Let The Fun Begin!

As the 2009 NBA Draft nears (this Thursday), so does free agency and the time for tangible trade discussions. Possessing the 30th pick in the draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers would have to find ‘lightning in a bottle’ if they were to expect to find a player that could have an immediate impact. More than likely, if they stay in the 30th slot, their best hope would be for a role player and a contributor off the bench. Unless a high draft pick, rookies usually take a while to blossom. The Cavs are clearly in greater need of more immediate help as 2010 approaches with LeBron James still yet unsigned beyond that season, and with some glaring weaknesses exposed during the conference finals.

The Cavaliers do have some tools in the toolbox though, if they were to make a trade to either move up in the draft, or get involved in a trade for an expensive veteran from a team looking to unload cap dollars. They have the expiring contract of Ben Wallace at $14M, and the cap-friendly contract of Sasha Pavlovic as well, which is guaranteed for less than $2M in 2009/2010 (a small number for a veteran player). Both were rumored to be in play in the talk of the trade for Shaquille O’Neal. Those talks seemed to fizzle out as quickly as they flared up, but no seem to have legs again.

In addition to the cap-friendly contracts, the Cavaliers also have an owner in Dan Gilbert who, is coming off the financial boon of a nice playoff run in 2009, has a consistently sold-out arena, and now has a new infusion of cash after he brought in a Chinese group as minority owners of the team. Gilbert stated in his press conference at the end of the season that they are committed winning a championship in Cleveland. The trades they have made and his apparent willingness to spend on his team even if it means payment of the NBA’s luxury tax because of it, seems to show that money will not hold Gilbert back from delivering on his promise.

So with those assets in-hand, the Cavaliers are ready to head into the time of the off-season when players are added, drafted and traded, with a full arsenal of weapons to improve the team in a couple true areas of need: A big man to help in the low post and who can score, and a consistent outside scoring threat who is big enough (6’6” +) to defend some of the taller outside scorers they will face in the playoffs.

The next couple months should be exciting ones for Cavs fans. If the team has proven anything under the leadership of Gilbert and GM -Danny Ferry, it is that they are more than willing to make any move that they believe will improve the team. Because of the LeBron pending contract situation, this off-season is probably one of the most important ones the Cavaliers have ever had. If they make the right moves and make improvements that bring a championship, their superstar and their fans could be happy for a long, long time. If they don’t, fans could watch the coming season chewing their nails more than LeBron ever has. Stay tuned…..this could get interesting!

Tags: Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, NBA Draft