Cavs Looking Back:
How they did in 2010-2011: Terrible, as expected after Lebron left. They traded most of their weighty contracts for picks or cap relief picking up one monster in return (Baron Davis). The Cavs picked up castoffs and D-Leaguers to fill out the roster. They somehow lost a record 26 games in a row as the pathetic yet interesting highlight of the year. Managed to play .500 ball the last 12 games to hand Minnesota the worst record. By another miracle they won the draft lottery.
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| With a roster full of virtual no-name players, the Cavs came out on top...of the lottery standings |
Cavs looking forward:
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| The Cavs would obviously love to somehow land both Kyle Irving and Derrick Williams |
Draft: They currently have the #1, #4, and #32 picks. The #1 will go to Kyrie Irving. Irving is an elite college PG and they sorely need someone like that after years of Mo Williams and Lebron running the point. Pick #4 is the bigger decision for the Cavs management. Do they stick with #4 and go big euro (Kanter/Valanciunas/Vesly) or do they trade up to get Derrick Williams? They need to pick a guy with sure talent and develop him the next 2-3 years. Trading up doesn’t change that fact so my hope is they stay pat. John Krolik brings up a great point that the Cavs will be picking #28-40 many times in the next 5 years (thanks Miami). These guys need to be solid rotation or project guys. This plan also tells me the Cavs won’t try to contend immediately.
Roster: Salary-wise things look good. Only Chris Eyenga and Andy Varejao have contracts longer than 2 years headed into the 2011-12 season. Antawn Jamison and Baron Davis can be traded easily now that their contracts are expiring or soon-to-be expiring. Both have something left in the tank and a contender might want to take them on to shore up their bench or fill in for an injured starter. JJ Hickson becomes an interesting trade piece if they draft a big man. After that things don’t look so good. I would count Varejao and Eyenga as the only pieces the Cavs have for the future. If Eyenga develops over the next 2 years that helps but look for him to be participating in dunk contests and coming off the bench for athleticism. If you’ve read my Draft synopsis then you know the Cavs plan is to build a contender slowly over 3-5 years. They could throw in a smart trade here or there but don’t count on them trying to put together a Big 3 (or any FAs even wanting to come to Cleveland for that purpose).
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| One of the few brights spots of the 10-11 season, JJ Hickson has developed nicely |
Coaching and Ownership: I’m sure any coach could have put together a 19-63 season but Byron Scott was brought in to teach. He seemed to help with the younger players over the course of the season. That is possibly why Mike Brown was let go. His defensive game plan would have probably helped the Cavs record into the 30s but the younger guys would have not become any better (i.e. Hickson in 2010 playoffs). I see him coaching the Cavs until they reach the fringe of contending for a title and then he will probably be let go as he was with all his other teams.
Dan Gilbert is a smart man even if the media gives him hell for his tweets, emails, and letters. All his blather is for the fans and media. It seems to work as Quicken Loans had a decent year in attendance (probably just as good as Miami pre-playoffs). But from the moves the front office has made, it looks like they know the best plan for the Cavs is a long term draft and develop scheme. Bonus: His prognosis about a Cavs championship before Lebron holds true for another year.
Outlook for 2011-2012: The Cavs win more games but barely threaten the 8th seed. I could see them winning handfuls in the beginning and end of the season when teams are off guard, resting, or in lottery mode. Prediction of 31-51.
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