Cleveland Cavaliers at Top of LaMarcus Aldridge's Destination List

[Walter White]

There's really only one way to do it.

We trade ourselves below the apron offering Portland pretty much whatever they want out of the bucket of Anderson Varejao, Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert, JR Smith, Delly, our picks, and Brendan Haywood.

Obviously there would be restrictions on that (as in, you can't take both Shump and Smith), but in general the way to get Aldridge is to (1): convince him that he can play center in our lineup for 24 minutes a game (GSW winning without a center should help that case); (2): convince him to tell Portland he either S&Ts to Cleveland or he walks to San Antonio (or elsewhere).

That's how it gets done. But it's a tall order and means Thompson and Varejao must go (Varejao need not be traded, he can be stretch waived - but trading him is preferable).

I have a hard time believing LeBron would let TT or Andy go. Let alone both.

 

[gourimoko]

I have a hard time believing LeBron would let TT or Andy go. Let alone both.

Lots of folks said he'd have a hard time leaving Miami, or Cleveland for that matter.

If there's one thing he values more than friendship, it's the ability to compete for championships.

Also, keep in mind, Andy need not "leave" and he need not miss out on getting a ring. He just can't be a player on our roster - he could be waived, then retire, then be hired as a coach. He'd get more money in the long run and still get his ring.

James' motivation with Tristan is largely business related. Tristan is represented by James' agency. If he can get $15M+ in Portland, while James improves his own chances to compete, I don't see him saying no to that.

 

[Walter White]

If there's one thing he values more than friendship, it's the ability to compete for championships.

I wish that was true. I believe it is to a certain extent, but he played with Wade because they were friends. The whole bench he brought here was his friends with MM, JJ, etc. and that back fired. I wouldn't be surprised that if the players we pull in this free agency are his friends.

And he was friends with TT before he even came back. I'd argue that TT is his biggest friend on the team, even more than Kyrie. Plus, he just said like a week ago that he expects TT to be on the Cavs for a long time.

You know how I feel. Trust me, I'd move TT and/or Andy in a heartbeat if it meant landing Aldridge. I've always thought TT is overrated for the price and Andy is just 10 mil rotting on the bench. I wish LeBron saw it the same way, but I think friendship will over rule in this situation.

 

[bigfoot5415]

If TT is getting paid the max, I could see it. I just dont know how everyone gets their touches. I dont think LMA has been a selfish player, but I can see he & Love trying to operate in the same space as an issue.

 

[gourimoko]

If TT is getting paid the max, I could see it. I just dont know how everyone gets their touches. I dont think LMA has been a selfish player, but I can see he & Love trying to operate in the same space as an issue.

There's 96 mpg between PF and C, and both players can play C in various situations (Aldridge can actually play C predominantly and we'd be fine).

If Aldridge agrees to play and most importantly defend opposing 5's for 24 mpg, then it should work. His other 8-12 mpg would be backing up Love at PF.

 

[OldSkool]

I see Love and TT staying and Aldridge not coming here. We need an athletic point guard with the capability to start. Irving hasn't shown he's durable enough. With Love, James, Moz, and TT, we already have the best front line in the NBA. Forget about Aldridge, we don't need another big contract like he'll get.

 

[gourimoko]

I see Love and TT staying and Aldridge not coming here. We need an athletic point guard with the capability to start. Irving hasn't shown he's durable enough. With Love, James, Moz, and TT, we already have the best front line in the NBA. Forget about Aldridge, we don't need another big contract like he'll get.

OMFG.... ugh....

 

[bigfoot5415]

There's 96 mpg between PF and C, and both players can play C in various situations (Aldridge can actually play C predominantly and we'd be fine).

If Aldridge agrees to play and most importantly defend opposing 5's for 24 mpg, then it should work. His other 8-12 mpg would be backing up Love at PF.

I was referring more towards touches, and ppg. Love dropped to 17 ppg. If LMA does that as well, he is probably taking some of Love's looks as well. Not to mention, you want Love on the perimeter, but you dont want him to just camp out there.

 

[gourimoko]

I was referring more towards touches, and ppg. Love dropped to 17 ppg. If LMA does that as well, he is probably taking some of Love's looks as well. Not to mention, you want Love on the perimeter, but you dont want him to just camp out there.

Yeah see, here I think we agree but let's think about why Love dropped to 17 ppg. His efficiency took a hit, and he was camped on the 3pt line.

Lots of folks think Love doesn't play in the post, that he's soft and doesn't bang out, but that's not the case. He's a better post player than LaMarcus Aldridge actually; which is surprising to many when hearing it. Aldridge operates in the high-post, from midrange, which is perfect considering Love prefers the low-post and the 3pt line.

Contrary to what many might say, I think the two actually compliment one another offensively. Defensively is where the issues lie, but that's always going to be the case with Love on the floor. Aldridge can defend most opposing C's and considering we just lost the Finals against an Iguodala/Green front court (who'd have seen that coming), playing a traditional center is obviously not required to win a championship.

 

[bigfoot5415]

Yeah see, here I think we agree but let's think about why Love dropped to 17 ppg. His efficiency took a hit, and he was camped on the 3pt line.

Lots of folks think Love doesn't play in the post, that he's soft and doesn't bang out, but that's not the case. He's a better post player than LaMarcus Aldridge actually; which is surprising to many when hearing it. Aldridge operates in the high-post, from midrange, which is perfect considering Love prefers the low-post and the 3pt line.

Contrary to what many might say, I think the two actually compliment one another offensively. Defensively is where the issues lie, but that's always going to be the case with Love on the floor. Aldridge can defend most opposing C's and considering we just lost the Finals against an Iguodala/Green front court (who'd have seen that coming), playing a traditional center is obviously not required to win a championship.

Im All In...Are you?

Shit, too soon.

 

[gourimoko]

Im All In...Are you?

Shit, too soon.

I'd make the trade.

I'd sacrifice depth, and hard-cap us for the season, if Aldridge S&T'd for 4 years on max money under this current CBA. It'd be worth the sacrifice the following year under the new CBA to have two superstars in Irving and Aldridge under now extremely reasonable contracts.

I also don't think any team in the league could compete against a lineup of Irving/Shumpert/James/Love/Aldridge; that's an All-Star team at almost every position.

 

[MirORich]

I'd make the trade.

I'd sacrifice depth, and hard-cap us for the season, if Aldridge S&T'd for 4 years on max money under this current CBA. It'd be worth the sacrifice the following year under the new CBA to have two superstars in Irving and Aldridge under now extremely reasonable contracts.

I also don't think any team in the league could compete against a lineup of Irving/Shumpert/James/Love/Aldridge; that's an All-Star team at almost every position.

It would also leave us with $12 or less, not just to spend, but to allocate for the entire rest of the roster(spots 6-15) Keeping mind that min salaries count towards the 85 million hard cap that would be created and I'm just not sure how this would.

It would also clear us out of most of our assets to add future players or salary. So while after the first season of that group together, we would no longer be bound by the 85 million hard cap, the only avenues we'd have for adding players/money at more than the vet minimum would be via the taxpayer MLE or trading one of those 5 core guys. We also wouldn't have the option of adding a player in the 2016 draft as that pick is spent already.

 

[gourimoko]

It would also leave us with $12 or less, not just to spend, but to allocate for the entire rest of the roster(spots 6-15) Keeping mind that min salaries count towards the 85 million hard cap that would be created and I'm just not sure how this would.

It would also clear us out of most of our assets to add future players or salary. So while after the first season of that group together, we would no longer be bound by the 85 million hard cap, the only avenues we'd have for adding players/money at more than the vet minimum would be via the taxpayer MLE or trading one of those 5 core guys. We also wouldn't have the option of adding a player in the 2016 draft as that pick is spent already.

Yes, MirO.. I understand.. I understood months ago when we first discussed this. Nothing has changed. I'd still make the trade.

Again, I keep repeating myself, and we're not really breaking new ground here.

Also, you seem to be discounting a great deal of my argument; which is entirely predicated on the very near-future 2016-17 $89M cap (apron over $100M), and a 2017-18 $107M cap, which would put the new apron (if it exists) potentially over $120M.

You're not really taking this into account. But again, to each his own.

 

[MirORich]

If we make that deal for next year we are so razor thin its not even funny. And we'll push to the full 85 million just on vet min contracts and the taxpayer MLE. So next year, when the cap raises to 89, the built in raises to our existing contracts will have us above the cap again. We'd have again nothing more than the tax payer MLE to add to a razor thin team and we would have depleted a lot of our contracts and assets to maneuver to be able to do a S&T for a guy like Aldridge this year.

So added up, we'd have now just risked two seasons on a razor thin roster which while amazing and top heavy, would have no ability to withstand a single major injury, let alone the three we sustained this year.

Now perhaps next offseason would be a time to revisit that potential change in team building strategy. Another year to evaluate Love on this team. Andy's contract not being fully guaranteed after this upcoming season. The much larger cap number and tax apron. My play for this year is to go all in full chips, push the tax with every player we have and every mechanism we have to add more talent/depth this summer.

I realize I've been responding with the same basic premise for months, so clearly we're both pretty dug in on our respective outlooks and I'll do my best to not respond with the same old reply in the future.

 

[brownindian]

I really want LMA - Cos he seems to be one of the few legitimate stars who does not mind Cleveland and want so to come unlike the other stars who want the glitz and glamour of other cities.