The Paul George Safari: LeBron Strikes Back!

[bboy]

W

Gilbert has let us down. His stubbornness let the team down.

You had a good thing going, Dan.

Let's say the timing of Griffin's firing has nothing to do with what's going on right now... you couldn't concoct a more flabbergasting public image disaster if you tried. Not a smart play. Should have cut him loose sooner rather than later.

Now the blame falls squarely on Dan's shoulders fair or not.

Very disappointed right now with how free agency is going.

I'm with you Gilbert looks bad but what are they really supposed to do? they have no $ or assets...

 

[supermario21]

I'm pretty sure the whole Dan Gilbert/no GM thing is overblown. Even Windhorst alluded to it on one of those ESPN podcasts last week. What we do know is that Dan/Altman had a PG trade lined up that Pritchard nixed last minute. We heard about Griff trading Love to PHX for #4 and then planning to snag Butler or George with it...What if that failed? Honestly that would have been a firing offense right there. And based on how things shaked out, I'm not sure #4 would have helped us get either.

 

[drekwins]

W

I'm with you Gilbert looks bad but what are they really supposed to do? they have no $ or assets...

What exactly is Gilbert supposed to do? What this comes down to is a lack of planning, for flexibility, in the past. Many were vocal, including LeBron, that all of the cast had to be locked up. Nearly every other team has flexibility and took cap management more serious. They've made roster building an art. Now, the Cavs have no value contracts, young guys that others love or cap space. All hope rely's on players forcing their way to want to play with LeBron. That's not going to work with the uncertainty of his future. There's a lot of other attractive situations out there that are easier for teams to figure out a deal with.

 

[Triple-S]

This was also a franchise, that I believe...in theory was designed to contend for titles.

If we're going back to a time machine at the beginning of 2014...who did we think we would see in the finals?
The Clippers, The Spurs, The Rockets, and The Thunder.

Guess what? I think we're talking 2-3 titles right now had the stupid assholes over in Golden State hadn't discovered the joys of illegal moving screens and the NBA looking the other way.

I can't blame Gilbert of LeBron for this. NO ONE saw what was coming.

 

[Andrew]

Apparently you can get into Oracle with a fake press pass. Someone make me one and I'll sneak in a metal pipe in my pants and take out KD and, for good measure, Green on my way out. Someone in CLE will pay my bail.

 

[Brevin Knight]

This was also a franchise, that I believe...in theory was designed to contend for titles.

If we're going back to a time machine at the beginning of 2014...who did we think we would see in the finals?
The Clippers, The Spurs, The Rockets, and The Thunder.

Guess what? I think we're talking 2-3 titles right now had the stupid assholes over in Golden State hadn't discovered the joys of illegal moving screens and the NBA looking the other way.

I can't blame Gilbert of LeBron for this. NO ONE saw what was coming.

Yeah, it was the perfect storm for them. It kind of balances out the previous 40 years of hell. Since then their FO is making smart moves.

Apparently you can get into Oracle with a fake press pass. Someone make me one and I'll sneak in a metal pipe in my pants and take out KD and, for good measure, Green on my way out. Someone in CLE will pay my bail.

No need. They should sign Zaza for the mle and let him loose in game 1.

 

[Andrew]

Man I can't root for zaza ever. He looks like a die hard movie villain

 

[Flight479]

I want to blame Gilbert entirely but honestly I think a lot of deals are falling a part because LeBron won't commit to staying.

 

[PIP]

This is true. It's tht gift and curse of LeBron and it's not a coincidence that this has happened multiple times...

You're always in WIN NOW mode and for as awesome as that mode is --it will yield a lack of flexibility if you push all the chips to the table...

Combine that with handing out deals to keep LeBron favorites and you're pretty much stuck with what you have...Which is good to win multiple championships most times-- however what the Warriors are stuck with is just younger, better and has a higher ceiling...

 

[CavsFanJapan]

I want to blame Gilbert entirely but honestly I think a lot of deals are falling a part because LeBron won't commit to staying.

Deja-vu all over again but this time we have a title. If LBJ leaves again then I hope we have a GM that can make good deals and actually draft smart.

 

[fan0283]

This was also a franchise, that I believe...in theory was designed to contend for titles.

If we're going back to a time machine at the beginning of 2014...who did we think we would see in the finals?
The Clippers, The Spurs, The Rockets, and The Thunder.

Guess what? I think we're talking 2-3 titles right now had the stupid assholes over in Golden State hadn't discovered the joys of illegal moving screens and the NBA looking the other way.

I can't blame Gilbert of LeBron for this. NO ONE saw what was coming.

Actually you can put some blame on either for a total lack of foresight with contract renewals. Well run front offices know never to overcommit to roleplayers long term. They also know never to overreact to good or bad playoff performances. Flexibility around your core guys is important

Pull out all the rosters from playoff teams 2-4 years ago. How many of those teams' roleplayers are still playing at a high level? What if those front offices had given all those guys 4 year contracts? That's us. Rude but it sometimes feels like we act with the level of inexperience you'd expect from an expansion team

 

[Gus Zing]

I want to blame Gilbert entirely but honestly I think a lot of deals are falling a part because LeBron won't commit to staying.

Yea Indiana sure canceled that trade because LeBron won't stay. Makes a lot of sense.

 

[Gus Zing]

Actually you can put some blame on either for a total lack of foresight with contract renewals. Well run front offices know never to overcommit to roleplayers long term. They also know never to overreact to good or bad playoff performances. Flexibility around your core guys is important

Pull out all the rosters from playoff teams 2-4 years ago. How many of those teams' roleplayers are still playing at a high level? What if those front offices had given all those guys 4 year contracts? That's us. Rude but it sometimes feels like we act with the level of inexperience you'd expect from an expansion team

I'm starting to think @FritzLn is the only one that gets it around here.

Warriors just signed Iggy to a contract very similar to JR.
Tristan was very effective against the Warriors in TWO of our finals run. The Durant move is what makes him useless against them.

It wasn't until this year's finals that we found out Tristan is now useless against this team.

 

[Rainman]

I'm starting to think @FritzLn is the only one that gets it around here.

Warriors just signed Iggy to a contract very similar to JR.
Tristan was very effective against the Warriors in TWO of our finals run. The Durant move is what makes him useless against them.

It wasn't until this year's finals that found out Tristan is now useless against this team.

Plus 5 guys that can make a three playing on the floor at the same time helps. TT lack of offense really limits him. He's not a starter but we've made him into one. If he came off the bench teams would be more willing to trade for him.

 

[fan0283]

I'm starting to think @FritzLn is the only one that gets it around here.

Warriors just signed Iggy to a contract very similar to JR.
Tristan was very effective against the Warriors in TWO of our finals run. The Durant move is what makes him useless against them.

It wasn't until this year's finals that we found out Tristan is now useless against this team.

Difference between JR and Iggy's situations besides resume and two way ability is people were actually willing to give Iggy that amount if the warriors didn't pony up.