Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return
NBA 2016-17 Preview
October 21st, 2016
By Vonny Lee
The Cavaliers
Previous Record: 64-18
Key Losses: Anderson Varejao (FA), Kevin Love (trade), JR Smith (FA)
Key Additions: LeBron James (re-signed for 3yr/$90M with player option), Tritan Thompson (3yr/$40M with player option), Mario Chalmers (1yr/$1.12M), Alan Anderson (1yr/$898K), Josh Smith (2yr/$7.5M)
When we last saw them ...
The Cleveland Cavaliers were watching another team celebrate a title on their home floor: for the second year in a row. LeBron James was going to be a free agent, cashing in on the big money available to the players, and Cleveland was collectively holding its breath. LeBron wouldn't leave them again, would he? Could he?
Thankfully for the Cavs, he did not. The King reupped and reupped for a solid three years (with a fourth year option) and his return marked a big bullet dodged. Unfortunately, his return marked the end of Kevin Love in Cleveland. LeBron and Love had never really "clicked" despite the two players claiming otherwise and Love's almost passive nature as a third option on the court had harmed his value, his reputation, and his play. Only three years ago Love was averaging 26 PPG and 12 RPG -- since his arrival in Cleveland, those numbers are nowhere to be found.
LeBron's return came with the promise that Tristan Thompson would be re-signed by the team for the long-term and Thompson got his money. He, like Irving and LeBron, will be on the books through 2018 (with an option in 2019). This Cleveland core could all leave at the same time if they wanted to.
Love was the odd man out, as well as old favorite Anderson Varejo, whom had to be let go due to his cap hit and the limited flexibility Cleveland would have if disaster struck the roster during the course of the season. In a very Godfather way, LeBron sacrificed his friend Varejao to assure the future of Thompson, then quietly shipped Kevin Love away.
Where did Love go? To the only team desperate enough for star power who would take Love's cap hit, his need to be the number one option, and deal with his unique skillset (and temperament). Only one team could do all that and that was the Charlotte Hornets.
Charlotte traded away their 2017 pick (top-10 protected) and a pick way down the line in 2020 (top-3 protected). What this means for Charlotte is another matter entirely, but for Cleveland the trade saved them cap space and allowed them to re-sign Thompson, which pleased King James.
The addition of a few ring chases -- from former squire to King James, Mario Chalmers, to the sometimes exciting/excruciating Josh Smith -- have allowed the Cavs roster room to breathe and be effective. It's not quite the same team as the one that made the Finals twice, but that might be what allows them to win for a change.
Storyline to Follow:
Is David Blatt next?
The heads are beginning to roll in the kingdom of LeBron. Numerous sources over the last two seasons have confirmed that LeBron, in essence, is running every facet of that organization. He approved of the Love trade and the Blatt hiring, but they weren't his ideas and now that Love is gone, one must wonder if Blatt is next on the chopping block.
The relationship between the league's premier star and the coach of that star can be described as chilly at times, disrespectful at others, and a non-factor for a majority of it. Out of all the coaches LeBron James has had in the NBA, only one is still in the league -- Spolestra. Everyone else has disappeared and Blatt could be the next one to bite the dust.
If Cleveland fails to make the Finals -- a possibility with the roster turnover -- will the Cavs fire Blatt? Will LeBron demand Tyronn Lue, former player and coach he respects, be put into his place?
Lue received multiple offers this offseason for coaching positions but turned them all down. One has to wonder why, especially with quality organizations looking his way. If I were David Blatt, I'd keep a suitcase packed just in case.
Best Case Scenario: Champions, finally. After years of sniffing that rarefied air, Cleveland finally gets its trophy and King James goes down as the greatest player to ever play in the city, plain and simple. With his legendary status confirmed, LeBron plays freer than he ever has before and the golden age of Cavs basketball is upon us.
Worst Case Scenario: LeBron James fails to get Cleveland back to the Finals and, as the pressure mounts for him to bring a title to the place he calls home, he begins to bear down on those around him. Cleveland's cap situation prevents them from making any significant moves and the organization begins to butt heads with their biggest star. We begin to see the cracks between the two sides and LeBron James' control over the organization results in a Jordan/Wizards situation, where no one looks good.
Likely Scenario: The Cavs aren't quite the same team that made the Finals last year but they still manage to get through the East, albeit it with significant more difficulty. Cleveland's lack of depth, however, undoes them once more and they go down in the Finals in a straight sweep. David Blatt's ticket back overseas is punched and LeBron puts Lue in charge of the Cavs for the foreseeable future.
NBA 2016-17 Preview
October 21st, 2016
By Vonny Lee
The Cavaliers
Previous Record: 64-18
Key Losses: Anderson Varejao (FA), Kevin Love (trade), JR Smith (FA)
Key Additions: LeBron James (re-signed for 3yr/$90M with player option), Tritan Thompson (3yr/$40M with player option), Mario Chalmers (1yr/$1.12M), Alan Anderson (1yr/$898K), Josh Smith (2yr/$7.5M)
When we last saw them ...
The Cleveland Cavaliers were watching another team celebrate a title on their home floor: for the second year in a row. LeBron James was going to be a free agent, cashing in on the big money available to the players, and Cleveland was collectively holding its breath. LeBron wouldn't leave them again, would he? Could he?
Thankfully for the Cavs, he did not. The King reupped and reupped for a solid three years (with a fourth year option) and his return marked a big bullet dodged. Unfortunately, his return marked the end of Kevin Love in Cleveland. LeBron and Love had never really "clicked" despite the two players claiming otherwise and Love's almost passive nature as a third option on the court had harmed his value, his reputation, and his play. Only three years ago Love was averaging 26 PPG and 12 RPG -- since his arrival in Cleveland, those numbers are nowhere to be found.
LeBron's return came with the promise that Tristan Thompson would be re-signed by the team for the long-term and Thompson got his money. He, like Irving and LeBron, will be on the books through 2018 (with an option in 2019). This Cleveland core could all leave at the same time if they wanted to.
Love was the odd man out, as well as old favorite Anderson Varejo, whom had to be let go due to his cap hit and the limited flexibility Cleveland would have if disaster struck the roster during the course of the season. In a very Godfather way, LeBron sacrificed his friend Varejao to assure the future of Thompson, then quietly shipped Kevin Love away.
Where did Love go? To the only team desperate enough for star power who would take Love's cap hit, his need to be the number one option, and deal with his unique skillset (and temperament). Only one team could do all that and that was the Charlotte Hornets.
Charlotte traded away their 2017 pick (top-10 protected) and a pick way down the line in 2020 (top-3 protected). What this means for Charlotte is another matter entirely, but for Cleveland the trade saved them cap space and allowed them to re-sign Thompson, which pleased King James.
The addition of a few ring chases -- from former squire to King James, Mario Chalmers, to the sometimes exciting/excruciating Josh Smith -- have allowed the Cavs roster room to breathe and be effective. It's not quite the same team as the one that made the Finals twice, but that might be what allows them to win for a change.
Storyline to Follow:
Is David Blatt next?
The heads are beginning to roll in the kingdom of LeBron. Numerous sources over the last two seasons have confirmed that LeBron, in essence, is running every facet of that organization. He approved of the Love trade and the Blatt hiring, but they weren't his ideas and now that Love is gone, one must wonder if Blatt is next on the chopping block.
The relationship between the league's premier star and the coach of that star can be described as chilly at times, disrespectful at others, and a non-factor for a majority of it. Out of all the coaches LeBron James has had in the NBA, only one is still in the league -- Spolestra. Everyone else has disappeared and Blatt could be the next one to bite the dust.
If Cleveland fails to make the Finals -- a possibility with the roster turnover -- will the Cavs fire Blatt? Will LeBron demand Tyronn Lue, former player and coach he respects, be put into his place?
Lue received multiple offers this offseason for coaching positions but turned them all down. One has to wonder why, especially with quality organizations looking his way. If I were David Blatt, I'd keep a suitcase packed just in case.
Best Case Scenario: Champions, finally. After years of sniffing that rarefied air, Cleveland finally gets its trophy and King James goes down as the greatest player to ever play in the city, plain and simple. With his legendary status confirmed, LeBron plays freer than he ever has before and the golden age of Cavs basketball is upon us.
Worst Case Scenario: LeBron James fails to get Cleveland back to the Finals and, as the pressure mounts for him to bring a title to the place he calls home, he begins to bear down on those around him. Cleveland's cap situation prevents them from making any significant moves and the organization begins to butt heads with their biggest star. We begin to see the cracks between the two sides and LeBron James' control over the organization results in a Jordan/Wizards situation, where no one looks good.
Likely Scenario: The Cavs aren't quite the same team that made the Finals last year but they still manage to get through the East, albeit it with significant more difficulty. Cleveland's lack of depth, however, undoes them once more and they go down in the Finals in a straight sweep. David Blatt's ticket back overseas is punched and LeBron puts Lue in charge of the Cavs for the foreseeable future.
Comment