Windhorst: Kaman and Camby on Cavaliers' radar

[Snowblind]

What's your opinion of Z...?

If he came off the bench (which he should now in his career) I think he would be more valuable. His ability to shoot and be 7'3 helps us on offense and defense against 2nd unit guys. The only thing is that he can only play one position, which kinda hurt his value. Basicly, I would feel better if we had another big (along with Z) to come off the bench.

 

[Silky Smooth]

I just don't think he has the lateral quickness or athleticism to play the 4 full time. His game has always been really geared as more of a classic back to the basket center.

Yea so if he cant play PF then he doesnt help at all on defense because he isnt that strong enough to guard someone like Dwight Howard. I just really hope Tyson Chandler makes great improvements on his rehab and it allows us to trade for him. As of right now Chandler is the one big that has great size, speed, athleticism and youth to make an impact on us winning a ring.

 

[B Mac]

I didnt know there were so many fellow Caveman supporters. Sure his contract isnt great and the injury concerns are legit, of course its always easier to be healthy when your team doesnt suck (like the Clippers), but man would he be a great fit here. An actual low post precense would be awfully nice to see on this team.

 

[brothers1759]

I've never seen so many guys get so excited about a guy who has played around 50% of his team's games the last 2 years and is owed $34 million over the next 3 years.

It's not that I don't think Kaman can't play....I like his game. He's an excellent rebounder, can play with his back to the basket, and actually a very good shot blocker.

Anyone who says Kaman isn't athletic is simply judging him on his "goofy white guy" appearance and not his actual game.

Am I saying he's Dwight Howard? No...but he's not slow and unathletic....he just looks the part.

His contract scares me though.

Because once you agree to bring Kaman here, you are hitching your wagons to him for the next 3 years. There is no turning back, no excuse-making if(when?) he gets hurt.

Personally, I think Camby is a safer option. He gives you a different look on defense because of his shot blocking, he will fit in as a role player on offense, and he only has a 1-year deal.

 

[JayP146]

The good thing about Kaman is that it would give me another white guy to root for when Z is off the floor.

What about Sasha? Oh wait ...

 

[B Mac]

I never do this, but I was excited to get a trade to work on the trade checker machine, so bear with me...

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mtpsh9

Cleveland
Out: Wallace, Hickson, Gibson, Pavlovic
In: Kamen, Chandler, Posey

LAC
Out: Kamen
In: Gibson, Pavlovic

NO
Out: Chandler, Posey
In: Wallace, Hickson

Lets say we sign JKidd then and draft a young swingman.

Mo/Kidd
West/Draft/Kinsey
James/Posey
Chandler/AV/Jackson
Kamen/Ilgauskas

Still a major weakness in bench depth at the two guard depending on who starts between Kidd and Mo, but I like the look of that team....

Unfortunately the trade brings on A LOT of contracts and A LOT of past injury issues.

 

[-Akronite-]

LAC
Out: Kamen
In: Gibson, Pavlovic

No way LA takes that, but I like where this is going.

 

[Gimme Some Mo]

Yea so if he cant play PF then he doesnt help at all on defense because he isnt that strong enough to guard someone like Dwight Howard. I just really hope Tyson Chandler makes great improvements on his rehab and it allows us to trade for him. As of right now Chandler is the one big that has great size, speed, athleticism and youth to make an impact on us winning a ring.

Kaman isn't STRONG enough to guard Howard, but Chandler is???

I mean I don't know for sure, but have you seen their bodies? Chandler is a stick compared to Kaman.

 

[Man Called X]

Yea so if he cant play PF then he doesnt help at all on defense because he isnt that strong enough to guard someone like Dwight Howard. I just really hope Tyson Chandler makes great improvements on his rehab and it allows us to trade for him. As of right now Chandler is the one big that has great size, speed, athleticism and youth to make an impact on us winning a ring.

I think Kaman if healthy can handle Dwight well enough that we don't need to send the double every possession. Just my personal opinion though. But there's a big difference between being able to handle Dwight and being a super athletic 4.

Is Kendrick Perkins suitable to play the 4? Hell no. Was Kendrick Perkins effective against Dwight Howard? Yes.

Your post is just a really confusing argument to make.

 

[Sir Charles Barkley]

Kaman could definitely "D" up Howard. All you have to do is muscle him up and not let him get comfortable. Make him shoot hook shots, not easy lay ups and dunks (ala Z). We wouldn't really need to send the double team on Howard with Kaman guarding him, because Kaman is actually pretty strong.

Chandler healthy is a better option i think though...His longer arms and actual man-to-man defense is better than Kaman's.

 

[Ruggeder]

Would a Kaman, Boozer trade be possible? A great 5 and 4, that would be better then LA's in my opinion, although bynum still has potential he is very injury prone. That would sap all our trade assets, but that front court would be amazing. We could always sign a tall swing guard with the MLE.

 

[Glenechocreek]

Kaman may not be able to stop Howard, but he sure would draw a lot of fouls on him. Have we EVER had a big man that could post up like that?

I'll take Kaman and Artest. Andy stays, and Lebron plays power forward when he comes out.

Bring it, Danny.

 

[sam_slam911]

Camby I wouldn't bet on, I'd only want him if they wanted Sasha in return.

Kaman is an interesting player. Got alot of energy on both ends of the court, and he's got a post game. He's capable of being a phenomenal rebounder and yeah, he's strong enough to muscle Howard out of the paint a little. But he lacks great lateral movement, which is why Howard could possibly go by him too often. I think that Dwight Howards gonna be scary next year, you can see his postgame developing, and I dunno it might be a necessity to have an elite defensive center. But at least Kaman would do a better job than any of our current bigs.

 

[williemayshayes]

Does anybody else look at Kaman and see a poor man's Pau Gasol?

Given his age, and what he's actually done out there when he's healthy (and even more importantly, his less than ideal "team" environs), I'd go with more of a middle class Pau Gasol...he isn't quite as skilled as Pau with the ball in his hands, and can't do half of the things Pau can on offense. But he is much more physical than Pau could ever hope to be. He's almost as good as far as finishing inside 10 feet, too. And Pau couldn't hold Kaveman's jock on the boards either. Just my take on it.

 

[williemayshayes]

Kaman could definitely "D" up Howard. All you have to do is muscle him up and not let him get comfortable. Make him shoot hook shots, not easy lay ups and dunks (ala Z). We wouldn't really need to send the double team on Howard with Kaman guarding him, because Kaman is actually pretty strong.

Chandler healthy is a better option i think though...His longer arms and actual man-to-man defense is better than Kaman's.

I dunno if you've seen Windhorst's most recent tweet (during/after the Game 2 win for the Lakers)...it is as follows;

Cavs fans, watch how the Lakers are denying Dwight Howard deep post position so far. It changes everything, really.Helps to have strong bigs

It's all about getting it right off the ball...are your bigs athletic enough to force him into being a screener in that pick and roll game Hedo runs? And when Howard isn't a screener, can you get him to hang out on the elbows, or create turnovers by sandwiching him into a 3 seconds call?

Our bigs don't even really defend the opposing big man off the ball...they're a huge part of the defense on penetrating guards. A big reason that if you wanted to beat the Cavs, you had to be on from deep. And when MB adjusted to account for Howard EARLIER in the possession, by trying to deny him position, it flat out blew up in his face because our bigs were not capable of doing that (much has been said here about MB's lack of adjustments, but I did notice this one, because I saw a lot less of that signature slow-motion "show" by Z as the series dragged on).

Having Kaman out there instead of Z at least allows you to brush Dwight off his path, so that he has to either be a screener or hang out just under the elbows.