Trades to make NOW - Gerald Wallace, Corey Maggette, Kosta Koufos

by KCross on Feb 15, 2011 12:55 AM CST

Who do the Cavs have coming back next year that could legitimately start in the NBA?

PG: Mo, Sessions
SG: --
SF: --
PF: Hickson, Jamison
C: Varejao

That's it. The 5 other guys that will currently remain on the roster are all bench players at best (in reverse order of size): Boobie (PG), Eyenga (SG), Harris (SG), Graham (SF) and Samuels (PF). Apparently Hollins (C) has a player option, too. Nevertheless, those are 6 guys that should see less than 10 minutes combined per game.

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WHAT CAN THE CAVS DO TO FILL THE 4 REMAINING ROSTER GAPS?

1. Rely on Draft Picks and Develop Players
2. Trade for Proven Players Now

Option #1 alone sucks. The 6 bench players aren't worth developing. The only "developing" starter-worthy players are Hickson and Sessions, and each will have to split time at their position. Even with 1 decent lottery pick (I would personally love to see the Cavs pick up Perry Jones to play an athletic 6'11" SF), the Cavs would be short at one starting slot for SG or SF and at backup C (the Cavs definitely can't/won't draft a good C).

Therefore, the best step forward (without wasting another year) is to trade for a SG or SF and a backup C.

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1. Picking up another starter and a solid backup big man will complement the draft pick and current 5 starter-quality guys. Here's my suggested targets for modest, but effective moves:

Corey Maggette - SG/SF (Bucks has excess at the SG/SF with Salmons, Delfino - and wouldn't mind shedding $9M with the expiring contracts we'd send them - Moon, Parker, Hollins, Powe)
Kosta Koufos - C (MN has excess at C with Milicic, Pekovic, Tolliver and could use a young, defensive-minded SG in Eyenga)

2. Also, this summer try to sign Shawne Williams, NY, SF to give the team a 6'9" 3-point shooter that can shoot almost as well as Boobie, but can actually play defense on NBA opponents.

3. I know these aren't huge changes, but these are easy and improve the team without cost. To further kickstart next year, however, the Cavs should use their trade exception (which allows them to acquire more salary than they send away - up to the limit of Lebron's $16M) and send away their lottery pick for this summer. I would go all out for Gerald Wallace or Andre Iguodala, rounding out out a 13-man roster (need to sign young SF and C on the cheap for development's sake):

PG: Mo Williams, Ramon Sessions, Daniel Gibson
SG: Corey Maggette, Manny Harris, Joey Graham
SF: Gerald Wallace, Shawne Williams
PF: J.J. Hickson, Antawn Jamison, Samardo Samuels
C: Anderson Varejao, Kosta Koufos

Gilbert didn't say the Cavs would win a championship in 2011, he just said they would do it before the Heat. That bet is still on the table and this team would be very competitive - even with the second team of Sessions, Harris, Williams, Jamison, Koufos.

Let's do this - NOW!

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Comments

Does anyone have any updates on how Sasha Kaun is doing in development? Haven’t heard a word about him since we drafted him in Round 2.

by talonk on Feb 15, 2011 12:14 PM CST reply actions

Maybe I'm the only one (I doubt I am)

But I want nothing to do with Maggette. His contract is terrible (nearly 31 million over the next three years) and he only does one thing fairly well: score. The operative word is “fairly”.

Calmer than you are.

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Feb 15, 2011 12:23 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Recommendations for SG?

I hear what you’re saying about Maggette’s lack of defense, but the only great SG in the east that he would have to guard is Wade. And Maggette’s got 2 inches on him.

Nevertheless – whom do you like better?

It’s gotta be from a team that: 1) is looking to dump cap space in order to either rebuild or prepare for a monster signing, and 2) has willingness to part with a starting SG.

From the same team (the Bucks) I would also take Delfino, but I just don’t see the Bucks parting with his great contract.

by KCross on Feb 15, 2011 1:25 PM CST up reply actions

I understand your point

But I think I’d rather go into next year with what the Cavs have (Gee? Split the PG / SG amongst Mo, Boobie, and Ramon? Some other free agent / draft pick?) rather than pick up that contract.

It just doesn’t seem like a prudent move for a team that needs to start completely over to pick up the 10+ million dollar contract of a then 32 year old Maggette. He also seems like more of a SF to me than a SG.

Calmer than you are.

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Feb 15, 2011 2:16 PM CST up reply actions

I’d rather see what we have in Eyenga before spending money on someone like Maggette. What is Maggette going to provide a rebuilding team?

by rockemsockem on Feb 15, 2011 7:55 PM CST up reply actions

Oh yeah.

I somehow completely forgot to mention him.

Calmer than you are.

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Feb 16, 2011 8:02 AM CST up reply actions

I would rather trot eyenga out there and develop him then trade for a 31 year old maggette,

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on Feb 17, 2011 12:39 AM CST up reply actions

Why? Maggette is in a steep decline and isn’t cheap. Why saddle the team with another contract like Jamison’s?

by rockemsockem on Feb 17, 2011 8:39 PM CST up reply actions

I can tell b/c of your above comment (especially) that you are just kidding about maggette. If we were one piece away, maybe, just maybe. Even then, I probably wouldn’t pull the trigger on an overpayed underachieving ballhog.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on Feb 17, 2011 11:15 PM CST up reply actions

What? I think trading for Maggette is a terrible idea. How could that be misread? I’m not kidding about him at all. Look at his line this year, not good. I don’t understand the logic of developing Eyenga and then turning around and trading for Maggette later, he is not going to get better.

by rockemsockem on Feb 19, 2011 11:37 AM CST up reply actions

I think what threw me off is your first “Why?” which was responding to my preference about wanting to play eyenga. I could tell you dislike him. I do too.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on Feb 19, 2011 11:55 PM CST up reply actions

I was asking why you would want to trade for Maggette. It appears I misunderstood you. I think you meant “than”, not “then.”

by rockemsockem on Feb 20, 2011 11:49 AM CST up reply actions

oops…didn’t realize I did that. my bad…

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on Feb 20, 2011 11:08 PM CST up reply actions

If they couldn't deal for Gerald Wallace last year I don't they could get it done this year

just call me mr briteside.

HELP IS ON THE WAY

http://www.insidetheshoe.com/

by SouthBayBuckeye on Feb 16, 2011 3:06 PM CST reply actions

Hi guys cats fan here

I was wondering what your asking price for Jamison was?

by TS BOBCAT on Feb 16, 2011 7:34 PM CST reply actions

Young talent and/or draft picks

by talonk on Feb 16, 2011 10:57 PM CST up reply actions

A washing machine should do the trick.

"I bet that sex Bengals fan is really pissed now." -DT3428

by sexsalad on Feb 19, 2011 11:34 AM CST up reply actions

Corey maggette is a slashing scorer who is 31. He is very reliant on his speed and athleticism and that is already showing signs of slowing. there is no way I want an aging slasher who is a ballhog (and costs over 30 million dollars for the next 3 seasons) on my team; especially when I got a guy like eyenga with potential. At this point, i would already have eyenga even disregarding potential.

Shawne Williams is a guy who still hasn’t shown significant flashes of his potential and the guy is just a mess. tons of off the court issues, plus he fights on the court.

the only moves that make sense are getting Kofous and Wallace (wallace really only makes sense because of the trade exception.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on Feb 17, 2011 12:45 AM CST reply actions