Windy: Cavs reconstructing roster, predicts "full rebuild" (post #514)

[nime]

Cleveland Cavaliers may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster
Published: Saturday, July 10, 2010, 11:12 PM
Brian Windhorst, The Plain Dealer

LAS VEGAS -- When it comes to the schedule, the Cavaliers' next course of business is the Vegas Summer League. The team will start practicing in Vegas over the weekend and will play their first game Tuesday.

By then, though, there's a chance they'll have something new to talk about besides the events of the last week.

According to multiple sources, the team is getting ready to move forward and begin to retro-fit the roster post-LeBron James. After being forced to sit on the sidelines for the first 10 days of free agency waiting on James, they now have clarity to their situation and appear ready to make some decisions.

General Manager Chris Grant is considering three options to acquire players. One is to use his $5.7 million mid-level exception, which league sources say he's ready to execute.

Another is to use the $14.5 million trade exception the team got by sending James to the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade on Friday. That exception can be used in whole or part and, in effect, allows the Cavs to acquire players without trading anything else back.

There are also sign-and-trade options, which is how the Cavs may be able to get some current restricted free agents without using either the mid-level or trade exceptions.

The sign-and-trade option is perhaps the most intriguing because two of the Cavs' top targets
in free agency, sources said, are currently restricted free agents.

One is Atlanta Hawks small forward Josh Childress, who hasn't played in the NBA for the last two years after taking a lucrative offer to play for Olympiakos in Greece. Grant knows Childress well from his days in the Atlanta front office when Childress was drafted.

Childress averaged 11.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in four seasons before taking what amounted to a three-year, $20 million offer from Olympiakos in 2008. He averaged 15.2 points and shot nearly 60 percent from the field in Greece last season.

The Hawks have maintained their rights to Childress. But after signing several players to large contracts over the last two years, including a $124 million deal recently given to Joe Johnson, it isn't believed they are motivated to match a significant offer.

A decision on Childress could come soon because he has until July 15 to opt out of his contract with Olympiakos. The Cavs are believed to be one of several teams interested in him.

Another player the Cavs have on their radar, according to sources, is Houston Rockets restricted free agent guard Kyle Lowry. He's not a flashy player or a great scorer but is known for his strength on defense. He was a backup with the Rockets last season and averaged 9.1 points and 4.5 assists in 24 minutes a game.

Aaron Brooks, the Rockets' starting point guard, emerged as a star last year and may be looking for a healthy contract extension. But the Rockets like Lowry and have sent out the message that they intend to match offers given to him. That might force the Cavs to see if they can manufacture a sign-and-trade if they want him.

One of the options also being examined is whether to use their big trade exception now or save it for later when the options might improve. A player on the trading block who could be acquired this way is Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Al Jefferson. Minnesota has acquired several forwards this summer, including Michael Beasley from the Heat this week. They have openly put Jefferson on the market and are believed to be looking for a combination of prospects, draft picks or salary relief.

At 6-10 and not very quick, Jefferson is a bit undersized to play center and has defensive issues guarding some power forwards. He also had a severe knee injury in 2009 from which he's still recovering.

However, he's very talented offensively, especially with his back to the basket in the low post. He averaged 17.1 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Wolves last season. Before he tore his ACL in February of 2009, Jefferson was having a career year by averaging 23.1 points and 11 rebounds in 50 games.

The stumbling block is that Jefferson is owed $42 million over the next three seasons. The Dallas Mavericks are also among the teams reportedly interested in trading for him.

The Cavs are also looking at several under-the-radar free agents, including small forward Qyntel Woods, who like Childress has been starring in Europe over the last several years. After playing four years in the NBA and having some off-the-court troubles, the 6-9, 230-pound forward has developed overseas.

Last season Woods was first team All-Offense and first team All-Defense in the Euroleague for Prokom of Poland. He averaged 16.9 points and 6.5 rebounds last season when he was regarded as one of the best small forwards in Europe. He has worked out with a handful of teams.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/07/cleveland_cavaliers_may_be_rea.html

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

Kyle Lowery?

Sure, why the hell not. We've need a PG like him for a while now. Especially if Mo goes.

 

[Real Deal]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

Woods? Fuck you LeBRON!!!!

 

[Urban]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

The only 2 PGs I can think of that play better D than Lowry are Rondo and Westbrook. Would love to have him.

 

[I.K.W.T]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

Qyntel Woods?

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[hoops23]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

Jeff Teague or Darren Collison!

%%&%#^^@$%&!!!!!

 

[MirORich]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

Considering the influx of super fast penetrating PGs in the league, having an above average defensive PG would be ideal. If there's enough offense on the rest of the team, I wonder if Lowry is capable of being a starter now that he's 4-5 years into the league or if he would only be a backup as he has been to date.

 

[AtomicDogg97]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

This is the wrong strategy to take. Acquiring players like Josh Childress and Qyntel Woods does nothing but ensure years of mediocity. I don't want to be the freaking Milwaukee Bucks.

The Cavs need to take a few steps backward and strip the team bare and take their lumps for a few years. Yeah......they basically have to tank. The only way to win in the NBA is with superstars and the only way for a small market team like Cleveland to get superstars is through the draft. Basically we have to take the Oklahoma City route and build with young players through the draft.

 

[MirORich]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

A lot of people might like being the Bucks with the direction they are heading in.

To me, its not about any one or two players. Its the comprehensive approach.

For example, a player like Q Woods. He has rehabilated his game and focus in Europe. If you sign him to a 1 or 2 year contract, let him score a lot and he becomes an asset. A tradeable asset for future draft picks or other players. If we can add players for nothing but cash on short term deals that become assets, that is smart business. Now if they signed a Q Woods to a 4-5 year deal? HELL NO!

This is the wrong strategy to take. Acquiring players like Josh Childress and Qyntel Woods does nothing but ensure years of mediocity. I don't want to be the freaking Milwaukee Bucks.

The Cavs need to take a few steps backward and strip the team bare and take their lumps for a few years. Yeah......they basically have to tank. The only way to win in the NBA is with superstars and the only way for a small market team like Cleveland to get superstars is through the draft. Basically we have to take the Oklahoma City route and build with young players through the draft.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

This is the wrong strategy to take. Acquiring players like Josh Childress and Qyntel Woods does nothing but ensure years of mediocity. I don't want to be the freaking Milwaukee Bucks.

The Cavs need to take a few steps backward and strip the team bare and take their lumps for a few years. Yeah......they basically have to tank. The only way to win in the NBA is with superstars and the only way for a small market team like Cleveland to get superstars is through the draft. Basically we have to take the Oklahoma City route and build with young players through the draft.

How does Qyntel Woods even ensure mediocrity? Hell, he might help us ensure a top 4 pick :chuckles:

 

[mAo_mAo]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

The heat will parade LeBron as their point guard. How can we defend that dude? Even if we acquire freaking Rondo there is no way to match up with the freaking Heat which will field in the 6'4" wade as their shortest player in their starting 5.

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

A lot of people might like being the Bucks with the direction they are heading in.

To me, its not about any one or two players. Its the comprehensive approach.

For example, a player like Q Woods. He has rehabilated his game and focus in Europe. If you sign him to a 1 or 2 year contract, let him score a lot and he becomes an asset. A tradeable asset for future draft picks or other players. If we can add players for nothing but cash on short term deals that become assets, that is smart business. Now if they signed a Q Woods to a 4-5 year deal? HELL NO!

Exactly. My take on this is they are looking to acquire young players to mix in with some guys that we already have. Let them run for a year or two while we acquire more pieces. The idea is that one or two of these guys become players that we want to keep, the others become trade assets for better players that we could send along with extra picks we acquire. Obviously this strategy banks on the fact that some of these guys develop, which could definitely blow up in our face.

 

[nime]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

I like the idea of getting Lowry, Childress, Marvin and pairing them with AV and JJ.

Great defensive core and they would push tempo. And they would be bad enough to get a high pick. If you can land a superstar, these are the types of players you'd want to surround that star imo.

By next year you'd have Jamison's expiring contract to deal to add to the star.

 

[APW2914]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

This is the wrong strategy to take. Acquiring players like Josh Childress and Qyntel Woods does nothing but ensure years of mediocity. I don't want to be the freaking Milwaukee Bucks.

The Cavs need to take a few steps backward and strip the team bare and take their lumps for a few years. Yeah......they basically have to tank. The only way to win in the NBA is with superstars and the only way for a small market team like Cleveland to get superstars is through the draft. Basically we have to take the Oklahoma City route and build with young players through the draft.

That is the Cleveland way. That never has worked out. Lets try something different for once. Lets reconstruct the roster on the fly and hopefully catch a few breaks.

I love how everyone says take the "Oklahoma City" Route. That doesn't guarentee success. Ask Portland.

 

[JSS2306]

Re: Windy: Cavs may be ready to begin reconstruction of roster

Am I the only one curious to see how our normal squad performs minus one man just to see what happens?

I say hold off on the blowing up of teams. What does that say about OUR loyalty?