Category: Cleveland Cavaliers (Page 78 of 88)

The Miami Heat have undergone a complete overhaul this offseason, some of it to the benefit of the Cavs, losing point guard Damon Jones to the Cavs last week. Shaq is downplaying it. It’s hard to imagine Shaq’s game going down. But I’m damn sure of one thing…Lebron James’ numbers will go up, and Dwayne Wade’s numbers will go down. And thus, we may have heard the last of the “Wade is better than Lebron” idiocy.

Lebron’s scoring will go up. This year’s Cavs team spreads the floor like never before. With Jones and Donyell Marshall, the 3-point line will have to be constantly guarded by opposing teams. With Larry Hughes’ driving ability, you gotta watch him like a hawk, too. That leaves the floor almost wide open for Lebron. He’ll hit more threes. He’ll have fewer triple teams, and he’s proven he can beat a double team. Lebron’s scoring could shoot through the roof.

Lebron’s assists will go up, too. Now, everybody around Lebron can score. Missed shots off of passes that Lebron used to send at unsure shooters will more often fall into the basket. Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be more open underneath, and Lebron’s going to find him every time he’s open. Lebron might lose a few offensive rebounds, but defensive rebounds might open up, as his entire team now has to be watched carefully for fast breaks, allowing Lebron to get that huge frame to the boards.

And Wade? He’s now got to contend with Jason Williams as a ball-hogging point guard, Antoine Walker wants to score, and they’re even talking of bringing in Gary Payton to fill some of the holes. Yeah…that’ll help Wade’s numbers. Bottom line, Wade’s days as comparable to Lebron are going to end with this season. And Lebron’s numbers, as incredible as they are now, will get better and better. Just like Lebron himself.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert lays down about 350 roots in Cleveland. Here’s hoping that he’s able to keep another certain employee of his, whose number is 23, in town long term, too.

Ric Bucher at ESPN argues that Damon Jones didn’t really want to leave Miami for the Cavaliers.

Jones knows the Cavs aren’t ready to contend and that a lot of question marks about their chemistry and cohesion will have to be answered before they are. That’s why he’d still be in Miami had the Heat simply been willing to increase his salary more than a few hundred thousand above the $2.7 million he would’ve received had he not opted out of his two-year deal. The Cavs, after all, are reportedly starting him at $3.5 million. It’s hard to believe the Heat, had they reeeeeeally wanted to keep Jones, couldn’t have matched that.

If Jones didn’t want to leave, and Miami was nickle & diming him, give Danny Ferry his props. He kept at it, upped the ante, and delivered the deal.

Danny Ferry is looking a lot better as GM than he did as a player. Landing Damon Jones was a very iffy prospect last week. Michael Finley went to San Antonio, Jones seemed likely to stay put in Miami. Ferry got him anyway. Nice. Listening to Kenny Roda on WKNR right now, Bryan Winters of the Akron Beacon Journal speculates that Jones will likely start at point guard. Makes sense to me, too.

The Cavs are now almost the exact opposite of the team they were last year. Now the Cavs are a major three point threat AS A TEAM, with the addition of Jones & Donyell Marshall. Last year, they didn’t have a jump shot outside of Lebron. Last year, our front line was solid. This year, their big man situation is a problem, with Verajao down for a while, no Tractor Trailer, and Drew Gooden still, kind of, a work in progress.

After missing out on Lithuanian free agent Sarunas Jasikevicius earlier this offseason, the Cavaliers filled their need for an offensive-minded point guard by signing Damon Jones to a four-year deal worth between $15 and $16 million. Jones, who set Miami’s single-season record by hitting 225 three pointers last season, gives the Cavs a much-needed outside presence to go along with fellow free-agent signee Donyell Marshall. Jones hit 43% of his three-point attempts last year and ranked third in the league in threes made, while Marshall hit 42% of his attempts from downtown and ranked 13th in total threes made.

What makes this such a solid move for the Cavs is, while Jones isn’t great at running an offense from the lead guard position, the Cavs don’t need him to be. Eric Snow will start because he’s more of a traditional point guard, a guy who looks to pass before he looks for his own shot, plus he can play some D. But when the Cavs need a jolt off the bench, they can bring Jones in and let Larry Hughes or, occassionally, even LeBron run the point.

This kind of versatility will make the Cavs dangerous. Marshall can play either forward position and, in a pinch against a smaller lineup, could even play some center. Hughes can play either guard position. LeBron can play PG, SG or SF. And now Jones can also fill either role in the backcourt.

Now if the Cavs could only find some healthy big men….