Don't Cry for Me Cleveland-Tina: How to Rebuild the Cavaliers Post-LeBron
Has anything worse happened to a city in modern day sports?
It's really hard to think of it like that, but it's an apt question.
In the NBA, specifically, we've seen Seattle have a team ripped from underneath them, the Canadians witnessing Vince Carter go from their country's star to their arch-nemesis over the course of several years, and, of course, the New York City having to endure Isiah Thomas.
In the words of Sinead O'Connor, "Nothing compares to you."
It doesn't really come close actually. What more hope can Cleveland have?
They had a hometown guy who single-handedly resurrected the dreams of the city's sports spectrum, purely by his arrival.
The best thing Cleveland can do is put this saga behind them and rebuild. This time the right way. Get a jolt of youth, hope for some loyalty this time around, and start over.
It is kind of like the post-breakup sequence, only this time, your girlfriend has flirted heavily with six men and is now airing an hour special on ESPN to announce with whom she will officially cheat on you.
Now it is time for the next step. Get that new apartment, maybe take a vacation. But above all else, rebuild your life. I find the best way to do so is with a three-step approach.
Here it is Cavs fans, your three-steps to officially rebuilding. Please don't step off the ledge—it's going to be okay.
Step One
Land a reasonably paid young scorer who could be a major factor in the Eastern Conference.
Answer: Al Jefferson
Deal: Anderson Varejao, Delonte West, Leon Powe FOR Al Jefferson and Ryan Hollins
Why for Minny?
The Wolves get deeper at the center position and also solidify a solid backup PF on their roster. West can also be instant savings as his contract has some sort of shtick like that (guys help me out here).
PF K. Love/ L. Powe
SF W. Johnson/ C. Brewer
C A. Varejao/ D. Milcic
SG M. Webster/ W. Ellington
PG J. Flynn/ R. Sessions
Step Two
Land another potential scorer, perhaps a slasher/perimeter scorer—someone who is also young, perhaps on a rookie deal, and can flourish if given more minutes and touches. Also get a young two-guard who can shoot it, and, of course, flourish with increased minutes as well.
Answers: Jerryd Bayless and Rudy Fernandez
Deal: Rudy Fernandez, Jerryd Bayless, Joel Pryzbilla FOR Mo Williams, Jamario Moon and J.J. Hickson
Why for Portland?
They get a score-first point guard who can instantly improve their guard depth at a relatively cheap price. They also net an athletic backup small forward in Moon and a solid backup power forward in Hickson. Portland could suffer even more injuries and still be okay!
PF L. Aldridge/ J.J. Hickson
SF N. Batum/ J. Moon/ L. Babbitt
C G. Oden/ M. Camby
SG B. Roy/ E. Williams
PG M. Williams/ A. Miller
Step Three
Deal aging talent as quickly as possible for anything that resembles youth, expiring deals, or talent.
Answer: Deal Antawn Jamison to Charlotte. Here's how:
Antawn Jamison, Daniel Gibson, Danny Green FOR Boris Diaw, Nazr Mohammed, D.J. Augustin, Derrick Brown
Why for Charlotte?
With Jamison at the power forward slot, the Bobcats can make another poised run and have the type of players that coach, Larry Brown, has always wanted.
PF A. Jamison/ Ty. Thomas
SF G. Wallace/ D. Green
C T. Chandler/ D. Diop/ A. Ajinca
SG S. Jackson/ G. Henderson
PG R. Felton/ FA
In the end—why all for Cleveland?
The Cavs would have a nice base going forward.
The team would have minutes to hand over to youth and a plethora of expiring deals that can be used to net a solid center in next year's free agency—and it's a DEEP center FA class.
Heck, they can overpay and land a solid center: Al Horford, Marc Gasol, Kendrick Perkins, Greg Oden, DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Hawes—they could land one of them with cap space they'll possess.
On top of that, next year's draft should have some nice wing players to land from likely No. 1 pick Harrison Barnes, to foreigner Jan Vesley.
Additionally, I'd sign former rookie busts Adam Morrison and Joe Alexander, because maybe these guys can resurrect something—why not?
In the intertim, here's what you have:
PF A. Jefferson/ B. Diaw
SF D. Brown/ A. Morrison/ J. Alexander
C N. Mohammed/ R. Hollins/ J. Pryzbilla
SG R. Fernandez/ A. Parker
PG J. Bayless/ D.J. Augustin/ S. Telfair
On a side note, I also like Diaw as that glue big along with Jefferson, the same way Walker was suppose to be that glue guy years ago with Jefferson in Minny, only you know, less donuts. Diaw is an apt passing big who can also play a little five if need be—nice stop-gap vet there.
Not a playoff contender by any means, but it's a start.
The team will have the necessary cap space to reassess their needs in the offseason and should net a top pick to land a potential star.
Al Jefferson may not be LeBron James, but at least he won't be bolting any time soon. And he can potentially help Cleveland get back on track—or any track—allowing fans to forget the name LeBron for about five seconds.
On another side note, I understand some Cavs fans may read this and go back to the ledge. The process can't be turned around over night, but it's a start.
...Just don't fall on my brand new Toyota.
