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LeBron James

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Theres nothing a team can do to beat the warriors shit sucks

Spare me. Cleveland's chances of beating the Warriors can increase with certain moves. Our moves have regressed us.

Our GM was working on options--he was trying to get Jimmy Butler [realistic or not, he was trying to solve a problem with an actual solution with a championship/all-in goal in mind]--and was essentially axed in the middle of those discussions. We've not replaced him yet, and in the meantime we're signing players like Jose Calderon and Jeff Green while players like Evans and Moute are going for vet mins.

LeBron has every right to be concerned.
 
Cedi is a big man? Makes me question the credibility of this author.

he is bigger than Zillgitt! He's been at USA Today for a while. he has some sources. both the usa today guys are good. Sam Amick too.
 
While I agree with everyone that the move for Love and subsequent contracts for TT, JR, and Shump were what Lebron pushed for, and has hampered us to a degree, it does not absolve Gilbert for the shit show he has created this offseason. Those moves made sense at the time. And as of this offseason, Gilbert could have just spent a few more million on Griffin and then we wouldn't look like a crumbling organization. Hell, at the very least, if you are going to can him, don't do it right before the draft and free agency begins. He could have done it months ago and had someone else lined up and ready to go.

Firing Griffin and then being blown off by an inexperienced Chauncey Billups has left the entire organization with egg on its face. Then trying to pass off the signings of used up Jose Caulderon, ever inconsistent Jeff Green, and totally unproven Cedi Osman as improvements makes it even worse. I have no idea, other than just blind allegiance, how anyone can look at the moves we've made so far and not say we have gone backwards.

Now hopefully there are still moves to come and Gilbert is still trying to make a splash with a trade for Melo and/or a buyout with Wade. If not, it really looks like Lebron leaving is a foregone conclusion, and a lot of the blame would sit on Gilbert's shoulders. At the very least, if he had just paid Griffin, and still missed on the big offseason splash he could have deflected some blame to Griffin. Now everything rests squarely on him. And we all know the chilly relationship he has reforged with Lebron has always been on thin ice.
 
how anyone can look at the moves we've made so far and not say we have gone backwards.
We certainly didn't more forward but I can't see how you figure we went backwards. The same players that matter remain here
 
What do you do if the guy gets upset because we didn't sign players we don't need?

So he recruited Jamal Crawford...and? There's no way, with our current roster construction, we should be spending the full MLE on Jamal Crawford. And if that upsets LeBron, then he isn't nearly the basketball genius he's made out to be.
 
What do you do if the guy gets upset because we didn't sign players we don't need?

So he recruited Jamal Crawford...and? There's no way, with our current roster construction, we should be spending the full MLE on Jamal Crawford. And if that upsets LeBron, then he isn't nearly the basketball genius he's made out to be.

Well as far as i did read he is mostly Frustrated because we reportetly where very close to a deal for Butler and right in that Moment Dan decided to dismantle out Front Office..
And yeah if we really where that close and it fell apart because Dan needed to fire Griffin right at that date.. yeah he has a right to be Pissed..

To be fair i do think that with hopefully renewed interest in Establishing good Defense i Training Camp for the whole Season i do think as long as we are healthy do have a shot against GSW even as we are constructed.
Yes a Butler,PG had made it easier but it was not our lack of a 4th Star that killed us it was our lack of Defense. And Defense is mostly a habbit and effort thing. We build good defensive habbits right from the Start this time and we have a shot.

We still can score 115 against GSW.. they cant stop us... We just cant allow them to score 121.. "Keep" them to 110 thats Enough.
 
Man we were never close to a deal with Butler. Close with what, with who, how?

He went for two young players on rookie contracts, both lottery selections, and another lottery pick. How exactly, with what we have to offer, could have possibly been close?

David Griffin spin job out there, making himself look like he was about to pull off a miracle trade if not for Dan Gilbert at the last moment.

Let's just play this out: what team out there would rather have 28 year old Kevin Love instead of Jimmy 27 year old Jimmy Butler? They have the exact same amount of years remaining (2), and Jimmy Butler is a pretty significant amount cheaper.

Younger, better, cheaper. So what team in this fantasy land was going to give Chicago the assets they wanted for Butler..only instead of just getting Butler, was going to take Kevin Love instead?
 
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I tend to agree with Rich..if people look at the trades, the two big names in the Central were not traded to another EC team..they were shipped out west where Chicago and Indy don't have to see them nor have to be concerned they strengthened their division champ Cleveland.
I wanted something to happen but it certainly didn't.
Boston wanted both players but were denied also.

I can't get mad at the Cavs for that.
I can get annoyed about the FO situation , thats a untimely mess that should never have happened at that time.

Now signing JC is the huge mark..why him???
How does he make the Cavs better?
He doesn't.
The Cavs needed to get younger and more athletic at SF/PF spot.
If you're trading Love,which right now I wouldn't do unless I'm getting a better player or two better players , I'm not weaking a spot ..i WANT TO ADD to what I already have.
 
What do you do if the guy gets upset because we didn't sign players we don't need?

So he recruited Jamal Crawford...and? There's no way, with our current roster construction, we should be spending the full MLE on Jamal Crawford. And if that upsets LeBron, then he isn't nearly the basketball genius he's made out to be.

I don't think Crawford is the big complaint for Lebron. I would guess the firing of Griffin a few days before the draft, which Lebron seemed unaware was coming, is the main beef. Add to that the embarrassment of Billups being lowballed and turning down the job and it's a really bad look for the organization.
 
would trading Love for Melo make you better v the Warriors? Ultimately Lebron's best position as he ages is probably the 4 in the Don Nelson's-Revenge modern NBA. And adding his buddy probably keeps him around (I think Lebron prefers to stick around, but Gilbert keeps making it easier for him not to).

Melo is such a ball stopper, as Irving and Lebron are, which makes me think the team would be doomed from the outset.

Honestly, had Gilbert retained Griffin, and no deals were done except adding Green and JC, there probably wouldn't be the same panic because there would be stability in front office.

Now it feels like a rudderless ship with a missing captain and the boat's owner has had like 8 stiff ones and thinks he should be at the helm.
 
The fact we had to use part of the MLE to sign Cedi wasn't a choice from this year, it was a choice made in 2015. We could have made a selection in the 1st round and used the rookie pay scale to pay that player. Instead we traded down for 2 second rounders and used one on a international player we knew we would never be able to sign for the mininium.

It was either sign Cedi this year or potential lose him for years if not forever. As much as Griff was praised for what he did, his plans were very short term. I don't think he thought we would have to make a choice about Cedi because he intended on trading him before this was ever an issue. He was all about moving or deferring assets.
 
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would trading Love for Melo make you better v the Warriors? Ultimately Lebron's best position as he ages is probably the 4 in the Don Nelson's-Revenge modern NBA. And adding his buddy probably keeps him around (I think Lebron prefers to stick around, but Gilbert keeps making it easier for him not to).

Melo is such a ball stopper, as Irving and Lebron are, which makes me think the team would be doomed from the outset.

Honestly, had Gilbert retained Griffin, and no deals were done except adding Green and JC, there probably wouldn't be the same panic because there would be stability in front office.

Now it feels like a rudderless ship with a missing captain and the boat's owner has had like 8 stiff ones and thinks he should be at the helm.

This is exactly my point. I keep saying we have "gone backwards" but that is a bit exaggerated, I am basically referring to Deron being downgraded to Calderon as backup PG. Granted Deron was total dogcrap for us, and maybe Calderon will play at a higher level than we all expect (not likely) but on paper I'd probably still rather have Deron, or one of several other slightly better (or at least younger) options available.

One could also argue that Derrick Williams is a better fit as a younger player than Jeff Green, but I can see where he is at least a more proven NBA performer (though not much, he has been inconsistent as hell too). But again, it seems like there were better players to be had, even for the minimum. Maybe better defensive performers?
 
;)Maybe Lebron should have signed for the Veteran Minimum back in 2016 then they would have had plenty of money to bring in a star or a couple of great role players. He makes so much money outside of the NBA, he could have done this sacrifice, won several more titles (with a more stacked team). Then made even MORE money from endorsements due to his increase of fame and legend status with all of the titles. If he had won the last couple Finals, with more to come, you can't tell me he wouldn't be in even higher demand to endorse products. Sacrifice money to make money while winning more championships! Seems like a win-win to me. BTW I am sort if serious.
 

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