It should be Wiggins and just Wiggins. Giving up anything more is too much IMO.

 

The trade exception means we'd have to give up about $10 million worth of contracts. Wiggins, Bennett, Thompson and Waiters are all in the $5 million club. Two of them have to go, and its probably going to be Minnesota's choice of which ones they want.

I wouldn't assume the trade is done just because of more gum flapping from the Timberwolves. I don't doubt a trade will occur, but it definitely feels like Minny has been leaking plenty of false rumors.

Ability to a buy a Cleveland Wiggins jersey just got more difficult:

 

http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2014/08/02/nba-store-discontinues-andrew-wiggins-jerseys

It should be Wiggins and just Wiggins. Giving up anything more is too much IMO.

 

The trade exception means we'd have to give up about $10 million worth of contracts. Wiggins, Bennett, Thompson and Waiters are all in the $5 million club. Two of them have to go, and its probably going to be Minnesota's choice of which ones they want.

 

... which is why, whereas I might be more flexible on Bennett or Thompson, I would absolutely draw the line at Waiters.  Minnesota would take Griffin to the cleaners if we allowed them to take Wiggins AND Waiters, especially with the Sword of Damocles poised over Flip Sauders' head: namely the reality that Love walks in late April if he's not dealt by then.  While I understand the adage that you have to give something to get something, I would just as soon not engage in T-Wolves' team building at our expense, especially since the (metaphorical) gun should be pointed a Flip's head, not David Griffin's.

Prediction: Wiggins will be NBA rookie of the yr, and on the 1st or 2nd all defensive team. 

 

ROY?  I doubt it.  But he would have a much better chance in Minny than he would here.  The Bucks are going to make Parker a focal point on offense.  Other more NBA-ready guys like Marcus Smart and Julius Randle will also probably be given far more opportunities than if Wiggins stays put.  Even if he goes to Minny, I still don't see him making the impact on the offensive end to garner much consideration for the award.  If he wins anything this year it will be the slam dunk competition.

 

An All-NBA defensive team?  After not making the Big 12 All-Defensive team?  That would be quite an accomplishment.

Welp, some video of Wiggins in a Cavs jersey, at least for the time being.

http://thacover2.com/2014/08/andrew-wiggins-zach-lavine-hold-dunk-off-video/#.U96Jk2S9Kc0

ROY?  I doubt it.

 

I'll bet he gets more votes than Derrick Williams  err... Jabari Parker...

This ESPN interviewer totally embarrassed Andrew Wiggins on SportsCenter. I feel so bad for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy8IpEJ2w9I#t=38

 

ROY?  I doubt it.

 

I'll bet he gets more votes than Derrick Williams  err... Jabari Parker...

 

Nobody would ever confuse Parker for DWilliams.  Totally different players.  One is an athletic freak with questionable basketball skills, the other has a highly refined basketball skillset with questionable athletic ability (for a star NBA prospect).

 

But, regardless, I'll take that bet in a heartbeat.  You win and you get to pick my signature line on this site for a week (the one at the bottom).  I win and vice-versa.  A couple of contingencies, in the interest of fairness, should be that they play within 80% of each other in the number of games to account for injury and the possibility that Wiggins remains a Cav and gets buried on the bench with DNP-CD's.  Agreed?  (Disclaimer: I still don't think it is a fair bet).

ROY?  I doubt it.

 

I'll bet he gets more votes than Derrick Williams  err... Jabari Parker...

 

Nobody would ever confuse Parker for DWilliams.  Totally different players.  One is an athletic freak with questionable basketball skills, the other has a highly refined basketball skillset with questionable athletic ability (for a star NBA prospect).

 

But, regardless, I'll take that bet in a heartbeat.  You win and you get to pick my signature line on this site for a week (the one at the bottom).  I win and vice-versa.  A couple of contingencies, in the interest of fairness, should be that they play within 80% of each other in the number of games to account for injury and the possibility that Wiggins remains a Cav and gets buried on the bench with DNP-CD's.  Agreed?  (Disclaimer: I still don't think it is a fair bet).

 

Done.

Given equal opportunities Wiggy will prove to be the more complete talent and receive more votes.

Oh here is your Sig line 'I know nothing about basketball' ...I feel bad, you can back out now if you want, it's OK...

Done.  I'll be more creative with the Sig line on my end and will hold off on declaring any intent.  Only thing I can confirm is you won't like it ;)

Some reports out there that the Cavs are closing in on a deal for Larry Drew to join Blatt's coaching staff.  That would be a tremendous pick-up, given Drew's NBA head-coaching experience.  He was the one who was ousted (unjustifiably, many argued) in Milwaukee this summer when the whole Jason Kidd fiasco went down.

This ESPN interviewer totally embarrassed Andrew Wiggins on SportsCenter. I feel so bad for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy8IpEJ2w9I#t=38

 

 

ESPN is EVIL. I'd love to watch Fox Sports 1 or something else instead, but they seem to be the NASCAR channel most of the time.

@ESPNSteinLine: ESPN sources say Shawn Marion is in Cleveland today on recruiting visit with Cavaliers

 

Edit:  proof - http://twitter.com/gatorschouten/status/496406021137367040/photo/1

 

I'll leave it to the board to determine which eatery they were at

Town Hall.

LeBron James decided to cut carbs this summer & dropped significant weight as tweeted photo shows: http://t.co/bpbGvYi5Bx

 

BTW check out the hat!

He's rocking nothing but local hats lately. He has definitely dropped some weight, but I think that one shot is a bit decieving. He actually looks like he is on the final stage of some crazy fast or cleanse.  Here are some other recent pics where he doesn't look like that.....

 

http://t.co/e9uuPhJoHv

 

 

 

 

 

Three-team Kevin Love deal 'is done,' could involve Anthony Bennett per @si_nba http://t.co/7UblekJd4d

Wait a minute...now the word is that Kevin Love won't be signing an extension with the Cavaliers upon arrival? That's almost a deal-breaker for me, especially considering I was already on the fence about having to give up both Wiggins and another asset. If this plays out as badly as I think it realistically could (Love is traded, Cavs don't win the title, Wiggins shows big potential in regular season, Love bolts) I will be really angry.

 

In other news, I was definitely blindly buying into the Bradley Beal hype, but after looking at his stats and comparing them to Waiters' numbers, I do agree with the above argument that Dion should be getting more love nationally.  Call me a homer, but I think there are four incredibly solid young players at diverse positions that all could end up thriving alongside LeBron James.

I tend to find it's more useful to wait until something actually happens before deciding whether to get upset by it.

I tend to find it's more useful to wait until something actually happens before deciding whether to get upset by it.

Right, like with the occupation of Chzechoslovakia or the evacuation of Mt. St. Helen's.

Getting waaaaay ahead of myself but, where would a championship parade occur? Pre-Euclid Corridor project Euclid avenue was the clear option but that seems too narrow now. What street does that leave us? Superior?

 

Wait a minute...now the word is that Kevin Love won't be signing an extension with the Cavaliers upon arrival? That's almost a deal-breaker for me, especially considering I was already on the fence about having to give up both Wiggins and another asset. If this plays out as badly as I think it realistically could (Love is traded, Cavs don't win the title, Wiggins shows big potential in regular season, Love bolts) I will be really angry.

 

Or you could not do the deal, Bennett shows last year was no fluke, and Wiggins either completely flops or suffers a career altering injury.  There are risks no matter what you do.  Love won't be signing an extension anywhere.  He might (and probably will in order for the deal to get done) give assurances to ownership, but he will be eligible for a bigger pay increase if he plays out this year and then signs a new deal next summer.  Or, what might be even wiser for him would be to opt in to the final two years of his deal and them negotiate a new contract when the New TV deal is in place.

I tend to find it's more useful to wait until something actually happens before deciding whether to get upset by it.

 

That's one way to live life, but I prefer to worry about things to an unhealthy extent, especially when it comes to Cleveland sports. :drunk:

 

Seriously though, I do think we have to take into consideration the very real possibility that even with Kevin Love this team is far from a lock for an NBA title next season...especially considering the team's lack of depth and Irving and to a lesser-degree Love's respective injury histories. I wouldn't trade Wiggins and Waiters/Bennett for just one season of Love.

Or you could not do the deal, Bennett shows last year was no fluke, and Wiggins either completely flops or suffers a career altering injury.  There are risks no matter what you do.  Love won't be signing an extension anywhere.  He might (and probably will in order for the deal to get done) give assurances to ownership, but he will be eligible for a bigger pay increase if he plays out this year and then signs a new deal next summer.  Or, what might be even wiser for him would be to opt in to the final two years of his deal and them negotiate a new contract when the New TV deal is in place.

 

Okay, I see your point, but I just don't like the idea of "assurances" or hoping players opt-in. Reminds me too much of the Boozer situation. I am a bit more encouraged by your second point about Love probably wanting to cash in on the new television deal...but I'm not sure that helps the Cavaliers necessarily.

 

Bottom line is that I was most excited about this trade when it seemed possible or even likely that Love was going to be here for four or five years. That's how it was sold, IMO. But once this thing turns into trading one of the most highly-touted prospect in years AND several other nice assets for what could very likely turn into a rental, I don't think it's worth it anymore.

The Boozer situation is a bad analogy. Due to him only playing two seasons, there were no bird rights attached to him and he was able to get $20mill more in guaranteed salary than we could offer. It was a poor calculation all the way around.  We will be able to offer Love more than any other suitors in years and money.  The more recent example which should concern you is DHoward skipping out on LAL after one season.  I can't imagine us tanking like LAL did and we certainly don't have an overbearing Kobe on our team. I wouldn't be worried. Love and LBJ are close, and regardless, there is no way Wes is gonna leave Uncle Drew hangin right after they 'got the team back together'

 

I think everyone, including the Cavs, LeBron, and Love, understand a championship is not guaranteed in year one. This is not an eggs in one basket situation. It would be a play for a 5-7 year run

 

Re Wiggins as 'one of the most highly touted prospects in years'...... Let's not forget that he was likely to fall to #3 overall and only went first due to Embiid's injury

The Boozer situation is a bad analogy. Due to him only playing two seasons, there were no bird rights attached to him and he was able to get $20mill more in guaranteed salary than we could offer. It was a poor calculation all the way around.  We will be able to offer Love more than any other suitors in years and money.  The more recent example which should concern you is DHoward skipping out on LAL after one season.  I can't imagine us tanking like LAL did and we certainly don't have an overbearing Kobe on our team. I wouldn't be worried. Love and LBJ are close, and regardless, there is no way Wes is gonna leave Uncle Drew hangin right after they 'got the team back together'

 

I think everyone, including the Cavs, LeBron, and Love, understand a championship is not guaranteed in year one. This is not an eggs in one basket situation. It would be a play for a 5-7 year run

 

Re Wiggins as 'one of the most highly touted prospects in years'...... Let's not forget that he was likely to fall to #3 overall and only went first due to Embiid's injury

 

Two points:

 

1) I wasn't really saying that the Boozer situation and the situation Love might find himself in with the Cavaliers next summer are analogous, I'm just saying that based on what Boozer did (and really what professional athletes do time and again), I'd always be hesitant to place any stock in a verbal agreement. Just too risky IMO.

 

2) Wiggins' stock definitely went down after his one and only season playing college hoops, but he's been highly-touted for years and I believe it's mostly based on his ceiling. There's no doubt that Embiid and Parker both increased their stature because of what they did last year, however it's arguable that both are much closer to peaking than Wiggins.

The Boozer situation is a bad analogy. Due to him only playing two seasons, there were no bird rights attached to him and he was able to get $20mill more in guaranteed salary than we could offer. It was a poor calculation all the way around.  We will be able to offer Love more than any other suitors in years and money.  The more recent example which should concern you is DHoward skipping out on LAL after one season.  I can't imagine us tanking like LAL did and we certainly don't have an overbearing Kobe on our team. I wouldn't be worried. Love and LBJ are close, and regardless, there is no way Wes is gonna leave Uncle Drew hangin right after they 'got the team back together'

 

I think everyone, including the Cavs, LeBron, and Love, understand a championship is not guaranteed in year one. This is not an eggs in one basket situation. It would be a play for a 5-7 year run

 

Re Wiggins as 'one of the most highly touted prospects in years'...... Let's not forget that he was likely to fall to #3 overall and only went first due to Embiid's injury

 

Two points:

 

1) I wasn't really saying that the Boozer situation and the situation Love might find himself in with the Cavaliers next summer are analogous, I'm just saying that based on what Boozer did (and really what professional athletes do time and again), I'd always be hesitant to place any stock in a verbal agreement. Just too risky IMO.

 

2) Wiggins' stock definitely went down after his one and only season playing college hoops, but he's been highly-touted for years and I believe it's mostly based on his ceiling. There's no doubt that Embiid and Parker both increased their stature because of what they did last year, however it's arguable that both are much closer to peaking than Wiggins.

 

1) what other examples are you aware of to say it is something professional athletes do "time and again"?  Do you at least recognize the risk of not making this move?

 

2) Harrison Barnes was similarly touted for years. So was JJ Sullinger.  So was Eddy Curry.  Sebastian Telfair, Michael Beasley, Darius Miles, OJ Mayo, DaJuan Wagner, Christian Laetner.  The list could go on and on about guys who were at one time thought to be the next big thing.  Then there are the injury risks in guys like Penny Hardaway, Greg Oden, Jason Williams.

 

I've been asking this since before the draft and have yet to receive a response.  Name one wing player selected in the top 5 who was as raw as Wiggins from a skillet perspective and turned out to be a superstar who could be in the same conversation with Kevin Love without laughing.  Just one

I tend to find it's more useful to wait until something actually happens before deciding whether to get upset by it.

Right, like with the occupation of Chzechoslovakia or the evacuation of Mt. St. Helen's.

 

Thanks for the ridiculous hyperbole.

I tend to find it's more useful to wait until something actually happens before deciding whether to get upset by it.

Right, like with the occupation of Chzechoslovakia or the evacuation of Mt. St. Helen's.

 

Thanks for the ridiculous hyperbole.

Sorry, forgot to include the "This is a joke" header at the top of my post. Crap, just realized I forgot to include it again.

 

I tend to find it's more useful to wait until something actually happens before deciding whether to get upset by it.

Right, like with the occupation of Chzechoslovakia or the evacuation of Mt. St. Helen's.

 

 

Thanks for the ridiculous hyperbole.

 

 

 

 

Oh KJP.... it is your birthday. No need to be cranky about peoples hyperbole.  Just sit back and enjoy your day. You are greatly appreciated.

 

 

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y  ! ! ! !

 

 

 

It is confirmed now that LeBron's recent weight loss is due to him being on a paleo (no-carb) diet.  It is assumed that there are several reasons/motivations such as his issues with hydration last year and trying to lessen the stress on his knees and other joints.  Windy said during a podcast I listened to that LeBron might have approached 280 a few times in the past two years and didn't like it.  It made some sense in Miami, where he was forced to spend 80% of his floor-time at the four.  Here, it looks like he will spend 80% of his time at the three.  With KLove and TT, we won't need him down on the block.  The weight loss will help him get out on the wing and run more, like he did early in his career and much less so with Miami, since he was always brining up the ball and leading the (few) fast breaks they did run.  I'm sure the weight loss was done on medical advice and, let's face it, he could stand to lose 20 pounds and still be the most physically imposing wing-player in the game.  Regardless, he is bound to gain some of it back as a player can't stay on a no-carb diet during the season.  He will need to 'carb-up' to keep his energy at peak levels

I dig the skyline-based design - http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11282331/cleveland-cavaliers-redesign-results

Miller/Jones presser in a few minutes...

 

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/live

That first question from Withers - "Have you always wanted to be a teammate of Kevin Love"........ classic.

 

I could see James Jones becoming a coach when his playing days are over.

 

BTW, the latest sighting in town was Chauncey Billups.  Not sure if any interest in him would be as a player or an assistant coach.

I dig the skyline-based design - http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11282331/cleveland-cavaliers-redesign-results

 

Wow, of those I actually liked the "Quicken Loans" ones the best.

 

Would love to see the Price/Daugherty/Nance era uni's make a reappearance.

I like the Price era jersey as the alternates. I like the premier league style too.

 

My sports obsessed 8 year old likes the skylines.

I like the Price era jersey as the alternates. I like the premier league style too.

 

My sports obsessed 8 year old likes the skylines.

 

The skylines remind me too much of another team....the Miami Heat lol.

I too like the Price era jerseys as alternatives.  I like the design and look, but the color scheme is just too similar to the Knicks.  Wine&Gold has become our signature (again) and I would keep it that way

^ May have a point there...

ROY?  I doubt it.

 

I'll bet he gets more votes than Derrick Williams  err... Jabari Parker...

 

Nobody would ever confuse Parker for DWilliams.  Totally different players.  One is an athletic freak with questionable basketball skills, the other has a highly refined basketball skillset with questionable athletic ability (for a star NBA prospect).

 

But, regardless, I'll take that bet in a heartbeat.  You win and you get to pick my signature line on this site for a week (the one at the bottom).  I win and vice-versa.  A couple of contingencies, in the interest of fairness, should be that they play within 80% of each other in the number of games to account for injury and the possibility that Wiggins remains a Cav and gets buried on the bench with DNP-CD's.  Agreed?  (Disclaimer: I still don't think it is a fair bet).

 

Done.

Given equal opportunities Wiggy will prove to be the more complete talent and receive more votes.

Oh here is your Sig line 'I know nothing about basketball' ...I feel bad, you can back out now if you want, it's OK...

 

Out of the kindness of my heart, I'm going to give you another chance to reconsider.  Here is something to take into account - http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/06/nbas-rookies-surveyed-project-jabari-parker-to-win-rookie-of-the-year/

 

In the interest of full disclosure, as of now I'm leaning towards requiring a .gif of you doing the 'truffle shuffle' with the UO logo drawn onto your belly with a sharpie.

Out of the kindness of my heart, I'm going to give you another chance to reconsider.  Here is something to take into account - http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/06/nbas-rookies-surveyed-project-jabari-parker-to-win-rookie-of-the-year/

 

How bout we play some games first...

 

In the interest of full disclosure, as of now I'm leaning towards requiring a .gif of you doing the 'truffle shuffle' with the UO logo drawn onto your belly with a sharpie.

 

So I'm confused, I thought it was supposed to be something I wouldn't want to do

^^A terrible uniform from a terrible era of Cavs basketball.  When I see those, all I can think about are the Lamond Murray and Wesley Person led teams.  The very definition of mediocrity those teams were. 

 

Is it just me or does Kyrie's right arm look freakishly short in that pic?

 

^I'll have to get more creative then ;)

"@WojYahooNBA: Free agent forward Shawn Marion is leaning strongly toward signing with Cleveland over Indiana, league sources told Yahoo Sports."

In terms of uniforms, I tend to lean towards keeping them simpler. I do sort of like their current uniforms, but I realize that they're going to change them pretty soon so I hope they don't become too garish.

Woj is about as reliable as it gets when it comes to "sources"

 

Sources: Cleveland has agreement to acquire Kevin Love, including contract commitment

 

The Minnesota Timberwolves have reached an agreement in principle to send All-Star forward Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a protected 2015 first-round draft pick, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

 

Cleveland is making the deal with Minnesota with a firm agreement Love will opt out of his contract in 2015 and re-sign with the Cavaliers on a five-year, $120 million-plus contract extension, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--cavaliers-have-agreement-to-acquire-kevin-love--who-commits-to-staying-in-cleveland-054657392.html

 

Woj Bomb.  Wiggins, Bennett and protected pick for Love.  No third team. How does that work with the money?

With the skyline design, would our jersey change whenever our skyline changes?

Woj Bomb.  Wiggins, Bennett and protected pick for Love.  No third team. How does that work with the money?

 

If someone explains to me that we had to give up so much because of the salary cap, I'd understand. But I have a hard time reconciling the fact that the Knicks did not have to give up this much to acquire Carmelo Anthony a few years back.