Reallistically- How long before will it take to be a top 2-3 seed in the East?

[BlessEm]

Lol at people thinking Kyrie is planning to come back to Cleveland. Half the time I’m drunk, delusional, or hell...both, and I can’t even get behind that.

 

[gourimoko]

Lol at people thinking Kyrie is planning to come back to Cleveland. Half the time I’m drunk, delusional, or hell...both, and I can’t even get behind that.

I certainly don't think he was ever planning on it. But you don't think the thought has crossed his mind especially with James being gone?

Man I gotta think he was happier in 2014 here than he is now with the Celtics. I'm fact I don't think he's a Celtic past the deadline.

Dunno. Home is were the heart is and Kyrie was drafted in Cleveland.

 

[NMCav]

I certainly don't think he was ever planning on it. But you don't think the thought has crossed his mind especially with James being gone?

Man I gotta think he was happier in 2014 here than he is now with the Celtics. I'm fact I don't think he's a Celtic past the deadline.

Dunno. Home is were the heart is and Kyrie was drafted in Cleveland.

Yeah but when Kyrie pouting last wanted to go to Knicks as one of his perferred places. And rumors were a couple weeks ago Celtics were worried he would bolt for NY. Kyries heart is clearly in NYC cause his dad is in NYC.

He's a grown ass man but he has daddy issues. Chicago can apparently easily clear cap as well. If Brooklyn doesn't work for Kyrie and Butler they could very well go to Chicago where Jimmy might have fond memories. Kyrie wants the bright lights and we just don't have the bright lights in Cleveland.

 

[Sebastian]

Yeah but when Kyrie pouting last wanted to go to Knicks as one of his perferred places. And rumors were a couple weeks ago Celtics were worried he would bolt for NY. Kyries heart is clearly in NYC cause his dad is in NYC.

He's a grown ass man but he has daddy issues. Chicago can apparently easily clear cap as well. If Brooklyn doesn't work for Kyrie and Butler they could very well go to Chicago where Jimmy might have fond memories. Kyrie wants the bright lights and we just don't have the bright lights in Cleveland.

I don't think anyone is banking on a Butler/Irving FA bonanza.

However, I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand either.

The relationship between Irving and Gilbert is no where near as bad as it LeBron/Gilbert in 2010. The simple matter of numbers and the ability to field a team with three All-Stars are factors in Cleveland's favor. Throw in a year's development for talented youngsters in Cedi/Zizic/Nance/Sexton (maybe Hood rebounds), and the 2019 high lottery pick, and Cleveland is not out of the question considering the cap situation for the Knicks and the fact that Butler wanted out of Chicago.

 

[ajz20]

I think Irving would just go to NY alone if he had to, if Butler was unable to swing a sign and trade or NY could not get two max slots. I just dont think free agents next summer will have any incentive to join the Cavs. I guess if someone is just in it for the money maybe, but we are light years away from Boston and Philly, so if that person wanted to win now, it would be very hard to convince them to come here.

Trades, and drafts and developing players is going to have to be the formula. Yes, you can get a starter in FA at some point in the next 2-3 years, but dont expect that player to be a super star, maybe a solid starter who we might have to over pay just a bit.

As far as Cedi and Sexton, we should know by the end of next year what type of true potential they have as long as they stay healthy and get a ton of playing time. If i Had to guess I dont think either guy is going to be good enough to be a guy you build your franchise around long term such as a Kyrie Irving. That guy is not on this roster yet, and we will need some luck (ping pong balls to get him) I know it is super super early, but I am not sure there is a transcendent player in the next two drafts after doing some early research. Some good prospects, yes for sure. Hopefully we can find our Tatum and Brown like the Celtics did the last two drafts.

I also would not be surprised two years from now if Cedi, Sexton, Nance and Zizic are the only guys left standing from the current roster. I could be wrong but i have a feeling Lue, and Altman wont be here 5 years from now either if history is any indicator.
Oh yeah, I do think it is very possible Lebron comes back in 3-4 years but he will not be anywhere near the same guy he was the last 4 years. And if I had to guess it would only be for one year-two at the most just to play his last season or two back in Cle.

Getting back to the playoffs is one thing, but getting back to the ECF with a legit chance to win the trophy is at a whole different level. Look at how many years it took the franchise from the Bulls series in the 90's to the Detroit ECF in 2007. Those of you saying we will be back at the top of the conference in 4-5 years, man I really admire your optimism but it is pretty unlikely it happens that quickly.

 

[Walter White]

The East is weak enough that you can be a top seed whenever you decide to cash in your assets for decent players. Doesn't mean you will be a contender though in this NBA so not worth it.

Sixers got lucky with their rebuild actually because all of the top players they have drafted sat out the first year so they keep getting top picks. Typically if you hit on a good pick, they are playing and increase your wins to an amount that you don't get such a high pick next time. Also the fact that they hit on the picks on the first place and weren't ruined to injury. It was a big and quick turnaround.

3 or 4 years is the proper amount of time though for a rebuild. If it goes beyond that, it's a problem. It's better to be making steady progress though year by year and hitting on your draft picks regardless of where the pick falls. You may not get a top 3 pick, maybe it's top 10, but you need to hit on it.

And pick accumulation is everything. Get as many picks as possible. The more picks you get, the more players you will hit on. Simple. Play as many young guys as you can every year and see who you can develop. For the ones that don't make progress, you move them and move on and try a new group of young guys to fill those spots the next year.

 

[OptimusPrime]

If the Cavs were to trade Clarkson and Korver for expiring money and either trade Love for expiring money or have him opt out and leave, they would be left with:

Dead Money

George Hill $1,000,000
J.R. Smith $3,870,000

Roster

Tristan Thompson $18,539,130
Cedi Osman $2,907,143
Ante Zizic $2,281,800
Collin Sexton $4,764,960
Larry Nance Jr. Cap Hold $6,817,173
5 Rookie Minimum Cap Holds $3,050,000
Kyrie Irving $32,400,000
Jimmy Butler $32,400,000

$108,030,206

Without a draft pick, that might be almost exactly enough for Kyrie and Butler max contracts in free agency next season, depending on where the cap ends up.

With a draft pick, you can't get them both signed unless they want to take pay cuts. Or maybe you can trade the pick before Kyrie and Butler sign.

If that's possible, you can try to get a star level player for that pick, Sexton and Thompson's expiring contract, but you would really have to be careful of how much money you take back. Those two salaries would work for a player making around $29 million in a trade, but if you bring back that kind of money you can't sign two max free agents. So it would be a bit of a mess, but possible if the salary cap goes up enough. You could decline Zizic's option or throw him in the trade too if need be to help with the money, but that roster is already bare.

Say you sign Irving and Butler and want to get another star with Sexton, Zizic, Thompson and the unsigned draft pick, you could bring back someone making about $24.5 million and still have room for two max free agents.

Or you can let Nance walk too and take back well over $30 million, but then your roster is the three stars, Osman, a room exception free agent and the rest minimum salaries. That's too top heavy for my liking, but whatever. It is possible to get two or even three max players here in 2019. We just need them to want to come here.

 

[CSF]

There are a diversity of opinions on how we should approach the future. None of them disqualify someone as a fan.

Please stop trolling.

Maybe I’m old school and listened to many Joe Tait broadcast , fairly sure he is rolling in his Grave every time he hears of a Cavs fan rooting to tank a season . It’s about enjoying life daily and not hoping someday years from now some miracle will strike. And this whole word trolling can also be used for fans who prefer the team to tank, so just that lame saying .

 

[artimusprime]

Maybe I’m old school and listened to many Joe Tait broadcast , fairly sure he is rolling in his Grave every time he hears of a Cavs fan rooting to tank a season . It’s about enjoying life daily and not hoping someday years from now some miracle will strike. And this whole word trolling can also be used for fans who prefer the team to tank, so just that lame saying .

Joe Tait isn't dead.

 

[CSF]

Joe Tait isn't dead.

That’s not the point . I know he’s not dead . Stay focused on topic

 

[RuanuLaw]

Joe Tait isn't dead.

Hahahahahahaha.

 

[sleepmaster]

Borderline Big 3s like Kyrie-Love-Butler can become albatross contracts when none of them is capable of being the best player on a championship team. I want more than just putting a product on the floor.

I think Love has to be traded, whether now or after signing him to a team-friendly extension to increase his value. He is too old for the rebuild with how he's not aging well. Some guys can play well into their early 30s but I don't think he'll be one of them with his back and knee issues. Maybe OKC or Portland would give us something decent for Love, preferably picks over players. The return on the trade has to be decent.

Kyrie on a max deal with his knee could be a problem as well. Kyrie didn't complement Love when he was here. Would that change with Lebron gone? Hard to say but I doubt it.

Time to hire Hinkie as a special consultant and get the tank going.

 

[avs2000]

If the Cavs were to trade Clarkson and Korver for expiring money and either trade Love for expiring money or have him opt out and leave, they would be left with:

Dead Money

George Hill $1,000,000
J.R. Smith $3,870,000

Roster

Tristan Thompson $18,539,130
Cedi Osman $2,907,143
Ante Zizic $2,281,800
Collin Sexton $4,764,960
Larry Nance Jr. Cap Hold $6,817,173
5 Rookie Minimum Cap Holds $3,050,000
Kyrie Irving $32,400,000
Jimmy Butler $32,400,000

$108,030,206

Without a draft pick, that might be almost exactly enough for Kyrie and Butler max contracts in free agency next season, depending on where the cap ends up.

With a draft pick, you can't get them both signed unless they want to take pay cuts. Or maybe you can trade the pick before Kyrie and Butler sign.

If that's possible, you can try to get a star level player for that pick, Sexton and Thompson's expiring contract, but you would really have to be careful of how much money you take back. Those two salaries would work for a player making around $29 million in a trade, but if you bring back that kind of money you can't sign two max free agents. So it would be a bit of a mess, but possible if the salary cap goes up enough. You could decline Zizic's option or throw him in the trade too if need be to help with the money, but that roster is already bare.

Say you sign Irving and Butler and want to get another star with Sexton, Zizic, Thompson and the unsigned draft pick, you could bring back someone making about $24.5 million and still have room for two max free agents.

Or you can let Nance walk too and take back well over $30 million, but then your roster is the three stars, Osman, a room exception free agent and the rest minimum salaries. That's too top heavy for my liking, but whatever. It is possible to get two or even three max players here in 2019. We just need them to want to come here.

No way in hell Kyrie opts to come back to Cleveland. Dude wants NYC
Plus I am not giving a max deal to that knee

 

[TheISHT]

10 years if we play our cards right. 15 if we fuck up everything.

 

[pinoycavsfan]

If the cavs draft the next LBJ; otherwise, might be never.