Fear The Sword: FanPosts

My Two Cents (that only Cavs fans would understand)

2013-06-19T05:53:46Z

After all the hate that was spewed tonight all over my newsfeed, twitter, etc...I'd just like to say the following to an audience that will feel my pain:

My cheering for the Spurs isn't about an irrational hate for LeBron and willingness to want to see him fail. He was my guy on the Cavs, win lose or draw, and he's still the #1 talent in the NBA, hands down. He had every right to leave Cleveland, and ever since Michael Redd and Joe Johnson declined teaming with LeBron many years ago (leaving us to our 3rd place Larry Hughes spoils), the writing has been on the walls that he was going to leave us. My only issue was and will always be he waited until every free agent under the sun had signed before he made his decision, leaving our immediate situation a disaster. Doing this to his hometown team was far worse than if he had just said "I'm done with this" after the Boston Series.

But as that fan of a small market NBA team, if the Heat win another championship, against one of the best "teams" in the last decade (the Spurs being the epitome of relevance in a smaller market), it will prove that Free Agency Collusion and Buying Championships is in-fact, statistically, still the right strategy. It's bad enough that Boston, LA, Chicago, Houston, Miami and San Antonio have been a part of every finals (except '90 with the Bad Boys) since BEFORE I WAS BORN, it's simply worse to think that trend will do nothing but continue. That's right, one of 6 or 7 teams have represented their conference in the NBA finals every year for the last 30+ years.

I root against the Heat because it's bad for the future of the NBA. If they win 2/3 straight finals, don't be surprised to see Cp3 and Howard team up, whether it be in Houston with Harden, or elsewhere to form another super team. And this will leave teams like Cleveland, Memphis, Toronto and others battling for the Table Scraps of the Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay or Andre Iguodala sweepstakes...irrationally outbidding one another for a chance to fill seats and stay financially relevant (while simultaneously handicapping future growth by being a .500 plus team). At the same time, a team like LA can "lose" for a year, and then trade a couple late round picks and Kwame Brown to get back Pau Gasol in his prime.#GoFigure

As a fan of the game, I know this has been the case since before I can remember, but it's even more of a reason to hope that the Spurs win on Thursday. That way a week from Thursday, the other 20 or so fan bases can approach the 2013 draft with some semblance of "that could be us" hope going into next season.

Could The Cavs trade #1?

2013-06-19T01:30:03Z

The NBA Finals are coming to an end and the NBA draft is right around the corner. Every year the draft brings about another chance to make your team better and find the right piece for the future or for the present. For my hometown Celtics, they could move in either direction. During this past season, Boston finished above .500 without their best player and key role players battling injury all year. With all players 100% healthy, and the role players farther along in development, the Celtics could be one free agent away from a chance at a playoff run.

However, as much as I would love the core of Rondo, Pierce, and Garnett to stick together until retirement, everyone knows that will not be able to happen. In a draft year that is lacking a superstar like Derrick Rose or Blake Griffin, there are still great players that can be developed into all-star players. The consensus top prospect in this years draft is 7'0 center Nerlens Noel out of Kentucky. Although Noel is recovering from a torn ACL, he is still believed by many professionals and myself to be taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This is where my mind starts to wonder and think about some shocking and difficult draft day moves. Trade talks have started swirling around veteran forwards Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Clippers as well as others. At the same time, the Cavaliers have been talking about looking to trade the first overall pick for an established scoring forward which both Garnnett and Pierce are. Now this is not something that would work over the long term, however the Cavaliers only need a short burst of success in my mind.

With all of the young talent already on the Cavs roster, and the superstar point guard Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers just need to show that they can make some sort of a playoff push and allow for the prime opportunity for the home town king to come back. Yes thats right folks. This whole situation would not only give the Celtics the number one pick, but also bring LeBron James back home to Cleveland.

Time will tell on what the Cavaliers do with the first pick and if they keep it who they draft. Most of our answers with be answered on June 27 on ESPN.

Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers schedule Cleveland Cavaliers roster

Time will tell on what the Cavaliers do with the first pick and if they keep it who they draft. Most of our answers with be answered on June 27 on ESPN.

Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers schedule Cleveland Cavaliers roster

Your favorite Cavaliers draft scenario.

2013-06-18T20:19:19Z

The draft is a little more than 9 days away and I thought I would get a discussion going for your favorite draft scenario. Here is mine as I also included my free agent signings.

1. Trade back with Orlando to get Mo Harkless and #2 pick (I actually prefer Tobias Harris, but Harkless came on later in the year).

2. Draft Alex Len with #2 pick (if you really want Len, then you should just trade back for him, also you can get Noel here too.)

3. Trade 31, 33 to Dallas for #13

4. Draft Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with #13 pick (I would be fine the Shabbazz here too.

5. Trade CJ Miles,Marreese Speights and #19 for Danny Granger

6. Sign Seth Curry as undrafted free agent.

7. Sign Oden, Redick, and trade Ellington to a team for a pick.

Roster:

PG: Irving, Livingston, Curry

SG: Waiters, Caldwell-Pope (Shabazz?), Redick

SF: Granger, Harkless, Gee

PF: Thompson, AV

C: Len (Noel?), Oden, Zeller

The draft is a little more than 9 days away and I thought I would get a discussion going for your favorite draft scenario. Here is mine as I also included my free agent signings.

1. Trade back with Orlando to get Mo Harkless and #2 pick (I actually prefer Tobias Harris, but Harkless came on later in the year).

2. Draft Alex Len with #2 pick (if you really want Len, then you should just trade back for him, also you can get Noel here too.)

3. Trade 31, 33 to Dallas for #13

4. Draft Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with #13 pick (I would be fine the Shabbazz here too.

5. Trade CJ Miles,Marreese Speights and #19 for Danny Granger

6. Sign Seth Curry as undrafted free agent.

7. Sign Oden, Redick, and trade Ellington to a team for a pick.

Roster:

PG: Irving, Livingston, Curry

SG: Waiters, Caldwell-Pope (Shabazz?), Redick

SF: Granger, Harkless, Gee

PF: Thompson, AV

C: Len (Noel?), Oden, Zeller

Poll

What do you think of this scenario?

The big reveal

2013-06-18T20:08:19Z

Player B is Ben McLemore,

Player A is O.J. Mayo.

I pretty much throw up in my mouth whenever McLemore is listed as a possibility for the Cavs for this reason.

I will admit that overall (TS%) McLemore had a better year than Mayo's freshman season but the argument that his athleticism will allow him to attack and finish in the NBA once he learns some more aggression is rooted in the fallacy that athleticism is the primary component in this skill. Mayo is, I believe, the perfect counter argument for McLemore, He has all the measurables you could ask for in a shooting guard but can't put it together and generate better than average offensive play.

Basically I don't want any part of McLemore.

Player B is Ben McLemore,

Player A is O.J. Mayo.

I pretty much throw up in my mouth whenever McLemore is listed as a possibility for the Cavs for this reason.

Basically I don't want any part of McLemore.

Same two guys- who is a better 3pt shooter

2013-06-18T19:28:00Z

Ok, these guys have been bugging me all week. They seriously won't let go of these petty arguments. Now they are all up in each others grill (grills are still a thing, right?) about who is a better 3 pt shooter. These are their freshman year stats.

Player A: 40.9% from 3, 6.5 attempts per game

Player B: 42% from 3, 4.7 attempts per game.

Settle this for me wont you FTS? You guys are my heroes.

Player A: 40.9% from 3, 6.5 attempts per game

Player B: 42% from 3, 4.7 attempts per game.

Settle this for me wont you FTS? You guys are my heroes.

Poll

Who is the better 3 pt shooter?

Who is a better athlete

2013-06-18T19:22:17Z

Two young basketball stars got in an argument today, and they asked me to mediate. Each claims he is a better athlete than the other and I don't see a way to break the argument so I am posting a poll here. Here are their combine numbers

Player A: 200 lbs, 41in vert, 7 reps, 11.04 agility, 3.14 sprint.

Player B: 189 olbs, 42 in vert, 6 reps, 11.87 agility, 3.27 sprint.

So what does FTS think?

Player A: 200 lbs, 41in vert, 7 reps, 11.04 agility, 3.14 sprint.

Player B: 189 olbs, 42 in vert, 6 reps, 11.87 agility, 3.27 sprint.

So what does FTS think?

Poll

Who is the better athelete?

Why I Hope The Cavaliers Say NO to Nerlens Noel

2013-06-18T18:01:24Z

I know I'm going to get a lot of heat for this but oh well. If the Cavaliers pick Nerlens Noel I will be extremely disappointed and here's why.

Offensively there's nothing. He doesn't have any type of jump shot. He isnt great around the rim and he sucks at the free throw line. All he really can do is dunk and run the break a lot better then most C's. That's it. He's underweight for a Center as well and will get bullied around in the low post for years.

Ok so he's good on defense and we all know that the Cavaliers need to improve on D. But there's still question marks. When he comes back from his injury how do we know he still can "dominant" defensively. You guys act like he's going to come straight into the league and just change the Cavaliers defensive woes. Its not going to happen like that. And if it does we'll be waiting a long time. Time we dont have. We don't need a player that can't contribute for awhile, can't do any of the offseason rookie workouts or rookie games. We need a player that glues everything together. That contributes more then just on defense. That's why I want Otto Porter but that's another story.

Now if I was a contender and I had the number 1 pick say the Thunder I would consider picking Noel. Because with or without him they're still going to win. If he turns out a bust then its not much of a big deal because they still will be a top team in the league for years to come. Unfortunately we dont have that luxury. We're at the bottom trying to climb our way out. We dont need to draft an injured player that sucks on offense and was good at defense in college. Believe me he wont be able to do what he did in college defensively in the NBA. So you can cut that out already. For all of you that compare him to Tyson Chandler, would you have picked Tyson Chandler overall? I dont think so.

I know I'm going to get a lot of heat for this but oh well. If the Cavaliers pick Nerlens Noel I will be extremely disappointed and here's why.

Poll

Who should the Cavaliers draft

Noel, McLemore, Porter, and Len Scenarios

2013-06-18T14:56:47Z

via content.sportslogos.net

And here we have it- were a little over a week away from the drat and about two from the July 1 free agency period. Talks are heating up, promises are being made, speculations are being speculations, and the Cavs are on the clock. Well, officially they have been on the clock side Nick Gilbert raised his hand for the No.1 Overall pick and Machine Gun Kelly grabbed Dan Gilbert’s arm in joy and excitement-bow ties and all. The Cavs were momentarily happy with the selection, and then reality set in. There are no clear-cut Blake Griffins, Lebrons, or Kyrie’s. No prospect solidified himself as the No. 1. Yet, on lottery night, the Gilberts made it clear that this is the "last time" they will be in the lottery "for a long time"

via binaryapi.ap.org

So now, they are on the clock and the pressure is mounting. Rumors are flying about Kevin Love, Aldridge, Dallas’ 13th pick, Marion, Granger, and many other scenarios. All differ and have varying degrees of potential with this current Cavs roster molded around a core of Dion, Kyrie and Tristan. (And to a lesser extent, Andy V)

That said, I’m going to offer some quick predictions in the case of all potential top 4 picks the Cavs are rumored to have interest in. The common picks thrown around are Noel, McLemore, Porter, and Len. Various trades with Dallas may be used as well as signings and cuts in the scenarios to build a playoff team.

I’m going to through in a Demarcus Cousins kicker at the bottom as well because, in all honesty, I think it would be a ideal scenario.

Let’s start, shall we?

First Up: Nerlens Noel

via cincinnati.com

The big man from Kentucky who averaged 10ppg+9rpg in his freshman season before tearing his ACL. He was a standout defender and likely on the way to challenging or potentially breaking Anthony Davis’ blocking record. He was a freak of an athlete with a haircut that could be marketed a number of ways. He hoped like a kangaroo and ran the floor like a spindly cheetah. Once the ACL tear happened, he wasn’t the "sure-fire" No. 1 anymore, with good reason. ACL’s are hard to recover from, regardless of what Adrian Peterson and Ricky Rubio have showed us. To their argument, Peterson doesn’t have to jump and Rubio is a finesse point gaurd. Explosive Basketball players, that hop like they are on springs-Rondo/Rose-are taking their time with their injuries. What does this mean for a bouncing, blocking big man in Nerlens? A lot. Will his explosiveness return? Who knows, but here is a scenario for the Cavs drafting him:

1st Pick: Noel

19th Pick: Trade to Indiana with CJ Miles for Danny Granger

Trade 31+33 to OKC for 29th pick and Hasheem Thabeet

Resign Ellington, Speights, and Livingston

Kyrie/Livingston
Dion/Ellington
Granger/Gee/Thomas
Thompson/Speights/AV
AV/Zeller/Noel/Thabeet

Best Case Scenario: AV stays healthy, Noel gets decent time after December, Dion+Thompson Makes Strides, Granger misses 18 games. Cavs get 7th Seed in the Playoffs.

Worst Case Scenario: AV and Granger stay unhealthy. Thomas joins D-League, Noel doesn’t recover well from tear.

Next Up: McLemore

via i2.cdn.turner.com

This PICTURE makes me want to draft him!!

Everyone seems to be down on this pick because the Cavs selected Dion last year at No. 4. This makes this selection seem immediately like a replacement. I don’t think that will be the case. This will just add firepower to our backcourt. There were talks last year that Dion and Kyrie will be a future tandem to reckon with, well add McLemore to that fold and it gets much more potent. He averaged 15ppg+5asp in his lone year with Kansas and that should translate well to the NBA given his size. Does he get the start over Dion? It depends on how he develops defensively in Mike Browns system.

No. 1 Pick: McLemore

Tell Dallas to Draft Steven Adams at 13 and then trade them Luke Walton’s expiring and our 31st+33rd in this year’s draft.

19th Pick-Trade to Indiana along with CJ Miles for Danny Granger.

Resign Ellington, and Speights.

Kyrie/Ellington
Dion/McLemore
Granger/Gee
Thompson/Speights/Jones
AV/Adams/Zeller

BCS: Everyone stays healthy and plays at LEAST 65 games. Cavs grab 6th Seed in NBA Playoffs and oust the ATL Hawks in first round before losing to the No. 2 Seeded Pacers.

WCS: Bad health and McLemore doesn’t pick up on Mike Brown’s Defensive scheme. No playoffs but outside of the lottery.

Third a go: Otto Porter

via i2.cdn.turner.com

I recently read an article that said Otto Porter was "born to play basketball". Another article said is he a rich man’s Tayshawn Prince or a poor man’s Paul George? Those are two good comparisons in my opinion, poor or rich. Porter has tremendous upside and an uncanny ability to cover a lot of ground in a quick and efficient manner. The only knock on Porter is what he brings offensively/defensively. We see an overall great player, but he has no real strong suits. With Noel we expect defense, with McLemore it’s offense and with Len it would be rebounding with a soft touch. But Porter? What exaclty is he? That’s the case in point, he is a great player. Like Tayshawn and George. Prince has showed sparks of defense-clearly what he’s known for- and offense. George is a do it all player who will be in contention for MVP in the next two years. The question is can Porter fit the same mold as either one of these players? Plus, he did average 16ppg+7asp+1.5rpg. That’s an all-around player right there.

No. 1 Pick: Porter

No. 19 Pick: Dennis Schroeder

No. 31+33 Traded for Future Picks

Sign Al Jefferson, Kyle Korver, and Speights

Kyrie/Schroeder
Dion/Korver/CJ Miles
Porter/Gee/Walton
Thompson/Speights/AV
Al Jefferson/AV/Zeller

BCS: Everyone stays healthy and Al Jeff averages 18ppg and 9rpg along with Thompson’s 14ppg and 12rpg. Cavs make the 6th Seed in the playoffs.

WCS: Al gets injured and were back to muddling around with a developing rookie while Kyrie looks like an all-star.

Fourth Times the Charm!: Alex Len

via bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com

This guy, this is the guy I like. With college averages of 11ppg+7rpb and his schooling of Noel, I think he may be beneficial to us for the long term. A steady guy at the 5 who can develop to the next Marcin Gortat-like scoring post player. Maybe even Peckovic if he gets large enough. I don’t project him turning into a wimp like Nick Collison, but maintaining his edge and excelling as an offensive scorer and rebounder. When I watch him play, I personally see a Pau Gasol type player in the making.

No. 1 Pick: Alex Len

Trade 31st+33rd+ORL 2nd Rounder in 2014 to Dallas for the 13th pick. Select Shabazz Muhammed.

Trade the 19th and CJ Miles to Indiana for Granger.

Resign Livingston, Ellington. Sign JJ Reddick and Greg Oden.

Kyrie/Livingston
Dion/Reddick/Muhammed
Granger/Gee/Muhammed
Thompson/AV/Zeller/Jones
Len/AV/Oden/Zeller

BCS: Cavs improve defensively and offensively with Reddick, Len, and Muhammed. Greg Oden plays 54 games and returns to "semi-form" Cavs get 5th seed in playoffs thanks to D and offense by Kyrie/Granger/Dion/Reddick/Len/Muhammed. Tristan averages double-digit rebounds.

WCS: Too many players who need the ball. Mike Brown doesn’t take advantage of Offensive players, scoring doesn’t happen.

And the Kicker: Demarcus Cousins

via www.nba.com

Cavs Trade down with Sacramento while inheriting John Salmons’ hideous contract for the No. 1 pick. Sacramento selects Nerlens and the Cavs nab Demarcus Cousins and the 7th Pick.

7th Pick-Anthony Bennett comes to Cleveland

19th Pick-Tony Mitchell Too!

Trade 31st+33rd with Dallas for OJ Mayo’s contract.

Extend Mayo, Resign Ellington, Livingston.

Kyrie/Livingston
Dion/Mayo
Gee/Salmons/Bennett
Thompson/Bennett/Mitchell
Demarcus/AV/Zeller

BCS: Cousins grows up and Bennett develops at the 3 over the course of the year. Cavs have offensive firepower and defense comes "along" as the year progresses.

WCS: Salmons is wasted money, Cousins gets 20 technical’s, Mitchell looks inept, and Bennett seems to want to out develop Tristan.

Whew!

While some are stronger than others, I do believe that all of these scenarios would get the Cavs on the right path while still having a little wiggle-room for 2014 to sign additional players. Kyrie will be Kyrie but I think the real improvement will come from Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller. People are overlooking Tyler Zeller. He has a decent jump shot and he just needs to get stronger. Look at his games from Indiana this past year. When he’s comfortable, he’s really good. He averaged more ppg than Peckovic and Gortat in their Rookie seasons as well. Dion should up his numbers to about 18ppg, maybe a little lower if the Cavs opt for McLemore.

Feel free to chime in!

Can’t wait for draft night. IF I could I’d round all of the Cavs fans up and get them to the Q!

via www.bballbreakdown.com

via content.sportslogos.net

via binaryapi.ap.org

I’m going to through in a Demarcus Cousins kicker at the bottom as well because, in all honesty, I think it would be a ideal scenario.

Let’s start, shall we?

First Up: Nerlens Noel

via cincinnati.com

1st Pick: Noel

19th Pick: Trade to Indiana with CJ Miles for Danny Granger

Trade 31+33 to OKC for 29th pick and Hasheem Thabeet

Resign Ellington, Speights, and Livingston

Kyrie/Livingston
Dion/Ellington
Granger/Gee/Thomas
Thompson/Speights/AV
AV/Zeller/Noel/Thabeet

Best Case Scenario: AV stays healthy, Noel gets decent time after December, Dion+Thompson Makes Strides, Granger misses 18 games. Cavs get 7th Seed in the Playoffs.

Worst Case Scenario: AV and Granger stay unhealthy. Thomas joins D-League, Noel doesn’t recover well from tear.

Next Up: McLemore

via i2.cdn.turner.com

This PICTURE makes me want to draft him!!

No. 1 Pick: McLemore

Tell Dallas to Draft Steven Adams at 13 and then trade them Luke Walton’s expiring and our 31st+33rd in this year’s draft.

19th Pick-Trade to Indiana along with CJ Miles for Danny Granger.

Resign Ellington, and Speights.

Kyrie/Ellington
Dion/McLemore
Granger/Gee
Thompson/Speights/Jones
AV/Adams/Zeller

BCS: Everyone stays healthy and plays at LEAST 65 games. Cavs grab 6th Seed in NBA Playoffs and oust the ATL Hawks in first round before losing to the No. 2 Seeded Pacers.

WCS: Bad health and McLemore doesn’t pick up on Mike Brown’s Defensive scheme. No playoffs but outside of the lottery.

Third a go: Otto Porter

via i2.cdn.turner.com

No. 1 Pick: Porter

No. 19 Pick: Dennis Schroeder

No. 31+33 Traded for Future Picks

Sign Al Jefferson, Kyle Korver, and Speights

Kyrie/Schroeder
Dion/Korver/CJ Miles
Porter/Gee/Walton
Thompson/Speights/AV
Al Jefferson/AV/Zeller

BCS: Everyone stays healthy and Al Jeff averages 18ppg and 9rpg along with Thompson’s 14ppg and 12rpg. Cavs make the 6th Seed in the playoffs.

WCS: Al gets injured and were back to muddling around with a developing rookie while Kyrie looks like an all-star.

Fourth Times the Charm!: Alex Len

via bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com

No. 1 Pick: Alex Len

Trade 31st+33rd+ORL 2nd Rounder in 2014 to Dallas for the 13th pick. Select Shabazz Muhammed.

Trade the 19th and CJ Miles to Indiana for Granger.

Resign Livingston, Ellington. Sign JJ Reddick and Greg Oden.

Kyrie/Livingston
Dion/Reddick/Muhammed
Granger/Gee/Muhammed
Thompson/AV/Zeller/Jones
Len/AV/Oden/Zeller

WCS: Too many players who need the ball. Mike Brown doesn’t take advantage of Offensive players, scoring doesn’t happen.

And the Kicker: Demarcus Cousins

via www.nba.com

Cavs Trade down with Sacramento while inheriting John Salmons’ hideous contract for the No. 1 pick. Sacramento selects Nerlens and the Cavs nab Demarcus Cousins and the 7th Pick.

7th Pick-Anthony Bennett comes to Cleveland

19th Pick-Tony Mitchell Too!

Trade 31st+33rd with Dallas for OJ Mayo’s contract.

Extend Mayo, Resign Ellington, Livingston.

Kyrie/Livingston
Dion/Mayo
Gee/Salmons/Bennett
Thompson/Bennett/Mitchell
Demarcus/AV/Zeller

BCS: Cousins grows up and Bennett develops at the 3 over the course of the year. Cavs have offensive firepower and defense comes "along" as the year progresses.

WCS: Salmons is wasted money, Cousins gets 20 technical’s, Mitchell looks inept, and Bennett seems to want to out develop Tristan.

Whew!

Feel free to chime in!

Can’t wait for draft night. IF I could I’d round all of the Cavs fans up and get them to the Q!

via www.bballbreakdown.com

Poll

What should the Cavs do?

What should Cleveland do with their 1st Overall Pick.

2013-06-18T03:00:26Z

So.. this happened.

Did anyone find Dan Gilbert and his entourage were being too emphatic? I realize winning the number one pick is worth celebrating, I get it. But when your team has been in the lottery and got four top-5 picks in the last three years, that means your team sucked.

"YEAHHHH YEAHHH ATTA BOY NICKY!"

Seriously?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riwE9DQRJWs]

In my opinion, their celebration was too rowdy. The NBA Lottery is like a gift for sucking. It's like letting a dude who couldn't make the varsity team be a water boy. "Hey, you can't play, but I'll let you be on the team"

Okay, I'm done ranting about Dan Gilbert and his entourage now.

Let's talk about what the Cavaliers can do with their pick(s). Cleveland has the 1st, 19th, 31st and 33rd picks in this draft. They have four picks in one of the worst drafts in modern era. The Cavaliers are a very young team. Nick Gilbert thinks the Cavs can make the playoffs, apparently. This team cannot make the playoffs with the talent that they have right now. Can they draft a player who will make them a playoff team? Probably not. A young team like this need a veteran that can complement young stars in Irving and Waiters. Brian Winhorst reported that the Cavs could trade their 1st pick:

WHATT??? TRADE THE 1ST OVERALL PICK?

Yes. Last time a team traded their 1st overall pick was back in 1993-94 season, when the Magic traded Chris Webber to the Warriors for Penny Hardaway. But remember, this is a bad draft. There is no question the Cavaliers are going to listen to offers for this pick.

So let's look at what they can do with their pick(s):

1. Just draft Nerlens Noel with the 1st pick

There's a general consensus among experts that Noel will be the number one pick. He is a top-level athlete who is a tremendous shot-blocker and shot changer. Every successful NBA team has good rebounders. He's a limited offensive threat who lacks post game and has a slim build. But we all know that the upcoming NBA draft is weak, teams are not expecting to draft superstars.

Noel's excellent athleticism and ability to block shots are intriguing. He protects the rim and very active. He definitely has to bulk up in order to attain a strong base in the post. When it comes to offense, Noel is as raw as you can get. He doesn't have a face-up game or back-to-the-basket game, but he is active around the rim. Majority of his points come from put-backs. In a weak draft like this, Noel is probably the safest bet despite his ACL injury.

1a. Draft Noel and suck again next year

The dirty secret about drafting Noel is that whoever drafts him will not improve immediately. Noel weighs 206lbs and he is recovering from a torn ACL injury that he suffered back in February. Wait a second, he weighs 206 pounds? Yes, he weighs 20 pounds heavier than me, I'm 6 feet tall and he's 6'11''.

Noel will be cleared to do basketball activities in January, if he's lucky, and he obviously needs to address his weight problem before becoming a major part of an NBA team. And, this is exactly why the Cavs need to take Noel. Because Noel won't help the Cavaliers immediately, and will let the Cavs tank or suck again next year. 2014 NBA Draft is loaded with talents, featuring Wiggins, Randle, Harrison brothers and Gordon. Realistically, this team won't be that good next year. This isn't a team that can create a buzz in the playoffs like the Warriors did this year. So, grab Noel, tank next year, get a good draft pick, then take a player who screams potential in the 2014 NBA Draft.

1b. Draft Noel and Sign Josh Smith

Can you imagine a starting rotation of Irving, Waiters, Smith, Thompson and Noel running the floor? That would be a frightening up-tempo team.

Josh Smith is a beast around the rim, but takes a lot of jump shots from the perimeter. Sometimes, he comes a ball-stopper too, he sometimes thinks he's Carmelo Anthony or something. Although, Smith's ability to run the floor and play defense can be very helpful for the Cavs, I don't think Cleveland should go for him.

Smith will likely demand a four-year deal of $14-16 million per year. That is too much money for a guy who is not a franchise changer. And, when the contract is signed, he becomes a untradeable guy right away, no one will trade for him.

1c. Draft Noel and Sign Andre Igoudala

Igoudala found himself in Denver. His playmaking ability and defensive intensity were a pefrect fit in the Nuggets' high-octane system. Iggy is one of only five players to average at least 12points, five rebounds and five assists this season; the other four were Rondo, Westbrook and LeBron. He is essentially a point forward.

I love Igoudala's defensive ability he'd bring to the Cavs. But Irving runs the show in Cleveland. Waiters is the 2nd ball handler to Irving. I'm not sure if Iggy can be a complementary player along two dominant ball handlers. He's not a good spot up shooter.

Oh, and he shot 57% from the free throw line. Not from the field, from the free throw line.

That's egregious.

1d. Draft Noel and Trade nos. 19, 33 and Marreese Speights for Danny Granger

Granger's injury limited him to only five games this season. Danny Granger has been very productive in the NBA, averaging 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds during his first seven seasons. He could provide the Cavaliers with extra scoring and shooting from the wing. A healthy Granger would definitely be an upgrade over Alonzo Gee.

Granger has one year left on his contract at $14 million. Remember, the Cavs have about $20 million in cap room. So they don't have to return a big contract to the Pacers to get Granger.

The Pacers had a good season without Granger. The emergence of Lance Stephenson could happen because of Granger's injury. Granger became a trade commodity all of a sudden. If the Pacers get rid of Granger's contract, they will be able to re-sign David West. If they have to pick one between West and Granger, they'll choose West. Cleveland could use the 19th and 33rd picks to persuade the Pacers to trade their former star.

If the Cavs make the playoffs, Granger can be the guy who provides floor spacing as an offensive threat. If they don't make the playoffs, Granger is a good enough scorer that he can possibly be flipped to a contender before the trade deadline.

Cleveland really wouldn’t have much to lose in this scenario. The 19th pick in a draft lacking any apparent difference makers most likely wouldn’t help the Cavaliers enough to make a big difference, so why not wager it on a proven veteran that could be had for a marginal risk. The move would make a lot of sense for both Cleveland and the Pacers, and both sides should consider making the trade a reality.

1e. Draft Noel and Trade nos. 19, 31, and Anderson Varejao for Luol Deng

If Cleveland is really serious about bringing LeBron back to Ohio, the Cavaliers need to start crafting their roster next year. A big part of the process will involve cutting salaries to make cap room for the summer of 2014. If LeBron comes back, Cleveland will have to be adding veterans to the rotation while young players are on their rookie contracts. And, it is likely that Varejao won't be on the team for financial issues.

The young core of Irving, Waiters, Thompson and Zeller has shown tremendous potential last year. With the addition of Noel, this core becomes more promising. Having said that, Luol Deng is a perfect fit with this core. A defensive wing who can give you 15 - 19 point a night. Also, if Deng decides to stay after this year for less money, he could be play in a small, quick starting lineup with LeBron.

Why would the Bulls do this deal? Because they would save about $5 million. We all know they're cheap as hell.

1f. Draft Noel and Trade nos. 19, 31, and 33 for Paul Pierce

Pierce is in the last year of his current contract. Any expiring contracts are good.

I really believe Paul Pierce still has value. Pierce would give Mike Brown a respected veteran voice and provide quality scoring from the wing. If Dan Gilbert wants to be in the discussion of acquiring King James, the Cavaliers will need to make the playoffs next year -- show LeBron this team has good supporting casts. This Cavs team with Pierce has a legitimate chance of making the playoffs.

When the season is over, there is still cap space to bring in one of the 2014 free agents.

1g. Draft Noel and Trade nos. 19, 31, and Varejao for Pau Gasol

The 7-footer is entering the final year of his contract. We don't know how healthy Gasol is going to be as he is still recovering from a knee procedure. But, assuming he will be healthy, he is a perfect fit for the Cavaliers. Of all potential deals, I love this move the best. Gasol is a beast in the low post. He can maybe teach a thing or two about post moves to Nerlens Noel who simply doesn't know how to score. Also, Gasol can be a trade chip before the trade deadline if things don't work out for Cleveland.

If the Lakers end up re-signing Dwight, they will have to trade Gasol. And, when they make that trade, it'll have to be a cash dump trade. The Lakers don't have anybody on their roster, and they are a $80 million tax team. This trade will save them nearly $80 million in cash ($20million in salary + Tax). Varejao is a great piece to take back, because he's an effective player when healthy, and he keeps the door opened for LeBron in 2014 as his contract expires after next season.

2. Trade Down

The Cavaliers need a starting-caliber help on the wing, especially shooting. Alonzo Gee has been starting at the 3 spot for the last two years. Come on. They were 23rd in 3-point percentage in the NBA, this must improve in order to provide Irving more space to operate. Otto Porter is an ideal fit in terms of bringing shooting ability and defensive versatility to the table. Porter is projected to to go 3rd in the draft. The problem is, the Wizards love Otto Porter too. He is a perfect fit for Washington too. But they would still love to grab Noel, they can let him grow and improve as a player around veteran players like Nene and Okafor. The Cavaliers need to make this move to draft Porter, especially if they want to sign a free agent and get better next year.

2a. Trade down, Draft Porter and Sign Al Jefferson

Jefferson is not a franchise player, but he's been paid like one. But this time, he won't get as much money. It's a virtual lock that the Jazz won't re-sign Jefferson, given the development of young bigs they have.

Jefferson is a solid defensive rebounder. His low-post game is unorthodox but very effective.

I'm not sure if he's a leader that this young Cavs team is looking for.

2b. Trade down, Draft Porter and Sign Andrew Bynum

I'm sorry, Cleveland fans for linking your franchise with Andrew Bynum.

But, when healthy, Bynum is a probably the best low-post scorer at his position. Before sitting out the entire season, he was almost assured of a max contract. A very little number of players can stop healthy Bynum in the post. The talent is there, but there's a serious question as to whether he is mentally ready to be a franchise cornerstone.

If the Cavaliers can give him a one-year deal, there will be very minimal risk. Every one-year deal is good.

2c. Trade no.1 pick for no.2 + Moe Harkless

Forward Maurice Harkless became a late season reason for Magic fans to continue watching their team. Harkless averaged impressive numbers post All-Star. Along with his solid numbers, he brings strong on-ball defense.

Cleveland already has two ball dominant perimeter players in Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. Harkless is a type of players that doesn't need the ball. Majority of his points come from cuts to the basket and offensive put-back opportunities. His growth as a three-point shooter opened up driving lanes for him at the end of the last season. Harkless became a solid, low-usage offensive player who takes high value shots. He couldn't be a better small forward to fill in at the 3 spot for Cleveland.

PS. He turned 20 a month ago.

2d. Trade down, Draft Porter and Sign Peković

The Cavaliers have about $20million in cap room and do not have any fully guaranteed deals yet on the books for 2014-15. They might be in the finest cap situation in the league. Waiters and Thompson are promising, and they still have a star point guard, Kyrie Irving on the rookie deal.

Peković, at 27, has become one of te most effective bigs in the league. He is the most underrated center in the game in my opinion. He's big, strong, can run the floor, finishes in the paint and most importantly, he has good hands. Just look at him. Would you want to bang your body against him and fight for a reboun in the paint?It'll cost about a 4-year, $50 million contract to sign him. That's a very reasonable price for a young productive center.Nikola Peković is a restricted free agent, that means if Minnesota matches any deal offered to Peković, they get to keep him. So, the Cavaliers might not be able to get him. But I still think the Cavs should try to sign him. This is a very important point. Minnesota will most likely match any team's offer. The Cavaliers should force the T-Wolves to match their pricey offer, along the line of $55 million for 4 years. This will limit Minnesota's cap flexibility which will become a crucial problem as far as keeping Kevin Love in town. It's a very good strategic to set up the next move. Acquiring Kevin Love. Read point #3a.

3. Trade the picks + @ for Immediate Success

You cannot win with just young players in this league. You need veterans, and stars that aren't super young to win. The Cavs will have to shop for a star, to pair with Kyrie Irving. Cleveland has so much asset and cap space. They are almost hoping for a James Harden-like trade. There are a few potential trades like that.

The backend of this idea is that if they can get two stars, with one of them being Kyrie on the rookie contract, they will still have a max-slot next year for LeBron. With the potential of LeBron opting out in the summer of 2014, Cleveland will be setting up a run at reacquiring The Chosen One. LeBron wants to win. LeBron's not going to want to play with a bunch of young guys. If Cleveland wants to lure him back, they need a major talent upgrade.

3a. Trade nos. 1, 19, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson for Kevin Love

I don't know who labels people stars, but even [T'wolves owner] Glen Taylor said: I don't think Kevin Love is a star, because he hasn't led us to the playoffs. I mean, it's not like I had much support out there

That's an exact quote from a young star player who plays in Minneapolis. Kevin Love doesn't feel like his team is good enough to compete. Unless, Minnesota somehow becomes a serious contender in two years, my bet is that he leaves Minnesota when he becomes a free agent after 2014-2015 season. Love, when healthy, is a top-10 player in the league. I would not trade him for Noel, 19th pick, Dion Waitors and Tristan Thompson, no way. But if I'm 80% sure he's going to leave? I might think about doing this deal.

For Cleveland's perspective, if I could trade for Love and pair him with Irving to build my franchise, I'd give up more. And, seeing young versions of Uncle Drew and Wes play together would be something to watch:

Pepsi MAX & Kyrie Irving Present: "Uncle Drew: Chapter 2" (via Pepsi)

3b. Trade nos. 1, 19 Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson for LaMarcus Aldridge

Aldridge is a two-time All-Star entering his prime. The only two players this past season to average at least 20 points and eight rebounds per game were Aldridge and LeBron.

This is very unlikely to happen, not only because Aldridge has two years left on his contract, but also, he's too good. The only scenario where I could see it happening is a Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard-type situation where Aldridge demands a trade.

Trading Aldridge would mean a total blowup by the Trail Blazers. The pof Lillard, Waiters, Batum, Thompson and Noel can be a better starting lineup than any other rebuilding teams.

Waiters showed some flashes post All-Star of being a high-caliber starting combo guard. Thompson has become a legitimate energy guy. But neither is in Aldridge's stratosphere.

This deal probably won't happen in the near future, but I won't be surprised if it happened.

LaMarcus Aldridge's monster block on Kyrie Irving (via TheBlazersVideos)

3c. Trade nos. 1, Tyler Zeller and Dion Waiters for DeMarcus Cousins

The new regime has taken over the Kings. If the Ranadive front office wants to turn the page from the Maloof years, it begins by moving on from the Cousins-Tyreke Evans years. Both Cousins and Evans are in the early 20s. It might be tough to give up on them, but it's been proven that this team will not go any far without making major changes.

Cousins has enormous talent, but his on and off court attitude caused major issues in Sacramento since he was drafted. It's not impossible that the new ownership will ship him out. If they're going to pull the plug on Cousins, they might as well do it now. They won't get a better offer because he's a perceived troublemaker who is going into the final year of his contract before he hits restricted free agency. Getting a high lottery pick might be the best the Kings can hope for.

If the Cavaliers pull this trade off, you'd be looking at a core of Irving, Cousins and Thompson with a ton of cap space. If Cleveland pulls off option 1e and 3c, you'd be looking at a lineup of Irving, Cousins, Thompson, Deng, and a two guard to be named. Even if the Cavs don't get LeBron James after next season, an Irving-Cousins-Deng-Thompson core is promising, good enough to make some impact in the Eastern Conference.

Demarcus Cousins runs into padding under the basket (via memoismoney)

Final Thought

Cleveland has put themselves into a very good situation. They have a ton of options because of the cap space they managed to acquire. Kyrie Irving is already one of the best players in the league. Even if they don't get LeBron James in the summer of 2014, a bright future is ahead of them.

So.. this happened.

"YEAHHHH YEAHHH ATTA BOY NICKY!"

Seriously?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riwE9DQRJWs]

Okay, I'm done ranting about Dan Gilbert and his entourage now.

WHATT??? TRADE THE 1ST OVERALL PICK?

So let's look at what they can do with their pick(s):

1. Just draft Nerlens Noel with the 1st pick

1a. Draft Noel and suck again next year

1b. Draft Noel and Sign Josh Smith

Can you imagine a starting rotation of Irving, Waiters, Smith, Thompson and Noel running the floor? That would be a frightening up-tempo team.

1c. Draft Noel and Sign Andre Igoudala

Oh, and he shot 57% from the free throw line. Not from the field, from the free throw line.

That's egregious.

1d. Draft Noel and Trade nos. 19, 33 and Marreese Speights for Danny Granger

Granger has one year left on his contract at $14 million. Remember, the Cavs have about $20 million in cap room. So they don't have to return a big contract to the Pacers to get Granger.

1e. Draft Noel and Trade nos. 19, 31, and Anderson Varejao for Luol Deng

Why would the Bulls do this deal? Because they would save about $5 million. We all know they're cheap as hell.

1f. Draft Noel and Trade nos. 19, 31, and 33 for Paul Pierce

Pierce is in the last year of his current contract. Any expiring contracts are good.

When the season is over, there is still cap space to bring in one of the 2014 free agents.

1g. Draft Noel and Trade nos. 19, 31, and Varejao for Pau Gasol

2. Trade Down

2a. Trade down, Draft Porter and Sign Al Jefferson

Jefferson is a solid defensive rebounder. His low-post game is unorthodox but very effective.

I'm not sure if he's a leader that this young Cavs team is looking for.

2b. Trade down, Draft Porter and Sign Andrew Bynum

I'm sorry, Cleveland fans for linking your franchise with Andrew Bynum.

If the Cavaliers can give him a one-year deal, there will be very minimal risk. Every one-year deal is good.

2c. Trade no.1 pick for no.2 + Moe Harkless

PS. He turned 20 a month ago.

2d. Trade down, Draft Porter and Sign Peković

3. Trade the picks + @ for Immediate Success

3a. Trade nos. 1, 19, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson for Kevin Love

I don't know who labels people stars, but even [T'wolves owner] Glen Taylor said: I don't think Kevin Love is a star, because he hasn't led us to the playoffs. I mean, it's not like I had much support out there

Pepsi MAX & Kyrie Irving Present: "Uncle Drew: Chapter 2" (via Pepsi)

3b. Trade nos. 1, 19 Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson for LaMarcus Aldridge

Aldridge is a two-time All-Star entering his prime. The only two players this past season to average at least 20 points and eight rebounds per game were Aldridge and LeBron.

Trading Aldridge would mean a total blowup by the Trail Blazers. The pof Lillard, Waiters, Batum, Thompson and Noel can be a better starting lineup than any other rebuilding teams.

Waiters showed some flashes post All-Star of being a high-caliber starting combo guard. Thompson has become a legitimate energy guy. But neither is in Aldridge's stratosphere.

This deal probably won't happen in the near future, but I won't be surprised if it happened.

LaMarcus Aldridge's monster block on Kyrie Irving (via TheBlazersVideos)

3c. Trade nos. 1, Tyler Zeller and Dion Waiters for DeMarcus Cousins

Demarcus Cousins runs into padding under the basket (via memoismoney)

Final Thought

5 Questions the Cavs need to answer before the draft.

2013-06-17T20:20:17Z

So the more info comes out the more I'm confused about what the Cavs should do in the draft. However below is what I hope are five questions that they should be asking to make progress towards finding the next building blocks for the team.

1. Who is Nerlens Noel(and who will he be)?:

This question might be the only one that ends up mattering. The Cavs need to sort through quite a big of conflicting information on him, his injury, and his abilities to figure this out. Everyone has plenty of insight into both his strengths and weaknesses already so I won't waste time reiterating them, but I think the consensus is that if Noel can stay healthy and is the person that Calapari says he is, then he's a franchise player and we need to draft him. However those are two if's that have been questioned from a medical, character, and basketball skills standpoint. Hopefully CG and company put on their Scooby Doo pants and get to the bottom of this mystery.

2. How bad were Alex Len's guards at Maryland?:

Len's measurables, and skill set are that of a #1. His production is that of a non lottery pick (especially that post up data). Len proponents have been quick to explain his deficiencies as a result of crappy guard play in Terpville. They say it led to him being underutilized, and less effective in the post than he should have been. If we decide there are too many flags with Noel, Len (on paper) is the closest thing to a protypical center, I didn't watch Maryland have enough to make the call but its possible his guards/system limited him, and he'll become a great two way player at the 5, however its also possible that he never fulfills his potential even with great guards. I really wish I had the answer.

3. Is Otto Porter a rich man's Tayshaun Prince, or a poor man's Paul George and whats the difference?:

Watching Paul George develop into a top tier SF made me legitimately excited to have Porter on our team. I know he's not the athlete George is, but he supposedly has the length, shooting, and passing to do everything but George's highlight dunks. If that's the case he's probably the best player in the draft. I've gone back and forth on this guy all year and I've come to the conclusion whoever gets him will have a productive starter and at worst a 3D guy, but will have to live with the fact that if he's a slightly better version of Tayshaun Prince at the #1, expectations might derail his career before it starts. I think that is the real difference between the two scenarios are how Porter would deal with pressure and expectations put on him, the Pacers were able to bring George along relatively slowly but Porter might not have the luxury.

4. What does each wing bring to the table?:

So McElmore brings shooting, athleticism, potentially defense, questions about his motor, (potentially) great defense, and that weird little dance he does in the lockeroom. Oladipo brings athleticisim,(potentially) good shooting, hustle play and transition skills, and a crazy motor. I see Oladipo's skill set being such that we could play him with Kyrie, Dion, or both.(for limited minutes at first but more frequently if he develops into the stopper people think he'll be) Ultimately I like McElmore and think he's the favorite for R.O.Y. but as Alonzo said in Training Day, 'This shit's chess. It ain't checkers.' so it would be short sighted to just grab a guy with their rookie season in mind. Oladipo could grow into the Swiss Army knife we need at the wing to compliment Kyrie and Dion so I can't see a scenario where McElmore should be the pick over Oladipo. I guess someone else will have to lead the lockeroom dancing.

5.Who's available at 19?:

Its a fool's error to let the 19th pick should dictate the #1, BUT I was trying to think of players who might be around and how they stack up to potential #1's and it clarified value of potential #1's for me. Example: Is it possible that Kelly Olynk will be better than Noel? If Noel is healthly I would say that's got less than a 5% chance of happening..... However I would say Sergei Karasev might have a 25% chance of having a better career than Porter. So by this I would deem Noel is a better risk than Porter. Anyways its kind of backwards logic but I think it shows upside and positional value create some sort of order. Essentially there aren't too many game changers at 19 but there are guys who could be good starters so the #1 should have a much better best case scenario (at least in my mind).

So I guess to recap: I'm pretty lost on where the Cavs are and as a result I'm just trying to learn as much as possible about potential picks and think rationally when it comes to roster building. Hopefully Grant and Gilbert walk away from interviews and workouts with the answers to these and other questions. Please let me know what you guys think they should be asking/ taking from the interviews and workouts.

Off-Topic Threads

2013-06-17T20:17:17Z

Although it was overshadowed by the crazy drama, I noticed another mini debate/issue with some posters about this website. Some people believe that we get off-topic too often, which is kind of true. So I got an idea to resolve this issue (if it really is an issue): we could do what some other SB nation blogs do and limit the amount of off-topic/silly things to specific fan posts that are done every week or so. I really don't have a problem with getting off-topic, but some of our fellow FTS members do, so we should probably respect their views and keep FTS desirable for all. Thoughts?

Blockbuster trade.

2013-06-17T11:33:11Z

The Evil One comes to the podium to announce the first pick of the draft, or so you think.

"There has been a trade", he hisses.

"The Los Angeles Lakers get the 19th pick in the draft, and future conditional draft picks from Memphis and Sacramento."

"Miami gets Dwight Howard, the 1st pick in the draft, and a future conditional Miami Heat Pick back".

"Cleveland gets Lebron James"

"As part of the trade, both Dwight Howard and Lebron James have agreed to five year maximum contracts".

Net result for the Cavs: both first round picks this year, and the future picks we hold from Miami, Sacramento, and Memphis for Lebron with a max contract. We still have about $8M in cap space left, plus our exceptions.

The Evil One comes to the podium to announce the first pick of the draft, or so you think.

"There has been a trade", he hisses.

"The Los Angeles Lakers get the 19th pick in the draft, and future conditional draft picks from Memphis and Sacramento."

"Miami gets Dwight Howard, the 1st pick in the draft, and a future conditional Miami Heat Pick back".

"Cleveland gets Lebron James"

"As part of the trade, both Dwight Howard and Lebron James have agreed to five year maximum contracts".

Poll

How do you feel after the trade?

If the Heat lose, Lebron might come back to Cleveland

2013-06-17T04:31:20Z

I didn't really pay attention to the Lebron returning to Cleveland talk until now. If the Heat lose there's a very good chance Lebron will return to Cleveland to save face and to save his legacy.

This puts the Cavs in an odd position because James is so fickle. The Cavs will build preparing for Lebron James and his return and he might not return. So the Cavs will be in Lebron limbo if the Heat lose. If they lose Lebron will go back to being Lechoke and Lebum because he couldn't win a Championship with Allen, Bosh and Wade.

I will say this, if Lebron returns to Cleveland the Cavs could become a dynasty. In this scenario Nerlens Noel would be the best pick if his knee checks out. I don't want to pick Noel but if Lebron returns it might be a perfect fit.

The main thing you would need is more wing players.

With Irving, Waiters and James at the 1, 2 and 3 you want some Danny Greens on the wing. Maybe look for a stretch 4 that can shoot and pick up players like Dorell Wright. We will hopefully have Ellington as well.

So it all comes down to if the Heat win or lose this Championship series. If they lose there's a 60 to 70% chance Lebron returns to Cleveland. It may be even higher than that. If the Heat win the series, Lebron isn't coming back to Cleveland. Back to back titles will clear up all the pressure on Lebron and he will not return to a pressure situation in Cleveland.

So if the Heat lose pick Noel if his knee checks out and prepare for Lebron.

If the Heat win, pick Porter and start building now with securing the wing.

I didn't really pay attention to the Lebron returning to Cleveland talk until now. If the Heat lose there's a very good chance Lebron will return to Cleveland to save face and to save his legacy.

The main thing you would need is more wing players.

So if the Heat lose pick Noel if his knee checks out and prepare for Lebron.

If the Heat win, pick Porter and start building now with securing the wing.

Nerlens Noel: The Choice By Default? The Cavs Tough Call and the Decisions to Follow

2013-06-17T00:25:56Z

Nerlens Noel: The Choice By Default? The Cavs Tough Call and the Decisions to Follow

Kentucky's Nerlens Noel is predicted to be the Overall No. 1 selection by the Cavs

By: Jason T. Davis @WisdomOfSports

If you're an NBA fan and you're not a fan of the NBA draft, I feel sorry for you. Now even I understand not everyone wanting to sit through the tedious event on television. I also understand that most viewers don't even know the names being selected, but that's not the point. The point is that despite one's knowledge of names or aspirations to sit through roughly 4-6 hours of drafting, we should all be fans of seeing young men achieving their goals and fresh new stars entering the league. This time of year is like Christmas to a hoops fan. You get to watch the playoffs/NBA Finals, and you get to witness the culmination of this years crop of youngsters enter the league you so love. For a fan of basketball, it's pure elation. For a fan of a specific team? It can end up as pure agony, but it begins as pure joy.

For that one night, everything is still unknown. Every pick Could be an All-Star, every second rounder a sleeper. There's so much optimism and excitement in the air before anything has even had time to settle. The teams holding the higher picks always have more to think about. They're losing teams. They desperately need to find the diamond amongst the pebbles. There's still no true way of knowing. There's no algorithm that will solve the questions surrounding a pro prospect. There's only the gusto to pull the trigger. In just a few short weeks all the NBA teams will be rolling the dice on whomever they perceive to be their guy, but eyes are on one team in particular. That would be the Cavaliers and their No. 1 pick.

In a year without a true No. 1 choice, the Cavs must rely solely on their gut and analysis. No Rose, no Griffin, no Yao, NO LEBRON. This one will go down as a memorable one in my eyes and for the Cavs sake, I hope it's remembered as a fantastic decision on their part. One which will have moved the franchise forward for a long time. Now the question is who? Who will they take in this giant question mark of a draft?

We all know what the draft is. A guessing game. A gambling man's game. It's a crap shoot and when it goes wrong, it can set a franchise back years, even decades(Greg Oden over Durant, Josh Childress over Deng, Darko over Melo/Wade/Bosh, Marvin Williams over CP3/D-Willy). When it goes right? It can define a franchise and at times even build up a city(Durant/Oklahoma City, Duncan/San Antonio, Shaq/Orlando, Lebron/Cleveland, Jordan/Chicago). The list of the bulls-eyes and busts are as long and tedious as the draft process itself. Having the overall number one pick in a year of complete unknown only makes the stress of getting the right guy even higher. But remember, fans don't need you to grab the most popular pick, they need you to make the right pick. That however, is a very difficult thing to do. The Cavs have a history of doing it right, but those were relatively easy options.

The Cavs had pretty clear choices in their two most recent No. 1 selections. Lebron was a specimen

Irving and Waiter lead the Cavs talented young Crew, along with Thompson

the NBA had not seen before and was a guaranteed lock at No. 1 in his Junior year of high school. It was a no-brainer and changed the entire city, especially financially. Kyrie, on the other hand, did have some questions around him, but for the most part was a lock as well. There were questions as to how good he could really be and how he'd hold up physically. Could he be on the CP3 level? That was the hope. Turns out, he has a lot more offensively to offer than CP3 even does. The kid's a star. The concerns over his health and ability to withhold a long NBA season were somewhat fair. After all, he did break a bone in his foot and sat the rest of the Duke season before coming back for the tourney to play a couple games. That draft class, at the top, looked weak though. He was clearly ready to at least lead an NBA team and the Cavs needed a PG and leadership regardless. Luckily for them, they got much more than a 'game-manager.'

This year? The Cavs will have scrutiny no matter what route they take. They have a very difficult and defining choice in front of them. There is no clear-cut guy this time. It's obviously more of a gamble than most years and the Cavs, like they've done in recent history, will have to pull the risky trigger on someone that night. Good news? They are one franchise that is not scared to go with their gut.

Cavs and the Common Draft Speculation

The Cavs have a huge decision to make, bigger than most years. I know they may be listening to trade offers, but who doesn't listen? I don't hear that they're listening too closely though. Obviously I could be wrong, but it's my opinion that they will keep the pick and grab a young player. The Cavs seem inclined to build with young talent, and in this years uncertain draft, most teams are not interested in giving up proven assets for a possible bust at the top. For argument's sake, let's say they keep the pick and use it.

No one's saying Noel will be a bust per say, it seems too illogical. He has too much talent to wind up a true "bust." The questions surrounding his offensive skills and his ability to put on more mass are there, and they're valid. He needs to add weight, specifically muscle. He's a legit 6'11. Of course, that high-top does help.

Let's not forget about his most current issue and the defining red flag: His health. The man was having a great Freshman season at Kentucky until he tore his ACL around halfway through. At the time, he was being talked about as a probable lock at the No. 1 pick. This was due to his "Anthony Davis-like ability" and simply the extreme question marks surrounding everyone else in this year's draft. In 24 games started/played, Noel averaged some pretty nice numbers: 11 ppg 10 rpg 2 spg 2 apg & 4 bpg. The man showed his defensive skills and knack for blocking shots. He also brought a lot of energy and always seemed to be under control. He's also still very young(19). Couple that with an uncanny ability to protect the rim and he looks like a great decision. Still, the uncertainty remains.

Davis averaged 14pts, 8rbs, 2blks in 64/82 games played this year

This year kind of smells like last year's draft. Get an athletic big man who can protect the rim by nature. It does sound really nice: A young giant who appears to be the kind of piece that a team can build around for a decade or so. Kentucky comparisons aside, he looks to be this year's Anthony Davis. The Hornets weren't going to miss out on such a staple piece to build around in last years draft. Especially given the concerns regarding the other top picks. Davis' weakness is his body type. He's lean, kind of weak, and can be prone to injury. This sort of raises the worry regarding Noel. Davis played well his rookie season, but he kept getting nicked up throughout the year with minor injuries, and it has some people starting to wonder about his durability in the paint. Is he capable of taking that kind of beating for and extended career? I guess we'll see. Either way Davis is a freakish big man that a team can put great pieces around. He has great character, work ethic, natural abilities and can find his role with anyone on the court. He naturally blends in with his teammates. Sound like anyone else to you?

Cavs management and fans are hoping that if they choose Noel, he will keep putting on mass, rehab that knee back to normal, and become the interior defensive force he is predicted to be.

The interesting dilemma is not that the Cavs shouldn't take Noel, it's if they should take someone else instead? Is an injured, shot-blocking, skinny, non-shooter worth the overall No. 1 pick? Can you find that elsewhere? Future free agency or even a future draft? Hell, they also have the 19th pick THIS year! Maybe they grab Nick Withey out of Kansas or Dieng out of Louisville to help protect the rim. They have options and the Cavs will make the move they feel is best, that's certain. They took Waiters last year over Barnes. It shocked quite a few people. They surprised the WORLD the year prior with Tristan Thompson at #4(which I applauded given his raw ability at only age 19). Point is, they really don't care what anyone else thinks of a prospect. That can be a very good attribute for a franchise. As long as you're not David Kahn, former Wolves GM.

Georgetown's Otto Porter is considered the Safest pick in this draft

Other Options?

The other side to the "Noel" coin is they take whoever they feel is going to be the best pro, regardless of position. The odds are someone in the first 20 guys will be a better pro than Nerlens. He could be a nice big, but there will be better players from this crop. For me personally, a clear cut choice for the Cavs if not Noel, is Otto Porter from Georgetown. The long SF would be a great fit with Kyrie at the PG, Dion Waiters at the SG, and Tristan Thompson at the PF. With his mid-range game and ability to lock down defenders of multiple positions, you'd compliment your two scoring guards greatly, and allow Tristan to become a true PF. You'd have quite the young nice core in Ohio and NO ONE would snide at the pick. At least not right away. Sometimes the safe pick is the best. Sometimes.

Otto Porter is basically being talked about as the "Only Sure Thing" in this year's draft. Couple that with the fact that the Cavs need a legit SF, it's a pretty tempting idea. Take the so-called "sure-thing" at a position of need over the athletic center covered in question marks. It sounds pretty logical, given Otto pans out. I like either move if management handles it the right way. I'd like to see them grab Porter, but I'm more than fine with them grabbing Noel. If they see Porter as a "Kawhi Leonard/Paul George hybrid type," get him. If they don't and want the beast rim protector, that sounds great too. Although, Otto isn't the only name being thrown around at the top of the draft board. The most talked about No. 2 pick is someone else. Someone with lots of raw ability. Perhaps he's in the mix in Cleveland as well.

McLemore's athleticism and shooting have made him climb this draft

Kansas' Ben McLemore is the No. 2 pick in just about every mock out there. Some say Orlando would like to move that pick and I believe it. However, that remains to be seen. Ben has the prototypical size for a SG in the NBA, and the athleticism and range to match it. The kid can do it all on the ball court. It's no surprise he's sky-rocketed up the charts amidst all these questionable players. Some mocks even have him going to Cleveland at No. 1, although very few. He does play Waiters' position, which could be an issue. It could also be a great thing. Personally, I saw a lot of Kansas games and just didn't see him take over enough for me to have a grip on how good he truly is or possibly could be. He definitely has a lot of upside and the ability to score in bunches, but it was hard to tell on that Kansas team whether he can become a future All-Star or not. His athleticism is no joke. The man can absolutely soar through the air and slam with authority. He also can shoot from anywhere and gets hot like a video game. He did however disappear in a lot in games, especially late, which drew poor reviews from some scouts. That can all change though in my opinion, given time and confidence.

The Cavs drafted Dion Waiters as their future SG last year, but if they feel Ben is elite they'll have no issue drafting him and putting Dion on the bench as their Sixth-Man option. Dion showed his talent, that's for sure. The kid is tough, crafty and can score as well. He could stand to lose some more weight and continue to evolve his offensive game. His defense could use some work too.

No one's quite sure where the Cavs heads are at on him at this point. They may just see a really good bench scoring option when they look at Dion. Every bench needs scoring, especially the Cavs. The duo could possibly work out, and if Ben turns out be a star player the Cavs would be praised for the ballsy pick. It all depends on what the Cavs management and scouts see in Ben. As I eluded to earlier, the Cavs have no problem going against the conventional pick and taking who they feel is the best player on the board. They're one team that always seems to go with their guy despite the public opinion. If they want him, they'll grab him.

I understand that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert made the statement that he doesn't want to be in the lottery again anytime soon, but that isn't up to him. Also, I think he's being a bit short-sided. The Cavs are on the bottom of the NBA totem pole and next years draft is one of the most touted in a decade. Gilbert just needs to cool his jets a bit when it comes to competing right away. Patience is a good thing in this situation. The Cavs young core needs to develop, and the team isn't going anywhere anyway. They're nowhere near a 'championship level team' and not getting there in the next few years. They're just trying to become a 'playoff level team.' There's no rush to winning, especially with this loaded draft ahead. They can have their young core improve their skills by playing good minutes for another season, not necessarily by winning a lot of games. If I were the Cavs management, I'd want a shot at a lottery pick in the 2014 NBA draft.

I understand the Cavs want to be better and win more games now. I understand they want to be back in the playoffs, regardless of if they can realistically win the ring that year or not. I understand the years of championship-less seasons the people of Cleveland have had to bear. I get all that. I'm just saying that you don't get this opportunity too often and if you handle it correctly, you could be set up for years of playoff basketball in the city of Cleveland. They have a chance to stack young talent now. Focus on that. They're getting the opportunity often since losing Lebron, and they need to capitalize on it while they can. The reason I say this is this:

-As a franchise, the one thing you NEVER want to do in the NBA is HOVER-

Don't hover. Don't hang out in the middle. You either want to play so poor you can inject a ton of star youth, or you want to be great and competing for at least conference final contention year in and year out. That's it. The middle years will kill you. Blowing a bunch of lottery picks will kill you too, but that's a lesson for another time.

The Cavs should be focused on stockpiling as much young talent as they can while they're lucky enough to be on the bottom. They'll be in the middle of the Eastern Conference pack before too long, drafting in the possible late teens/early 20's, and far away from getting a possible 19 year old star. The Cavs need to pick well at #1 and #20 and not worry about winning next year. Just allow their talent to expand and grow on the court and don't focus on wins/losses at this point. I think they're 2-4 seasons away from being contenders and it could do them a lot of good to think that way as well. After all, we know how great Dan Gilbert is at luring established talent to come play in Cleveland. He got so many great players for Lebron during his 7 seasons there(Darius Miles, Mo Williams, Larry Hughes, Antwan Jamison). Get the stars young and cheap. And make sure you get plenty of them.

Let's Say Noel

For the sake of fun, and this blog, I'm going to talk about the benefits of the Cavs drafting Noel:

If I'm the Cavaliers and draft Noel, I first take a few weeks to perform all the introductory things that are necessary with a new rookie. I then go out and tell Noel and his family that he will sit out his ENTIRE rookie season to rehab his knee and learn the ways of the NBA. I would then set up a press conference to tell the media immediately. I'd take the questions and move on. I wouldn't let it linger.

He'd now have full access to NBA staff/trainers, and he could learn the professional game/lifestyle while building rapport with his teammates in practice. I'd make it clear that this rebuilding process is all about the long-term and we will err on the side of caution. There's no reason to rush him back to a shitty team where he'll play on a minutes restriction. The issue with Rose was that they cleared him in February and kept him as a possibility even throughout the playoffs, which was a mistake. I understand they weren't sure, but at some point just end the circus and say, "You're not coming back until next year. It's too late now."

Remember when Blake Griffin broke his kneecap in summer league before his rookie season and missed his entire rookie season? Most people don't. Most say, "Oh, yea! I forgot!" I understand Blake had no choice given the timing of the injury, but even if he was ready in February, do you think the Clippers rush him back on that crap team? An overall No. 1 pick and a potential building block for the franchise? Maybe because it's the Clippers they do, but the Cavs shouldn't.

I understand Noel's projected to be ready to play by maybe as early as December/January. This is just what I would do if I ran the team and selected Noel. I know it's dramatic, but I would do it if I were the GM. I also understand that given the Cavs do draft him, they will more than likely choose to play him in the second half of the season. I'm not saying it's a bad thing. If he's truly ready by January, why not play him and give him some minutes for the last few months. You can't live scared of another injury. I'm fine with that. It's just that I think this team should be concerned long-term about his health and their franchise winning. I'm not all crazy. I do have some reasons for sitting him out that would benefit the Cavs. As a GM, this would be my thinking if I take him. This would be my thinking if I say him his rookie season.

My reasons:
1. He gets to take his sweet time getting back to normal----We all have different bodies. We're not all Adrian Peterson, and basketball players put quite a bit of turn and slash on those knees. Nerlens has a very long career in front of him and the Cavs are losing a ton next year anyway. Why not lose more and give the kid an ample amount of time to get it better than it ever was. I don't think it hurts him to watch NBA basketball closely and rehab all year. I also don't think it hurts the Cavs.
2. He gets to spend a year watching what the players do on the road and during games on the bench.
----He's a young man suddenly with a lot of money and he's traveling the country. It could be good experience for him to get to watch the other guys for a year or so and grow. it's also a big deal to experience an NBA locker room and huddle for a year. It couldn't hurt, Larry Hughes is gone.
3. He will get a year of NBA knowledge and practice time.
----It did Blake a lot of good. He won Rookie of The Year the following season. Nerlens would learn a lot from his players and coaches and still build the fluidity with his teammates through practicing all season.Win-win.
4. He will get ample time to rehab his knee with NBA medical staff.
----Don't even consider rushing him to give him 12 minutes a game. Why??? To win a ring next year??
5. A sneaky benefit: The Cavs used a 1st rounder on Tyler Zeller last year. This would give him another year of serious playing time to become the great backup center they believe him to be. It would definitely improve his skill set and defense to get major minutes next season while Nerlens rehabbed.
6. Lebron Sweepstakes?
----I get that it's a total long-shot Lebron comes back in 2014 when he's a free agent. I also know that winning is what he cares about. The Cavs want as many great, young assets and free money that they muster. He's won with less.

And the Final Reason!

Andrew Wiggins is the most touted H.S recruit since Lebron

7. 2014 Draft: This draft is the most talked about since '03 with Lebron, Melo, Wade, Bosh and others. Any team, great or poor, should be hungry to have a bite of this pie if possible. With the new CBA, guys on rookie contracts who can contribute are like Gold. Drafts like this don't come around often and that's becoming even more apparent now with the "one and done" rule. Dan Gilbert should just put his "no more lottery" mindset away for just one more year. That's all I'm saying...

If the Cavs decide to go the Nerlens route, which almost every mock draft has them doing, the fans should be very excited about the future despite the uncertainty. If they grab someone else, they should be just as excited. Every pick in every year is uncertain. Even the guarantees could get injured or lose their way mentally/emotionally. No guarantees in gambling. No guarantees in sports. You have to just trust your management. You can only hope the organization has done their homework. For the Cavs, the time to lose is now. Stack up on young talent while you can, Dan Gilbert. You never know when they'll up and leave you for nothing in return.

~Jason T. Davis @WisdomOfSports

Nerlens Noel: The Choice By Default? The Cavs Tough Call and the Decisions to Follow

Kentucky's Nerlens Noel is predicted to be the Overall No. 1 selection by the Cavs

Irving and Waiter lead the Cavs talented young Crew, along with Thompson

Davis averaged 14pts, 8rbs, 2blks in 64/82 games played this year

Georgetown's Otto Porter is considered the Safest pick in this draft

McLemore's athleticism and shooting have made him climb this draft

Andrew Wiggins is the most touted H.S recruit since Lebron

More Anthony Bennett!!!

2013-06-16T21:18:14Z

With the drought of information regarding what CG will do with the #1 pick Anthony Bennett has become the flavor of the week- I already did a small piece on Bennett before the Cavs landed the top pick. Basically I said hes good, short PFs aren't a deal breaker at that position and taking the BPA is still the way to go for the Cavs. This post is more about how Bennett would fit in with this team offensively in the near term.

It is pretty much taken as a given that Bennett will be good on offense, but how good could he be? One thing you see pretty immediately from watching the draft express video is that he is very versatile. His team is clearly running a variety of plays to get him the ball basically anywhere on the court. He shot the 3 decently, he has a nice looking mid range game, he posts up a little and he can finish at the rim on the break. At his age to have a variety of skills that he can do above averagely means a pretty dang high level of natural skill.

How will this fit in with the Cavs right now?

I don't want to oversell it but to put it bluntly- perfectly (potentially). As a PF working with Kyrie and Dion as ball handlers you have a huge number of ways to create and exploit mismatches. If a big man is guarding Bennett he had better be able to defend the pick and roll extremely well. First of all his size (girth) should make it almost impossible for guards to fight through the pick, they will have to go under or well over. If they go under Bennett can simply step back and catch a drop off pass for a 3 ball as the Guard will be between Bennett and his defender. This will lead to a lot of open looks and also make it harder for the big man to sag and push the ball handler out of his attack lane. The pick and pop will keep the opposing teams bigs out of the way for Irving and Waiters to have open lanes.

If they switch a SF Bennett's size will make the pick and roll difficult to deal with as his girth and long arms will make blocks and disrupting his finish very low probability for a smaller player. Even top defenders like Lebron will have to expend a lot of energy defending Bennett. Lesser players (ie almost everyone else) will need help from the big when the roll starts.

For the other members of the Cavs the pick and roll and pick and pop will open up a variety of options. The pick and pop will pull big men out of the lane and allow for cutters who can finish at the rim. The pick and roll draws other defenders in and allows for open 15 footers. You know who has a great off the ball cutting game and a decent 15 ft shot? Varejoa. Paired up with Andy on offense means that defenders will need eyes in the back of their heads to keep track of the motion off the ball along with the picks and screens going on around the ball. The guard big combo here looks pretty close to ideal with two ball handlers in motion on the perimeter looking for attack lanes and a complimentary big working the open space his versatility creates.

When paired with TT it would look less effective as Tristan's (current) limitations in catching and finishing in one motion and no real jumper would make him less dangerous than Andy. However the constant rotations and TTs offensive rebounding skills would work well together as bigs will have a tough time helping and maintaining position to box out once a shot goes up opening up more chances for second possessions.

The small forward could also be paired with TT to mitigate his weakness. In an offense like this the SF could basically shoot every time he touched the ball as rotations will be away from him and toward the larger threat. Know any catch and shoot guys that just love their itchy trigger fingers? Yeah CJ Miles could bomb from down town or take his mid range twos every time the ball hit his hand practically and he would be making a good choice. this would leve the off ball cutting for TT but his work ethic and BBall IQ should make him decent, if not better than decent, at this pretty quickly.

When Andy is on the floor CJ would be less valuable and a defensive player like Gee could be in place (especially if he could up his 3pt shooting to 35-36%) and Gee is also able to cut and finish a little. Ellington could also be switched in for a guard when they needed a breather and trade a ball handler for another 3 pt shooter.

The fast break with Kyrie, Dion, Bennett and TT would also be- I don't know, whats the french word for unstoppable?

I think the upside with just adding Bennett (and having a healthy Kyrie/Andy) could mean a top three offense in the NBA- as soon as the all-star break next season.

Lots has been said about his defensive limitations so far, and those are valid concerns. I did want to balance that discussion out with the prospect of having a Nash/Amar'e quality pick and roll duo with ancillary players suited so nicely for their roles.

How will this fit in with the Cavs right now?

The fast break with Kyrie, Dion, Bennett and TT would also be- I don't know, whats the french word for unstoppable?

I think the upside with just adding Bennett (and having a healthy Kyrie/Andy) could mean a top three offense in the NBA- as soon as the all-star break next season.