[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Everybody seems to be talking about the Cavs needing additional help up front, especially a shotblocking presence at C. Plenty of alternatives have been thrown around, with almost none of them make sense. Which player would you feel could help the Cavs, while also being realistic?

One name I would like to mention is Larry Sanders. He has a large contract and his behavior of last year basically killed his trade value. This would be a feasible option for the Cavs. One problem is the lack of pieces to return to the Bucks. Maybe in exchange for Varejao, who could serve as a salary dump for the Bucks (compared to Sanders’ contract)?  

 

[JoeWolf1]

 I think their top two list should be Emeka Okafor and Jermaine O’Neal.

Varejau is really a pretty solid guy when healthy, and Thompson is long enough and big enough to play limited minutes at the 5. Yes, a big name like Larry Sanders would be great, but also pretty un-realisitic.

Emeka Okafor is only a year removed from a 9 and 9 season, and although his disk sidelined him for a full year, he could be brought along slowly and his defense and rebounding could help any team.

Jermaine O’Neal turned back the clock and filled in admirably for the Warriors last year. After nearly 20 years of pro ball, he could bring a lot ot the Cavs and could possibly convinced to give it one more year for a title contender.

A longshot could be Sasha Kaun, who played under David Blatt for the Russia’s 2012 Bronze Medal Olympic squad. Kaun is a big body, a smart defender, and probably not a guy who’d command a huge salary. He’s the 13-14 VTB United League Defensive Player of the Year. I haven’t heard anything about this connection, and Kaun seems to be content playing in Europe, but the Blatt connection at least gives me enough to write a paragraph about, haha.

When push comes to shove, though, they just need a little depth. Varejao played 65 games last year, that’s more than Dwayne Wade has played two out of the past 3 years. The Cavs just need to be careful with him and have some insurance. I think Okafor or O’Neal would be great in that role for the Cavs.

[JoeWolf1]

 I think their top two list should be Emeka Okafor and Jermaine O’Neal.

Varejau is really a pretty solid guy when healthy, and Thompson is long enough and big enough to play limited minutes at the 5. Yes, a big name like Larry Sanders would be great, but also pretty un-realisitic.

Emeka Okafor is only a year removed from a 9 and 9 season, and although his disk sidelined him for a full year, he could be brought along slowly and his defense and rebounding could help any team.

Jermaine O’Neal turned back the clock and filled in admirably for the Warriors last year. After nearly 20 years of pro ball, he could bring a lot ot the Cavs and could possibly convinced to give it one more year for a title contender.

A longshot could be Sasha Kaun, who played under David Blatt for the Russia’s 2012 Bronze Medal Olympic squad. Kaun is a big body, a smart defender, and probably not a guy who’d command a huge salary. He’s the 13-14 VTB United League Defensive Player of the Year. I haven’t heard anything about this connection, and Kaun seems to be content playing in Europe, but the Blatt connection at least gives me enough to write a paragraph about, haha.

When push comes to shove, though, they just need a little depth. Varejao played 65 games last year, that’s more than Dwayne Wade has played two out of the past 3 years. The Cavs just need to be careful with him and have some insurance. I think Okafor or O’Neal would be great in that role for the Cavs.

[TheArtistPaysthePriceParticipant]

 I remember when they traded for his draft rights.

[TheArtistPaysthePriceParticipant]

 I remember when they traded for his draft rights.

[JoeWolf1]

I double checked when they first hired Blatt. To my knowledge, they do.

[JoeWolf1]

I double checked when they first hired Blatt. To my knowledge, they do.

[HitsterParticipant]

A lot depends on how the new coach lines up the team and maybe if Shawn Marion comes on board. As I said on another post the Cavs have Haywood, Varejao and Thompson to cover the frontcourt minutes around K-Love and maybe LeBron when he goes to PF. Add in Marion if he signs plus Mike Miller can play some SF so you’d have a core of 5 guys playing around LeBron and K-Love.

I fully agree that JO and Okafor would be good pick ups.

I’ll throw in a scenario would the Cavs look to package Varejao and Thompson for an established under contract C. They would be offering an expiring deal and a young piece so there might be a taker, I’m not suggesting names just a thought.

[HitsterParticipant]

A lot depends on how the new coach lines up the team and maybe if Shawn Marion comes on board. As I said on another post the Cavs have Haywood, Varejao and Thompson to cover the frontcourt minutes around K-Love and maybe LeBron when he goes to PF. Add in Marion if he signs plus Mike Miller can play some SF so you’d have a core of 5 guys playing around LeBron and K-Love.

I fully agree that JO and Okafor would be good pick ups.

I’ll throw in a scenario would the Cavs look to package Varejao and Thompson for an established under contract C. They would be offering an expiring deal and a young piece so there might be a taker, I’m not suggesting names just a thought.

[Jco4Participant]

 ^ Agreed.
I’d also expect Oden to be looked at as well as Okafor and O’Neal. 

[Jco4Participant]

 ^ Agreed.
I’d also expect Oden to be looked at as well as Okafor and O’Neal. 

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Okafor hasn’t played for a year; counting on him for a full season of high-level basketball (Cavs should be aiming for a top 1-4 place in the East) might be too much. O’Neal might be a solid option, but not as a starter. Like said above, Varejao is a solid hustle big man when healthy (which is not a certainty). 

For this I would say they should look hard at some C they can count on to play starter minutes when they want to play a regular-sized line-up. They might want to go small at times (Love as C, LeBron as PF or something like that) but they need solid low-post defense as well. Afraid Haywood will give them next to nothing, and Varejao is not rim-protector at all.

 

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Okafor hasn’t played for a year; counting on him for a full season of high-level basketball (Cavs should be aiming for a top 1-4 place in the East) might be too much. O’Neal might be a solid option, but not as a starter. Like said above, Varejao is a solid hustle big man when healthy (which is not a certainty). 

For this I would say they should look hard at some C they can count on to play starter minutes when they want to play a regular-sized line-up. They might want to go small at times (Love as C, LeBron as PF or something like that) but they need solid low-post defense as well. Afraid Haywood will give them next to nothing, and Varejao is not rim-protector at all.

 

[NeggedAlterEgosAlterEgo]

Anderson is a good player but he gets hurt every season is he healthy enough for 100 plus games to the championship as the best center on the roster we expect nothing less but a starter contribution from him he cant do that on the doctors table.

If they could flip Anderson I would if they want to win I don’t see how they can do that with a hurt Anderson.

I like okafor and a lot of teams would’nt be willing to assist the cavs in trade,  so going for a European player is a option I know blatt has many ties to players who could crack a rotation in the nba.

 

they need a solid center at the start of the season. Also looking back on the Tristan Thompson draft choice it just may have been a good choice now they have a solid player to back up love who could be a starter and wont leave the team being that he shares same agent with LeBron unless traded.

[NeggedAlterEgosAlterEgo]

Anderson is a good player but he gets hurt every season is he healthy enough for 100 plus games to the championship as the best center on the roster we expect nothing less but a starter contribution from him he cant do that on the doctors table.

If they could flip Anderson I would if they want to win I don’t see how they can do that with a hurt Anderson.

I like okafor and a lot of teams would’nt be willing to assist the cavs in trade,  so going for a European player is a option I know blatt has many ties to players who could crack a rotation in the nba.

 

they need a solid center at the start of the season. Also looking back on the Tristan Thompson draft choice it just may have been a good choice now they have a solid player to back up love who could be a starter and wont leave the team being that he shares same agent with LeBron unless traded.

[HitsterParticipant]

I think they would have flipped Varejao with a trade but for LBJ saying he wanted to play with him again. Don’t forget Thompson played 31mpg last year so he can play major minutes alongside K-Love. All he’ll need to do is basically rebound and they’ll feed him a few shots, he’ll get plenty of uncontested shots with K-Love and LBJ on court.

If Thompson can pick up a fair few minutes and Marion can easily take 25 mpg plus then they can use Varejao as an impact big body when needed plus they have Haywood so if they added one of the bigs mentioned above that guy would not be expected to go major minutes each night so durability would not be such an issue.

[HitsterParticipant]

I think they would have flipped Varejao with a trade but for LBJ saying he wanted to play with him again. Don’t forget Thompson played 31mpg last year so he can play major minutes alongside K-Love. All he’ll need to do is basically rebound and they’ll feed him a few shots, he’ll get plenty of uncontested shots with K-Love and LBJ on court.

If Thompson can pick up a fair few minutes and Marion can easily take 25 mpg plus then they can use Varejao as an impact big body when needed plus they have Haywood so if they added one of the bigs mentioned above that guy would not be expected to go major minutes each night so durability would not be such an issue.

[gbmantisParticipant]

Cavs give Dion Waiters and protected first rounder.
Bucks give Larry Sanders, 2nd rounder.

Cavs would get the shotblocking defensive presence that they need in Sanders. Bucks would be lacking in the frontcourt, could maybe play Henson at the 5. They are going to lose a lot of games this year either way, let Dion grow with Knight and Giannis and Parker this year and pick up a center in the ’15 draft which has quality centers at the top of the board.

[gbmantisParticipant]

Cavs give Dion Waiters and protected first rounder.
Bucks give Larry Sanders, 2nd rounder.

Cavs would get the shotblocking defensive presence that they need in Sanders. Bucks would be lacking in the frontcourt, could maybe play Henson at the 5. They are going to lose a lot of games this year either way, let Dion grow with Knight and Giannis and Parker this year and pick up a center in the ’15 draft which has quality centers at the top of the board.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Sasha Kaun would be PERFECT.  He’s like the white Birdman.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Sasha Kaun would be PERFECT.  He’s like the white Birdman.

[TRC1991Participant]

Under all the tats, Chris Andersen actually has white skin

[TRC1991Participant]

Under all the tats, Chris Andersen actually has white skin

[JoeWolf1]

 They just signed Alex Kirk. He had a decent SL and I’m sure the price was right when compared to more veteran players. Not crazy about the signing, but I guess that means he’s part of their solution.

[JoeWolf1]

 They just signed Alex Kirk. He had a decent SL and I’m sure the price was right when compared to more veteran players. Not crazy about the signing, but I guess that means he’s part of their solution.

[NardDog NationParticipant]

 The Cavs best option might be to play Kevin Love at the 5, and put a lengthier shot blocker next to him. When you have a guy like LeBron James and penetrators like Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, you want to maximize the spacing on the floor. A John Henson/Jordan Hill/Amir Johnson would’ve been great for that team.

[NardDog NationParticipant]

 The Cavs best option might be to play Kevin Love at the 5, and put a lengthier shot blocker next to him. When you have a guy like LeBron James and penetrators like Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, you want to maximize the spacing on the floor. A John Henson/Jordan Hill/Amir Johnson would’ve been great for that team.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

They could probably get Hasheem Thabeet for two second round picks and cash. 

He is still raw but he is big, long, decent at blocking shots, and big.

… I always liked Jarvis Varnado.  He can block shots.  A second rounder and cash could get him. 

And, if Patric Young hasn’t signed yet, he would be a good fit on the Cavs as a sort of rich man’s, bigger version of Joel Anthony or a broke man’s Dwight Howard. 

Now, are there any cheap guys out there who can block shots AND hit a jumper?  Probably not…

[220Participant]

 The Pelicans signed Patric Young.

[220Participant]

 The Pelicans signed Patric Young.

[hbomb3300Participant]

I’ve brought up Thabeet as well as a possible trade option.  The Thunder are already deep at the 4/5, I don’t think it would take much to pry him away.  

[hbomb3300Participant]

I’ve brought up Thabeet as well as a possible trade option.  The Thunder are already deep at the 4/5, I don’t think it would take much to pry him away.  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

They could probably get Hasheem Thabeet for two second round picks and cash. 

He is still raw but he is big, long, decent at blocking shots, and big.

… I always liked Jarvis Varnado.  He can block shots.  A second rounder and cash could get him. 

And, if Patric Young hasn’t signed yet, he would be a good fit on the Cavs as a sort of rich man’s, bigger version of Joel Anthony or a broke man’s Dwight Howard. 

Now, are there any cheap guys out there who can block shots AND hit a jumper?  Probably not…

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Why hasn’t anyone suggested Ryan Hollins? He’s a cheap athletic rim protector. Everything they need. I mean he’d be much more suitable than Thabeet or unproven rookie.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Why hasn’t anyone suggested Ryan Hollins? He’s a cheap athletic rim protector. Everything they need. I mean he’d be much more suitable than Thabeet or unproven rookie.

[NeggedAlterEgosAlterEgo]

udoh,okafor,kaun they have options at center I would sign okafor as a 15th man if he is anything similar to what he use to be he could crack the roation if he isn’t he is only a reserve at worst  that can be waived.

 

[NeggedAlterEgosAlterEgo]

udoh,okafor,kaun they have options at center I would sign okafor as a 15th man if he is anything similar to what he use to be he could crack the roation if he isn’t he is only a reserve at worst  that can be waived.

 

[marcusfizer21Participant]

Well… Considering they have issues at the front court, they should consider guys like Okafor, O’Neal and even Hollins because let’s face it, Varejao has durability issues and Haywood is nothing but a wood… He probably has the lowest basketball IQ in the league today…

Just to throw names out there if they’re looking for rim protectors, Gustavo Ayon and Greg Stiemsma are available..

 

 

[marcusfizer21Participant]

Well… Considering they have issues at the front court, they should consider guys like Okafor, O’Neal and even Hollins because let’s face it, Varejao has durability issues and Haywood is nothing but a wood… He probably has the lowest basketball IQ in the league today…

Just to throw names out there if they’re looking for rim protectors, Gustavo Ayon and Greg Stiemsma are available..

 

 

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