Trade Z?

[cavfanintexas]

But the problem with the current make-up of the team is that only LeBron was allowed to make his own shot in the playoffs. Even if he could, Z can't make his own shot, but many centers can't. So I'm just pointing that out.

For all the accolades, and the offensive rebounding numbers, losing a top 10 offensive rebounder wouldn't be detrimental to this team. It's good to have, but if that's the best he has to offer (and I know it's not, just commenting on this point) then he can be traded as long as it improves the team.

just what do you think we would get for Z? and my gut is that Z would not take a buy out, so his trade value is what?

 

[cavfanintexas]

His trade value is:

Can provide competent minutes off the bench
Expiring contract
Possibility of buying him out to save money
​

The way this off-season is shaping up, the second two are huge.

and if you were Z would you give up 5-6m?

 

[cavfanintexas]

As for other teams -- exactly why would they give up anything substantial for what is going to be nothing more than a rent-a-player?

Because two thirds of the teams are losing large amounts of money every year...Not to be mean, but are you paying attention to what is going on?

If it was Feb you have a point, the cavs would have already paid most of his salary. But not before Feb trade deadline.

 

[Cleveland56]

and if you were Z would you give up 5-6m?

What does that tell you about Z then? Does he really want to win?

 

[Cleveland56]

And even if he doesnt take a buy out, there are other scenarios where teams don't want to pay a huge salary over four or five years (Okafur - J Smith) and would like be off the books after next year. Again, like the other 50 posts Ive made about this - saving money in the long run.

 

[cavfanintexas]

What does that tell you about Z then? Does he really want to win?

the same thing it tells me about James

 

[Cleveland56]

Most of these buy outs, the teams take care of them with future years to make sure they get their money back..

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

there are other scenarios where teams don't want to pay a huge salary over four or five years (Okafur - J Smith) and would like be off the books after next year.

Well, there's the question again about how many of these opportunities really are out there, given that we're already hoping to do this with Big Ben's contract.

Where does that lead us? We trade Ben, and pick up a corresponding massive, long-term contract from another team. Then we do the same with Z. Now if those two things happen, we are going to be so far over the cap that any significant FA acquisition is going to be impossible for a very long time. Those trades, together, will HAVE to get us over the top.
We would be putting all our eggs in that one basket for the foreseeable future.

I'm just not sure that type of "bet the franchise" talent is going to be available for nothing more than a salary dump. If it is, great -- I don't think anyone advocates turning down a deal that would help the franchise just because Z's name happens to be attached. I think the concern is that we are unlikely to get enough of value for him -- and it should be remembered that part of the value we'd be trading away is the value of his expiring contract in 2010. That's one reason why I'd love the Ben/Sasha/Shaq deal. Shaq and Z would both be off the books in 2010, giving us a lot more flexibility in FA.

 

[cavfanintexas]

Most of these buy outs, the teams take care of them with future years to make sure they get their money back..

I'm not sure that would do it for Z, Flowers and little love at the airport got him signed in the first place.

 

[Cleveland56]

and $50 mil

 

[cavfanintexas]

and $50 mil

If you look at the signings back then alot of teams paid more for worse players

 

[Mdog1]

and if you were Z would you give up 5-6m?

I would absolutely give up 3 or 4 million dollars to win a championship. But that is because i'm not a millionaire and I care about the sport. We all think that Z will take a buyout, and the only way he gets traded is if there is a little handshake deal between Ferry and Z. Plus does Z really want to leave his hom in Cleveland, move his family, and uproot somewhere else? I doubt it. Z could easily take a buyout of 4 million and get part of our MLE or the whole thing if we don't use it, possibly even the BAE. Z is a good guy, and he would be setting himself up for a championship.

 

[Cleveland56]

If you look at the signings back then alot of teams paid more for worse players

I don't remember saying that wasn't true.

What do I know? Give him the max. Build the team around him.

 

[PIP]

I don't remember saying that wasn't true.

What do I know? Give him the max. Build the team around him.

We've been fighting a losing battle for years...However, the exposing is starting to take place amongst the masses

 

[Therapy]

I 100% agree with everything in the original post. Trade Z for Kaman and he probably buys out and comes back to Cleveland... he'll even get to rest the first half of the year! Kaman isn't much but at least he won't be retiring and leave us with nothing. Wallace and Sasha get you any all-star PF available but that puts us over the cap in 2010 anyway.

Kaman/Smith/LeBron/Delonte/Mo
Varejao/Boobie/MLE/1st round, not bad.

You could even trade Z and Ben to Utah for Boozer and AK47 but then you have to fill Center somehow. Options out there if you move all three expiring contracts like OP said.