The Magic got Michael Pietrus, the Raptors got Jermaine O'Neal, the 76ers got Elton Brand, the Celtics are the Celtics, and the Cavaliers have only signed Daniel "Boobie" Gibson so far this summer.
The Eastern Conference is getting better. It's even starting to catch up with the west, and two years after LeBron James carried the Cavs to the finals, the team had failed to make any progress this summer.
During last season, the Cavs made a blockbuster deal, landing veterans Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, and Joe Smith, but the Cavaliers have done nothing since.
The Cavs did go seven games with the Celtics, but those veterans just got older, and the bench got shorter. This summer, they signed Gibson, but Devin Brown is most likely out and Delonte West is looking like he is going to Moscow.
The Cavaliers have to show LeBron they are willing to make moves to make him stay a Cavalier and to convince him not to become a Net or Knick. So far, they had failed to do that.
Before the draft, they were close, to trading Szczerbiak for Vince Carter, but the deal fell short. They also were looking to get Michael Redd, but the Bucks were not willing to part ways with him.
Right now, the Cavaliers are looking at making a blockbuster deal. I had talked with a person in the front office who said they are looking at various trades.
The biggest one is landing Leandro Barbosa. The Suns are interested in sending away Barbosa or Boris Diaw for some depth. They are looking to win the title next season, as they are all in at this point.
Barbosa would be the star player the Cavs need. He is arguably the fastest player in the NBA, who is also an overall talent. Imagine him and LeBron running down the court.
A trade scenario would be trading Joe Smith or Anderson Verajo and a first-round pick for Barbosa.
The Suns would get a veteran backup for Amare Stoudamire in Smith or just a hustle bench player in Verajo.
This would be the best option for the Cavs and Barbosa, who has an option to start since there's no Steve Nash is in Cleveland.
The most interesting deal I have been hearing about for a while has been that the Pistons are looking at adding veteran big man Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
The trade that would work is sending Rasheed Wallace and Arron Afflalo to the Cavs for Ilgauskas and Damon Jones.
For the Pistons, they would get the center they have been looking for. Ilgauskas is the most underrated center in the game. He gets boards and scores consistently.
They also are looking at trading Tayshaun Prince for Josh Smith, so the Pistons look like they are building a championship team again.
The Cavaliers would reunite friends and former teammates in the Wallace's. They won back-to-back titles, and since then, Ben has not looked the same. Maybe he will get back to his old form with Rasheed there.
So far, the Cavaliers are having a poor offseason. They have failed to get some free agents for the mid-level exception, and they have failed to make a trade to land another stud next to LeBron.
The east is getting better, but as long as LeBron is there, no team is safe. If the Cavaliers get a team together for the whole season, to let the chemistry blend in, they would be looking to get back to the finals.
13 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Mike Turnell 11 months ago
It would be unwise to give up Joe Smith. He is one of the Cav's leading scorers and best role players. The downside is that I don't think the suns would take Anderson Varejoe in that trade, he isn't enough for a player like Barbosa. I'm under the impression that Joe Smith and a first round pick (possibly Ty Lawson, Stephen Curry or Tyreke Evans, depending on their draft position) can give the Cavs more than Leandro Barbosa alone.
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Sean Stancill 11 months ago
I admire the Barbosa Cavaliers trade, but it will be hard for the Suns to attempt to tkae Vareajo when they have newly drafted Robin Lopez; Andy's chameleon but with respectable defense.
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Scott Miles 11 months ago
If you think the Suns are going to trade Barbosa for Andy and what would amount to a late-first round draft you're out of your mind. The only other PG on the Suns roster behind Nash is some dude named Goran Dragic, so I think they'll stick with Barbosa as a proven backup for the aging Nash.
I also find it extremely difficult to believe that the Cavs and Pistons are entertaining trade talks as well. Yes, the Cavs did trade with a divisional opponent in Chicago at the deadline, but this rivalry is so heated that I doubt that Danny Ferry and Joe Dumars are discussing deals.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
You really gotta stop making up trades and then pretending you have friends in the team's front-office. First it was Iverson to Chicago and now it's Barbosa to Cleveland.
By the way, it's obvious that the Cavs are unwilling to give out any contract for more than 2 seasons because they want as much cap space as possible for 2010. They only offered contracts to guys in hopes they would sign for the mid-level for two years so they didn't really strike out.
By the way, the Gibson deal (5 years, $21 million) just surpassed the Barbosa deal as the worst contract an agent ever convinced his client to sign. In a day where Jason Kapono gets $6 million a year, the Cavs signed a 44% 3-point shooter for $4 million a year.
The Pistons would never trade Wallace for Ilgauskas because they could do much better. The Wallace's also only won one championship. Not "back to back" as you wrote.
Don't expect the Cavs to trade any first round picks because rookies are the cheapest way to add quality talent to a team that won't have about 9 players on their current roster two years from now. Szcerbiak, Wallace, Jones, Smith, Varejao, Snow, Pavlovic, and Ilgauskas will all be free agents at the end of 2009 or 2010. Cavs fans just need to be patient. By the all-star break they should be able to trade four expiring contracts for two impact players.
I'm looking forward to your next made up trade rumor.
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Shaun Ahmad 11 months ago
haha "someone in the front office". The crazy 68 year old recovering crack addict janitor perhaps?
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truth sayer 11 months ago
Would make sense for the Cavs to try and bring in Barbosa. As to whether management has the balls to is another thing altogether. I see Cavs brass as having no brass, unwilling to bring in players that will really make a difference. They will make the playoffs again based on Lebron's play, end up with the 17th or 18th overall pick again, and be in the same position next year if they don't go after Barbosa.
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Tyler Jones 11 months ago
Nice article, but I don't see it.
Also, as a Pistons fan I wouldn't be happy giving up Tayshaun for Smith. Any trade we make needs to involve Billups. I love Chauncey, but with Stuckey there, we need to use Billups to get some value somewhere else. Seems like the best move.
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Kevin C. 11 months ago
If Leandro were to to go Cleveland, i think he would be a great fit. his excellent defense and 3-point shooting would be great for a team with a lack of help on the offensive side.
nice article btw
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James Anthony Fields 11 months ago
Leandro to the Cavs is a great move for this organization. They need a PG who can keep up a certain pace with Lebron James and there is no except, maybe Steve Nash or Chris Paul, who would be able to accomplish this task, outside of Barbosa. Secondly, as a Piston's fan, it would be stupid to trade Rasheed Wallace to the Cavs. First of all, they're in the same division; second of all, reuniting the Wallace brothers would only account for the Piston's demise as Eastern Conference participants. I agree with Tyler. They need to trade Chauncey Billups, while he stil maintains his value. With Rodney Stuckey forming into the mold of a younger Dwayne Wade, I think this would be the best move; in addition, to trading the over-rated and under achieving, Tayshaun Prince. Make me proud Joe!! :)
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Richard Le 11 months ago
I don't think Anderson Varejao will be included in a possible trade scenario with the Suns since they drafted a very similar player in Robin Lopez.
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Matt Coan 11 months ago
Are you kidding me about trading Z and Damon Jones to Detroit for Rasheed Wallace!!!! Why in gods name would the Pistons agree to that??? They would have to be hammered drunk to accept that trade especially with an inter-division rival. Who is this "person in the front office"? Is he alive?? If the Cavs get Rasheed Wallace out of that deal, I will eat my hat.
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Moochie Gray 11 months ago
I would love to get Barbosa if their was the chance. But to be honest, I rather have Billups!! But I don't want Rashead. I am tired of the Cavs getting the "on the downside of their career" players hoping this will make us better. The Cavs would also be out of their mind to trade "Z." Go ahead and give them D-Jones and throw in Anderson with that deal.
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Ben Barbosa 11 months ago
If the Brazillian Blur were to go to Cleveland.. him and lebron would have fast breaks all day. the Cav's would avg. about 10 more points a game..and it'll take some pressure off of lebron to score all the time. and if this trade is going to go down, its not going to be for Varejo i can tell you that!! and if the Cavs do trade Smith..they will be losing a good role player.. but they'd be getting a better all around player in Barbosa.. i would love to see this trade go down and im keeping my fingers crossed!!
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