Tag Archives: NBA Trading Deadline

KENNY RODA 1 ON 1 WITH CAVS G.M. DAVID GRIFFIN 2-20-14

Posted: Feb 21, 2014 by . Filed under Feature Articles, Video Vault | 7 Comments

Watch my interview from “All Bets Are Off” on SportsTime Ohio with Cavs G.M. David Griffin, as we talk Spencer Hawes and the NBA Trading Deadline.

http://ow.ly/tRmvP

Cavs GM David Griffin

CAVS LUOL DENG ON HIS TRADE RUMORS 2-19-14

Posted: Feb 19, 2014 by . Filed under Audio, Current Interviews, Feature Articles | 9 Comments

Luol Deng on Dealing with Trade Rumors

YES IT’S A REACH, BUT I WOULD LOVE THE CAVS TO MAKE AN OFFER TO MINNESOTA

Posted: Feb 18, 2014 by . Filed under Audio, Feature Articles, Podcasts | 7 Comments

If Kevin Love Might Be Available, Then The Cavs Have To Go For It

DION WAITERS ON THE NBA’S TRADING DEADLINE

Posted: Feb 17, 2014 by . Filed under Audio, Current Interviews, Feature Articles | 8 Comments

So is Dion Waiters Worried About the Trading Deadline?

Dion 2-17-14

NBA TRADE RUMORS AND RODA RUMBLINGS

Posted: Feb 17, 2014 by . Filed under Feature Articles | 50 Comments

If I had to rank the Cavs players most likely to be traded before Thursday’s deadline, this is the order I would go with – number #1 being the player they’d like to get rid of the most- 1) Luol Deng, 2) Jarrett Jack, 3) Anderson Varejao,  4) C.J. Miles, 5) Dion Waiters. The only way I think they trade Dion now is in a blockbuster deal for a player of equal or better talent.

The two positions of need in my opinion for the Cavs as they head towards the trade deadline are a shooting guard who can score from long range and a legit starting center.

The chances of Luol Deng staying in Cleveland beyond this season are very slim unless the Cavs offer him a ridiculous contract and I can’t see that happening with David Griffin or whoever their G.M. might be. So with that in mind in the remaining days left until the NBA’s trading deadline (Feb.20th), Griff has to explore every team and every offer that could come their way. You don’t want to just give Deng away for nothing, but it would be nice to get something in return for him since you’re probably going to lose him. The other option is to keep Deng in hopes of making the playoffs and then just let him go as a free agent which gives you cap space this summer.

Playoff teams that could really use Luol Deng but may not have enough to give in return, or are unwilling to give up what the Cavs may be asking for are the Clippers, Thunder, Trail Blazers, Hawks,  Mavricks and Nuggets.

If I’m Cavs G.M. David Griffin I’m calling the Houston Rockets to see what they’re looking for in a deal for center Omer Asik.  He’s been hurt this season with a right knee/thigh injury and when healthy has played only about 15 minutes per game as Dwight Howard’s back-up, but last season as a starter for the Rockets the  7’0-255pd-27 year old center averaged 10.1ppg &  11.7rpg while shooting 54% from the field.  Then in 6 playoff games in 2012-13 he averaged 12.3ppg & 11.2rpg & shot 56% from the field. His big weakness is he is a horrible free throw shooter, with a career percentage of just 53%. According to Hoopshype.com Asik has 1 more year left on his contract at $14.9 million. His salary for this year is listed at $5.2 million. While playing sparingly this season in Houston, he’s only averaging 4ppg-6.5rpg and shooting a career low 46% from the field, but a career high 63% from the free throw line.

Also if I’m Griff, I’m talking with the Warriors about Harrison Barnes, but in order to possibly get Barnes, Golden State will insist you take David Lee and his remaining contract. The Warriors reportedly are looking for a shooting guard and a big.  Jarrett Jack and Anderson Varejao would fit their needs and salary wise it would work out in a deal. Plus Jack was a big part of their post-season success last year, so he knows the system. The downside for the Cavs is you really don’t have a legit starting center and you’re stuck with Lee’s contract of $30.5 million dollars over the next two seasons, but you get your young small forward you’ve been looking for in Barnes and control his rights for a number of years.

The teams that are rumored to be most willing to make trades are the 76ers, Bucks, Bobcats, Nuggets, Pelicans, Rockets, Kings and maybe the Warriors and Wizards. Ersan Ilyasova reportedly wants out of Milwaukee. Andre Miller doesn’t want to play for Brian Shaw again in Denver. Philly wants to get something in return for Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes instead of just losing them to free agency. Washington could be looking to dump salary and need a back-up point guard. New Orleans would love to dump Eric Gordon’s contract on someone. Same with Golden State and David Lee.

If the Cavs only want to make a minor move before Thursday, I’ve always liked Wizards shooting guard Martell Webster. He’s never reached his full potential, but if Washington is looking to dump some salary (he’s signed for 2 more years for $11 million, plus a team option) I’d inquire about him if I’m the Cavs. He would give Mike Brown another 3-point threat (40% this year and 42% last year).

Other players that could be, and I stress could be available in trades according to various reporst- Trevor Ariza, Taj Gibson, Danny Granger, Kenneth Faried, Arron Afflalo, Jeff Green, Javale McGee, Nicholas Batum, Greg Monroe, Kyle Lowery and Perry Jones.

ARE THE CAVALIERS BUYERS OR SELLERS?

Posted: Feb 10, 2014 by . Filed under Feature Articles | 7 Comments

New Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin met with the media yesterday and talked about how he felt the players needed to smile more and enjoy what they were doing. Get back to having each other’s back and play as a team and have fun doing so. I’m wondering if Griffin is going to have much fun over the next ten days deciding which direction to take this team leading up to the trading deadline.

If you’re the new Cavs G.M. what do you do with a team that’s (18-33) and four games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference? Do you buy or sell?

Cavs GM David Griffin

Click here to hear exactly what Cavs G.M. David Griffin told me when I asked him if they are going to be Buyers or Sellers at the trading deadline:  

Griffin has four games left before the trading deadline of February 20th to decide, should I add a piece or two and make a run at the playoffs? Or do I look at who is a tradable commodity on this roster and build for the future?  (Rumored commodities are Luol Deng, Anderson Varejao and Dion Waiters)

Of the Cavs next nine games to close out the month of February they’ll play only two teams with an above .500 record as of today. So there are some very winnable games coming up, lets take a look:

Sacramento at home tomorrow – Kings at (17-34) have the worst record in the West.

Detroit on the road Wednesday – Pistons (21-29) just fired their head coach Mo Cheeks.

At Philadelphia on February 18th – 76ers (15-37) have the second worst record in the NBA.

Oralando at home on February 19th – Magic (16-37) with the third worst record in the NBA

February 20th – NBA Trading Deadline

At Toronto February 21st – Raptors (26-24) first place in the Atlantic, but only two games above .500.

Washington at home on February 23rd – Wizards (25-25) the Cavs just beat them In Washington.

Toronto at home on February 25th – You would think at least a split of the two games with the Raptors.

At Oklahoma City February 26th – Thunder (41-12) have second best record in the league.

Utah at home February 28th – Jazz (17-33) have the second worst record in the West.

As you can see this is a favorable part of the schedule for the Cavaliers and if they added pieces at the trade deadline they could make up some ground in the chase for the 8th playoff spot in the East, currently held by the Charlotte Bobcats.

Will the first four games of this nine game stretch dictate what Griffin does, or has he already made up his mind? From what he told us yesterday and what owner Dan Gilbert said last Thursday, they believe that they have what it takes to win this season, so that would lead you to believe they’re going to be buyers and not sellers.

But while the upcoming schedule is favorable, there’s no guarantee with this team that they’re going to take advantage of that schedule and win six or seven of those nine games. Usually you are what your record says you are, and at (18-33) they are tied for the seventh worst record in the league which has them in the lottery right now.

As David Griffin admitted to us, this is not an easy situation to be in, but he looks forward to the challenge. He wants to show Dan Gilbert, the NBA, the city of Cleveland and Cavs fans everywhere that he is more than capable of handling the G.M. job of the Cavs and while doing so, turning this season and this franchise around. If he does that, then everybody will be smiling from ear to ear!