30 Teams in 30 Days: Cleveland Cavaliers

 2007-08 in Review

Record: 45-37
Eastern Conference Seed: 4
Playoff Results: Lost to BOS in Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-3)

Summer of 2008

Key Additions: Maurice Williams (via trade), JJ Hickson (via draft), Tarence Kinsey (via free agency), Lorenzen Wright (via free agency).

Key Losses: Devin Brown (via free agency), Joe Smith (via trade), Dwayne Jones (via free agency), Damon Jones (via trade).

Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry has not been sitting at the cool kids’ table over the past year and a half (to put it lightly). In fact, a fair amount of Cleveland die-hards had been waiting for his resignation/firing. His inability to put an upper-class supporting cast around LeBron James simply did not earn the respect of many fans. Very seldom did Ferry get a pat on the back.

Until Aug. 13, 2008.

Roughly six-and-a-half weeks ago, Ferry broke out of his shell as the largest beneficiary of a shocking three-team blockbuster that sent highly talented guard Maurice Williams to Cleveland. The best part about it? All they had to part ways with were the expiring contracts of disgruntled sharpshooter Damon Jones and veteran forward Joe Smith.

With this deal, LeBron now has a second option to defer to. No, I’m not talking about like when the organization tried to convince you that Larry Hughes was good enough to play second-fiddle. I’m talking about a legitimate offensive talent, and one who—unlike Hughes—put together a good individual season following his big payday.

Ferry didn’t stop there, however. For additional backcourt depth and flexibility, Delonte West was retained on a three-year deal—the third year containing a team option—worth a reasonable approximate price of $12.8 million total. The foursome of West, Williams, Daniel Gibson, and Wally Szczerbiak may just be the cast of perimeter shooters that James needs beside him.

To replace Joe Smith’s spot in the rotation, Ferry drafted NC State forward JJ Hickson 19th overall in June’s draft, giving the Cavaliers a new look (from an athletic standpoint) up front. The 20-year-old’s skill-set is very similar to that of Chris Wilcox, and those qualities could bring a much needed spark off the bench this coming season.

For frontcourt insurance, after letting Dwayne Jones go, the club signed 12-year NBA veteran center Lorenzen Wright to a one-year, veteran’s minimum ($1.26 million) deal.

With all of that said, the pickup that will get the least attention is the free-agent signing of Tarence Kinsey. However, don’t sleep on his abilities. As a starter in 12 games for Memphis in the 2006-07 season, Kinsey held more than respectable averages of 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game, while shooting an efficient 49.1 percent from the field.

Post-2007 All-Star break, the former South Carolina Gamecock posted 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game through 28 contests, and scored 20-plus points on eight occasions. That said, he only played in 11 games last year, averaging 3.6 points per contest. Don’t bank on Kinsey to be a bigtime contributor in Cleveland, but should he receive the opportunity, be aware of what he is capable of.

Ferry’s local popularity may not be up to par with the three-sport star, or even the sixth man on the JV team for that matter, but he has now graduated from geek to “average Joe.” It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s a start.

Depth Chart

C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas / Anderson Varejao / Lorenzen Wright / Lance Allred
PF: Ben Wallace / JJ Hickson
SF: LeBron James / Sasha Pavlovic / Darnell Jackson
SG: Wally Szczerbiak / Delonte West / Tarence Kinsey
PG: Maurice Williams / Daniel Gibson / Eric Snow

Biggest Strength

The Wrath of King James: When glancing at the majority of the Cavaliers’ roster, you aren’t exactly blown away. It’s no secret as to why Cleveland is a competitive Eastern Conference team, despite their blatantly mediocre group of supporting players. That reason is none other than the one and only LeBron James.

To put it briefly, he’s just 23 years of age, and he’s already a sure-fire Hall of Fame lock. It would be utterly shocking if James didn’t go down as one of the top five (or so) players to ever sport Jerry West on his left shoulder. If it weren’t for King James, this team would be thought of as nothing more or less than a lottery ball.

Biggest Weakness

Offensive Construction: Have you ever played pick-up basketball with a guy that plays as though it’s a game of 21? You know, where a five-on-five setting turns into “that guy with four other dudes in the picture vs. a team of five.” If you’re on his team, you don’t even waste your energy trying to get yourself open. You just stand in place until the ball hog puts a shot up, right?

That’s what it feels like watching the Cleveland Cavaliers on the offensive end of the floor, even if it's dressed up a little more professionally. Mike Brown’s offensive game plan seems to be the same each night: Get the ball to LeBron, and everyone else get the hell out of the way. Sometimes, you wonder if Cleveland’s team assist average is identical to James’ 7.2 per-game mark.

Ironically enough, they get by on account of King James’ dominance. However, if they ever want to return to the Finals—let alone win a title—they’re going to have to come up with a new offense, preferably involving some form of movement.

X-Factor

Mo Williams: If all goes well, there’s no reason why Williams shouldn’t be the best offensive sidekick LeBron James has had since Carlos Boozer (but we won’t go there). He can shoot the heck out of the ball, create for both himself and others off the bounce, and, when confident, he even has a bit of a motor.

As long as Williams continues to do those things well and buy into Mike Brown’s defensive schemes, the Cavaliers can be one scary Eastern Conference team come late April.

What to Expect in 2008-2009

The addition of Mo Williams could very well push Cleveland back into the cream of the Eastern Conference’s crop. Mike Brown now has extra flexibility to experiment with smaller lineups, yet still be effective.

As long as this team continues to buy into what the coaching staff is preaching defensively, it’s hard to envision the Cavaliers being anything less than an enormous threat to win the East.

2008-2009 Predictions

Record: 50-32
Central Division: 2nd Place
Eastern Conference: 3rd Place

Tomorrow: Dallas Mavericks