@3 Ball...GOT IT
How do u feel about the 2019 draft and what the Cavs are currently doing?
I don't mind what they're doing at all. I think the franchise needs a couple of years to reset, without going full-on tank. I know the probabilities are best when you go complete tank, but I think the difference between that strategy and what the Cavs are doing can be somewhat overstated. Teams that are perpetually stuck in the 5-10 range are usually stuck there due to poor decisions, not for lack of opportunities to acquire good young players.
It's a real coin flip for whether the Cavs keep their pick this year. I feel like it's 40/60 right now. I don't expect them to be able to acquire a second rounder now for cash, but we'll see. They're probably going to be moving salaries around in trades to take on bad money for assets, and that could involve using some of their cash supply. Plus I think teams have started to wise up on trading 2nd rounders after the Jordan Bell situation. Not a single pick was purchased in 2018 by any team I don't think.
I think this draft is solid. I really like Barrett, and I'm super intrigued by Cam Reddish. I've not watched anyone in depth yet, but am familiar with most of the projected first rounders. There are a lot of solid wings in the top 10, so if the Cavs do end up in the back of the lottery, I think they'll have a few to pick from. If their pick does convey this year I don't think it will be the worst thing in the world. I just hope they are able to get at least one first rounder via trade from a Korver or George Hill deal. Whether they are able to move a couple of players for future assets will define a successful season to me.
I expect JR to get traded in the summer. His contract is extremely valuable because the old 2011 CBA still applies to his contract because it was signed prior to the new one. Basically there was a change where if you traded a guy with unguaranteed money (think of Brendan Haywood deal, which was fully unguaranteed), you would have to guarantee it if you wanted to trade him. So we traded Haywood and the team that took him paid $0 by waiving him, vs now they would have had to pay him the full amount. JR has about $11m worth unguaranteed I think off the top of my head. So basically a team could send out $14m to the Cavs and take on JR's contract of $14m, but only have to pay him the unguaranteed amount which is about $3.5m I think. This should hopefully get them a late first, but we'll see - a lot of teams will have space by then and not need the savings.
I think they're in a better spot than people realize. I'm kind of glad that they're not going full-on tank. Since Dan Gilbert bought the team they've pretty much always been on the extreme ends of the spectrum, either really bad or really good. It's a long way from the draft, but the only guy I'd lose sleep over missing out on right now is Barrett & maybe Reddish. Still super early.
