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Cleveland Fans: Mark Your Calendars – 1-28-08
The day that could shake up not only Cleveland but all of the NBA
July 1, 2010: The day that LeBron James’ current contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers expires.
Remember, LBJ didn’t sign the longest possible contract he could have when his original deal ended. While the current contract keeps King James in town for the next two seasons after this year’s campaign, he has kept everyone on edge with his future plans. Things looked promising after last year’s title run and a young nucleus around him. He spent the off season ensuring he lives like a king in his new northeastern Ohio home, which will include a casino, bowling alley and barber shop. Things were looking good.
Saying the wheels have fallen off the track since that time is a very drastic overstatement (they’re 24-19 and currently the fourth seed in the East), but there have been some glaring issues staring LeBron in the face.
Nothing new to report here: Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao – James’ young companions – held out and are now both injured. Damon Jones campaigned for a trade to Miami, but even Miami – the worst team in the East – wouldn’t take him. And Larry Hughes continues to be the same Larry Hughes that can’t be successful with LeBron on the court.
But LeBron – to the dismay of Cleveland fans – appears to be getting restless. Ok, the Yankees hat fiasco was entirely blown out of the water. But now, we have a pinstriped sneaker taunting Cleveland fans. James’ new Nike shoes are Yankees-themed, much to the chagrin of the Cleveland faithful who are squirming a bit. The tongue of the Air Zoom V includes the language similar to the popular Yankees’ cheer: “Le-Bron Ja-ames, Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap.”
The shoes aren’t screaming New York Knicks by any means, but who’s to say he wouldn’t jump ship for The City That Never Sleeps. He could leave the team he single-handedly resurrected for a chance to be the saving grace for the Knicks, all while living among the big city lights. While the only team worst than New York in the East is Miami, they have a promising core of players, and unfortunately, LeBron would fit right in. Eddy Curry (14.3 PPG), David Lee (7.8 RPG), Zach Randolph (16.9 PPG,10.3 RPG), Nate Robinson (11.8 PPG), and Jamal Crawford (19.8 PPG) have all shown potential.
And the Knicks are just one possible destination – all of the teams in the NBA have made note on their calendars of July 1, 2010 and will consider the feasibility of James on their squad.
James would probably like to stay in Cleveland, but winning is his ultimate goal. Making a run this year, and continuing to have the best supporting cast possible during these last two and a half years, is going to be pivotal in retaining The King who currently reigns over Cleveland in his eventual 35,440-square-foot castle 20 miles south of the city.
Without him, the Cavalier Kingdom would be back to square one.
What Happened to Shannon Brown? – 1-15-08
The former first round draft pick is apparently an afterthought in Cleveland
Being drafted in the first round of the NBA draft with the promise of playing alongside one of the premiere players in the league may have been the last moments in Shannon Brown’s career that were anything but bittersweet.
Brown has become the forgotten man in Cleveland. First, in a surprising move at the time, the Cavs declined his option for next season at the outset of this season. Until now, he has been shopped around the league as trade bait with no takers, while receiving little to no playing time. Last week, he was sent to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (Texas) Vipers to get some steady playing time to showcase him for other teams with the hopes that someone will offer a trade.
The complaint here is that there have been no efforts by the franchise to develop this young prospect. Brown appears to have promise and a nose of finding the hoop. No, he’s not starting lineup material, but there is potential there.
With the emergence of Daniel Gibson, the two could together potentially form the backcourt of the future. That would be a best-case scenario, but again, there is potential in Brown.
There is unfortunately a logjam at guard right now, but it is a true shame that Brown will never be given a far shot in Cleveland because of the puffed up contracts of Eric Snow, Damon Jones, Larry Hughes, and now, Sasha Pavlovic.
Brown could learn playing behind LeBron James, but now it appears that his career will continue elsewhere. Just hope this one doesn’t come back to haunt us.
Cavaliers’ Up-and-Down 2007 – 1-1-2007
The Cavs have gone from an emerging team, to the tops in the East, to a team with questions
It sounds cliché, but 2007 was a rollercoaster ride for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
At the outset of this calendar year, they were a quality team, yet few thought they had all of the pieces to upend the Detroit Pistons or Miami Heat. But as the playoffs neared, Cleveland got hot. Once they entered the playoffs, they were playing their best basketball of the season. They reached their peak when they earned the opportunity to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.
After being swept by an experienced championship club in the San Antonio Spurs, there was promise but much work to do. From there it was all downhill– and they are continuing to fall down the ever-increasing slope.
Strapped by inflated contracts of Larry Hughes, Eric Snow, Donyell Marshall, and Damon Jones, the Cavaliers have little wiggle room to make any real moves. So the Cavaliers came into the 2007-08 season with the same, now disgruntled team that was exploited in the finals last year. The need for a more productive backcourt is more evident than ever. Today, the Cavaliers stand at 14-17 and in third place in their division. The East hasn’t gotten any easier either.
2007 MVP: MVP doesn’t even give him justice. No other player in the NBA impacts his team like LeBron James. This was apparent when he missed five games, and the team without their leader, lost them all.
2007 Worst Player: It’s gotten so bad for Larry Hughes in Cleveland that fans have created a Web site http://heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com pleading for Larry Hughes to not shoot the ball. He simply has not lived up to his team-high contract. His numbers have drastically fallen during his time in Cleveland, and he has struggled to stay healthy. He will remain on the trading block, but who wants him?
Best emerging Player: Daniel Gibson has really come on strong as the three-point shooter off of the bench that this team thought they had in Marshall and Jones. He doesn’t fulfill all of the team’s needs in the backcourt because of his average defense and lack of pure point guard skills. But he can score, which has been crucial to the team’s success this season and last – and especially in the playoffs – with the inconsistency of Hughes and Sasha Pavlovic.
2008 Outlook: It appears that Danny Ferry is going to sit back and let these contracts run out and begin the process of restructuring the team after Snow, Marshall and Jones are gone. Hughes will remain trade bait if anyone wants him.
Sitting back and allowing this team to slip into rebuilding mode is not a good idea. Seasons in Cleveland can not be viewed as rebuilding years. A disappointing season will only lead to LeBron James picturing himself in sunny L.A. or saving the New York Knicks. James must remain happy, and Ferry needs to earn his paycheck by getting creative and adding the players now that will contribute, so LeBron doesn't pack his bags in the future. If James leaves, the rollercoaster will completely fall of the tracks.