Ferry not returning to Cleveland

[Flintstones32]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AgrHcpqEVSlksN18LAYmJSC8vLYF?slug=ys-ferrycavaliers060410


Maybe he knows something?

[Mel_13]

He knows he doesn't want to be part of the BronBron begathon.

[ChrisRichards]

Lebron has to stay in Cleveland now. He just cant leave this franchise in shambles, not now.

[Taco]

Bring him back to SA

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

For years the few Cleveland fans on this site have slobbed his knob like he's some kind of good GM when he was one of the shittiest GMs in the league. Cavfan should be happy about this.

[Kamnik]

he was one of the shittiest GMs in the league.

I'm not sure I agree... at least 10 or so franchises come to mind instantly that have been managed worse.

Knicks, Clippers, Raptors, Warriors, Wolves, Wizards, Magic,... The list is long.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

I'm not sure I agree... at least 10 or so franchises come to mind instantly that have been managed worse.

Knicks, Clippers, Raptors, Warriors, Wolves,... The list is long.


None of those teams rejected the opportunity to trade JJ Hickson for Amare Stoudemire. Ferry has pissed away tons of opportunities to surround Lebron with better talent than he has. After Cleveland got swept out of the finals in 2007, Ferry just stood there doing nothing as Boston acquired Ray Allen and KG. That right there sums up how shitty and complacent he was as GM.

[JoeTait75]

For years the few Cleveland fans on this site have slobbed his knob like he's some kind of good GM when he was one of the shittiest GMs in the league. Cavfan should be happy about this.

I still think he's a good GM, actually. Certainly better than the GM's we had before him. Better than Paxson. Better than Wayne Embry.

As for the STAT deal that didn't happen, I honestly don't know who nixed it- Cleveland or Phoenix. I've heard both. Either way I don't know enough to put the blame squarely on Danny Ferry.

[TheMACHINE]

i thought he got everything lebron wanted. oh well.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

I still think he's a good GM, actually. Certainly better than the GM's we had before him. Better than Paxson. Better than Wayne Embry.

As for the STAT deal that didn't happen, I honestly don't know who nixed it- Cleveland or Phoenix. I've heard both. Either way I don't know enough to put the blame squarely on Danny Ferry.


One thing that seems pretty clear is somewhere during the 2009 deadline when he had Wally's contract to dangle and 2010 deadline when he had Z's contract to dangle, there was a point in time when he could have gotten Amare for pennies on the dollar and rejected it for whatever reason. He has been way too complacent as GM of Cleveland and didn't look to improve as much as he could have. Maybe the playoffs are a different story, but being the GM of a 60 win team isn't an accomplishment at all when you have the best regular season player in the NBA.

[Pelicans78]

Ferry did a good job, but the Jamison trade might be his biggest mistake. He really didn't add anything more to the team and made them worse defensively. Better with Varejao and Hickson as the PFs. That trade was the biggest reason they lost to the Celtics IMO.

[JoeTait75]

Ferry did a good job, but the Jamison trade might be his biggest mistake. He really didn't add anything more to the team and made them worse defensively. Better with Varejao and Hickson as the PFs. That trade was the biggest reason they lost to the Celtics IMO.

That's a legit criticism. Ferry overcompensated for Mike Brown's offensive shortcomings by bringing in too many scorers who couldn't defend and blew the team's identity in the process. Cleveland was a lousy defensive team throughout the Playoffs this year, and you can't be that if you want to win the title.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

That's a legit criticism. Ferry overcompensated for Mike Brown's offensive shortcomings by bringing in too many scorers who couldn't defend and blew the team's identity in the process. Cleveland was a lousy defensive team throughout the Playoffs this year, and you can't be that if you want to win the title.

I agree. He made them an undersized team full of great fast break scorers that tried to push the tempo when that's not gonna win in the playoffs.

[JoeTait75]

Ferry can also be criticized for focusing too much on a particular opponent at the expense of building a roster that could beat anyone at any time. Last season he designed his roster to beat the Celtics... and they lost to Orlando. This season he designed his roster to beat Orlando and Los Angeles... and they lost to Boston.

[TheMACHINE]

Ferry did a good job, but the Jamison trade might be his biggest mistake. He really didn't add anything more to the team and made them worse defensively. Better with Varejao and Hickson as the PFs. That trade was the biggest reason they lost to the Celtics IMO.

I disagree. Jamison was a legit player who was added without subtraction. You cant go wrong with that.

[Scola]

Wow this team is falling apart. Their coach gets fired, Ferry leaves, and Lebron could end up signing elsewhere. I kinda feel that Lebron has to stay now or hes gonna be hated forever in Cleveland. I'm also sure they ran both things by him and he gave them the ok. Ferry did the best with what he had, but this team wasn't gonna be able to beat the Lakers. If they had a chance to get Amare for Hickson they should of done it, although it was probably Phoenix who rejected the offer.

[JoeTait75]

I disagree. Jamison was a legit player who was added without subtraction. You cant go wrong with that.

Problem in retrospect was that there was already one guy in the starting five who couldn't guard anyone in Mo Williams. Jamison made two. It's tough to win in the playoffs when 40% of your starting lineup are turnstiles defensively.

Jamison would have been a good match-up against Rashard Lewis, to be sure- but that goes back to Ferry designing a team to beat a specific opponent, not everyone.

[Pelicans78]

I disagree. Jamison was a legit player who was added without subtraction. You cant go wrong with that.

That's true. Maybe it was Mike Brown's fault for playing him over Varejao or Hickson. Jamison made the team worse as a starter. He should have been a backup.

[TheMACHINE]

That's true. Maybe it was Mike Brown's fault for playing him over Varejao or Hickson. Jamison made the team worse as a starter. He should have been a backup.

well i believe Fiery gave the pieces that should have worked...everyone and thier mom thought the Jamison trade was awesome. the GM did his part....Mike Brown wasnt able to implement it though and thats why Brown was rightfully terminated.

[MaNu4Tres]

For years the few Cleveland fans on this site have slobbed his knob like he's some kind of good GM when he was one of the shittiest GMs in the league. Cavfan should be happy about this.

How can he be fairly judged when his ideas were filtered through LeBron for the final say?

[JoeTait75]

What really killed Cleveland's chances going forward was the week in the summer of 2004 when Jim Paxson

a.) Spent the 10th overall pick in the Draft on Luke Jackson, and

b.) Let Carlos Boozer out of his contract.

The damage had already been done when Ferry came around. From then on it was a matter of damage control and that's a tough spot in which to put any GM.

[Muser]

Don't know if I agree with that, when you've got the best player in the league it shouldn't be THAT hard to put pieces round him.

[Pelicans78]

The problem was Lebron as well. He doesn't have a reliable offensive game like in the post or shooting off the dribble. No Boston wing should be able to guard him down low. His teammates didn't help, but a more polished Lebron might have won this series.

[JoeTait75]

The problem was Lebron as well. He doesn't have a reliable offensive game like in the post or shooting off the dribble. No Boston wing should be able to guard him down low. His teammates didn't help, but a more polished Lebron might have won this series.

There's a thought: instead of making stupid movies and preening like a teenaged beauty queen on his free-agent tour, maybe LeBron can get his ass to a big man camp and work on his post game.

Fat chance, though.

[baseline bum]

What really killed Cleveland's chances going forward was the week in the summer of 2004 when Jim Paxson

a.) Spent the 10th overall pick in the Draft on Luke Jackson, and

b.) Let Carlos Boozer out of his contract.

The damage had already been done when Ferry came around. From then on it was a matter of damage control and that's a tough spot in which to put any GM.

They screwed up bigtime thinking they could con Boozer into signing an MLE deal, and got what they had coming when Boozer also turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing. I still think Shaq was a horrible direction for Ferry to go in, but yeah, it certainly doesn't compare at all to Paxson's idiocy.

[TheMACHINE]

There's a thought: instead of making stupid movies and preening like a teenaged beauty queen on his free-agent tour, maybe LeBron can get his ass to a big man camp and work on his post game.

Fat chance, though.

Bron's just trying to be a "brand" and get billionaire status without doing it on the court. Not sure if thats possible.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

The problem was Lebron as well. He doesn't have a reliable offensive game like in the post or shooting off the dribble. No Boston wing should be able to guard him down low. His teammates didn't help, but a more polished Lebron might have won this series.


There's no question a lot of it falls on Lebron, and in that respect Ferry could only do so much. I hope if he leaves Cleveland, they boo the shit out of him whenever he plays there again.

[mindcrime]

There's no question a lot of it falls on Lebron, and in that respect Ferry could only do so much. I hope if he leaves Cleveland, they boo the shit out of him whenever he plays there again.

That's a given. If I were Lebron and I decide to leave I would make sure I'm unable to travel with the team every time they play in Cleveland.

[Venti Quattro]

I cannot imagine the anger that will be unleashed by Cleveland fans on LBJ once he signs with another team and that team visits Cleveland.

[The Franchise]

I cannot imagine the anger that will be unleashed by Cleveland fans on LBJ once he signs with another team and that team visits Cleveland.

He would deserve every bit of it. When you have a say in who comes and goes, help to build a flawed team, and then decide to bail, you are asking for it. Does anyone blame Ferry for running as fast as he could? :lol

[TheMACHINE]

He would deserve every bit of it. When you have a say in who comes and goes, help to build a flawed team, and then decide to bail, you are asking for it. Does anyone blame Ferry for running as fast as he could? :lol

not only does he bail, but he goes on a media tour to make sure everyone knows about it. :lol

[The Franchise]

not only does he bail, but he goes on a media tour to make sure everyone knows about it. :lol

I didn't even think about that part. If he leaves they might rob his ass the next time he returns. :lol

[jack sommerset]

I think BronBrons plan along has been New Jersey. I doubt it has changed.

[KidCongo]

Holy Shit did not expect that.

[j.dizzle]

LOL Dan Gilbert's look on his face in that 30 point blowout basically said, "fuck this shit, time to clean house".

[JoeTait75]

LOL Dan Gilbert's look on his face in that 30 point blowout basically said, "fuck this shit, time to clean house".

Hard to blame him. He put a shit-ton of money into this franchise, and that doesn't even include the millions in luxury tax he's paid out over the last several years. And that's the return he gets?

I'd be out for blood too if I were him.

If the Lakers took a beating like that on their home floor... well, you tell me what Dr. Buss's reaction would be?

[j.dizzle]

Hard to blame him. He put a shit-ton of money into this franchise, and that doesn't even include the millions in luxury tax he's paid out over the last several years. And that's the return he gets?

I'd be out for blood too if I were him.

If the Lakers took a beating like that on their home floor... well, you tell me what Dr. Buss's reaction would be?
These days Dr. Buss is always at the casino with 22 year old hookers so who knows. :lol

[duhoh]

i thought the amare trade didn't go through because phoenix demanded that they don't give him a physical.

might have not been to CLE, but i do remember a lot of articles of amare trades not going through because of that.

[ducks]

One thing that seems pretty clear is somewhere during the 2009 deadline when he had Wally's contract to dangle and 2010 deadline when he had Z's contract to dangle, there was a point in time when he could have gotten Amare for pennies on the dollar and rejected it for whatever reason. He has been way too complacent as GM of Cleveland and didn't look to improve as much as he could have. Maybe the playoffs are a different story, but being the GM of a 60 win team isn't an accomplishment at all when you have the best regular season player in the NBA.

and if they got amare he would walk
amare played well for suns only after allstar break trying to get a big contract

[namlook]

The problem was Lebron as well. He doesn't have a reliable offensive game like in the post or shooting off the dribble.

Lebron has no mid range game either.

[JoeTait75]

I think the Cavs' number 1 problem was a "we have to win now" mindset. Had they taken their time and built around LeBron the way Sam Presti is building around Durant then the Cavs could be a dynasty. And if "ifs and buts were cookies and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas." Look at the Suns franchise, they cheated themselves out of a few championships trading away Deng, Johnson, Rudy Fernandez, Rondo, Nate Robinson etc.

I don't disagree with you. But the time to build in the Sam Presti mold was early in LeBron's career when the Cavaliers were in the lottery. Presti has had top-five picks with which to build around Durant and to his credit, he's taken advantage of them.

It's just tough to build that way when you're in the Playoffs every year and drafting at #19 and below every year.

And to a certain extent LeBron has to take the blame for the "win-now" mentality. You need a long-term commitment from your superstar to build slowly and he hasn't even come close to offering it.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

That's a good point JoeTait, right when they got the #1 pick in 03, it woulda been smart to bring in a new GM and coaching staff and trade for young players/picks.

[JoeTait75]

The problem was not the role players, or the coach. James is not superstar material. He's failed on so many levels at delivering the big game. He had the best team this year, but the guy would rather do commercials..

The fact that LeBron is 6'9" and 270, has been in the NBA for seven years, and still can't play with his back to the basket speaks volumes.

LeBron will never win a title as the primary option until he gets it through his thick skull that he needs to develop a functional post game.

At this point, though, I doubt that's ever going to happen. He's surrounded by ass-kissers and syncophants who won't tell him what he needs to hear- and that includes the LeBron groupies in the fanbase who give him credit for every success and blame every failure on someone else.

[mojorizen7]

Problem in retrospect was that there was already one guy in the starting five who couldn't guard anyone in Mo Williams. Jamison made two. It's tough to win in the playoffs when 40% of your starting lineup are turnstiles defensively. .

Yes,it is.