Tag Archives: Luol Deng

Can Cleveland Win It All Next Season?

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I think they can.  They have a young, but seasoned back court in Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, with 3 and 2 years in the league respectively.  They are from high quality, winning college programs at Duke and Syracuse, and can both hit the open jumper.  Their biggest adjustment was in asking Waiters to defer to Irving when he’s an inch taller at 6’4″, 32 pounds heavier, similar skill set, and confident from their practice sessions.  Neither will have a problem deferring to Lebron James. Arguably, that’s the best in the league at the 1, 2, and 3 positions.  The 4 (power forward) and 5 (center) are more challenging, but not at all horrible.  Anderson Varejao has 10 years in the league, experience playing with Lebron, and pulled down 9.7 rebounds per game last season. I would say that’s a respectable center position. The problem is, he’s the only center they have, and that needs to be rectified. But it can be, easily, via a trade. Tristan Thompson would be the weak link at the 4, but he won’t start.  I’m hoping they keep him, as he will be a high level sub off their bench. The Cavs are already working on a trade for Kevin Love, and if they get him at the 4, with Thompson behind him, they suddenly are powerful at the 1, 2, 3, AND 4, with a respectable 5 in Varejao.

The two Canadian youngsters are not bad ballers, but Messrs. Wiggins and Bennett are likely gone in the Kevin Love deal.  I just hope to see a back-up 5 coming back to the Cavs in that deal.  And remember, Pau Gasol is still around, would love to play with Lebron, and has no anti-Cleveland bias.  The difficulty there is his history with the Lakers in L.A., and Phil Jackson in N.Y., making it difficult to grab him.  But if they could, just imagine for a second Kyrie Irving at the 1, Dion Waiters at the 2, Lebron James at the 3, Kevin Love at the 4, and Pau Gasol at the 5…..the ball constantly moving, and all of them capable of hitting the open jumper.  On the Cavs bench are a couple of guards, Joe Harris and Matt Delavedova who can do one thing really well, shoot.  Of course, there are a couple of veterans, Mike Miller and Ray Allen who have a better history of doing that, and are in the conversation whenever, wherever goes Lebron James.

So, sort through those possibilities if you will, and tell me, can Cleveland win it all next season?

Lebron to Philadelphia? Here’s a thought.

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Joel Embiid has been tweeting Lebron about Philly, and most people laugh at the notion, since they’ve tanked the last couple of years, drafting injured big men, saving money and cap space to a fault.  But here’s a scenario to think about.  There are $ 15mm tied up in two guys, Jason Richardson and Thaddeus Young.  Shed that money, and you can have the space to bring in Lebron (21), Lance Stephenson (11), and Luol Deng (11) for $ 43mm.  You already have locked up Michael Carter-Williams at 3, and Nerlens Noel at 2.  More young legs are available in draftee Jerami Grant, and when he heals from surgery, top draftee Joel Embiid. Now, to top it off, bring in Kevin Love or Pau Gasol.  All of this is very doable.

With the contracts and draft picks they have in Philly, if they are serious and have the vision, this is a very palatable scenario to place before Lebron’s agent. The above cast of characters, along with those you fill in the roster with, get you by Miami and Indiana, and into the NBA Finals.  In my opinion, with the experience gained from the season of playing together, it gets you by the San Antonio Spurs, and places the crown once more upon the head of the King.

With this vision in mind, the 76ers’ GM should be packing for Cleveland to meet with Lebron’s agent.

Heat is on the Miami Organization

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Pat Riley’s “Get a grip…” proclamation is well remembered, and many cited it as a message to Lebron James. Lebron has responded, opting out, indicating an interest in 1 to 2 more years, BUT making two things clear.  Firstly, he was unhappy to see other teams improve while the Heat, apparently to save money, amnestied Mike Miller and got weaker, not stronger.  Secondly, before he returns, Lebron expects to see how the Heat will improve the roster this time.  Bosh and D. Wade have also opted out, as has Udonis Haslem, all indicating a willingness to take less money so as to enable to Heat to add talent. Lebron has not suggested being open to less pay. The Heat need to be concerned.

Carmelo Anthony led the NBA in average minutes per game, at 38.7.  Lebron was 6th, at 37.7. Chris Bosh averaged 32 minutes per game.  D. Wade averaged 32.9 minutes, but played in only 54 games.  Clearly, Mr. James carried the heaviest load.  Here’s another interesting statistic; Lebron has never been the highest paid player on any NBA team, not in Cleveland, and not in Miami. If Lebron is thinking it is time to make a correction to that, who can blame him?  So the question becomes what help will Pat Riley bring in, to both improve performance and to reduce Lebron’s workload?

A couple of targets have been missed already. Gortat returned to the Wizards, and Shaun Livingston signed with the Warriors.  Luol Deng has rebuffed the notion of a pay cut, and Kyle Lowry has politely refused an interview just yet.  Paul Gasol has had a phone conversation with Riley, but nothing conclusive; and we know Phil Jackson’s relationship and history with him.  So the pathway to productive assets isn’t without obstacles.  The Heat need to rise to the challenge, or thank Lebron for his contributions, and give him their blessings when he walks away.