[CavFanPRParticipant]

With the players we currently have on the roster guaranteed for next season:

PG – Kyrie Irving / Shaun Livingston (Assuming we resign him) / Dion Waiters
SG – Dion Waiters / Sergey Karasev / C.J. Miles
SF – Anthony Bennett / Alonzo Gee / Earl Clark
PF – Tristan Thompson / Earl Clark / Tyler Zeller
C – Anderson Varejao / Tyler Zeller / Tristan Thompson

We still need a big man and there are still a few names left in free agency. I feel like reuniting Bynum with Mike Brown would be a high risk/high reward scenerio for us. We can give him a two year deal with the second year being a team option. He’s the type of big man this team needs and if he can stay healthy, we can compete with anyone.

Note:
– I have Bennett at the 3 because I feel like he’s a wing and we drafted him to play that position. Clark could be the starter from day 1 instead though.

Thoughts?

[SiggyParticipant]

They just signed Jarrett Jack too supposedly.

I’d say no. Too young. Not enough experience. Too poor defensively.

[SiggyParticipant]

They just signed Jarrett Jack too supposedly.

I’d say no. Too young. Not enough experience. Too poor defensively.

[MikezParticipant]

from what I read we just signed Jarret Jack for 4 years.

[MikezParticipant]

from what I read we just signed Jarret Jack for 4 years.

[TMoney617Participant]

Add Jarett Jack to that list. They’re building up a nice team and are definitely in the mix for the playoffs due to the uncertainty of the Celtics, Bucks, and Hawks

[TMoney617Participant]

Add Jarett Jack to that list. They’re building up a nice team and are definitely in the mix for the playoffs due to the uncertainty of the Celtics, Bucks, and Hawks

[220Participant]

Reports are they just added Jarrett Jack as well. Add that to the fact that some fringe eastern playoff teams (76ers and Celtics particularly) made moves that look to remove them from playoff contention. Other teams playoff teams like the Hawks and Bucks haven’t gotten particularly stronger at this point and look to be more like fringe playoff teams.

The Cavs, Wizards, and Raptors look to really be challengers to make the playoffs now.

[220Participant]

Reports are they just added Jarrett Jack as well. Add that to the fact that some fringe eastern playoff teams (76ers and Celtics particularly) made moves that look to remove them from playoff contention. Other teams playoff teams like the Hawks and Bucks haven’t gotten particularly stronger at this point and look to be more like fringe playoff teams.

The Cavs, Wizards, and Raptors look to really be challengers to make the playoffs now.

[cryan03Participant]

they just signed Jarrett Jack so I’m guessing Livingston doesn’t resign with them anymore. I like the Jack pickup for Cleveland, they can play him with Irving & Waiters if they decide to go small. Gives them that scorer off the bench since it seems like Waiters will start this year.

[cryan03Participant]

they just signed Jarrett Jack so I’m guessing Livingston doesn’t resign with them anymore. I like the Jack pickup for Cleveland, they can play him with Irving & Waiters if they decide to go small. Gives them that scorer off the bench since it seems like Waiters will start this year.

[CavFanPRParticipant]

I’m pumped Jack was the best pg available!

[CavFanPRParticipant]

I’m pumped Jack was the best pg available!

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

I think it depends on if everyone in your starting five can stay healthy. Which I wouldn’t count on. I see them as a 9th or 10th that may sneak in if Bennett is more successful than it seems and if everyone stays healthy and makes improvements from last year. I don’t feel like Bennett won’t be very successful at the 3 if they do play him there though, he’ll get torched especially by the SF’s in the Eastern Conference.

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

I think it depends on if everyone in your starting five can stay healthy. Which I wouldn’t count on. I see them as a 9th or 10th that may sneak in if Bennett is more successful than it seems and if everyone stays healthy and makes improvements from last year. I don’t feel like Bennett won’t be very successful at the 3 if they do play him there though, he’ll get torched especially by the SF’s in the Eastern Conference.

[kobyzParticipant]

Kyrie Irving/Jarrett Jack
Dion Waiters/Sergey Karasev/C.J. Miles
Anthony Bennett/Alonzo Gee/Carrick Felix
Earl Clark/Tyler Zeller/Kevin Jones
Anderson Varejao/Tristan Thompson

in this weak east, tottaly a playoff team!

[kobyzParticipant]

Kyrie Irving/Jarrett Jack
Dion Waiters/Sergey Karasev/C.J. Miles
Anthony Bennett/Alonzo Gee/Carrick Felix
Earl Clark/Tyler Zeller/Kevin Jones
Anderson Varejao/Tristan Thompson

in this weak east, tottaly a playoff team!

[Ghost01Participant]

Don’t forget Varejao is a UFA next summer, and Tyler Zeller isn’t exactly a franchise center. Thompson, Bennett, and Clark are all built for teams playing small-ball, maybe that’s the direction the Cavs are going.

[Anton123Participant]

Mike Brown seems like a bit of a weird coach for small ball though. I may be wrong.

[Ghost01Participant]

True, but he really doesn’t know much about offense in general so as long as someone like Thompson can hold his own at center (not sure this is true) then it could work.

[Ghost01Participant]

True, but he really doesn’t know much about offense in general so as long as someone like Thompson can hold his own at center (not sure this is true) then it could work.

[Anton123Participant]

Mike Brown seems like a bit of a weird coach for small ball though. I may be wrong.

[Ghost01Participant]

Don’t forget Varejao is a UFA next summer, and Tyler Zeller isn’t exactly a franchise center. Thompson, Bennett, and Clark are all built for teams playing small-ball, maybe that’s the direction the Cavs are going.

[Anton123Participant]

I’m still a bit puzzled by the Earl Clark-Bennet-Thompson situation – they all seem to be better as big men, I’m kind of waiting for a move.
Still I believe the Cavs should get a low playoff spot, Miluakee, Boston and Atlanta are probably out, I say Toronto, Cleveland and Washington or Detroit make it. I think the Cavs have a good chance at a playoff spot.

[Anton123Participant]

I’m still a bit puzzled by the Earl Clark-Bennet-Thompson situation – they all seem to be better as big men, I’m kind of waiting for a move.
Still I believe the Cavs should get a low playoff spot, Miluakee, Boston and Atlanta are probably out, I say Toronto, Cleveland and Washington or Detroit make it. I think the Cavs have a good chance at a playoff spot.

[aztwulfParticipant]

…so of course they are a playoff team.

[aztwulfParticipant]

…so of course they are a playoff team.

[KayjayParticipant]

Here’s the deal, they don’t have the worst team around. They are in the top heavy East. So i’mma say they go as far as Kyrie Irving takes them. They could potentially sneak in. But I’m not looking at them as legit contenders yet.

[KayjayParticipant]

Here’s the deal, they don’t have the worst team around. They are in the top heavy East. So i’mma say they go as far as Kyrie Irving takes them. They could potentially sneak in. But I’m not looking at them as legit contenders yet.

[aivsdirkParticipant]

lets be clear positions 6-8are totally open now in the eastern playoffs. i can see earl clark starting with bennet whoever pointed that out. both are hybrid 4s. i think their wing depth might be one of the deepest, quality wise in the east at least, with miles and karasev both being good backups and fighting for minutes behind waiters. we know varejao gobbles up rebounds and putbacks. i can definitely see the playoffs on the horizon for the cavs now.
–Hawks bout the same. so they prolly get the 6 as usual.
–Bucks slid now that monta has opted out not sure if leaves yet though. reddick and dunleavy gone. signed mayo still not sure how consistent he will be but bjennings seems somehow to get his team playoffs 2 of his 4 years in the league, best rate of any of the lottery picks from his draft class, besides blake griffin who was hurt his rookie year then got blessed withcp3.
–boston rondo and green will have big load to carry but i have faith in rondo’s will to win. prolly at best 7th seed again. if they make it, worse they do might be 9th.
–wizards were my pick to be added to the new playoff mix, with wall’s crazy improvement, adding porter, nene healthy for a full year, as well as beal who was so inconsistent shooting last year he can only do better this year. Well they were my pick until cleveland had one of best summers of any team so far.
–Rapters, derozen can score, lowry will start the season healthy, amir, jonas, well rudy gay time to prove your worth is really all i got for them.

[aivsdirkParticipant]

lets be clear positions 6-8are totally open now in the eastern playoffs. i can see earl clark starting with bennet whoever pointed that out. both are hybrid 4s. i think their wing depth might be one of the deepest, quality wise in the east at least, with miles and karasev both being good backups and fighting for minutes behind waiters. we know varejao gobbles up rebounds and putbacks. i can definitely see the playoffs on the horizon for the cavs now.
–Hawks bout the same. so they prolly get the 6 as usual.
–Bucks slid now that monta has opted out not sure if leaves yet though. reddick and dunleavy gone. signed mayo still not sure how consistent he will be but bjennings seems somehow to get his team playoffs 2 of his 4 years in the league, best rate of any of the lottery picks from his draft class, besides blake griffin who was hurt his rookie year then got blessed withcp3.
–boston rondo and green will have big load to carry but i have faith in rondo’s will to win. prolly at best 7th seed again. if they make it, worse they do might be 9th.
–wizards were my pick to be added to the new playoff mix, with wall’s crazy improvement, adding porter, nene healthy for a full year, as well as beal who was so inconsistent shooting last year he can only do better this year. Well they were my pick until cleveland had one of best summers of any team so far.
–Rapters, derozen can score, lowry will start the season healthy, amir, jonas, well rudy gay time to prove your worth is really all i got for them.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

While the East looks like it will be pretty weak next year, at least after the top 6 teams, I think they will probably miss the playoffs. They missed them last year by a lot and their biggest offseason change was adding a rookie. Their biggest issue last season was their defense and that should be the issue again. They have a lot of young talent on the roster and could be a 7-8 seed if their young players really step up.

I think the Heat, Pacers, Bulls, Nets, Knicks, and Wizards are all very probable playoff teams and as of right now, I would expect the Celtics and the Hawks to be favored over Cleveland. The Pistons and Raptors both could squeak in as well, and the Magic may be a dark horse for the eighth seed, as they are in a fairly similar situation as the Cavs.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

While the East looks like it will be pretty weak next year, at least after the top 6 teams, I think they will probably miss the playoffs. They missed them last year by a lot and their biggest offseason change was adding a rookie. Their biggest issue last season was their defense and that should be the issue again. They have a lot of young talent on the roster and could be a 7-8 seed if their young players really step up.

I think the Heat, Pacers, Bulls, Nets, Knicks, and Wizards are all very probable playoff teams and as of right now, I would expect the Celtics and the Hawks to be favored over Cleveland. The Pistons and Raptors both could squeak in as well, and the Magic may be a dark horse for the eighth seed, as they are in a fairly similar situation as the Cavs.

[OaktownWarriorsParticipant]

NO!

Reason?

How would having C.J. Miles, Alonzo Gee, Kevin Jones, Tristan Thompson and three rookies equal a playoff team?

Sure having Irving, Zeller, Clark, and Varejao is a good start, but again it doesn’t equal a playoff team yet. The Cavs need to work on getting rid of players like Miles, Gee, Jones.

[OaktownWarriorsParticipant]

NO!

Reason?

How would having C.J. Miles, Alonzo Gee, Kevin Jones, Tristan Thompson and three rookies equal a playoff team?

Sure having Irving, Zeller, Clark, and Varejao is a good start, but again it doesn’t equal a playoff team yet. The Cavs need to work on getting rid of players like Miles, Gee, Jones.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

They’ll be in contention. The East is really top heavy with Miami, Chicago, Indiana, NY, and NJ. Those final three spots are really up in the air, so they’ll have a shot.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

They’ll be in contention. The East is really top heavy with Miami, Chicago, Indiana, NY, and NJ. Those final three spots are really up in the air, so they’ll have a shot.

[Sewok15Participant]

I think they certainly have a solid chance to make the playoffs. Kyrie should take another step forward and if he is healthy they have more talent than most teams fighting for those last two spots.

I feel Bennett will have to play a lot more at the 4 than at the 3. He will cause way to many mismatches defensively especially when it comes to being slated to guard the best teams best players like LeBron, George, and Melo. On the other end he will cause a lot of mismatches offensively but I think those would be more at the 4 as well. He should be better offensively and defensively as an undersized Power Forward so I think it will be key to see what their rotation ends up being because they should have a bunch of solid and versatile players in the backcourt and frontcourt. I see them potentially even fighting for a potential 6th seed with Washington, Detroit and Toronto.

[Sewok15Participant]

I think they certainly have a solid chance to make the playoffs. Kyrie should take another step forward and if he is healthy they have more talent than most teams fighting for those last two spots.

I feel Bennett will have to play a lot more at the 4 than at the 3. He will cause way to many mismatches defensively especially when it comes to being slated to guard the best teams best players like LeBron, George, and Melo. On the other end he will cause a lot of mismatches offensively but I think those would be more at the 4 as well. He should be better offensively and defensively as an undersized Power Forward so I think it will be key to see what their rotation ends up being because they should have a bunch of solid and versatile players in the backcourt and frontcourt. I see them potentially even fighting for a potential 6th seed with Washington, Detroit and Toronto.

[OaktownWarriorsParticipant]

Again, no way!!!

Kyrie Irving/Jarrett Jack
Dion Waiters/Sergey Karasev/C.J. Miles
Anthony Bennett/Alonzo Gee/Carrick Felix
Earl Clark/Tyler Zeller/Kevin Jones
Anderson Varejao/Tristan Thompson

The Cavs PG’s are nice…who’s going to score up front for the Cavs? And other than Jack on the bench, who else can score 10 pts per game for them? Are you telling me that Bennett is going to step on the NBA court and start scoring 17+ every night?
I see them winning maybe 25-30 games??? So if you can make the 8th spot winning 25-30 games, then yes.

[OaktownWarriorsParticipant]

Again, no way!!!

Kyrie Irving/Jarrett Jack
Dion Waiters/Sergey Karasev/C.J. Miles
Anthony Bennett/Alonzo Gee/Carrick Felix
Earl Clark/Tyler Zeller/Kevin Jones
Anderson Varejao/Tristan Thompson

The Cavs PG’s are nice…who’s going to score up front for the Cavs? And other than Jack on the bench, who else can score 10 pts per game for them? Are you telling me that Bennett is going to step on the NBA court and start scoring 17+ every night?
I see them winning maybe 25-30 games??? So if you can make the 8th spot winning 25-30 games, then yes.

[JCliff24Participant]

Dion stepped on the court and started scoring 14.6 ppg and I’m willing to bet you weren’t the highest on Waiters.
Bennett is going to be deadly in the pick and pop/ pick and roll. I’ll put him at about 13 a game.

[JCliff24Participant]

Dion stepped on the court and started scoring 14.6 ppg and I’m willing to bet you weren’t the highest on Waiters.
Bennett is going to be deadly in the pick and pop/ pick and roll. I’ll put him at about 13 a game.

[kazamParticipant]

You have to figure the east is going to shake out with these five at or near the top

Miami, New York, Indy, Chicago, Brooklyn

The next four in could shake out in a number of ways depending on free agency:

Hawks, Wiz, Cavs, Bucks, Pistons

Out of Contention:
Philly, Boston (Rondo wont return until nearly christmas at earliest I imagine), Raptors (Have a feeling Massai is going to abandon ship with all of Colangelos bad deals), Bobcats, Magic

[kazamParticipant]

You have to figure the east is going to shake out with these five at or near the top

Miami, New York, Indy, Chicago, Brooklyn

The next four in could shake out in a number of ways depending on free agency:

Hawks, Wiz, Cavs, Bucks, Pistons

Out of Contention:
Philly, Boston (Rondo wont return until nearly christmas at earliest I imagine), Raptors (Have a feeling Massai is going to abandon ship with all of Colangelos bad deals), Bobcats, Magic

[JoeWolf1]

The 8 seed in the East has been a sub 500 team for at least the last 3 or 4 years. It’s not crazy to think Cleveland could be in the mix as a playoff team. 35-38 wins has pretty much been the standard for the 8 seed in the East for the past 5 years.

[JoeWolf1]

The 8 seed in the East has been a sub 500 team for at least the last 3 or 4 years. It’s not crazy to think Cleveland could be in the mix as a playoff team. 35-38 wins has pretty much been the standard for the 8 seed in the East for the past 5 years.

[TomShoeParticipant]

I was going to count them out, and say that they were too weak defensively. Kyrie, for all his gifts, is not a good defender, and we still don’t know what we’re going to get out of Anthony Bennett and Dion Waiters. There’s also not much scoring there in the frontcourt, either.

But then I realized they play in the East. Top 4 for sure.

/sarcasm

[TomShoeParticipant]

I was going to count them out, and say that they were too weak defensively. Kyrie, for all his gifts, is not a good defender, and we still don’t know what we’re going to get out of Anthony Bennett and Dion Waiters. There’s also not much scoring there in the frontcourt, either.

But then I realized they play in the East. Top 4 for sure.

/sarcasm

[WITNESS2014Participant]

If healthy I can see them as the 7 or 8 seed. I like the potential 3 guard rotation with Irving, Waiters, Jack. I think Clark will be a big help too. If the pick n roll works with Bennett then they will probably be good enough since the East is just top heavy. Should be a good battle for 6-8 seeds with Pistons, Raptors, Wizards.

[WITNESS2014Participant]

If healthy I can see them as the 7 or 8 seed. I like the potential 3 guard rotation with Irving, Waiters, Jack. I think Clark will be a big help too. If the pick n roll works with Bennett then they will probably be good enough since the East is just top heavy. Should be a good battle for 6-8 seeds with Pistons, Raptors, Wizards.

[JNixonParticipant]

They now have the depth to be in a fight for the 8th seed. But they still have holes, especially on the wing defensively, that may prevent that. Especially if Waiters doesnt grow up fast as a producer and become an efficient and less selfish player.

[JNixonParticipant]

They now have the depth to be in a fight for the 8th seed. But they still have holes, especially on the wing defensively, that may prevent that. Especially if Waiters doesnt grow up fast as a producer and become an efficient and less selfish player.

[JNixonParticipant]

I’m still a bit worried about Bennett as a SF. He is extremely likely to struggle as a perimeter defender, and he plays better offensively when closer to the rim.

[JNixonParticipant]

I’m still a bit worried about Bennett as a SF. He is extremely likely to struggle as a perimeter defender, and he plays better offensively when closer to the rim.

[Author]

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