The Cavaliers have been busy this offseason, but they're not the only Eastern Conference club on the move.
With the NBA's offseason at the unofficial halfway point - and with the dog days of August approaching - here's a quick look at what's happened in an already interesting summer in the East ...
1. Size Matters in C-Town - After falling to the Magic in the ECF, despite winning 66 games and sweeping the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Cavaliers did some re-tooling of their own - mostly to add size, length and athleticism. Enter 15-time All-Star and four-time NBA Champion, Shaquille O'Neal, to man the middle - providing LeBron James a low-post option that he's never had. The move sends Zydrunas Ilgauskas to the bench for the first time in his career. The Magic ouster also convinced the Cavaliers to stock up on long, athletic wing players - tabbing Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon in free agency and drafting Christian Eyenga and Danny Green.
2.Magic Touch? - Orlando was a missed layup and a pair of botched free throws from making the NBA Finals against L.A. very interesting. Instead, the Eastern Conference Champs re-loaded after the loss. Hedo Turkoglu bolted across the border, so the Magic sent Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie to the Nets in exchange for 32-year-old Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson. Orlando also inked forward Brandon Bass and guard Matt Barnes, and they remain in the Eastern Conference's upper echelon despite the post-Finals shake-up.
3. Pistons Evolution - Since getting bumped by Boston in the 2008 playoffs, the Pistons have been slowly morphing away from the veteran-oriented squad that made six straight appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals. Chauncey Billups was dealt early last year, Rasheed Wallace left for Boston and Antonio McDyess is in San Antonio. Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton remain - but for how long? The team now belongs to recent free agent acquisitions - Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon - as well as Detroit's young guards, Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum. (Although another blast from the past - Ben Wallace - is rumored to return to Motown.)
4. Miami Vice - Dwyane Wade and Pat Riley have sparred in the media this offseason, and although their timelines might not match, but their goals are identical. Although the present-day Heat are still Wade and a group of talented youngsters like Mario Chalmers, Daequan Cook, and Michael Beasley, Miami looks to still be flirting with the idea of adding heavyweights, Lamar Odom and/or Carlos Boozer.
5. Capital Offense - After losing to the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs in three straight years and a disastrous 2008-09, experts thought Ernie Grunfeld might finally bust up the Wizards. But Washington's brass decided to see what the Wiz can do when they're 100 percent healthy. Washington dealt the No. 5 overall draft pick to Minnesota for Randy Foye and Mike Miller and resisted dealing Caron Butler. If Agent Zero can return to form, the high-octane Wizards might just get the Cavaliers in the first round again.
6. One More Celtic Run - The Celtics are inching closer to the dreaded "closing window" as they try to squeeze one more Championship run out of the power trio that Danny Ainge assembled two years ago. This offseason, the C's added Rasheed Wallace and seemingly toyed with the idea of trading Rajon Rondo. Leon Powe likely won't return and Big Baby Davis still hasn't signed with a club. Boston had an epic run in last year's postseason, but they'll need to stay healthy to make one more run at the Ring.
7. Garden Statement vs. New York State of Mind - While the Knicks look like they're still shaping their roster for next summer - eschewing Nate Robinson and dragging on David Lee, the team across the Hudson is slowly building a nice young core, including newly-acquired Courtney Lee, along with Devin Harris and Brook Lopez. The Knicks are hoping Darko can give them something, hoping Danilo Galinari's back will hold up all season and hoping Jordan Hill can ease the pain of not coming away with Ricky Rubio or Stephen Curry on Draft night.
8. Take Off to the Great White North - Another team with a wary eye on 2010, the Raptors stunned the hoops world when they landed Hedo Turkoglu, who looked like a lock to sign with Portland. Unfortunately, the addition of the nine-year pro puts Brian Colangelo in somewhat of a financial bind. (One that allowed the Cavaliers to sign Anthony Parker and Dallas to sign Shawn Marion.) The reloaded Raptors still have All-Star Chris Bosh, along with Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon and 20-year-old DeMar DeRozan from USC.
9. Young Blood - Unlike last season, the Western Conference should see the biggest influx of interesting rookies, but the East should still have some curious freshman storylines. At No. 10 overall, the Bucks tabbed the point guard Minnesota didn't draft, Brandon Jennings, who bypassed a freshman season with Arizona to play overseas. UNC's Tyler Hansbrough's late climb landed him at No. 13 to Indiana. The Pistons grabbed the angular Austin Daye and New Jersey drafted Terrence Williams from Louisville. Cleveland's first round pick - Christian Eyenga - will likely spend this season in Spain, but second-rounder, Danny Green, has a shot to crack the rotation.
10. Coaching Carousel - Three coaching vacancies were filled in the East this offseason, and all three have ties to Cleveland. First, former Mike Brown charge - and the team's "offensive coordinator" - John Kuester landed the Pistons vacancy as Joe Dumars replaced Michael Curry after one year on the job. In Philly, former Cavalier draft pick, Eddie Jordan, makes his return to the bench. Unfortunately he won't have Andre Miller to run the show. And finally, Cuyahoga Heights native, Flip Saunders, will take over the bench duties for Jordan's old club, the Wizards.
The Cavaliers have been a busy ballclub between an eventful Draft day and yesterday's signing of free agent swingman Anthony Parker.
And while Danny Ferry and his staff are constantly attempting to make the team better, it seems like - for the moment - some of the offseason's smoke is starting to clear.
Through all of the Wine and Gold's early offseason maneuvers, I've written about what I think. (It's my job.) But, as a self-professed sports-talk-radio and fan-forum junkie, I've been keeping up with your thoughts on what the Cavaliers have done - both good and bad - and thought I'd try to find out a little more.
So here's 10 Questions. You can answer them in the "leave a comment" area below or just to yourself. Are these questions skewed in favor of the Cavaliers? Of course they are. (That's my job, too.) But that's the beauty of cavfanatic.com -- you can skew them however you'd like.
The Wine and Gold will likely continue their renovation through the summer. But from where we stand here in mid-June, what are your thoughts on the following?
1. On Monday afternoon, the Cavaliers inked free agent Anthony Parker. The 34-year-old swingman is coming off three straight seasons averaging double-figures with Toronto. He will essentially assume Sasha Pavlovic's spot in the backcourt and will likely compete with Delonte West for the starting spot.
Do you think Anthony Parker is an upgrade?
2. On June 25, Cleveland acquired Shaquille O'Neal for Pavlovic, Ben Wallace and cash considerations. O'Neal - a four-time Champion and 15-time All-Star - will be 38 when the season concludes. He will be the Cavaliers starting center from Day One and comes to Camp motivated for another Ring and a shot to silence Dwight Howard (and maybe a two-year contract).
Do you think Shaquille O'Neal is an upgrade?
3. In what still looks like a three-team race for the top spot in the East, the top triumvirate has been busy trying to keep pace. The Celtics added Rasheed Wallace but may lose Big Baby Davis. The Magic lost Hedo Turkoglu, Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston, but added Vince Carter and Brandon Bass. And in the Cavaliers' division, the Pistons lost Wallace and Antonio McDyess, but acquired Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon.
So far this offseason, have the Cavaliers kept pace with their Eastern Conference adversaries?
4. LeBron James played in the 2006 World Championships, the 2007 Tournament of the Americas Olympic qualifiers and the 2008 Olympics in Bejing. Of course, his NBA team had gone deep into the postseason in-between each Team USA appearance.
Will NOT taking part in any Team USA basketball activities be beneficial to LeBron James' upcoming season?
5. The acquisition of Shaq will move Zydrunas Ilgauskas to the bench and the signing of Anthony Parker will mean he or Delonte will join the second unit. Daniel Gibson should come to Camp healthy after nursing a toe injury through most of last season and Tarence Kinsey has a year under his belt. Wally Szczerbiak and Joe Smith are free agents. J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson will be looking to be part of Coach Brown's regular rotation.
Is the Cavaliers' bench stronger than last year's?
6. J.J. Hickson was shut down late last season with a back ailment, but has been progressing steadily. He showed flashes of brilliance as a 19-year-old out of N.C. State, but like most rookies, struggled with consistency. Jackson, a four-year man fresh off a National Championship at Kansas, started slowly, but came on strong to finish the 2008-09 season.
Will J.J. Hickson make a leap from his rookie to his sophomore campaign? Will Darnell Jackson?
7. Along with Pitt's DeJuan Blair, who was tabbed by the Spurs at No. 37, rookie Danny Green - picked nine spots later at 46 - was considered by many to be the steal of the 2009 NBA Draft. The "surprisingly athletic" Green played - and won - more games than any other Tar Heel in school history while rewriting the ACC record books with his versatility.
Can Danny Green crack the rotation by year's end?
8. With Shaq and Z entering the final years of their respective deals, the Cavaliers recently re-signed free agent big man, Anderson Varejao. The Wild Thing is coming off the best season of his career - starting 42 games, averaging 8.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers were 33-9 with Andy in the starting lineup, 25-5 when he notches double-figures.
Are you pleased to have Anderson Varejao in the fold for the foreseeable future? Do you think LeBron is?
9. As mentioned, Shaq and Z will be in their last seasons under their current contracts. Varejao's deal is nominal for a versatile 27-year-old big with 60 games of postseason experience. Anthony Parker's deal is negligible.
Have the Cavaliers offseason moves been cognizant of the not-too-distant future?
10. With all these moves in mind - and some moves that are likely yet to come ...
As of July 15, 2009, how do you feel about the Cavaliers?
Usually, the Fourth of July holiday is one of baseball's benchmarks. But it's slowly becoming a hoops junkie's holiday, too. And now that Independence Day has come and gone, expect things to heat back up.
With the free agency period tipping off on July 1, the landscape of the league is in constant flux - almost daily - through the rest of the summer. Players can begin to sign with teams starting July 8, but there's already been some seismic shifts to the NBA, most notably in the Eastern Conference.
So far, the Cavaliers have made the biggest splash - which is bound to happen any time Shaquille O'Neal makes a landing.
After being mauled in the middle by Dwight Howard in this year's ECF, the Wine and Gold dealt Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix in exchange for the Diesel. The 15-time All-Star and four-time NBA Champion gives the Cavaliers an inside presence that they haven't had since LeBron's arrival. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is a two-time All-Star and he holds a handful of franchise records, but he's not the force that Shaq is - even at 37 - on either end of the floor.
The Cavaliers were a 66-win team without the Diesel and they didn't give up any core players from that team to get him. Big Ben's limitations had become glaring - he attempted 13 shots in 14 playoff games, operating on a bad wheel the entire time. Pavlovic was never able to live up to his potential in Cleveland. In 344 games as a Cavalier - with a role that fluctuated from starter to afterthought - Sasha averaged exactly 6.0 points per game.
Shaq's presence immediately puts opponents in a pick-your-poison position. Foes can either double Shaq or LeBron James. And if they figure out that dilemma, both players will find Delonte West, Mo Williams or Daniel Gibson spotting up or driving-and-kicking. LeBron's numbers - especially his assists - should make another jump this season.
Of course, the Cavaliers have a free agent dilemma of their own to deal with in Anderson Varejao.
If the numbers are what they were reported - (the signing moratorium is still in effect) - then the deal Charlie Villanueva is about to sign with Detroit should have some bearing on Anderson's value. The Wild Thing - a fan favorite who's beloved by his teammates - is a tough, versatile player, but his limitations were exposed against Orlando.
Including the postseason, the Cavaliers were 43-13 with Varejao in the starting lineup. In those 56 games, Andy averaged 9.2 points and 7.4 boards per contest. Cleveland would probably like to add more scoring to that starting spot, but to have a young big like Varejao who can play both spots effectively is also vital. Remember - both Z and Shaq are in the final year of their contracts.
The Cavaliers will also be looking for one of - if not both - of last year's rookies to contribute in 2009-10.
J.J. Hickson showed glimpses - shooting .515 from the floor in limited action. Only 20 years old, Hickson - who last saw action on April 5 - will be counted on to continue his development. Second-rounder, Darnell Jackson, bloomed later in the season. In the last month of the campaign, he saw time in every game but one. In his longest run of the season - in the finale against Philly - Jackson went for 15 and 8.
This year's first-rounder, Christian Eyenga, will likely continue to develop overseas, while Danny Green - who Cavs tabbed at No. 46 - could possibly dent the rotation this year. Some scouts feel Green was the steal of the second round, and there's something to be said about a man who's won more games as a Tar Heel than any other player in UNC's rich history.
Depending on J.J.'s back, all three players should get their chance to show Chris Jent and the Cavs staff their stuff when Las Vegas Summer League tips off this weekend in Sin City.
While the Wine and Gold continue their attempt to lure free agents to the North Coast, other teams have made their moves as well. The Celtics have reportedly reeled in Rasheed Wallace, the Lakers have landed Ron Artest and Ben Gordon will join Villanueva in Motown. With Hedo Turkoglu on the move, the Magic dealt for Vince Carter.
The Turkoglu defection might be the lynchpin for the remaining free agency season. After spurning the Blazers, Hedo instead opted for Toronto. It would have been nice to get the 6-10 playmaker out of the Conference, but it also handcuffs the Raptors financially. Signing Turkoglu makes it very difficult for Toronto to financially retain players like Shawn Marion and Anthony Parker.
All these moves are just from the first few days of free agency. This is around the time that those "hoops junkies" from the first paragraph tend to grow impatient. Sometimes they even get a little star-struck. Trevor Ariza becomes Scottie Pippen and Charlie Villanueva becomes James Worthy.
But as Danny Ferry has said on countless occasions, he's building the team to win now and consistently into the future. And while he and the brass are constantly looking to improve the team, they're not going to make a move that'll jeopardize the franchise's plans one year from now. They can sign a player that they like to a long-term contract now, or they can sign a player that they love to a long-term contract next summer.
The Cavaliers will be patient and they will not be star-struck. Ferry was pilloried by impatient fans last summer before fleecing Milwaukee for All-Star guard Mo Williams in early August. And that move worked out pretty well.
So sit back and enjoy the second phase of the NBA's offseason. It's just starting to get interesting.
The start of the month is controlled by the league's heavyweights - four squads slugging it out to reach the Finals and the two winners fighting for the crown. The end of the month is controlled by the league's lightweights - who perennially hold the keys to the NBA Draft.
That's the case again this year, with the Timberwolves, Wizards and Grizzlies - three clubs that combined for one more win (67) than the Cavaliers had as a team - dictating the events of much of the first round.
The T-Wolves have now become the biggest players in the entire Draft. They don't have a head coach, but they do own the 5th, 6th, 18th, and 28th picks in Round One. Word on the street is that they're looking to move up to get Hasheem Thabeet and are willing to move No. 5 and 18 to get him.
The Wolves' dealings don't immediately put them into playoff contention, but a healthy frontline of Al Jefferson, Kevin Love and Thabeet is one to watch in the future. And it's worth noting that this is one of the deepest point guard Drafts in recent memory. The Wolves can soothe the pain of trading O.J. Mayo - and fill the hole left by recently-dealt Randy Foye - by grabbing any number of quality ones with the No. 6 or 28 selection. (Or packaging those picks.)
Mayo's current club - the Grizzlies - hold the top pick in play (Blake Griffin is a lock for L.A.). They can stand pat and select Thabeet - who, like Spanish playmaker Ricky Rubio, is not thrilled with the idea of languishing in the River City. Or they can deal it to any number of clubs who covet the seven-footer from UConn.
That leaves the Wizards - the Cavaliers' three-time playoff nemeses - who dumped a bunch of salary and acquired Foye and Mike Miller. You have to hand it to Wiz GM, Ernie Grunfeld. Despite repeated disappointments, he refuses to break up D.C.'s Big Three of Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas. (Of course, let's see if that's still the case on Friday morning.)
The Wizards dealing the No. 5 overall selection was one of two big trades on Tuesday. The Bucks and Spurs made the other deal, with Milwaukee sending Richard Jefferson to San Antonio in exchange for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto. (Oberto was then dealt to Detroit for Amir Johnson.)
How will these moves affect the Cavaliers?
Other than Bruce Bowen being in the Central Division, not much. But the Cavaliers have not ruled out getting up into the first round, and Minnesota is obviously flush with picks. Milwaukee's salary dump might also give them the cash they'll need to ink Charlie Villanueva, who could be a Cavaliers' target in free agency.
Although some local radio personalities seem to think there's no players that could benefit the Championship-contending Cavaliers in this Draft, there are quite a few athletes that could improve the squad. Just this past season, the Magic reached the Finals with a rookie (Courtney Lee, No. 22 overall) as their starting two-guard.
The 2009 Draft is point guard heavy, and although the Wine and Gold would have a hard time passing on a plummeting point guard like Ty Lawson, Brandon Jennings or Patty Mills, the glut of guards could push some wing players and big men towards the bottom of the first round.
Danny Ferry conceded on Monday that the Cavaliers are in the market for some length and athleticism and there should be plenty to choose from near the second half of the first round. These players may not make the immediate contribution that Courtney Lee made in Orlando, but both Cavalier rookies were integral in Cleveland's 2008-09 season, including Darnell Jackson - the No. 52 overall pick.
Cavaliers' PR whiz and amateur draft guru, Garin Narain and I have been comparing wish lists as Thursday approaches. He's high on a pair of UNC swingmen - Danny Green and Wayne Ellington - followed by rock-solid big man, Jeff Pendergraph, of Arizona State and rangy guard, Patrick Beverly, who started out at Arkansas and wound up playing (naturally) in the Ukraine.
My wish list consists of DeMarre Carroll, the do-it-all small forward from Missouri, followed by PAC-10 Defensive Player of the Year, Taj Gibson of USC, and then the crafty Tar Heel, Ellington.
The Cavaliers would do well to get any of these six players at No. 30 and there's an outside chance one could slip to No. 46.
Of course, by the time you read this, Minnesota might have already made another trade or two. But that's the beauty of the last week of June. Moves are made, new blood invigorates the league as teams are built and re-built.
In many ways, the 2009-10 season begins on Thursday night. And after the unfortunate ending to the Cavaliers' campaign earlier this month, I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to get the next one rolling right now.
He's only 24-years-old, and sometimes you're foolish enough to think you've seen it all.
But last night, LeBron James did something else that made you immediately take stock of where you were when you saw it. I was in the media section where you're supposed to maintain an air or impartiality. I didn't care. I don't care.
I went nuts - just like you did. Because just when we were foolish enough to think there was something LeBron couldn't do - he did it. He saved the season in a single second.
Rashard Lewis gave Mo Williams just enough space to find LeBron, who rattled home the game-winning buzzer beater. Had LeBron missed, the Cavaliers would've gone to Orlando, a place they haven't won this year, down 0-2.
It's a moment you'll probably remember for the rest of your lives. I had a friend in - from Cleveland now living in New York - who had never been to The Q before. Friday night's memory is what he'll take back to the Big Apple.
LeBron's shot didn't erase the pain of "The Shot," but maybe it signaled that Cleveland will be inflicting some pain instead of always absorbing it. (That familiar "painful Cleveland feeling" when Hedo Turkoglu sank his jumper with 1.0 remaining was palpable. In me and in the building.)
Friday night's game-winner immediately goes into local lore -- joining **** Snyder's runner in the Miracle season or Sandy Alomar's home run off Mariano Rivera in the 1997 ALCS.
"As a kid, you practice those types of moments," said LeBron. "As a basketball player, you are sitting in your backyard, you are in the gym and you are five, four, three, two, one (buzzer) ... you don't have to be in the NBA to know what I'm talking about. Everybody knows those types of moments. And to hit a shot like that at the buzzer - wow."
As Stan Van Gundy explained after the game, the Magic were thinking about the lob play that the Cavaliers ran in a bizarre game in Indiana in February - essentially a side-out alley-oop for LeBron. But James popped out and with Hedo in his face, canned the game-winner.
After the 96-95 win, Mo Williams explained the list of options on that last play: "Okay, Option B was LeBron. Option C was LeBron. Option D was Big Game James. And that was Option D - that you saw."
Cleveland isn't supposed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But on Friday night - referring to the author of the original "Shot" - Michael Jordan - LeBron James served notice that there's a new marshall in town, and that things might be a little different around here.
"Well, that guy is not in the league anymore," smiled James. "The other 2-three is on the good side now. That other 2-three is gone, so we don't have to worry about that no more."
The biggest difference between LeBron's idol's shot and his was that MJ's dagger sent the Cavaliers home for the summer. The new 2-three's shot only put the Magic away for 44 hours.
The Cavaliers haven't had any success in Orlando this season, dropping both contests by an average of 20 points. But in any sport, there's always a huge momentum swing - in a game or in a series - when one team goes for the kill-shot and misses and the other team gets new life.
Savor every second of Friday night's big win. We are truly witnessing basketball genius.
But the series rolls on this Sunday night in the Magic Kingdom. And when gametime rolls around and No. 23 begins running through his pregame warmups, I'll be wondering, just like you ...
The Cavaliers have been busy this offseason, but they're not the only Eastern Conference club on the move.
