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#36: Rakeem Christmas - PF/C - Syracuse

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Joe Vardon wrote this today:

As the Cavs consider what to do with their openings for reserves in the frontcourt, Griffin said "odds were good" that Christmas "will be on our roster in some form or fashion."

Depending on if Cleveland finds a fourth big man, such as Sasha Kaun, or Anderson Varejao is healthy enough to fill that role, Christmas could make the Cavs' roster and shuttle back and forth between Canton and play in the D-League.
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This is despite his starting the article by saying neither Christmas nor Pointer may make the team.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2015/0/nba_summer_league_the_clevelan.html
 
The Cavs save about $1.5 Mil in luxury tax payments for every min salary draft pick that they sign. I expect them to sign at least two, since they left enough space in the tax payer MLE to do exactly that.
 
Douglar said:
The Cavs save about $1.5 Mil in luxury tax payments for every min salary draft pick that they sign. I expect them to sign at least two, since they left enough space in the tax payer MLE to do exactly that.
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Huh? They don't need the tax payer MLE to sign min salary draft picks, they can use the minimum salary exception for that. More likely the remaining space in the tax payer MLE is for a vet FA or Kaun.
 
So what does that mean? Odds are good they'll be on the roster in some form or another? If they play a certain amount of games in the D-League, do they get paid less or something? I'm honestly not positive how the players who play in both the D-League and the NBA for on team during the season have their salaries calculated towards the cap.
 
Rich said:
So what does that mean? Odds are good they'll be on the roster in some form or another? If they play a certain amount of games in the D-League, do they get paid less or something? I'm honestly not positive how the players who play in both the D-League and the NBA for on team during the season have their salaries calculated towards the cap.
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I have no idea what "in some form or another" means. If the player is on an NBA minimum contract, or any NBA contract, he occupies one of the 15 roster spots, and it doesn't matter whether he is playing in the NBA, in the D League or not playing at all, and he makes whatever his contract value is, which is based on the CBA. So a signed second rounder would make $525K, unless he was signed to all or a portion of the Cavs' remaining MMLE, and he would get that even if he played the entire season in the D League.
 
That's kinda what I thought. So I have no idea what Griffin means then.
 
You know, I kind of wish we had taken Montrezel Harrell. Not quite as tall/long as Christmas, but a better leaper, better motor, and just a more interesting and entertaining player all around. I just don't think Christmas is going to be all that good, he's 23 already. Very happy if I were proven wrong though.
 
cavsfever said:
You know, I kind of wish we had taken Montrezel Harrell. Not quite as tall/long as Christmas, but a better leaper, better motor, and just a more interesting and entertaining player all around. I just don't think Christmas is going to be all that good, he's 23 already. Very happy if I were proven wrong though.
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I try not to get too upset about the draft because I honestly feel there is a large element of crapshoot to it, but the Cavs' lack of success in drafting over the years isn't exactly reassuring -- and remember Griffin has been with the franchise since 2010, and I have never heard him get any criticism for the Bennett or Waiters picks.

I didn't mind the Tyus Jones trade, especially since I sort of assumed the Cavs would end up with Mo Williams. I'd have taken Harrell with the #31 pick though. Maybe Griffin knew Osman, who shot all of 39% from the field last year, wouldn't be there at #36?

I really worry when a team drafts for immediate need over talent. Christmas has a little better size, and that combined with his age may have convinced the Cavs he was more ready to fit the immediate need of this team for a 5th or 4th big, but Harrell was the better prospect, and I would rather have a guy who can play than one who cannot. As simple as that. If you don't want to keep him, you can always trade him or his rights.

Anyway, I'll reserve judgment till training camp, if X-mas is still here.
 
kovanovich said:
I try not to get too upset about the draft because I honestly feel there is a large element of crapshoot to it, but the Cavs' lack of success in drafting over the years isn't exactly reassuring -- and remember Griffin has been with the franchise since 2010, and I have never heard him get any criticism for the Bennett or Waiters picks.

I didn't mind the Tyus Jones trade, especially since I sort of assumed the Cavs would end up with Mo Williams. I'd have taken Harrell with the #31 pick though. Maybe Griffin knew Osman, who shot all of 39% from the field last year, wouldn't be there at #36?

I really worry when a team drafts for immediate need over talent. Christmas has a little better size, and that combined with his age may have convinced the Cavs he was more ready to fit the immediate need of this team for a 5th or 4th big, but Harrell was the better prospect, and I would rather have a guy who can play than one who cannot. As simple as that. If you don't want to keep him, you can always trade him or his rights.

Anyway, I'll reserve judgment till training camp, if X-mas is still here.
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His talent evaluation is getting pretty suspect, well drafting wise at least.
 
I also was shocked at how far Harrell fell. Yes, he is supposedly only 6'7 instead of 6'9 but had a huge wingspan (something like 7'4) and a great motor. He stayed in college an extra year and suffered in terms of his draft position. I thought he was going to be taken from #15-18 but kept falling. Even if there is no roster space, take him and have him work in the D-League until next year. Christmas is taller but I don't think as a talent he is better than Harrell. While Harrell's teammate Rozier got taken a bit earlier than I expected, Harrell was also a legit 1st round talent too. I just think he'll probably be a better player than Christmas will ever be.

But I might be wrong. So we'll see.
 
kovanovich said:
I have no idea what "in some form or another" means. If the player is on an NBA minimum contract, or any NBA contract, he occupies one of the 15 roster spots, and it doesn't matter whether he is playing in the NBA, in the D League or not playing at all, and he makes whatever his contract value is, which is based on the CBA. So a signed second rounder would make $525K, unless he was signed to all or a portion of the Cavs' remaining MMLE, and he would get that even if he played the entire season in the D League.
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There is another possibility, which might constitute "some form or fashion" in the most elastic sense:

Assuming they don't sign them to guaranteed NBA contracts, Cavs can cut Christmas (and/or Pointer) at the end of training camp and then designate them "affiliates," assigned to the Charge.

Affiliate players are a different category than those who have NBA contracts and take up NBA roster spots. They are signed to pure D-league contracts, not NBA minimum ones.

As player-affiliates, they would play and develop in Canton, in the Cavs system, with Cavs coaching and watchful eye. They wouldn't count as Cavs roster players or against the cap (and taxes).

They also would have first gone through the Cavs training camp, gaining some familiarity with the players, coaches, system, and facilities.

The downside is that even though "affiliated" with the Cavs, these players would be free to sign with any NBA team who makes them an offer at any time.

I could see how being an affiliate would fit the definition of "some form or fashion."



PS: Cavs could go this way -- with one or both players -- if they want to use their last remaining spots on other players they thought more likely to contribute this season.

It could allow them to, for example, sign Kaun and roll the dice that Andy will be functional. If someone (let's face it: probably AV) gets seriously injured before January 15th, they could then use the Disable Player Exception to create a roster spot to sign Christmas if he showed sufficient progress.
 
With the injury history on Andy, I think the Cavs will keep 6
Sir John said:
There is another possibility, which might constitute "some form or fashion" in the most elastic sense:

Assuming they don't sign them to guaranteed NBA contracts, Cavs can cut Christmas (and/or Pointer) at the end of training camp and then designate them "affiliates," assigned to the Charge.

Affiliate players are a different category than those who have NBA contracts and take up NBA roster spots. They are signed to pure D-league contracts, not NBA minimum ones.

As player-affiliates, they would play and develop in Canton, in the Cavs system, with Cavs coaching and watchful eye. They wouldn't count as Cavs roster players or against the cap (and taxes).

They also would have first gone through the Cavs training camp, gaining some familiarity with the players, coaches, system, and facilities.

The downside is that even though "affiliated" with the Cavs, these players would be free to sign with any NBA team who makes them an offer at any time.

I could see how being an affiliate would fit the definition of "some form or fashion."



PS: Cavs could go this way -- with one or both players -- if they want to use their last remaining spots on other players they thought more likely to contribute this season.

It could allow them to, for example, sign Kaun and roll the dice that Andy will be functional. If someone (let's face it: probably AV) gets seriously injured before January 15th, they could then use the Disable Player Exception to create a roster spot to sign Christmas if he showed sufficient progress.
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The disabled player exception doesn't create a roster spot, it just gives the Cavs money to replace an injured player

I don't think the extra roster spot comes into play until a minimum of 4 players are injured
 
@Sir John, Well, being on Canton's roster is a pretty elastic definition of being on "the roster in some form or fashion," but maybe that's what Griffin had in mind.

In favor of that interpretation, I don't know that any other team is going to be in a rush to sign either Christmas or Pointer.

With Miller opting in, with James Jones saying he will be back (and I don't think he would be saying that if he had any question as to whether he would be welcomed back), with Joe Harris still around, I don't think the team can afford the luxury of retaining any more deep bench players who aren't really capable of contributing much on the court.

I think there are still free agents out there who are likely better than Christmas, or Kaun for that matter.
 
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