The Cavs Think Their Solution to Making LeBron Happy Involves Rasheed Wallace or Zach Randolph
NBA June 8th. 2009, 12:15pm
That’s the rumor, at least. After watching helplessly as Sideshow Bob and his decided merry band of undersized non-factors got abused repeatedly by Dwight Howard in the conference finals, it seems as if Cavs GM Danny Ferry has zeroed in on two targets to beef up Cleveland’s woeful frontcourt: perpetually angry Rasheed Wallace, and problem-ridden Zach Randolph. Disaster? You bet.
We’ll start with the positives: Rasheed had the same label when he arrived in Detroit late in the 2003-2004 season. He helped Detroit win a title. Of course, he was 29 at the time and Hall of Famer Larry Brown was at the helm. At the start of next season, he’ll be 35 and coming off the worst shooting and scoring season of his career. Could the Cavs locker room possibly be large enough for the egos of LeBron, Mo Williams, and Rasheed?
Randolph, who has a habit of making things … interesting, off the court, is a much more difficult case. He can be a devastating scorer on the block, and seems to have maybe half-a-dozen double-double years left. But for as prolific a scorer he is, why hasn’t he been able to take any of his teams to the playoffs? He was last there in 2003, as a compliment to a Rasheed-Bonzi Wells led Blazers team. This acquisition would feel similar to the Mo Williams one – let’s get a guy who can score, but isn’t known for his defense, is mouthy as hell, and hasn’t proven they can do anything in the postseason.
There’s no solution, Ferry. Unless you can somehow pry Chris Bosh away from Toronto – how do you say ‘not happening’ in Canadian? – there’s no free agent who can step in and immediately help get the Cavs back to the Finals and keep the franchise in Cleveland.
Rasheed to the Cavs? (Slam)
72 Responses to “The Cavs Think Their Solution to Making LeBron Happy Involves Rasheed Wallace or Zach Randolph”
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June 8th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I like Sheed on there for the playoffs. I still think he can score in the post when motivated.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
the whole “lebron is leaving” thing is already a stretch enough, but now you’re saying the team is leaving?
that’s not jumping to conclusions, that’s taking a trans-atlantic flight to conclusions.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
the franchise = LeBron
June 8th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
to have maybe half-a-dozen double-double years left
funny
June 8th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Would gladly take either. Randolph is money from 3.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
He can certainly score in the post, the problem is trying to keep him down there. The worst thing that can happen is if he hits his first three. If that happens, there’s no getting him down in the low post.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
please take randolph, sink that franchise!
June 8th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Here’s the problem with both of these guys – they play way too much beyond the arc when instead they should have their asses on the block.
Cleveland doesn’t need that. But, go ahead, take them. I’m ok with it.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Everyone seems up in arms about the Cavs offense when it was their defense that let them down in the series vs. the Magic.
Messing with this team too much would be a mistake. While they could certainly use a decent post if AV leaves and Ben Wallace retires, they need an athletic swingman off the bench that would allow them to go small at times. Marvin Williams, Ariza, Warrick, Barnes, or Grant Hill would be good fits.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
gimme sheed for a year or two…i love z-bo but don’t want him anywhere near the cavs.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
4 Penn Plaza.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Stats don’t explain Varajeo. You have to actually watch his games to appreciate how good he is.
/Cavs fan, May 2009
June 8th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Where is the Cavs = frauds post TBL?
June 8th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
This is such a joke its not even funny….. Simmons is right, idiots are running NBA franchises. Period. Go sign Trevor Ariza and then get Brandon Bass/Leon Powe/Paul Millsap please. It’s really that easy.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Neither one of these guys would impact the Cavs in a positive way. Too old. Too much baggage.
/waiting for NickP to arrive with the stats
June 8th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
And goes where? Back to Springfield?
June 8th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
well the cavs are right, lebron would be happy to play against randolph and sheed when he plays against the cavs.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Or how about even this… Chris Andersen > AV
June 8th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Over/Under 20 posts about the Cavs before next season
June 8th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Yep. They will wind up trading for Shaq.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I agree neither Sheed or Randolph are the solution, but the Cavs front office has to do something to make Lebron know they will continue to surround him with the best available talent.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Over/Under 20 posts about the Cavs before next season
irish: i’d say 50/50 by July 31st
June 8th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
As a Hawks fan I can assure you that Williams is not CLE’s answer. Every time I see him I want to punch billy knight in the neck because ATL should haev Chris Paul or Derron Williams over this waste of space.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
This is ridiculous. Even if both teams came back the exact same next year, I’d put money on the Cavs getting to the finals instead of Magic again.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Wait a minute. Jerry Jones is really considering bringing back PACMAN? He releases Owens and Jones and this is the one he’s considering bringing back?
Is he the heir to Al Davis’ title of senile franchise ruiner?
June 8th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Back to the Springfield Penitentiary. It’s only a matter of time before he tries to kill Bart or Krusty again.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
He’s not going to set the world on fire no doubt, but as a guy off the bench I’d take him. I would’nt overpay for him though, which what another team is likely to do.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
That is what you call ESPN taking an off the cuff remark and running with it to get views.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I’d put money on the Cavs getting to the finals instead of Magic again
this is ridiculous
June 8th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Boston is still the best team with a healthy KG.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I’d put money on the Cavs getting to the finals instead of Magic again
this is ridiculous
I second that, although I hope Dwight Howard works as hard on his low post moves this offseason as Lebron is going to.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
This is such a joke its not even funny….. Simmons is right, idiots are running NBA franchises. Period. Go sign Trevor Ariza and then get Brandon Bass/Leon Powe/Paul Millsap please. It’s really that easy.
I’ve said this before, and you guys said i was an idiot. Trevor Ariza is getting paid, big time. Brandon Bass / Leon Powe / Paul Millsap are all getting paid big time. Cleveland can’t sign those dudes. Maybe Brandon Bass takes the midlevel, maybe, but not if somebody offers him 12 million per. Leon Powe, paid by Celtics. Trevor Ariza, paid by Lakers, Paul Millsap, paid by Utah. I also think Dallas will pay Brandon Bass.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Not nearly as ridiculous as Orlando’s 3 point shooting that series. Mike Brown completely messed up that series. He should have taken a page out of Popovich’s coaching work and single coverage Howard and just stay on the shooters. Let Howard go off but don’t let the threes rain.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
and dont’ summer of 2010 me. There’s already more money than there is dudes available for the summer of 2010.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
In ‘10 and ‘11
June 8th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I think what you meant to say was “As a Hawks fan, Marvin is a terrific player, and would be a wonderful addition to your team.”
/if you say it enough, maybe someone will believe it
June 8th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I didn’y say you were an idiot last time, but I am now. Nobody is offering Brandon Bass $12MM per. He’s an undersized PF whose 36min averages were 16 and 8.
Again, we’re in a poor economy (look at what happened to MLB FA’s) and nobody’s going to give a backup $12MM when they could get a MUCH better player for that price the following year.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
As a Hawks fan I can assure you that Williams is not CLE’s answer. Every time I see him I want to punch billy knight in the neck because ATL should haev Chris Paul or Derron Williams over this waste of space.
at least you didn’t get Bogut.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Wait a minute. Jerry Jones is really considering bringing back PACMAN? He releases Owens and Jones and this is the one he’s considering bringing back?
That is what you call ESPN taking an off the cuff remark and running with it to get views.
He said it drunk at a George Strait concert to open his new palace. He said something like “You guys (reporters) won’t beat me up too bad if we sign again, willya?”
THAT became breaking news this AM
/i can’t wait for them to continue to report fake “tw++ts” as stories
June 8th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I didn’t say you were an idiot last time, but I am now. Nobody is offering Brandon Bass $12MM per. He’s an undersized PF whose 36min averages were 16 and 8.
You didn’t watch a lot of Mavs games, did you?
June 8th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
So Mike Brown isn’t coming back as head coach.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
too much stat reliance. Trevor ariza’s 36 minute average 12.5 ppg and 30% from 3. So he sucks too.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Maybe, just maybe, scoring is not everything especially when you do not even do it an an efficient clip. Maybe he plays no defense. Maybe he is a black hole when he gets the ball. Maybe he is a TO machine. Maybe he is a horrible blocker for his position (or any position frankly). These are just ideas but he probably should have been in the playoffs more.
Zach Randolph is not the answer to anything.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
@Dirt, here’s the top 10 free agents for 2009 (in no particular order):
Boozer
Millsap
Powe
Bass
Gordon
Kidd(?)
Turkoglu
Odom
Villanueva
Marion
Lee
Here’s 2010:
LBJ
Wade
Bosh
Amare
Joe Johnson
Pierce
Manu
Dirk
Yao
Nash
You’ve also got guys like Jefferson, Redd, J Howard, Ray Allen, and then in the Restricted FA list (most likely resignees) Roy, Rondo, Gay, Aldridge, Brewer, and Scola.
So you’re seriously telling me that you’re going to blow your cap space for the next few years on Brandon Bass (who I do like BTW) when you have future Hall of Famers lurking the following year?
June 8th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Didn’t say he sucked. I just said he’s not getting $12MM.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
None of these guys interest me, except for Millsap…and even he plays no defense. (Sloan doesn’t even care about it.)
Bass is too little. Powe’s injury keeps me away. He’s not even that good when he’s healthy anyway.
An intriguing possibility is Ryan Hollins from the Mavs. He would be cheap (likely).
June 8th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Cavs need ZaZa
June 8th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Boozer – Detroit or New Jersey
Millsap – resigns with Utah for $$$
Powe – to Boston for $$
Gordon – not a good pickup for anybody, but gets 8 million per
Kidd – old and busted
Turkoglu – resigns with Orlando for big $$$, but not the max
Odom – honest to god, I have no idea
Villanueva – you can have him
Marion – expensive malcontent that nobody can really fit in their system
Lee – which one?
there’s tons and tons of money. Tons. If Boozer goes to New Jersey, then Detroit HAS to sign 2 guys to big money contracts or they’re under the minimum. They may do that, though. But yeah, Bass is more valuable than Villanueva or Marion (not Powe or Odom) and is going to get paid. He will employ an agent. Agents are smarter than GM’s.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Didn’t say he sucked. I just said he’s not getting $12MM.
hey may not be getting 12 MM, but if somebody offers him more than the midlevel, and he’s just spent several years making less than a million as a 2nd rounder, then why wouldn’t he get paid. He’s going to have an agent.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
dirt: Set the line for Brandon Bass’s average salary per year O/U.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
my point is that Cleveland has to make deals with their existing players. Like the retiring Ben Wallace for Michael Redd, or Big Z’s contract (once they convince him that a true Cav retires) to New Orleans for Tyson Chandler. Forget Rasheed. He’s old and busted. Forget Zach Randolph, he’s cancer.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Off topic, too good not to share. Received this on IM a minute ago:
so i got a text saturday night from a buddy of mine in cincinnati
saying “smoking a blunt with cedric benson at my place. Gotta love the Bengals”
June 8th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
If the goal is to dominate another regular season, they sound like great guys to have. But I think LeBron wants a title.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
dirt: Set the line for Brandon Bass’s average salary per year O/U.
Am I me, Brandon Bass, or Brandon Bass’s agent?
If i’m me, he’s worth 6 million per for a 5 year deal to stay in Dallas
If I’m Brandon Bass, I figure i’m worth whatever Leon Powe signs for
If I’m his agent, I’m going to go tell every organization with cap room that he’s got an offer already for 10 million/4 years with team option for year 5.
I figure he gets 5 / 40 million, escalating.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
You’re the market.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
average of 8 million dollar per, less than Leon Powe by about a million.
but starting at 7 million dollars per.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
The Cavs don’t need Michael Redd.
Only four teams have the cap space in 2009 to make serious runs at FA’s- Memphis, Detroit (I agree Boozer goes here), Atlanta (depending on resigning Bibby), and OKC (who I think will basically stand pat). So I don’t see Bass making more than $5-6MM for a team like OKC. I don’t see where teams have a ton of money to spend for this upcoming season.
http://www.scoresreport.com/2009/02/05/which-nba-teams-project-to-have-the-most-cap-space-over-the-next-two-years/
June 8th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Cavs should make a move for Amare using Big Ben and Pav.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
You forgot New Jersey and minnesota. They have some money.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
The Cavs don’t need Michael Redd.
already rumored..
June 8th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Not gonna happen.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
why would the suns have ANY interest in this trade?
Oh because steve kerr is still running things.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Like 99% of made up trades? Thanks for the input. It would give PHX a ton of cap room flex
June 8th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I think Phx is content on riding out their roster one more season. Possibly trading at the deadline if they are out of it. They have like 50 million coming off the books in 2010
June 8th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I agree, YYSA.
Contracts expiring in 2010 are gold.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Agreed that you are probably correct, but they don’t have $50 million coming off the books, though trading Amare for two expiring deals would get it close to that. Are they going to pick up Nash’s option? They have long deals with jrich and barbosa who will not bring back nearly as much in value. Don’t pick up Nash’s option, trade Amare, get a high draft pick and tons of cap space. Is that really a bad idea for a team this missed the playoffs when two of the teams key players are in over the hill territory.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Just make LBJ the PF and add another wingman…. But not Ariza… He blows.
/Too Obvious.
June 8th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
How do they not have 50 million coming off. Shaq, Nash and Amare Thats 50.
June 8th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
For what it’s worth, Terry Pluto, who knows a thing or two about Cleveland sports, wrote on Sunday that the Cavs are considering Rasheed, Anthony Parker, Josh Childress, among others.
The Cavs consider their needs to be:
1. More big men
2. A SG with size
3. A backup PG
June 8th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Mike Brown played D-Ho everyway possible. They tried both. Even Windy wrote that they tried both. THEY TRIED BOTH. Neither worked. They got beat by a team that executed incredibly. There’s nothing Mike Brown could have done.
June 8th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Agreed, wholeheartedly… The Magic forced the Cavs to change schemes after Game 2. Brown and staff tried everything imaginable to stop Orlando and nothing seemed to work.
June 8th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Bosh and Kidd…cavs….2010