cleveland 04'-05' roster wish list

Trading Z dont seem like such a bad idea to me, im not a hater but hear me out.
Zydrunas Illgauskas has his foot problems, and the Cavaliers have LeBron James and Carlos Boozer who are improving dramatically one is the new ideal power forward while the other is the wonder kid. Wouldnt you guys hate watching there talent go to waste? IF the cavs trade Z they would get a young prospect and component for there future which would be better than Z in 5 years or so and a great long term player, and at the same time Boozer and LeBron will be developing.

 

Wow, Battier and Posey. Battier is like Battie, awesome effort and potential. Posey, killer on both ends. I'd love to get our hands on those, how about Lorenzen Wright? He's a pretty good defender, or Ervin Johnson.

Dajuan Wagner has to go, useless ballhog, he isn't like Crawford. At least B Dizzle and Starbury pass it off.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting polarbear:</div><div class="quote_post">

Z to the mavericks for michael finley, straight up. michael finley is constantly talked about in any trade rumor involving the mavericks by ford, he is a great shooter, he can create off the dribble. the other player the mavs are rumored to be trading all the time is antoine walker. NO THANK YOU.

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Finley will be a good addition to our team, he's a great catch-and-shoot player but he never was good at creating his own shots off the dribble, not even when he was at his best. He's good at transition pull ups. Add ing him would make our lineup look like this:

C- Tony Battie
PF- Carlos Boozer
SF- LeBron James
SG- Michael Finley
PG- Jeff McInnis

Not a bad thought, LeBron can slid to the three because he's got the size and he can still dominate. Adding someone like Mike will boost our offense tremendously. Now if only we can get a point guard that runs and creates plays as well as Nash, we can be the second Mavericks. As well as McInnis played this season, he is not the fastest guard. I agree with you about Toine... we need a capable outside shooter, Antoine is very capable in that he attempts those shots... not necessarily makes.

 

Another thought came to mind that this will be Z's last year on his contract. we might as well ship him to a team and get something good in return. Who knows, mabey he will resign with us when he becomes an UFA.

 

Would Dallas want to do a Finley for Z straight up? Also I haven't checked the salaries, but do they match?


<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Stromile Swift and/or Battier are interesting and guys that Silas would LOVE as they rebound. Can they d it up though? This one might be most likely to happen, though we would have to give Grizz some compensation.</div>

This shouldn't be a question, they're both good defenders.


<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Finley will be a good addition to our team, he's a great catch-and-shoot player but he never was good at creating his own shots off the dribble, not even when he was at his best. He's good at transition pull ups. Add ing him would make our lineup look like this:</div>
He's always been one of the best post up guards in the league, his handles aren't as good as the other elite guards, but he's not a bad player at creating, just not anything great at creating.


<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Not a bad thought, LeBron can slid to the three because he's got the size and he can still dominate.</div>
Lebron should be sliding to the three anyways, as long as CLE get's someone to play the 2.

 

Someone brought this up earlier about Finley being older than Z. That deal wouldn't really make sense for the long term. Finley is on the downside of his career now and has a lot of minutes on his body. He is at least 3 years older than Z.

You don't win championships in the NBA without a major post presence which Z is for the Cavs. I like Boozer a lot but he doesn't and I don't think ever will provide that same presence. Z demands double teams, Boozer doesn't.

That Insider story was what Chad Ford would do or what he thinks the Cavs should do. It really isn't what he thinks they WILL do. Gund and Paxson like Z a lot. I don't think he's going anywhere. He should sign for a reduced salary after this season.

I don't think Swift and Battier would be enough for Z. 2 backups for one of the top 5 centers in the league. I wouldn't mind seeing either of those 2 with the Cavs but they aren't enough for Z.

Remember, the idea should be to build a championship contender, not just a team that does well in the regular season but can't make it all the way. Example: Mavericks who have no toughness or post presence.

One note on the Chad Ford story. He wrote how the Cavs would be $1.6 million under the cap after McInnis' option is picked up which if true would mean the Cavs couldn't afford any quality FA's. However, in the newsletter from Terry Pluto of the Akron Beacon Journal he wrote that he's heard the Cavs are interested in Brent Barry and Stephen Jackson as FA's. This would seem to mean that they do have money available to sign a good FA. There seem to be different stories on how much money the Cavs have to sign players.

 

Yeah, what Narl said.

You all forget what sort of presence Z has in the post. He clears the way for Booz to get some easy looks. Boozer is no go to guy in the post. You need someone like that. What we do need is an athlete in the frontcourt to compliment Z and Booz. Using Battie and or WAgner to get that body is an option.

Z is here to stay.