• Could we see Shaquille O’Neal in a Cavs uniform next season? The Arizona Republic is reporting that the principal parts of a potential deal include Shaq, Ben Wallace, and Sasha Pavlovic. Such a trade would save the Suns close to $10 million and free the team to fully return to their up-tempo ways under Alvin Gentry, as well as pairing James with what you figure would be an exceptionally motivated O’Neal who also happens to be coming off a very productive 75-game season. I’m not sure how Zydrunas Ilgauskas fits in the equation, but you have to think this has some legs, given the Cavs’ untimely exit from the NBA playoffs.
The Cavs could also end up looking at Chris Kaman or Marcus Camby, but it’s doubtful they are desperate enough to take on Zach Randolph. For what it’s worth, I still think extending on offer to Rasheed Wallace with their MLE could make sense for both parties.
• Andrew Bogut is about a month away from returning to basketball-related activities. “He’s on schedule,” said Scott Skiles. “But we don’t want to rush it. We want to make sure he’s 100%.” It will be interesting to see how far Bogut ends up falling in next season’s drafts, thanks to just 36 games played (lower back stress fracture) and 11.7 points per game this past season. Expectations were raised after a strong finish in 2008-09 (16.3 points, 11.6 boards, 2.8 assists, 1 steal, 1.7 blocks after the All-Star break), but he was marginalized on offense (Andray Blatche averaged more FGA last season) and rebounds was the only positive counting stat that didn’t take a per-game hit. It’s pretty safe to say that he’ll come at a discount, but the real question is what will he end up actually being worth?
• Manu Ginobili‘s leg has completely healed and he’s also looking at a return to basketball activity sometime in July. And those rumors you heard about Ginobili potentially being traded to the Wizards? Don’t believe them.
• “The NBA may be the only job opportunity on the planet where an employee can miss one-third of his workdays over a five-year span and then presume he is due a substantial raise.” That gem is from The Salt Lake Tribune, where a columnist breaks down the reasons for the team to not pay and keep a “self-interested” Carlos Boozer on the team.
• Stephen Curry continues to take steps to try to ensure that he ends up with the Knicks at pick No.8, but rumor has it that he’s not going to last, anyway.
• It’s an interesting situation in Sacramento, where the Kings have hired Paul Westphal to be their new head coach. The city’s mayor, Kevin Johnson (yes this Kevin Johnson), played under Westphal and lobbied hard for his hiring, and is also currently dealing with the team’s well-documented lobbying for a new arena. It’s an understatement to say that wins and losses are the only things at stake here. As for the new coach himself: here are links to a post-hire Q&A and some reactions from around the league.
• I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – for better or worse, Allen Iverson signing with the Bobcats seems almost inevitable.
• Nets fans that wonder if they could get better production than what Yi Jianlian seems ready to offer probably aren’t going to find that answer any time soon. His massive fanbase in China means he’s a cash cow for the Nets – even with his struggles to this point – and that’s not something any NBA owner would be looking to change.
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sheesh it’s a coin-flip....
I know this has nothing to do with the “Quick Hitters” but I just wanted to say this:
Being a Spurs homer, it’s almost second nature for me to hate the Lakers. Having said that, congrats to Kobe and the team for winning it all – however you did it, you managed to play well enough to win your championship (even though it did look like Orlando died by the long ball!)
Again, congrats to the Lakers and their organization on a well played season!
Laker fan on the other hand…you suck!
If last year was “A New Hope”, this year was “The Empire Strikes Back”. Every saga needs a baddie, and they have to win occasionally to keep it interesting….:;
yep the threes that fell against the cavs didn’t against the lakers, and we’re talking about a series that could have just as easily been 3-1 magic after game 4 with two extra makes. they pretty much had a horrible offensive series all around – .428 FG%, .330 3PT%, .691 FT%
and i almost feel bad for the true old school lakers fans that are out there at this point, seeing as they’ve become such a polarizing team. any more, it seems like you can only either be a slobbering fanboy or a vitriolic hater
Oh yeah, it’s FUUUUUN to hate the Lakers – especially THESE Lakers! But I still have respect for the game enough to say “job well done”.
But to go out and celebrate a championship by trashing a police cruiser and setting stuff on fire? I’ll never understand that.
Heaven help us if LeBron ever gets his championship in Cleveland – Cavs fan would likely celebrate by setting their river on fire!
we used to see fires and riot police all the time in madison, WI. every holloween and mifflin street block parties ended up in a similar fashion…
People, y’all need to move down here to Texas!
The only fire I got going on right now is the one in my Bar-B-Que pit!
I’m 40 minutes away from some nice juicy mesquite smoked hamburgers!
I convinced, NO C BOOZ in Detroit. I hope that guy is right about Dumars not wanting his type of game.
i found that point interesting as well. for all the talk about “interest” around the league, you have to wonder who really is lining up to give him close to the $15M per he’s going to be asking for. technically he has yet to actually opt out – i wonder if his agent is going to get lukewarm responses and advise him to stick?
Matt.. What do you think about Dumars as a GM? A lot of people used to think he was a genius. Now you don’t hear it so much.
I think Billups made him look better than he is.. He’s made some pretty iffy moves over the years.
first thing i’ll say is that you can’t deny his past history. my opinion is that the billups move was a calculated decision to get cap room this offseason (and beyond), even though they sold it as looking for an infusion of energy in AI. i have as much faith in his running a rebuild as anything
the pistons need quality FC starters in a big way, but with rip, stuckey, bynum, and afflalo they’ve got a solid backcourt rotation. maybe look to fill it out with someone like luther head. prince has trade value and they will be in the mix for ariza and/or hedo. it wouldn’t shock me if dumars went after gortat – who seems like a Detroit kind of player – to play center and go for the big splash at PF. i like boozer there if they can pair him with gortat
Personally, I don’t think Shaq is the ultimate solution for the Cavs retaining Lebron. Yes, he’d be motivated and would help them immensely against Howard, and yes, they might even win a championship next year, but he’s really only a one or two year fix. After that, him and Z will be gone and I don’t think Lebron will really like the Cavs long term prospects enough to want to stick around. That being said, if they’re only giving up Wallace and Pavlovic, there’s no reason for them not to do it, I just think they could use Wallace’s trade chip more wisely. Clearly they simply need to ask James what he wants and cater to that.
It will be interesting to see what Phoenix does this offseason. If they’re just clearing cap space, I think Amundson and Dudley could be real fantasy sleepers next year given their defensive skills.
Obviously trading for Shaq wouldn’t be a long term solution, but I think it would be great for both teams.
Shaq is only signed through next season, so the Cavs will still have a ton of cap space in 2010 to go after the long-term solutions to try to keep Lebron happy. I’m sure the Cavs are kicking themselves for not pulling this trade off before the deadline, but I don’t see how there’s any chance this trade doesn’t happen.
Shaq will be so motivated now that Kobe just won a championship. It also sounds like he’s going to show up in amazing shape next season. The Cavs will have two of the most dominant physical forces in the NBA, you’d have to feel sorry for their opponents every night.
Even though I feel like Lebron would work best with a center who doesn’t clog the lane.. Someone like Bosh or Amare.. I think it would still work out fine. I can see Lebron taking it to the basket everytime and throwing up a little lob to Shaq for a dunk like Wade used to do all the time.
And even though this isn’t likely, I think it would be great if Phil Jackson left the Lakers and went to Cleveland to coach Shaq and Lebron. That would be so great.
Yeah I don’t doubt Shaq’s motivation at all, I just think it would be dumb to waste the league’s biggest bargaining chip on a one year rent-a-player, when they could get some real long term value out of it, and STILL have enough cap space to sign a big name in 2010. Would you rather have Shaq for one year, or David Lee for 4?
Shaq for 1 year, easily. David Lee is a 10/10 guy. He’s only a 16/12 guy under D’Antoni in that offense. Is David Lee going to stop or even slow down Dwight Howard? No. And that’s all that really matters. David Lee is 6’9″ and he’s not a true center.
Dwight Howard shot 59%, 21 pts, 14 reb, 3.3 blk against the Knicks last season.
58%, 20 pts, 7.5 reb, 1 blk against the Suns.
David Lee won’t impact the Cavs like Shaq would.
So having Shaq for 1 year, then getting someone like Bosh for 4 years is much better than David Lee for 4 years. But who knows what’ll happen after this year, all I know is that the best thing the Cavs can do for next year is trade 2 expiring contracts for the most dominant center of all time.
Lee is just an example (even though he’d be an ideal replacement for Varajeo if he happens to walk). You also can’t just ignore Ilgauskas. Do you really think bringing Shaq off the bench makes any sense? My point is they could get a lot more value for Wallace’s contract than a 37 year old Shaq for one year. I’m also not sure I attest to making a trade to combat a single player on another team, whether Shaq WAS the best center or not. That’s why Phoenix brought him in, to combat Duncan basically, and it really didn’t do much for them at all did it. What if Cleveland doesn’t even end up playing Orlando in the playoffs next year, this trade would be such a waste. If I were the Cavs, I’d much rather acquire a young player like Lee in a sign and trade this year, then still be able to sign one of: Salmons, J.Howard, Crawford, RJ, J-Rich, AK, or Butler in 2010. I wouldn’t plan on just winning one championship, Lebron’s gonna be around for a long time, Shaq is not.
you just can’t call a very real chance to compete for a championship a waste of wallace’s contract – that’s the aim no matter who you are trying to acquire, right? if that is the price, they’d be silly not to do it. worst-case is that it doesn’t work and they end up significantly under the cap next off-season. if they do sign him, they’d be pairing two of the most physically dominant players in the game on an unprecedented level
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not denying the fact that they’d have a real chance at winning next year with Shaq, but I don’t think Dwight was the ONLY reason they lost, and it’s not like they were that far off, I can bet they’d have just as good a chance of winning adding Lee or Artest or Boozer or Odom, and they’d look a lot better down the road.
You want a ‘Dwight-Stopper’ sign Rasheed, don’t waste the best trade chip in the league on Shaq, get some long term value for it. Anyone?
Rasheed? Are you seriously crazy?
Why do you keep acting like the Cavs need to make their big long-term deals in 2009? Why would they sign David Lee to a big contract when there will be numerous players available in 2010 who are twice as good as David Lee?? I don’t get why you keep saying David Lee is their best option.
You can’t compare the Suns and the Cavs, they are completely different teams and they run completely different offenses. Everyone knew Shaq wouldn’t be a great fit for the Suns.
If the Cavs don’t end up playing Orlando in the playoffs next year, then they’ll make the Finals………… Bringing in Shaq certainly wouldn’t hurt the Cavs, so I don’t know what your point is. Lebron can single-handedly dominate any team in the Eastern Conference.. But Ilguaskus and Varejao were no match for Dwight Howard so they were forced to double-team him the entire series leaving the Magic with wide open 3′s.
No, bringing Shaq off the bench doesn’t make any sense. Because he wouldn’t be coming off the bench obviously… LOL. Ilguaskus over Shaq? Please.
If you think signing David Lee this year and then brining in someone like AK47 or Josh Howard next year will keep Lebron in Cleveland, then you really are crazy.
Trade for Shaq, bring in a bigger SG or SF who has good 3 pt range and the Cavs will be set for ’09-’10.
Do you honestly think David Lee is 16/12 away from D’Antoni??? Please don’t tell me you think so.
The Pistons are 14-4 against Howard and the Magic in the regular season, and 8-1 in the playoffs, and there actually was a rumour the Cavs were pursing Rasheed for a 10 mil two year deal just a few days ago, and check out Dwight’s numbers against Rasheed vs. other PFs in the league, they’re much worse.
Lee is a good option too. They have to trade Ben this year anyway, and improve, rather than just letting it expire, and NY is looking to dump him. You’re right, they’re not giving anything up, they’re just gaining Lee, who isn’t bad himself, D’Antoni or not. They gotta build pieces around the other FAs they get anyway, and Lee’s a huge upgrade from Varajeo, for not that much more. They might actually be able to afford Lebron, Amare, Lee, and Mo. If i’m Lebron, I’m sticking around. Realistically, only the Knicks have a chance at signing 2 of the BIG time free agents in 2010. Mo-Will, Delonte, and Gibson prevent them from doing that.
And honestly, you could make a case for bringing either Shaq or Z off the bench, they’re both getting up there in age.
And also, you act like trading for Shaq would jeopardize their long term prospects.. If this offer goes through, the Cavs aren’t giving up any young players, any draft picks, and they aren’t taking up any cap space in 2010. There is no one on the market who would have a bigger impact on the Cavs than Shaq. It’s a no-brainer, I expect it to happen, and I expect the Cavs to make the Finals next year easily.
I don’t doubt the Cavs will probably take Shaq and could dominate the league next year, but if the Knicks end up getting Bosh or Amare for Lee instead it might come back to bite them in the ass if they absolutely don’t win next year, and that’s risky. It’s not like they’d be the only Hall of Fame duo in the league. Pau and Kobe aren’t going anywhere. KG, Pierce, and Allen aren’t gonna lay down and die. Denver and Houston should be much improved. Magic, Spurs, Bulls, Heat, Blazers anyone? I’m still willing to put the over/under on Lebron championships at 6, but Shaq’s no guarantee.
Ok, let’s put things in perspective here…
Cleveland did not lose to Orlando because of Dwight Howard – sorry to beat you when you’re down Magic fan, but it’s the truth. The Cavs lost because the rest of that team didn’t show up when LeBron needed them.
So you make a move to pick up an aging center for one year…who just happens to be in great shape for his age, can still play (even in a PHX system which he is NOT suited for), and has not only the personal work ethic to win a championship, but the added desire, now that the world has turned in the Kobe/Shaq soap opera we all know and love.
Shaq would compliment LeBron PERFECTLY! He doesn’t have to run the floor (like in PHX) – all he has to do is take three steps in any direction to get out of the way and his job is done.
Remember, when the Lakers were winning titles with Shaq, Kobe, and Phil, Shaq was NEVER the problem in that triangle. And he went on to Miami and still won a title. Why? Because he played WITH Wade and his teammates. It wasn’t Shaq and then everyone else.
I think if the Cavs play their cards right, they’ll pick up a guy who can give LeBron even more lessons in working hard for the team and the ultimate goal. I’m not saying that LeBron is a walking ego (like Kobe), but it should go a long way to helping him make up his mind sooner that staying in Cleveland will be the right thing, and the smart thing, to do in 2010.
Not to mention the fact that they should have the best chance at winning it all next year with that tandem. And that’s coming from a Spurs fan!
Didn’t the Cavs just have the best chance to win the title? There are no guarantees in this business (eh Mo Williams
) So the question is- does Shaq improve their chances of winning, and you’d have to say that he does. Does trading for him hurt you down the line? Not at all, if you can get him without having to commit past next season. Are there better trade targets out there? I dont know, but I’d conclude that its a decent role of the dice. However, I certainly wouldnt be handing out the silverware straight away.
From the Suns point of view, what are we doing if we dump Shaq for a bag of potato chips? The Cavs arnt the only team with a star to keep happy. The Suns say they want Nash to finish his career in Phoenix, but the guy wants to compete for a championship and he doesnt have time to hang around while they retool. Last I heard, Nash was waiting to see how their roster looked before he committed. If all they get in return for Shaq is Pavlovic and a Wallace who wants to retire, you gotta think Nash is gonna have the wandering eye.
Also look for the Mavs to make some serious moves this year. Cuban has stated hes not afraid to spend, is conscious of Dirk’s window closing, and knows there will be teams looking to hold fire sales. Shaq has been pretty vocal about his desire to play in Dallas too.
Its going to be an interesting offseason for sure, and just like we had Denver and Orlando in the conference finals this year, expect some unexpected contenders next season.
I think PHX has conceded the fact that Nash and Amare are walking in 2010 regardless of what they do with Shaq.. So they’re just beginning the rebuilding process, clearing cap space.
I’m glad both of you agree that there’s no way this trade hurts the Cavs. It’s not like Shaq is a negative personality like Rasheed.. He would bring Cleveland even more energy, if that’s even possible. Like I said before, just imagine trying to gameplan for Lebron and Shaq.. I honestly don’t think it’s possible. If you double-team one of them, the other will completely dominate.
Assuming the Cavs pull this off.. I’d still want them to get a bigger SG. I don’t like Delonte and Mo on the floor at the same time, not enough size.
And I’m done arguing with Capoltorta.. It’s just not clicking with him. David Lee isn’t the stud he thinks he is. Lee is limited physically and athletically. He’s not a good fit in Cleveland and he definitely wouldn’t be a piece that kept Lebron in Cleveland.
I’m not even saying Lee is the best option out there. Go get Marion, or Carter, or Odom, or Redd or something. They need another go-to guy, not a backup center. They already have Z (who was on pace for a career season before he got injured) manning the middle. So-Tex Spurs was right above, they didn’t lose to the Magic because of Howard, it was the rest of the team that failed. Everyone is so concerned about how they’re gonna cover Howard, but look who won the championship.
There’s a reason this deal didn’t get done in February. Shaq wants a two year deal, the Suns want talent (i.e. West) in return, and they simply have better offers for him (Chandler, Peja?). I’m not as confident as you that it’s so guaranteed to happen, but I would love to see it.
i’ve read that moving shaq is expected to make nash more likely to stick around, at least that is the thought process. even though they had some success down the stretch, nash wants them to let the reigns go under gentry in a way they can’t as long as the big man is on the roster
and yes, the cavs definitely need some perimeter help. if this trade does go through, maybe look at someone like anthony parker or matt barnes as another one-year player with their MLE. even if it doesn’t, they need more than what they have
Thanks for putting it to a poll. Of course the “no-brainer” option is gonna win because it can’t possibly hurt the Cavs, but I’m glad to see it’s not such a slam dunk.
This is also coming from the Cavs side of things. I’m sure if you put up another poll asking whether the Suns should give Shaq away to Cleveland for cap space alone it would heavily be “no”. Why would they, when they can dump salary AND get something in return. Cleveland’s not the only team that could use the Big Fella. NO, Dallas, New York, and Portland are just a few that I’ve heard were interested.
I have no doubt he will be traded this offseason, and yes, Cleveland is Shaq’s preffered choice, but Kerr is not gonna give him away for free, and Cleveland is not gonna throw in West, or want to sign him for two years, so I wouldn’t get too excited just yet.
yeah the cavs are in a tough position in that respect – they really don’t have anything expendable. it may have to be a pure salary dump for the suns for it to work with the cavs
Rumor Mill out of detroit is they might make a play for T-Mac. With his 1 year contract folks conclude this to be a slam dunk as far as making sense. If he pans out we resign him, if not we get a high draft pick and money under the cap for class of ’10 FA. There is also talk of J-Smoove and the Hawks putting him on the block.
interesting. here’s a link, albeit with little info. who are you hearing detroit would send along?
http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/2008/07/detroit_pistons_making_big_pit.html
also a rumor that the knicks may be interested
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/blog/2009/06/tmac_attack.html
I haven’t heard of anything as far as who they would give up but it seems as if T-Mac in houston is over.
here’s a rumor with dalembert going to the bobcats
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/126/2009/june/16/dalembert-going-to-bobcats.html