm getting is that it's much like it was in 1998-99, that owners seem to be wedded to getting at least a large measure of changes they're asking for, and my feeling is they would be prepared to lose a season if necessary," Granik said in the podcast with ESPN's Ryen Russillo.

Cavs Assistant Chris Jent Joining OSU

Posted: 6/29/2011 5:42:00 AM

Source: Doug Lesmerises of The Plain Dealer

Chris Jent will leave the Cavaliers to join Ohio State's basketball staff as an assistant coach, a source confirmed to The Plain Dealer.

Jent played for the Buckeyes from 1988-92, scoring 1,007 career points while helping Ohio State to back-to-back Big Ten titles and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

As an assistant coach and director of player development with the Cavs since 2006, Jent worked with the Cavs' shooters, developing a close relationship with LeBron James and helping prepare Daniel Gibson for his appearance in the 3-point shootout in 2008, when he finished second.

What's Mark Price up to these days?

2012 Mock Draft:

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2012

Interesting list. Gilchrist and Rivers will go before Sullinger and Perry Jones.

WC (PDX)

Why would Jonas missing a strike-shortened year cause the Cavs to pass? Were there other reasons at play?
Chad Ford (1:09 PM)

Yes, I think the other factor was that they fell in love with Tristan Thompson. I think his workout for them sealed the deal. And once again we see the power of the individual workout ... As much as teams say it doesn't matter, I hear it over and over again after the draft "His workout sealed the deal," or "His workouts turned us off" or even "He refused to workout for us" to explain why they did or didn't draft a player.

I have read enough to believe that TT will be a solid player for us, just not an all-star. Can't be an all-star with his horrid shooting ability.

Despite a bit better reports its hard to hear that JV is tearing it up at the U-19s offensively and I assume defensively given his size. Centers are hard to come by and there and he should have been taken. PF, on the other hand, can be found. PF typically aren't the ones that teams runs there offense through so we should have spent the pick on TT. And the few that did, Duncan, malone and Dirk, all could shoot. TT can't do a lick of that.

Scott complains he needed better defense and I agree. But we played most of the year without Andy, who is critical to our defense. Plus JV is reported to be very aggressive defensively. We had plenty of improvement coming our way defensively if JV wa sselected.

I keep thinking Gilbert made this selection despite the reports. If so, he needs to stop being imopatient and build the right way so we can be around a long time. Making the playoffs next year won't help us.

JJ, think you may need to look at some of the videos of JV actually playing versus thoughts of what he may become.

In no way am I saying one is better then another but TT was drafted based on what he will develop into in the future. Not next year.

Obviously, Gilbert is involved in every decision but I think his basketball people (Grant, Scott) made this decision.

There is a possibility that the Cavs may have drafted TT with the idea of trading him to Charlotte. Paul Silas thought he was the best big man in the draft. My thought is that the Cavs may have anticipated trading down based on Toronto selecting Knight and Washington selecting Vessley. The Cavs could have then traded the rights to TT for the 7th pick etc. and selected JV.

I do believe the Cavs draft board looked like this.

1. Irving

2. Williams

3. Kanter

4. Thompson

5. JV

I think I might be wrong about 3 and 4. I think the Cavs really liked 3-5 equally. I think they made the decision to trade the 4th pick, pick up more assets and let the draft fall to them. They would be happy to have any one of the 3.

Utah took Kanter, Toronto took JV, Cavs have TT.


No trade possibility.

At the same time I am willing to trust the group that turned Mo Williams and Jamrio Moon into Baron Davis (better player then Mo) and the #1 pick in the draft. (A player being compared to Chris Paul)

A group that got Erden off of the Celtics for nothing at the trade deadline.

A group that got Sessions for Delonte West.

A group that offered a contract to RFA Kyle Lowry who turned into the most improved player in the league.

Are you kidding me ?????????????

What a great owner but they also have proven that they understand talent and projections.

Let's see this thing out.

TT can finish well around the basket and he reportedly has soft hands. He can run the P&R effectively also, which makes him a good fit with Irving. He won't be as big an offensive liability as some think, but he absolutely must improve on his free throw percentage which is dismal.

TT can defend both the 3 and the 4 positions which is a huge plus in the NBA. He will also be an excellent "help" defender.

JV seems decent enough on offense but defensively he is a foul-making machine. He will have a lot of trouble fouling out in the NBA until he learns to defend without so much contact. TT already has this skill.

Reportedly TT flat out dominated Kanter in head-to head work-outs, and that sold him in the eyes of the Cavs management.