tOfficial 2015 NBA Draft/Free Agency Thread

[WiggyRuss]

The Irving pick was really something they couldn't screw up because he was a consensus #1.
It was blind luck though that they ended up with the #1 pick that season.

blind luck? they had 2 of the top 8 pick

There were some people (myself included ) saying that Williams would be the better player... but yeah, it wasn't a super insightful thing they did.

Still, they drafted him, and deserve some credit for not screwing it up.

yah...a lot of people wanted williams and then to draft knight at #4.......instead we all know it was irving and tt

 

[gordontrue]

it does seem they are focusing on Haywood- but I am kinda surprised Haywood has not been dealt yet....I think their is a growing chance they will just sign JR and have the roster finished off.....but we shall see....I just dont see Young or Crawford being different than Smith- and Smith actually played pretty good D for the Cavs - something Young and Crawford do not do at all...

I'll be shocked if they don't do something with the Haywood contract. It is a valuable piece to a lot of teams, and they can definitely get a nice player with it. I think they're just being patient and careful making sure to get the best deal.

 

[Shanemansj13]

I'm in the minority, but I actually really like Nick Young. He's not good to have on a young lottery team. But I think he could be a big contributor on a good veteran team - especially as he continues to mature.

I guess last year was just a really bad year for him, he usually puts up better numbers. IMO I think JR and Crawford are better shooters long range.
I think out of the 3 players. Crawford is the most mature guy and the best scorer.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Oh GOD !!! LEBron didnt take Mike on vacation?!!! How is sthat possible? they must not be friends! How dare LeBron snub Mike like that---- obviously if you dont bring someone on vacation they are not friends with you- the hell with the dozen of reliable media outlets that have reported them as friends--- if you arent on vacation together, DEF NOT FRIENDS! LOL

What's your definition of friend?

James is friendly with more than likely every player in the league, and especially his past and current teammates.
That's his relationship with Mike.
I PROMISE you that Mike spent tons of free time in Cleveland last year with James Jones, not LeBron.
James Jones is his FRIEND.

For you to twist his amnesty into some reason that should be held against Arison or as even a remote reason that James left just goes hand and hand with your other twisted views you post here that are almost always laughed at by all and just disregarded by the rest.

 

[trojanfan12]

The thing on the Cavs "re-build" is that I think there was a plan of sorts. But it wasn't the plan that Gilbert envisioned when Lebron left and he wrote that letter to Cavs fans claiming that the Cavs would win a title before Lebron did.

When he realized that no FA's were coming to Cleveland, it became about gathering as many picks as possible to build through the draft and trades.

However, it was also a lot of pure, blind luck.

It was pure, blind luck that the Cavs got the #1 pick 3 times in a row and it was pure, blind luck (probably with a healthy dose of groveling) that got Lebron to come back to the Cavs.

There was NOT, however, some grand plan to get Lebron back.

 

[WiggyRuss]

What's your definition of friend?

James is friendly with more than likely every player in the league, and especially his past and current teammates.
That's his relationship with Mike.
I PROMISE you that Mike spent tons of free time in Cleveland last year with James Jones, not LeBron.
James Jones is his FRIEND.

For you to twist his amnesty into some reason that should be held against Arison or as even a remote reason that James left just goes hand and hand with your other twisted views you post here that are almost always laughed at by all and just disregarded by the rest.

I am not doing that! THE NEWS MEDIA HAS DONE THAT THROUGH REPORTING FROM RELIABLE OUTLETS!!!!

that is not something I just pulled out of my ass! Its what was reported by the guys that get a lot of money to cover the NBA!!! how do you not understand that? I mean- do you actually suggest you know more than guys with access that get paid money to report? Is that what you are saying? that you are right when a bunch of reporters that get paid a bunch of money to report on the league and are granted access you can never dream of getting are wrong?

you sound crazy. Tin foil hat, pooping your pants, muttering obscenities under your breath CRAZY.

 

[WiggyRuss]

The thing on the Cavs "re-build" is that I think there was a plan of sorts. But it wasn't the plan that Gilbert envisioned when Lebron left and he wrote that letter to Cavs fans claiming that the Cavs would win a title before Lebron did.

When he realized that no FA's were coming to Cleveland, it became about gathering as many picks as possible to build through the draft and trades.

However, it was also a lot of pure, blind luck.

It was pure, blind luck that the Cavs got the #1 pick 3 times in a row and it was pure, blind luck (probably with a healthy dose of groveling) that got Lebron to come back to the Cavs.

There was NOT, however, some grand plan to get Lebron back.

yah...it was blind luck that the Cavs had a young roster with a ton of talent and cap flexibility right when LeBron was becoming a free agent.

cmon guys...its just unreal. The Cavs purged their whole team after Bron left and built from the ground up- and before LeBron signed- they were talking to free agents like Gordon Heyward if LeBron was not ocming back- and would have had a lineup something like

PG-IRving
SG- Wiggins
SF- Heyward
PF- Thompson
C- Zeller

bench- waiters, varejao, jack, etc........which would not have been a bad way to go.....but of course LeBron comes back- and the rest is history.

 

[trojanfan12]

I am not doing that! THE NEWS MEDIA HAS DONE THAT THROUGH REPORTING FROM RELIABLE OUTLETS!!!!

that is not something I just pulled out of my ass! Its what was reported by the guys that get a lot of money to cover the NBA!!! how do you not understand that? I mean- do you actually suggest you know more than guys with access that get paid money to report? Is that what you are saying? that you are right when a bunch of reporters that get paid a bunch of money to report on the league and are granted access you can never dream of getting are wrong?

you sound crazy. Tin foil hat, pooping your pants, muttering obscenities under your breath CRAZY.

The problem with these "reliable outlets" is that they are often wrong and usually go after the low hanging fruit. Saying that Lebron and Miller are friends and Miller being amnestied is a big reason why Lebron left is the easy story. It's like the "no one wants to play with Kobe" narrative that was debunked over and over until finally, just this off-season, the media types are starting to say "You know what, it's not Kobe, it's that the overall roster is unproven."

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

yah...the Plain Dealer, ESPN, SI, etc.....all these media outlets that ran those stories have no clue. You have the real story. What was I thinking? Of course some Heat fan that goes to media events would know more than the collective consensus of the United States news media. Dude- you should be working for TNT. the hell with Shaq- they need to get you on stage. lol

I've never been to a media event in my life, but I was actually with Mike on July 17, 2013 when all of this was going down.

Let's end the nonsense.
So, how sure are you of yourself?
Maybe a 6 month ban bet from SportsHoopla?

 

[gordontrue]

Re: LeBron's feelings toward Miller being amnestied...

I think LeBron's reported displeasure with that move had a lot more to do with the fact that the Heat were making money-saving moves than it did with the specific player involved being his friend.

 

[trojanfan12]

yah...it was blind luck that the Cavs had a young roster with a ton of talent and cap flexibility right when LeBron was becoming a free agent.

cmon guys...its just unreal. The Cavs purged their whole team after Bron left and built from the ground up- and before LeBron signed- they were talking to free agents like Gordon Heyward if LeBron was not ocming back- and would have had a lineup something like

PG-IRving
SG- Wiggins
SF- Heyward
PF- Thompson
C- Zeller

bench- waiters, varejao, jack, etc........which would not have been a bad way to go.....but of course LeBron comes back- and the rest is history.

If you believe that Gilbert had some grand plan to bring Lebron back when he left for the Heat, then I don't know what else to tell you except that I have some beach front property in Nebraska that I'd like to sell you. Hurry, lots are selling like hotcakes.

 

[gordontrue]

I've never been to a media event in my life, but I was actually with Mike on July 17, 2013 when all of this was going down.

Let's end the nonsense.
So, how sure are you of yourself?
Maybe a 6 month ban bet from SportsHoopla?

My curiosity is piqued to an all-time high... you've dropped little tidbits here and there... any more info you're willing to offer as to how you have such access to Heat players??

 

[WiggyRuss]

Re: LeBron's feelings toward Miller being amnestied...

I think LeBron's reported displeasure with that move had a lot more to do with the fact that the Heat were making money-saving moves than it did with the specific player involved being his friend.

I personally have no clue. All I go by is the reporting done by guys granted major access and getting paid major dollars to report on the NBA. Sorry if I take their word over a bitter Heat fan with a CLEAR agenda and hatred for LeBron and Gilbert.

 

[gordontrue]

If you believe that Gilbert had some grand plan to bring Lebron back when he left for the Heat, then I don't know what else to tell you except that I have some beach front property in Nebraska that I'd like to sell you. Hurry, lots are selling like hotcakes.

I also have similar property and will beat any price Trojan gives you ...

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

increasing his new worth by hundreds of millions? really? REALLY? it just comes down to your bitter LeBron left and this is your outlet. You went from the Finals to the Lotto and need some kind of rationalization- and somehow that lands on Gilbert because he delivered the best player in the league to his team WHILE making hundreds of millions of dollars for himself? its hilarious.

It comes down to you're full of shit.
There are many richer men in the NBA ownership then Gilbert, but they still run a business.
Once you have BILLIONS, the millions aren't changing any of their life's.

SO ONCE AGAIN, WHY WAS GILBERT THE MAIN PROPONENT OF A HARD SALARY CAP DURING THE LAST CBA?

END OF STORY.

 

[WiggyRuss]

If you believe that Gilbert had some grand plan to bring Lebron back when he left for the Heat, then I don't know what else to tell you except that I have some beach front property in Nebraska that I'd like to sell you. Hurry, lots are selling like hotcakes.

obviously they didnt know LEBron was coming back or they wouldnt of hired Blatt ....but there is no doubt they CLEARLY knew when LeBron would be avaliable and were always going to shift from the rebuild to trying to make the playoffs that 5th year- like I said- they engaged guys like Gordon Heyward because they had no clue LeBron would come back- but they put themselves in a position where if he wanted to come back they could offer him a better chance to win than Miami could. -and the rest is history

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

yah...it was blind luck that the Cavs had a young roster with a ton of talent and cap flexibility right when LeBron was becoming a free agent.

cmon guys...its just unreal. The Cavs purged their whole team after Bron left and built from the ground up- and before LeBron signed- they were talking to free agents like Gordon Heyward if LeBron was not ocming back- and would have had a lineup something like

PG-IRving
SG- Wiggins
SF- Heyward
PF- Thompson
C- Zeller

bench- waiters, varejao, jack, etc........which would not have been a bad way to go.....but of course LeBron comes back- and the rest is history.

There's no luck in sucking and the Cavs mastered that.
There's a TON of luck in moving up to the 1 spot though, and they pulled it off t least twice when they had a very low % of chance to do so.

 

[WiggyRuss]

It comes down to you're full of shit.
There are many richer men in the NBA ownership then Gilbert, but they still run a business.
Once you have BILLIONS, the millions aren't changing any of their life's.

SO ONCE AGAIN, WHY WAS GILBERT THE MAIN PROPONENT OF A HARD SALARY CAP DURING THE LAST CBA?

END OF STORY.

what the hell does Gilbert lobbying for punative penalties for the luxury tax have anything to do with LeBron coming back?

-all though I have read that those penalties were directly responsible for Arison's cheapness- which led to LeBron leaving, lol....thats what Windhorst wrote that Gilberts lobbying ended up crippling the HEats ability to add around LeBron which led him to leaving

if you ask me Gilbert played it like a freaking genius- and the result CERTAINLY shows he played it perfectly. Team in teh Finals- best player in the league- Kyrie and Love signed long term- and hundreds of millions in franchise value-

While Mickey Arison lost LeBron and is afraid to use his mid level exception because he doesnt want to pay tax, LOL....

dude...you are just SOOOOOOOOO bitter Gilbert just played it PERFECTLY, lol

 

[trojanfan12]

what the hell does Gilbert lobbying for punative penalties for the luxury tax have anything to do with LeBron coming back?

It's pretty obvious to everyone else as to exactly what that was about. Gilbert may have no balls, but he's not stupid. He knew that there was no way he was going to be attracting FA's to Cleveland. So, he wanted a hard cap to completely even the playing field.

By having a hard cap, that means teams can't go over the cap to add necessary players which means top players spread out around the league rather than congregating on the same few teams. At the time, Gilbert figured he had no shot at Lebron coming back and no shot at getting top FA's to Cleveland unless they had severely limited choices.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I am not doing that! THE NEWS MEDIA HAS DONE THAT THROUGH REPORTING FROM RELIABLE OUTLETS!!!!

that is not something I just pulled out of my ass! Its what was reported by the guys that get a lot of money to cover the NBA!!! how do you not understand that? I mean- do you actually suggest you know more than guys with access that get paid money to report? Is that what you are saying? that you are right when a bunch of reporters that get paid a bunch of money to report on the league and are granted access you can never dream of getting are wrong?

you sound crazy. Tin foil hat, pooping your pants, muttering obscenities under your breath CRAZY.

You mean the same guys who on that same night all ran with the same story that he was going to Ok City?

The same night that when I got home from his going away party logged on to CBS and wrote that he was laughing at the reports and was def going to Memphis?

Remember the reports last summer when Lowry to the Heat was a done deal???
How many more just like that?

These reporters ALL want to be the first to run with and report a story.
They are all over the road because if they are wrong there are no repercussions.