Why are people acting like this Cavs team is built for the long haul?

[Tradition]

Look the Cavs are going to win it all this year regardless. I have accepted that. What I have an issue with is everyone talking about our window slamming shut yet NO ONE MENTIONS THE CAVS AFTER THIS SEASON! Jamison will be 34 years old, Anthony Parker will be 35, Shaq will be 38 and Big Z will be 35. Add to that both Z and Shaq will be free agents.


Even after Lebron resigns, the Cavs don't have the sidekicks for Lebron for the long haul. Mo Williams sucks at that role when post season play happens. They will suffer a setback. I don't care how great Bron is and how they do in the regular season, if they are unable to pull off any trades or sign and trades this summer, they will have a set back. Keep in mind the Cavs arent a market that lands stars. The best they could get were 2 players, while solid, are past their prime.

[lil_penny]

lebron said he will not leave until he wins a title for cleveland.. so after this season expect him in a knicks uniform

[JoeTait75]

lebron said he will not leave until he wins a title for cleveland

That's not what he said.

[Tradition]

lebron said he will not leave until he wins a title for cleveland.. so after this season expect him in a knicks uniform

I don't expect Lebron to leave thought lil penny. He will sign that max contract and stay. Problem is the best sidekicks he is going to have for the long haul are who exactly? Jamison has no where to go but down. Cavs won't have any cap money (especially after Bron resigns). They also don't have the market power to lure in big name stars. They have this year to make it happen. The best bet for them is to find steals in the draft like the spurs. Thing is it will be a few years before that happens.

[lil_penny]

yea truth is hes gonna stay.. imo he would be stupid to go anywhere else.

[Tradition]

It is funny how no one either brings this issue up or they don't want to bring it up. It is a pretty big deal. The best team management could put around Lebron was one that was built for one season. Lebron can't do it by himself. That has been proven over the years.

[KidCongo]

JJ Hickson bitches.

[Tradition]

JJ Hickson bitches.

Assuming he pans out to be a star, it won't be for a couple of years. He has a ways to go. There is no way around it. The Cavs are going to have to face a 2-3 year setback. Spurs did earlier this decade. Then they got gems in Parker and Ginobili and got back in the mix.

[himat]

I still don't feel like the Cavs are the absolute favorites to win it all.

Coaching is VERY important come playoff time. Out of the 16 teams in the playoffs IMO Cleveland has at best the 11th best coach in that pack.

At some point the Cavs will hit a rough spot. Its very rare for a championship team to not have that defining moment. In the past few years Mike Brown and co. haven't been able to make those adjustments to have that defining moment.

And Orlando is still a very tough team. The Cavs had hundreds of big leads against the Magic last year in the ECF but the way the Magic play is ridiculous. A 9 point deficit is usually tough for a team to come back from but for the Magic it really isn't. They hit a 3, the other team makes a dumb play and the Magic hit a 3 in transition and all of a sudden its a one possession ball game. That was the problem for the Cavs last season against the Magic.

[Tradition]

I still don't feel like the Cavs are the absolute favorites to win it all.

Coaching is VERY important come playoff time. Out of the 16 teams in the playoffs IMO Cleveland has at best the 11th best coach in that pack.

At some point the Cavs will hit a rough spot. Its very rare for a championship team to not have that defining moment. In the past few years Mike Brown and co. haven't been able to make those adjustments to have that defining moment.

And Orlando is still a very tough team. The Cavs had hundreds of big leads against the Magic last year in the ECF but the way the Magic play is ridiculous. A 9 point deficit is usually tough for a team to come back from but for the Magic it really isn't. They hit a 3, the other team makes a dumb play and the Magic hit a 3 in transition and all of a sudden its a one possession ball game. That was the problem for the Cavs last season against the Magic.



But what about AFTER this season win or lose. Even if they keep Lebron, he his best sidekicks aren't young. That is a serious concern in terms of the long haul.

[himat]

But what about AFTER this season win or lose. Even if they keep Lebron, he his best sidekicks aren't young. That is a serious concern in terms of the long haul.

See you're a Laker fan so your team can rebuild fast because well they're the freaking Lakers.

Personally I think what the Celtics did was smart. Right now they are breaking down but in 2008 they won the city a championship. Yeah the Cavs have some old players but they look ready for a championship run right now. All cards are in.

And if they keep LeBron, players would naturally want to come and play for Cleveland. I bet they could retool.

[RsxPiimp]

I still don't feel like the Cavs are the absolute favorites to win it all.

Coaching is VERY important come playoff time. Out of the 16 teams in the playoffs IMO Cleveland has at best the 11th best coach in that pack.


Im sure Doc Rivers was'nt the favored coach in 2008 when Boston won the title. I remember people saying back then that the Lakers are almost guaranteed to win the series because Phil Jackson has 9 rings and he'll be the difference in that match up. I still think ultimately, its a players league and they are far more responsible in winning games. In the case of Cleveland and Los Angeles in the Finals (if both team make it that far). Cleveland has the advantage simple because they have a much balanced roster and the leagues best player.

[RsxPiimp]

In response to the OP, I dont think majority of Cavs fans expects this team to win multiple titles with the same cast. You brought a valid point about the age factor but TBH with you Cleveland has a strong group in their primes. Varejao, Mo Williams, Delonte West are the keepers, they bring a lot of intangibles and then you have Lebron willing to be the unanimous best player for the next 5 years. Adding the necessary pieces to win titles should'nt be that hard specially when the owner is willing to spend and build a winner around James. I think right now their concern is just to win their 1st championship and go from there.

[oh crap]

Cavaliers will NOT win it this year. Call me dumb now and a prophet later, i'm ok with that. Lebronze and crew ain't winning a motherfucking thing. Believe dat!

[himat]

Im sure Doc Rivers was'nt the favored coach in 2008 when Boston won the title. I remember people saying back then that the Lakers are almost guaranteed to win the series because Phil Jackson has 9 rings and he'll be the difference in that match up. I still think ultimately, its a players league and they are far more responsible in winning games. In the case of Cleveland and Los Angeles in the Finals (if both team make it that far). Cleveland has the advantage simple because they have a much balanced roster and the leagues best player.

He doesn't necessarily have to be favored, but I have yet to have the moment with Mike Brown where I say "this guy is a leader."

During the playoffs they will show you videos of the coaches in huddles with the players. In 2008 you could see the leadership in Doc Rivers. How he emphasized teamwork and defense. Last year you could see Stan VanGundy's great ability to get his team going. In 2004 I saw it with Larry Brown.

Mike Brown doesn't have to be the best coach for the Cavs to win, but he has to get his team together when the going gets rough. I have yet to see him do that.

Maybe this is the year.

[himat]

I still think ultimately, its a players league and they are far more responsible in winning games.

Yes, but coaching is VERY important still. Many Pistons fans wanted LB out after 2005 and when Flip Saunders was hired many of us felt like the offense would get more creative and improve and that our lockdown defensive identity would stay.

Not the case at all. We lost that when LB left. Its still a players league but having a coach who can use that talent to the best of its ability is crucial.

[Tradition]

In response to the OP, I dont think majority of Cavs fans expects this team to win multiple titles with the same cast. You brought a valid point about the age factor but TBH with you Cleveland has a strong group in their primes. Varejao, Mo Williams, Delonte West are the keepers, they bring a lot of intangibles and then you have Lebron willing to be the unanimous best player for the next 5 years. Adding the necessary pieces to win titles should'nt be that hard specially when the owner is willing to spend and build a winner around James. I think right now their concern is just to win their 1st championship and go from there.

They have good young role players but they aren't legit #2 or #3 guys on a consistent basis. This has been proven over the years. They had better find that via draft because they won't have any cap money to spend for a long time. This team is reminding me of the 2006 heat. They won a title but were only built for 1-2 years. They had a young superstar in Wade too.

Spurs came back into the mix rather quickly due to the draft. Cavs are going to need that same magic if they want to be a major force for years to come.

[RsxPiimp]

They have good young role players but they aren't legit #2 or #3 guys on a consistent basis. This has been proven over the years. They had better find that via draft because they won't have any cap money to spend for a long time. This team is reminding me of the 2006 heat. They won a title but were only built for 1-2 years. They had a young superstar in Wade too.

Spurs came back into the mix rather quickly due to the draft. Cavs are going to need that same magic if they want to be a major force for years to come.

Like I said, I think their main focus is to win one this year thus trading for Antawn Jamison and his toxic contract. I do agree if things dont click properly and they come up empty handed in June their future looks like a mess. Varejao, Gibson, Mo and Jamison all carry long term contracts, but moving them sans Jamison should'nt be too hard, but I agree with your premise.

[RsxPiimp]

Not the case at all. We lost that when LB left. Its still a players league but having a coach who can use that talent to the best of its ability is crucial.

I dont deny that at all. I just feel the "Cavs aint winnin because Mike Brown is their coach" card is not going to be the reason why Cleveland will not win this year. If the Cavs dont bag a title, it would probably because Lebron choked (not likely) his teammates disappears in the playoffs again (likely).

[21_Blessings]

See you're a Laker fan so your team can rebuild fast because well they're the freaking Lakers.



Hahahaha. Is this Piston fan's excuse for their shitty front office moves? If Dumars wasn't such a fucking idiot Detroit would still be a contender right now.

Fact is the Lakers just have better ownership than the rest of the league for the most part, with better General Management. It doesn't have anything to do with being the "Lakers". Otherwise the Knicks would have been rebuilt into a dynasty 10 times over by now.

[RsxPiimp]

I should ask the same question to Laker fans:


Do you think LA is built for the long haul? Kobe seems to be a step slower and injuries can be really a concern for a 14 year vet with 30k + minutes. Gasol, Artest and Odom are all in their 30's. I doubt Artest is going to be an efficient offensive player because well he's a career 40% shooter while their younger players like Bynum (injury prone) Shannon Brown (One Dimensional) and Farmar (Selfish) does not necessarily scream "Wave of the future". Also, Luke Walton still has 3 yrs worth 6 million a year?



IMO Kobe's value is really, really shining right now. People often say he is not the MVP of the team but without a healthy Kobe Bryant their chances of even going past the 2nd round is slim to none. So I ask this question with sincerity and no sense of sarcasm, how do you like your chances after this year?

[icem]

if the cavs cant win it with this much talent, its never going to happen.

[BRHornet45]

son people have been trained to think this way due to the NBA and the media's plan. maybe 10% of real basketball fans know the truth.

[admiralsnackbar]

Varejao, Mo Williams, Delonte West are the keepers, they bring a lot of intangibles and then you have Lebron willing to be the unanimous best player for the next 5 years.

Don't forget Delonte has a court hearing at the end of the month for the weapons charge, as well as some brain-wiring problems that make him a risk.

[ambchang]

Because unlike Kobe, LeBron doesn't need a top 3 center on his team to win anything.

[supervietnamlakers]

Because unlike Kobe, LeBron doesn't need a top 3 center on his team to win anything.
your stupid. :lol@ bynum a top 3 center. dumb ass.

[ambchang]

my stupid? What is my stupid?

BTW, my mistake, I just realized that the 32 games Bynum did not started in the regular season in 08-09, it was Derek Fisher who played C.

I also finally realized that a Bynum, aka a more mobile Duncan, is not top 3 material.

[Cane]

Who the hell said the current Cavs cast is built for the long haul? Hell their biggest acquisition expires this year doesn't it (Shaq)? And then you got James who can leave as well?

Unlike the post-Shaq LA, the Cavs have been treating their superstar like they want to keep him by surrounding him with talent to win now rather than waste his time. However they still have decent pieces and might have enough room to bring over talent this summer.

[supervietnamlakers]

my stupid? What is my stupid?

BTW, my mistake, I just realized that the 32 games Bynum did not started in the regular season in 08-09, it was Derek Fisher who played C.

I also finally realized that a Bynum, aka a more mobile Duncan, is not top 3 material.
exactly. much better when you speak truth.

[supervietnamlakers]

Who the hell said the current Cavs cast is built for the long haul? Hell their biggest acquisition expires this year doesn't it (Shaq)? And then you got James who can leave as well?

Unlike the post-Shaq LA, the Cavs have been treating their superstar like they want to keep him by surrounding him with talent to win now rather than waste his time. However they still have decent pieces and might have enough room to bring over talent this summer.
NO.they over the cap.

[Thunder Dan]

http://abritishman.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/dan-gilbert-owner-of-the-clevleland-cavaliers.jpg

[ambchang]

exactly. much better when you speak truth.

Derek Fisher played C is as true as Kobe ever being as good as Lebron.

[endrity]

They have LeBron, and people will want to come and play with him. That's more than enough for them to make sure pieces are put in there.

[endrity]

Plus, they've learned that there is always a team willing to start over every season, and giving away their stars. So they will make sure that they sign contracts so that every year they can have an expiring or two. It's kind of what the Mavs have done recently.

[mogrovejo]

The Cavs second best player is still young and under a long club-friendly contract.

Hickson is developing into a solid scoring role-player. If you have LeBron James, you don't need a PG, a short 2-guard like Mo Williams will do - and it's easy to get one of those guys. Players like Parker, Jamison and Moon should still be able to contribute at a decent level next season. West is another cheap role-player. After next season, they'll have plenty of cap room. I don't see much of a problem. Think it this way: their only bad contract is Jamison (and arguably Gibson - but if Gibson shoots like this season, he becomes a decent backup guard) and it's not like he's already an unproductive veteran and maybe he can hold it together for the next 2 seasons. As long as they use the MLE wisely in the next 2 seasons they should be in good shape.

[petee]

the Cavs have one future Hall of Famer in JJ Hickson who'll give the Cavs another 5-6 years of prosperity in the post-Lebron era.

[Tradition]

Bumping this thread since tons of people on here are acting like Bron resigning (which is inevitable) means they have a TEAM to seriously contend for years and years.

[Smooth Criminal]

:lmao at this thread