Really sad - you nailed it rusty.

Stupid contracts for players that are marginal at best, is what has gotten the NBA
into this precarious situation. Go young, try to compete, it doesn't matter. And no way
in hell would be giving Drew a new contract. Would love to see a couple teams not
meet payroll.

The Cavs have an extra dose of bad contracts for one reason. They had to in order to surround Lebron with what he needed to go to 4 straight Finals. Now the bill comes due.

Anyways, here is an example of something I wish they could work out with JR

Tyson Chandler is still expected to sign with the Lakers once he clears waivers.

Chandler gave back $2.1M of his $13.5M deal with the Suns in his contract buyout, but he's expected to make up the difference once he signs with Los Angeles.

So JR finds a team that wants him, gives back some money in order to get free, then all settled.

Smart move by Drew. Now he has to bought out for next season. (Likely)

Larry Drew - C - Cavaliers
Larry Drew has agreed to a deal with the Cavs to serve as the head coach for the remainder of the 2018-19 season.

Drew's new contract will be partially guaranteed for the 2019-20 campaign, so if the Cavs decide to move on after this season, they will need to buy him out. The Cavs pulled out a win in the first game after Tyronn Lue's dismissal, but they followed that up with two straight losses. Drew will be adding a lot of L's to his personal win-loss column this season.

Jon Leuer; did we have him once? Yeah, 9 games in 2012.

His Cavs career:

July 20, 2012: Signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

December 7, 2012: Assigned to the Canton Charge of the G-League.

December 20, 2012: Recalled from the Canton Charge of the G-League.

January 3, 2013: Assigned to the Canton Charge of the G-League.

January 7, 2013: Recalled from the Canton Charge of the G-League.

January 22, 2013: Traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Memphis Grizzlies for Wayne Ellington, Josh Selby, Marreese Speights and a 2017 1st round draft pick (Harry Giles was later selected). [Harry Giles?

You'd think this would be a no brainer:

Ante Zizic made the most of his 17 minutes on Wednesday with 10 points (3-of-5 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), nine rebounds and three turnovers.

The Cavs' frontcourt is decimated and coach Larry Drew said after the game, "[Zizic] deserves more minutes. I’m proud of him ... he knows how to play."

so the injury list is now: Love, his backup Dekker, Osman who slid over to 4 yesterday, and Hill. Couldn't design a better scenario to be solid competitors for the draft lottery. They don't have a 3rd point guard, do they? Clarkson I suppose would slide over to 1?

This is a fantastic year to have a top pick. There will be hall of fame talent available at the top of the draft this year.

NBA mock draft - hmm they have the Cavs picking first.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/280 ... nba#slide3

Paul Pierce said he thinks Duke would beat the Cavaliers right now.

how about Kentucky?

Not buying that whatsoever. I've seen Pierce (and McGrady) on that show and they often disagree as well as often say outrageous things.

Just as an example, a solid center like TT would become an absolute beast against college kids. Rebound numbers in the 20s.

DeAndre Ayton was the top pick in the draft last year and is deserving. Nice offensive player, scoring really well. Defensively and physically he is getting crushed every game. This is the TOP pick and a very good center.

The Cavs' Jordan Clarkson another example would end up being the 2nd coming of Jordan vs. college kids. No one could remotely stop him.

On the NBA Network they were talking about Dallas rookie Luka Doncic. By far the most mature rookie for one reason - he played against MEN in Europe instead of college. These guys are professionals and adults. (This is McHale talking about EuroLeague)

McHale said, "Those teams in the EuroLeague would destroy a college team - and that's why Doncic's adjustment to the NBA is relatively easy". (Doncic played for Real Madrid in that league) Again, this is Kevin McHale, not me but I thought it was fascinating.

Our own Colin Sexton - he is just a kid. Playing against men for the first time - the #8 pick in the draft. And he is typical of top college guards in that many of them can't shoot like NBA players (Sexton, Dennis Smith Jr, oh remember Fultz on the 76ers?) It takes them some time in the NBA for their shooting to catch up.

Pro teams are men....vs boys in college. Even the worst team. Duke has future pros! Future.

Yes, Cleveland Cavaliers need to make some moves, but be smart -- Terry Pluto

Updated Nov 8, 12:04 PM; Posted 6:00 AM

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer tpluto@plaind.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio – I’ve been receiving emails from fans who want to blow up what is left of the Cavaliers.

J.R. Smith? Cut him!

Kyle Korver? Trade him.

Tristin Thompson? Get him outta here!

George Hill? Him, too...goodbye!

Same with Channing Frye.

Kevin Love? He can leave, too.

It took less than two weeks into the regular season for the playoff dreams to be shattered.

After six games, Tyronn Lue was fired...the coach was not ready to deal with the coming collapse of the team.

And the theme of “winning and lessons" has turned into “losing and anguish.”

Obviously, the 1-10 Cavaliers need to trade some veterans and add younger talent.

They don’t have to worry about their first-round pick going to Atlanta this season. They’ll keep it. The pick is protected 1-10...the Cavs keep it if the Cavs are among the 10 worst teams in the league.

Cavs General Manager Koby Altman and other members of organization were at the Kentucky-Duke game, where some of the college game’s top prospects were on display.

I know the Cavs are doing major scouting overseas.

They aren’t kidding themselves. It’s a major rebuild.

PATIENCE NEEDED
Young players such as Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Larry Nance Jr., Jordan Clarkson and hopefully Ante Zizic are going to see a lot of action.

That’s the case already, except for Zizic. The Cavs finally used him in the 95-86 loss to Oklahoma City, and the 6-foot-10 center had 10 points and nine rebounds...in 16 minutes.


I also want to see more of David Nwaba.

Here’s my point: The Cavs not only need to use their younger players, they need to add more draft picks and young talent.

That requires trades.

Even second-round picks can be of value.

Hill is in the final season of his $19 million contract. He has $1 million buyout for next season.

Hill could be attractive to a contender once the calendar turns to 2019. Maybe the Cavs can secure a second-round pick and a younger player who is stuck on the end of a bench with a good team.

Korver and Frye are veteran 3-point shooters, ideally suited for a team such as...yes, the Lakers with LeBron James.

The Cavs made the huge deal with the Lakers last season, sending Isaiah Thomas and a first-rounder to the West Coast for Clarkson and Nance.

Huge contracts could make it hard to deal Smith and Thompson.

Love’s major foot injury puts a question mark next to his trade value for this season.

NO BIG RUSH
The Cavs have to be smart how they handle the veterans.

Some of them need minutes simply to show other teams they can still play – and enhance their trade value.

Others need minutes to keep the team from being an utter embarrassment from the opening tap.

Sexton is not ready for 40 minutes a game at the age of 19.


Yes, he had 15 points in 42 minutes in Wednesday’s game. But he also had only one assist, zero points in the fourth quarter.

He has so much to learn, and he is playing the most demanding position on the court. He is far more of an “attack guard,” as Lue used to label the scoring mindset of Kyrie Irving.

Nothing wrong with Sexton sharing time with Hill – even playing in the same backcourt – for the next few months.

The challenge for the front office is not to panic in terms of just dumping everyone yesterday.

It’s not as if the Cavs are winning too many games with their veterans – and spoiling their draft position.

They are losing while trying to win.

That’s OK.

Especially if the front office can then use some of these veterans in the next few months to add young players and draft picks.

Some of them need minutes simply to show other teams they can still play – and enhance their trade value.

And that is likely why JR is playing.

The guy can actually still play and there are good teams that need shooters. 76ers are one. They've been linked to Korver.

rusty - I don't know how much of the NBA you watch outside the Cavs, but to me it's WOW this year. Teams are playing extra hard.

Teams in the West realize every game counts as they were so incredibly close at the end of last year for playoffs.

In the East, of course it's a whole new order as teams like Indiana, Milwaukee (!), Boston, Philly and most of all Toronto are all improved and energized. Milwaukee pasted the Warriors the other night and they are young, long and athletic which also describes Toronto and Boston!

All those teams have a better shot at the Warriors then the Lebron Cavs would have had. Great stuff in both conferences and the games themselves have been entertaining.