Free Agency Rumors

[Mazer]

Disagree with this.

I think we can slide into the playoffs even if Bynum isn't healthy

I think we need either Bynum or Andy on the floor for 85% of the games to make the playoffs. Having both healthy would be a nice bonus.


Maybe need is too strong a word. I love our chances if we have Bynum or Andy healthy for 85% of the games. I still think we can get in to the playoffs in the weak Eastern conference with less. It will just be more of an uphill battle.

 

[Cavatt]

Interesting how no one who opted out got a bigger contract this year. I think this is something that will continue to happen as more teams go into the tax. Makes you wonder how many player options will be exercised in the future. It does seem like an environment where the team option will become more common.

 

[Qasim Mitchell]

From rotoworld:

Daniel Orton is unlikely to remain with the Thunder after his Orlando Summer League showing.

"He was terrific in his 18.0 minutes of action in Orlando, averaging 12.0 points, 5.0 boards, 1.0 steals and 1.7 blocks on 66.7 percent shooting in three games. The Thunder are dangerously close to the luxury-tax threshold and have three other centers, which suggests that there's just no room for Orton. His impressive showing may have him latch on with another team."

This is a big that I like a lot. I hope Grant can bring him in.

[video=youtube;buUKohdHaeQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buUKohdHaeQ[/video]

 

[kriegs]

Orton is an intriguing player, one who has a lot of potential but definitely entered the draft too early. Now that he has had some time to learn from NBA folks he could be putting it together I just don't see how you could find him minutes on the Cavs right now if everyone is healthy...

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I think we need either Bynum or Andy on the floor for 85% of the games to make the playoffs. Having both healthy would be a nice bonus.


Maybe need is too strong a word. I love our chances if we have Bynum or Andy healthy for 85% of the games. I still think we can get in to the playoffs in the weak Eastern conference with less. It will just be more of an uphill battle.

It's really hard to predict one way or another. How far do the young guys develop? How much do they improve on defense?

If they can't improve much on defense, hard to see them making the playoffs without Bynum and Andy healthy. But with Waiters working, Kyrie working, Tristan seriously putting a lot of effort into playing right handed (and having something great to show for it), Jack on the bench, Clark and others committed on D, I think there is a pretty high level of potential.

But that's what it is: potential. I'd like to see another add and the Orton reference a couple of posts above wouldn't be a bad idea.

Even so, we can be the third best team in our division. I automatically put Indy and Chicago ahead. But who else? I'm not convinced that Milwaukee or Detroit have the personnel to top out ahead of us if our guys can commit on D and even become average as a team. I think they can do that under Brown.

So who else in the Eastern Conference do we compete against? Miami is clearly better, so that's three definitely ahead of us.

Who else? Probably Brooklyn, but I'm less certain. New York should be, but they may have dropped down a bit. Not sure Atlanta is any better. Charlotte should still be bad. Orlando will be better, but they still have a ways to go. I believe we are farther along than the Wizards.

So we have a pretty wide range of possibilities from the 4th seed all the way out of the playoffs entirely. How will these guys mesh on defense? How healthy will they be? It looks like the team as a whole has a very high offensive ceiling, so how far will they reach?

Personally, I think a fairly healthy Bynum and Varejao coupled with a fairly healthy Irving could get us to 50+ wins. The talent is there, but is the development and the health? We need to let them play the games to find out.

 

[ajz20]

Wait is Orton under contract or not? I assumed he was under OKC's control, and they would just get rid of another player on their roster!

 

[Frank Stallone]

Windy just tweeted that Mike Miller will be amnestied. He also tweeted that there is clearly a split in the front office, as Pat Riley asked for the team to not be touched.

On phone, can't post tweets.

 

[Ohio]

Windy just tweeted that Mike Miller will be amnestied. He also tweeted that there is clearly a split in the front office, as Pat Riley asked for the team to not be touched.

On phone, can't post tweets.

Very interesting.

 

[secund2nun]

Windy just tweeted that Mike Miller will be amnestied. He also tweeted that there is clearly a split in the front office, as Pat Riley asked for the team to not be touched.

On phone, can't post tweets.

Lebron needs to ask himself if this is the commitment to winning he wants. Micky won't pay the luxury tax much he is a cheap owner. Miller was only gonna make 6.2 million a year. They should have amnestied Joel who is worthless but instead amnestied Miller who helped them in the 2012 and 2013 NBA finals and actually contributes when healthy.

 

[ajz20]

Lebron needs to ask himself if this is the commitment to winning he wants. Micky won't pay the luxury tax much he is a cheap owner. Miller was only gonna make 6.2 million a year. They should have amnestied Joel who is worthless but instead amnestied Miller who helped them in the 2012 and 2013 NBA finals and actually contributes when healthy.

Man they really need Battier and Allen to stay healthy now next post season. May not sound like a big deal, but their role players hitting 3's is a huge part of their offense.

 

[secund2nun]

Man they really need Battier and Allen to stay healthy now next post season. May not sound like a big deal, but their role players hitting 3's is a huge part of their offense.

Yes they do. Mo Williams is considering signing with a contender like SA or Miami. Mo on Miami would make up the lost 3 point shooting.

 

[mcfly]

Yes they do. Mo Williams is considering signing with a contender like SA or Miami. Mo on Miami would make up the lost 3 point shooting.

If Mo was smart he would go to San Antonio and take Neal's spot off the bench.

 

[The Hill]

Mike Miller was their fourth-highest paid player. The team was $16.164M above the luxury tax level according to Storyteller, which means the Heat would've paid $33M in taxes.

Assuming they make no additions to the team, this move saved them a total of $17M. The new luxury tax is no joke.

 

[Anglefan]

Pat Riley didn't want the team to be touched? Really? He didn't think there was anything to improve? This team is holding on by a thread. Everyone around them is getting deeper and stronger and matching up with them better. They should be trying to shake up their role players a bit.

 

[Frank Stallone]

Pat Riley didn't want the team to be touched? Really? He didn't think there was anything to improve? This team is holding on by a thread. Everyone around them is getting deeper and stronger and matching up with them better. They should be trying to shake up their role players a bit.

What can they do though? This allows them to basically add Oden, right? Or am I wrong? (I may be, not trying to challenge you - just curious!)