What Happens If Lebron Leaves?

[Triple-S]

Yeah there's no way you can get this to work if you're -not- tanking.

If I was Gilbert and the GM staff, I would tell them to try to tank as much as possible for the next 4, 5 years.

There is no parity and you're not going to be considered a contender unless you drunkeningly stumble on the next superstar.

Gonna have to be lost in the wilderness for a while.

 

[2 For The Brew]

 

[weepinwillow]

I think it's a two year tank "process". Mistake last time was tanking for nearly 4 years, but you had no assets in '10, then the '11 picks etc..

If James wants all his money owed, I'd talk to him about getting him to Philly for Fultz (however that would work). James and Simmons already would be jockeying for the ball handling duties. Cleveland obviously does that in a heart beat if James says he isn't re-signing, which feels like the reality now.

Pipe dream, though. Doubtful a S&T with James nets more than 2nd round picks at best.

 

[Cavatt]

Hopefully we see a team who plays for each other and has some heart

 

[weepinwillow]

Hopefully we see a team who plays for each other and has some heart

One of the things that we aren't supposed to say as Cavs fans: these last 4 years have seen some really lackluster play until it counted. Which I guess is fine, but James is now complaining about needing to play perfect.. well 4 years of using the regular season as extended pre-season may lead to less than perfect playoff results.

There is a balance of both sweating the details, making the right play and playing good defense but not amping it all up to 11 in the February vs the Hornets. It can be done.

 

[Cavatt]

One of the things that we aren't supposed to say as Cavs fans: these last 4 years have seen some really lackluster play until it counted. Which I guess is fine, but James is now complaining about needing to play perfect.. well 4 years of using the regular season as extended pre-season may lead to less than perfect playoff results.

There is a balance of both sweating the details, making the right play and playing good defense but not amping it all up to 11 in the February vs the Hornets. It can be done.

Totally agree. Everyone is so focused on the talent disparity, which is totally real, that they downplay the consistency that GS has. The fact that they are always ready to take advantage of mistakes. The fact that they rebound as a team and cover their weaknesses.

If the Cavs said from day one that they were going to pay more attention to details than anyone else, I think we have a 2-1 lead right now. They didn't and then he cries about the talent on the team.

Building good habits takes more than hoping you improve to be able to beat a team that has been working these habits for years. Just staying healthy doesn't do it.

 

[HenryMuto]

Tank for next 4 years get 4 high lottery picks and wait out both LeBron getting old and GS and Hou teams running their course.

They are idiots if they try and compete...compete for what ? You can't win a championship with LeBron you sure as hell ain't winning it without him.

Trade everyone you can for as many 1st round picks and young players you can get.

 

[The Red Viper]

ACTIVATE THE PROCESS!

1. First thing first though. Get a good GM. Someone like Sam Hinkie. Then again, who am I kidding. We will have Dan Gilbert call shots and there's no way someone like Sam Hinkie takes the job if Dan Gilbert doesn't allow him full power and freedom.

2. Sack Ty Lue though. Just get him the fuck out. Don't care about anything else. Just do that. Get someone like Jerry Stackhouse.

3. I'm probably in the minority but if LeBron wants to opt in and be traded, I don't mind taking on salary for 2-3 1st round picks even if they may not be in the lottery. With good scouting there is talent we can always draft even in the late 1st round. Also, we can package those picks and try to move up in the draft.

4. Trade Kevin Love. He has been a good player for us, thank Kev for his services but its pointless keeping him now.

I would try to trade Love to Memphis for Parsons + 4th Pick. Memphis get a good player and get off Parsons' atrocious contract. Yes, we take on salary but frankly, we have to if we need some picks. And this is worth taking the salary. There is a decent possibility that someone like Luka Doncic may end up dropping till 4th. If not, then get one of Jaren Jackson Jr or Mo Bamba with the 4th pick.

Another option to trade Love to is Phoenix. Phoenix are apparently done tanking and have a hole in the PF spot. They could use him. I would trade Love for Bender + Dudley + 2018-16th Pick + 2018-31st Pick. Can pick up someone like a Khyri Thomas with the 16th pick.

5. I know Rodney Hood was bad but try to get him in a friendly deal. He has shown he can get buckets. With us looking to tank, have him handle the ball and hoist 20 odd shots. Then trade him around trade deadline for a pick or two depending on how he plays.

6. JR's and Hill's contract are negative assets this year. But next year, they would be extremely valuable. Keep them for this year and have them come off the bench. Next year, trade them for picks.

7. Korver has some value. I am not sure if someone will give a 1st round pick for him but he has a good contract and has shown he can contribute. Try to trade him for a late 1st round pick. Though, I feel it would be a pipe dream. Or just trade him for two high 2nd round picks.

8. Depending upon who we draft with our 8th pick and whether we get the 4th pick or 16th pick, I am assuming we get one big and one guard/wing. Who it is depends on where we trade Love.

Drafted PG - Hood - Cedi - Nance - Drafted Big.

OR

Hill - Hood - Cedi - Drafted Forward - Drafted Big.

Have JR and TT come off the bench. Play them 10-15 mins. See how Zizic does. I am not too confident he can be a starter level player but imo he can be a solid role-playing big. He has the touch and size. See how he does.

9. We don't really need to tank for 5 odd years. 2-3 years with smart drafting and trading, we can position ourselves to start for a play-offs push with a young and talent roster and who knows, may even entice LeBron to come back, if he leaves this summer.

10. Fuck Off, Golden State Warriors!

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

Tied for 2nd most titles for an nba team in the last 6 seasons

 

[LeBro]

One of the things that we aren't supposed to say as Cavs fans: these last 4 years have seen some really lackluster play until it counted. Which I guess is fine, but James is now complaining about needing to play perfect.. well 4 years of using the regular season as extended pre-season may lead to less than perfect playoff results.

There is a balance of both sweating the details, making the right play and playing good defense but not amping it all up to 11 in the February vs the Hornets. It can be done.

Not sure that this is fair criticism.

For one, LeBron played all 82 games this year. I get that he coasts a bit in the regular season but it's hard to fault him for effort.

Second, in their 73-9 season, the Warriors' starters were routinely sitting out the 4th quarter because they were so far ahead. Couldn't we criticize that as "throwing away valuable time to mesh"?

Let's be real, the talent on this team is terrible. Objectively it is one of the worst Finals supporting casts in history. I take his comments as PR nonsense. It's better to say "we need to work together as a team" than "my teammates blow".

 

[I LOVE YOU ABBY]

So obviously the problem is... the franchise has to make a pretty huge decision effecting what happens post-LeBron before they even find out what he's doing.

If we make this pick, I think the tank years are upon us..though it would be great, and I'm holding out hope that we can make our pick and retain LeBron somehow. I'd honestly love to see him mentor someone like Mikal Bridges or Porter Jr., or whoever your favorite player in this year's draft is. You get the point.

If we trade the pick though, or Love, we might just be hurting our inevitable tank anyways. My biggest fear is us trading for a guy like McCollum or Walker, and then having LeBron walk a few days later.

 

[Winnersville]

Hopefully ticket prices plummet and we don’t draft an undersized guard named Young.

Ain’t that the truth. We used to sit a few years back from courtside in the post-LBJ years and when we went back in for a Finals game last year, the same price got us the peanut gallery!

 

[Dr. Claw]

YES. Bring on the Tanking GOATs: Hinkie + Scott (after the Lue contract is up)

 

[weepinwillow]

YES. Bring on the Tanking GOATs: Hinkie + Scott (after the Lue contract is up)

The thing about Hinkie's period in Philly was that he had Brown there, who seemingly kept a solid culture to the lockerroom. You don't want Byron Scott near your basketball team, imo. The Cavs lockerroom was a disaster when he was coach. Yeah, you get the losing and guaranteed top 3 ping pong balls, but rotten culture kills your actual rebuild.

Anyway, pretty sure Gilbert leaves Altman in place through his contract unless he chooses Anthony Bennett part deux.

Lue is a curious case. Not sure he's the right coach for a young team.. heck, right coach for the veteran team as it stands.. but do you pay 2 more years of his salary to watch games on the couch.

 

[Funkmastabuck]

If LeBron leaves, I have to think we do everything possible to make sure we are top 10 in lottery odds. We lose that pick to Atlanta if it ends up outside the top 10.

In a full rebuild in life after LeBron, we're going to need that top 10 pick.