Here is the entire article.

 

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/07/15/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers

 

Damn you KJP.  Buy the damn magazine! :whip:

^Can't you implement a fine for these paragraphs?

 

"Cleveland has not captured a title in a major sport since the Browns in 1964. The city has been plagued by economic turmoil. The population fell to its lowest point since 1900. Professionals of all vocations took their talents elsewhere. James made clear his homecoming is inspired by the region as much as the franchise. He is one native, perhaps the most gifted of all, reinvesting in the old neighborhood."

^ False toxic bullsh*it!!!!!

^Can't you implement a fine for these paragraphs?

 

"Cleveland has not captured a title in a major sport since the Browns in 1964. The city has been plagued by economic turmoil. The population fell to its lowest point since 1900. Professionals of all vocations took their talents elsewhere. James made clear his homecoming is inspired by the region as much as the franchise. He is one native, perhaps the most gifted of all, reinvesting in the old neighborhood."

 

I'll PM you.

Cavs just signed Miller

 

Reports: Cleveland Cavaliers Sign Mike Miller with room exception

 

http://www.fearthesword.com/2014/7/15/5902947/report-cleveland-cavaliers-sign-mike-miller

Huge. He turned down close to 2x in what Denver offered. Houston also was reportedly offering more. That Instagram was really telling.

 

Speaking of Houston, their fans must be really confused. It turned down a $900k team option on Parsons and then traded away Lin, Asik, and picks for basically nothing in order to create room for another max player. All it has to show for it now is Trevor Ariza. Yikes

Ira Winderman ‏@IraHeatBeat  13m

To follow up on others: Yes, the Heat will pay the majority of Mike Miller's salary for Miller to play with LeBron in Cleveland.

@KingJames: By @mikemiller_13 "Thanks to Memphis for a great year!! But I'm so excited to be a part of the… http://t.co/oUcq3kCokC

 

 

 

eh, wont hurt, wont help. i know lebron likes him tho. throw him in the trade pot for love.

If you follow Cavs twitter you may recall this photo in the days before Decision II

You can't trade a guy you just signed.  There is something like a 6 month waiting period per the CBA.

 

He will definitely help.  Durability is a concern. He played all 82 games last year, but that is rare for him.  We needed him as a veteran on the team as we needed him for his shooting and basketball IQ. We'll need a few more vets like him to round out the roster. Keep in mind how young we were last year AND we didn't bring back Jack, Deng, Miles and Hawes

I agree.  From the outside, immaturity seemed to be a big problem for the cavs last year.  James, Haywood, Miller, and Varejao might help bring a sense of professionalism to the locker room by tempering raw emotions.  Guys with rings don't hurt neither. 

6 month waiting period? really? then whats the diff with sign&trades? anyway thats what im talking about, how can he help if he doesnt play much. his durability issues are well known. oh well if it makes lebron happy fine for now.

6 month waiting period? really? then whats the diff with sign&trades? anyway thats what im talking about, how can he help if he doesnt play much. his durability issues are well known. oh well if it makes lebron happy fine for now.

 

I believe sign and trades are allowed since the player being signed is already with the team.  You can't sign a new contract with a new team and then be traded. 

Right.  I wasn't clear.  You can't trade a NEW addition to your roster who you just signed.  It's a rule meant to protect the players.  Suppose Player X wanted to pay for Team Y, which has the cap room to sign him.  Team Y doesn't really want Player X, but knows that Team Z does.  Player X doesn't want to play for Team Z and won't sign with them.  So Team Y signs him and then turns right around and trades him to the team he refused to sign with.

 

Sign and trades are also complicated, as they require the player's consent, but you can indeed sign your own player and trade him to another team

 

He can help by knocking down the 3 like he did all 82 games for Memphis last year.  He was a key piece of their rotation, as he was for Miami previously.  He's one of those "you can't have too many Mike Miller" players on your team.  He has good size, he shoots well, and he is a decent rebounder for a swing player.  He can play both the 2 and the 3.  But again, most importantly, he brings that veteran presence to the locker room.  Consider the age of our roster....

 

Miller - 34

Haywood - 34

Varejao - 31

LeBron - 29

 

and then you have......

 

Thompson - 23

Dellanedova - 23

Felix - 23

Irving - 22

Waiters - 22

Harris - 22

Powell - 22

Bennett - 21

Wiggins - 19

 

As presently constituted, our roster has an average age of 25 years old.  Which means we've actually gotten YOUNGER than we were last year, when we finished the season with an average age of 26.2 years old.  We need to complete our 15 man roster with a few more vets.

Miller is staying on the roster - he's good value for what we're paying. He may be getting up there in years, but he won't be called on to play more than 15-20 minutes tops. Maybe less. He can be a very effective role-player in that all he has to do is sit on the perimeter, tie up a defender, and nail shots. He was a good starter for Memphis earlier in his career.

Real good interview.  The more I read about this guy the more I like the hire.

 

Q&A: Cavs Coach David Blatt on LeBron, Princeton, and ‘The Natural’

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/qa-cavs-coach-david-blatt-on-lebron-princeton-and-the-natural/

UPDATE - James Jones agrees to a 1yr deal at the veteran minimum.  Another veteran shooter.  I don't expect him to be part of the rotation, but he is a nice alternative should Miller miss any games.

 

Also, here is a good 1-on-1 interview with Kyrie post him agreeing to an extension and The Return - http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/video/2014/07/16/140716irving1on1mp4-3329475/.  Someone's buying into the Downtown hype...

 

This is home for LeBron James

 

A return to Ohio is about much more than basketball for the Chosen One

 

 

Updated: July 14, 2014, 12:40 PM ET

By Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst | ESPN.com

 

AKRON, Ohio -- The drive took about 35 minutes. Neither man in the car said a word. Everything LeBron James was feeling on that trip to the airport four years ago -- the pain, the angst, the loss, the fear -- was written on his face.

 

For weeks he had tried to find a way to stay, to recruit players to join him in Cleveland, so he wouldn't have to leave. Ray Allen said no. So did Chris Bosh, Trevor Ariza and Dwyane Wade. Sure, they wanted to play with him. Who wouldn't? But not in Cleveland. James was the one with a connection to the place, not them. If he wanted to win, he would have to sever those ties and go somewhere where other stars would join him.

 

The decision to leave his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat had been made that morning. LeBron walked around with it uncomfortably all day. He knew it would hurt people, that nothing would ever be the same for him after he did it.

 

Somehow he got through the final day of his annual basketball camp in Akron without confessing. By the time Damon Jones drove him to the airport, where he would fly to Connecticut and reveal his infamous decision to the world, there was a lump in his throat.

 

"The ride from his house to the airport is 35 minutes," said Jones, who played with LeBron from 2005 to 2008 and remained a close friend. "Neither of us said a word. It was tough. You saw it on his face, just his emotions.

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11210073/lebron-james-returns-home

 

I only read the part you posted, but this comes across as one of two things (or maybe both) 1) Lebron's camp trying to rewrite the narrative of the decision into something that we would want to hear, esp now that everyone has made up. and 2) Windhorsts attempt to re-ingratiate himself into the LBJ complex and re-establish his insider creds to ESPN.

 

So I'm not reading any more.

I only read the part you posted, but this comes across as one of two things (or maybe both) 1) Lebron's camp trying to rewrite the narrative of the decision into something that we would want to hear, esp now that everyone has made up. and 2) Windhorsts attempt to re-ingratiate himself into the LBJ complex and re-establish his insider creds to ESPN.

 

So I'm not reading any more.

 

Yep.  ESPN was burned for producing "The Decision", LBJ is more comfortable talking to a reputable brand, with extensions.

The Damon Jones story of driving LBJ to the airport and staying with him in the week leading up the Decision has been around for years.  This is nothing new.

Unless Zeller realizes he really is 7-feet-tall and actually plays like it, I won't miss him. I got tired of seeing him getting pushed around in the paint and being tentative when going to the basket.

Short of a trade, it is going to be hard to find a quality center to complete the roster.  All we have left to offer is the veteran minimum, and any serviceable big man can easily get three times that on the open market.  More likely, we will go with a rotation of Andy and some space eaters who won't light the world on fire for any Cavs fan, with Tristan occasionally playing some 5 when we use smaller lineups.  It's possible a player like Jermaine O'Neal would sign on for a championship run, since he has never won one (IIRC).  Emeka Okafur is another possibility, although I'd view that as a really long shot for him to agree to the vet minimum.  Same goes for Byron Mullens, but at least he is a local kid (Canton) who might think a return home could help him reach his potential.  Epke Udoh, Joel Anthony, and (as much as I hate to say it) Ryan Hollins are also possibilities.

 

One potential solution I see is if Minny gets desperate and REALLY wants Wiggins, but will also insist that Bennett is included, we demand that Dieng be part of the return package with Love.  As unlikely as it seems that Minny would throw Dieng in to sweeten the pot, they do already have Pekovic signed long term, so it is not out of the question IMO.

As much as I hate the term "lol"...... I definitely lol'd!

 

 

Cleveland Cavaliers now willing to include Wiggins in Kevin Love trade offer

 

http://www.morningjournal.com/sports/20140717/cleveland-cavaliers-now-willing-to-include-wiggins-in-kevin-love-trade-offer

I really doubt that Finnan would be the first to have that information.

Love for Wiggins, Bennett, next year's 1st round pick and maybe Haywood.  We really would be trading away our future; we'd damn sure better win the title if we do this.

Id rather go after Love next year instead of trading away the future

Id rather go after Love next year instead of trading away the future

 

Same here.  We seem like we're desperate and not a team that just (re)landed the best player in basketball + the no. 1 pick in a very strong draft.

Mike Miller recruiting Ray Allen to Cleveland

 

By The Sports Xchange

48 minutes ago

 

Ray Allen continues to contemplate his future and possible retirement as his 39th birthday approaches, but recently signed Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mike Miller is trying to tempt a fellow 3-point ace with a LeBron James reunion.

 

"We got James Jones, now we're moving Miami to northeast Ohio," Miller said.

 

"With LeBron James, you are going to win 55 to 60 games regardless. Now it's about what you do in the playoffs. For us, even with the young talent that they have there, you've gotta bring guys that have been there before, even if they are not giving you heavy minutes," Miller told ESPN Radio on Thursday. "Because those are the guys that understand the preparation, the adjustments, things like that can really bring those guys along. And then you build it from there."

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mike-miller-recruiting-ray-allen-203444690--nba.html

Every "expert" I've heard interviewed has sided with trading Wiggins for Love.

 

 

I really doubt that Finnan would be the first to have that information.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob has covered the Cavs for The News-Herald and Morning Journal since 1995. He's a graduate of Kent State University...

 

 

Well there you have it. He's obviously an idiot!

GO ZIPS

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob has covered the Cavs for The News-Herald and Morning Journal since 1995. He's a graduate of Kent State University...

 

 

Well there you have it. He's obviously an idiot!

GO ZIPS

 

ZIPS -- also refers to their SAT test scores. But Akron will take 'em anyway! GO FLASHES!

^ ouch!

You have to wonder if Embiid had not been injured and we selected him, would a trade for Love even be considered. Wiggins was not at the top of the Cavs board so how invested in him are they. It would be a huge cost for Love, not just Wiggins but other pieces to match the monies. Unless Lebron is literally demanding Love, I would wait it out unless I can get Love without Wiggins.

Love might get moved while you wait it out.  Golden State is very interested and has the assets to get it done.  One advantage they have is the ability to take back Kevin Martin's contract, which Minny wants to get rid of.  But Minny wants Klay Thompson in addition to other assets (Lee and/or Barnes, plus picks) and GSW is balking, reportedly.

 

I really think Finnan's source was a Minnesota exec. trying the both put pressure on GSW to cough up Thompsons and see how the Cavs react.  Finnan's report created a mini-domino effect on twitter.  That the Cavs have not publicly repudiated the rumor is not necessarily proof that they have offered him up as reported, but rather that Wiggins is not off-the-table, as the Cavs want Minny to believe.

I really think Finnan's source was a Minnesota exec. trying the both put pressure on GSW to cough up Thompsons and see how the Cavs react.

 

So do I, and it's been speculated by some national reporters on Twitter. So Windy Horse will probably get around to reporting it sometime next week.

Trading for Kevin Love won't be easy for the Cleveland Cavaliers -- Terry Pluto

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on July 17, 2014 at 3:23 PM, updated July 17, 2014 at 8:36 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Why don't the Cavaliers just trade Andrew Wiggins for Minnesota's Kevin Love and get it over with?

 

More than a few fans have asked that, and not enough people in the media have taken time to explain why this is not an easy trade to complete.

 

Here we go:

 

THE SALARY CAP, PART ONE

It takes more than Wiggins to make the trade work. Love is paid $15.7 million. Wiggins will be paid $4.6 million in his rookie contract.

 

It's a bit complicated, but the Cavs can't make this trade without giving up at least $11.8 million worth of contracts. In other words, they can't trade Wiggins for Love straight up. You can toss in Anthony Bennett ($5.5 million) with Wiggins ($4.6 million), Carrick Felix ($816,000) and Matthew Dellavedova ($816,000)

 

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2014/07/post_98.html#incart_m-rpt-1

 

I thought that if the Cavs do a three-team trade (such as with Golden State), they can get a trade exception of something like $11 million?

Saw this on another forum......

 

The way the league is set up you can go over the cap to resign your own players and just pay the luxury tax (which Gilbert has no issue doing). So you get into this situation that you cannot just sign him as a FA due to James' and Kyrie's contracts going into next off-season. You would have to trade for him and then resign him over the cap.

 

What if LeBron told the Cavs front office "these are the guys I'd be OK with you trading for Love." If Minn says no, just wait them out. Lebron opts out after the year we sign Love then resign James going over the cap. We get our "Big 3" just one year later and we keep our 3 first rounders and all our young players.

Saw this on another forum......

 

The way the league is set up you can go over the cap to resign your own players and just pay the luxury tax (which Gilbert has no issue doing). So you get into this situation that you cannot just sign him as a FA due to James' and Kyrie's contracts going into next off-season. You would have to trade for him and then resign him over the cap.

 

What if LeBron told the Cavs front office "these are the guys I'd be OK with you trading for Love." If Minn says no, just wait them out. Lebron opts out after the year we sign Love then resign James going over the cap. We get our "Big 3" just one year later and we keep our 3 first rounders and all our young players.

I thought you could only go over the cap when you had a players bird rights, which I thought was only obtained after having a player under contract for 3+ years, i guess I'm mistaken.

No, I think you're right. Cavs won't have LeBron's rights until after a third straight season. They'll also have a cap hold for Tristan next offseason I believe, and a big decision concerning Dion.

According to ESPN, the Cavs are willing to part with Wiggins, Bennett, and a future 1st round pick, but Minnesota doesn't think that is enough and wants more. Excuse me but PASS, Minnesota is just being absolutely unreasonable now.

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11232868/cleveland-cavaliers-minnesota-timberwolves-talking-trade-involving-kevin-love-andrew-wiggins-anthony-bennett

According to ESPN, the Cavs are willing to part with Wiggins, Bennett, and a future 1st round pick, but Minnesota doesn't think that is enough and wants more. Excuse me but PASS, Minnesota is just being absolutely unreasonable now.

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11232868/cleveland-cavaliers-minnesota-timberwolves-talking-trade-involving-kevin-love-andrew-wiggins-anthony-bennett

 

I don't believe a word of what's happening. We'd have to trade a ton of players to clear enough cap space for Love. Besides When we approach the trade deadline, then WE pitch Minnesota. And if they still don't bite, then we take Love when he's feet agent with a first-year discount and a max deal thereafter when the cap is lifted.

In order to sign Love outright next summer, we'd have to renounce our rights to LBJ.  If that happens, we can't go over the cap to sign him. With his contract and Kyrie's, there is virtually no way to clear enough space to sign another guy to a max contract without doing a sign and trade. But that is where Haywood comes into play. Next summer, his contract (even though it is unguaranteed) would count as $10.5mill towards a trade and then the team which obtains him can waive him without him counting against their cap. 

 

I still think everyone is getting this information from Minny execs. The AP has monumentally more stringent standards than these other outfits when it comes to claiming the report is credibly sourced and both the Cleveland and Minny AP reporters have said that Wiggins has not been offered

So Wiggins and Bennett were held out of the SL game tonite. Cavs said that was planned all along. Whatever. I kind of feel sorry for Wiggins being just 19 and having to deal with all this chatter about his future, that's a lot of pressure to come into. I think he has performed pretty well considering that. Says a lot about him.

As far as the possibly trade, if we learned anything from last week it's not to believe any of these stupid sources and relentless twitter rumors where about 99.9% were wrong. The only thing anybody knows is what those involved have purposely leaked.

So Wiggins and Bennett were held out of the SL game tonite.

 

And we still beat the Heat!  :evil:

Last night was the first time I got to see the other Canadian Dwight Powell and he looks good. Cavs got a steal when they took him from Charlotte. He is the guy who held Wiggins to 4 pts in the tourney. So we could have a sleeper here. Here is his pre draft workout.

Okay, the T'Wolves want Wiggins? Fine, I'd begrudgingly do it. However I would not give them Bennett, as well.

 

The longer that this has gone on, the more I'm leaning towards just starting the season with the roster as it's currently constituted, and seeing how it plays out. Wiggins is a rookie and he's going to have to undergo a learning process, but I think that it's going to be accelerated alongside LeBron James and he's really going to thrive.