BR1986FB;1861261 wrote:Billups turns down the Cavs. Don't know whether he would've been good, or not, but this is definitely not a positive look. Tells me he may know a little about Lebron's future plans or doesn't trust that he'll stay.

Gilbert is looking like an assclown. Evidently he offered the role to Billups at less than he's currently making working for ESPN. Not sure if I buy that, as I don't see how you could be a GM making under a $1M. ESPN shelling that out for NBA analyst?

Commander of Awesome;1861262 wrote:Gilbert is looking like an assclown.

Agree, completely. I'm skeptical that with as much money he's willing to spend to go over the luxury tax that he'd penny pinch on a GM/President but who knows?

This is part of the reason I said the organization is viewed as dysfunctional. Is it "Browns GM texting plays to the head coach/drafting Johnny Manziel and letting him run wild" dysfunctional? No, but Gilbert has an issue firing/letting go of GM's. He lets a guy who helped orchestrate a championship walk, right before FA, then he can't get the guy he's targeting. Be interesting to see if he has a backup plan or if he'll just promote the guy that was under Griff.

If this is true, Gilbert is really screwing the pooch here. He goes over the luxury tax for players but won't shell out for his front office when it doesn't hit the cap? Part of the reason LBJ left Miami was because of Arison's cheapness. Now I'm not saying Gilbert's cheap but this sends a very bad message, in a walk year for Lebron. When/if he leaves after this season, LBJ isn't going to be the villain this time.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19846453/cleveland-cavaliers-offered-market-salary-former-president-basketball-ops-candidate-chauncey-billups

BR1986FB;1861525 wrote:If this is true, Gilbert is really screwing the pooch here. He goes over the luxury tax for players but won't shell out for his front office when it doesn't hit the cap? Part of the reason LBJ left Miami was because of Arison's cheapness. Now I'm not saying Gilbert's cheap but this sends a very bad message, in a walk year for Lebron. When/if he leaves after this season, LBJ isn't going to be the villain this time.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19846453/cleveland-cavaliers-offered-market-salary-former-president-basketball-ops-candidate-chauncey-billups

I'm pretty sure if you poll all NBA players they all would vote for themselves to get paid, before anyone else.

BR1986FB;1861525 wrote:If this is true, Gilbert is really screwing the pooch here. He goes over the luxury tax for players but won't shell out for his front office when it doesn't hit the cap? Part of the reason LBJ left Miami was because of Arison's cheapness. Now I'm not saying Gilbert's cheap but this sends a very bad message, in a walk year for Lebron. When/if he leaves after this season, LBJ isn't going to be the villain this time.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19846453/cleveland-cavaliers-offered-market-salary-former-president-basketball-ops-candidate-chauncey-billups

The salary examples she provides are for the Lakers and the Knicks, and both of those teams vastly overpaid for a shitty product. Why does Billups deserve a salary above the league average?

GOONx19;1861535 wrote:Why does Billups deserve a salary above the league average?

I don't know whether Billups would be any good, or not, but the league average is $4 million for that position. Gilbert, who is supposed to be friends with Billups, offered $1.5 million as a starting point. No wonder Griff walked.

The players make the moves these days anyways. No use in paying someone $4M a year when lebron could just pick up the phone and get something done.

SportsAndLady;1861564 wrote:The players make the moves these days anyways. No use in paying someone $4M a year when lebron could just pick up the phone and get something done.

Wat.

He's saying the players have just as much influence as FO regarding personnel moves.

I don't think it's a huge deal about not getting Billups, just a bad look because they lowballed him significantly.

friendfromlowry;1861599 wrote:Wat.

Is there a more worthless position in front office sports than NBA GM? The players make all these moves themselves. It's not like the warriors GM went and got Durant last year. Durant basically came to him. It's not like the warriors GM convinced Durant to sign for less so he could go sign other players.

Like auto said, I wish billups would have signed and it's definitely a bad look but I don't blame Gilbert for throwing a ton of money at a rookie GM.

Sky is falling

SportsAndLady;1861636 wrote:Is there a more worthless position in front office sports than NBA GM? The players make all these moves themselves. It's not like the warriors GM went and got Durant last year. Durant basically came to him. It's not like the warriors GM convinced Durant to sign for less so he could go sign other players.

Like auto said, I wish billups would have signed and it's definitely a bad look but I don't blame Gilbert for throwing a ton of money at a rookie GM.

I don't disagree that players now more than ever are very influential - especially when it comes to great players wanting to team up with other great players. I just think it's also a huge stretch that they've made GM's obsolete. After the superstars go where they want, it's up to GM's to market their teams by "hey we're up and coming!" (ex. Teague to the TWolves) or "Hey we've got a shitload of money!" (Porter to the Nets).

Who does Boston think is guarding Lebron after they're done wheeling and dealing to land Hayward?

Jamal Crawford interested in joining the Cavs after buyout....

https://sports.yahoo.com/report-jamal-crawford-spoke-lebron-223323990.html

BR1986FB;1861697 wrote:Jamal Crawford interested in joining the Cavs after buyout....

https://sports.yahoo.com/report-jamal-crawford-spoke-lebron-223323990.html

If you need someone to take a lot of shots off the bench...he's a top pick.

Might be a player of use when LeBron is out but also might be a 39 year old shooting 3 shots per minute.

I like the crap he can do but not convinced it's useful to winning it all. If they feel they need a scorer first off the bench with no conscious....he's the guy

After you lose the Finals because of essentially, a bad bench who couldn't score...yeah sign me up. Same with Melo. Same with anyone who can get points on the board. Don't need defense as badly in that unit. They just have to be able to play even since LBJ managed a positive +/- for the Finals.

Laley23;1861730 wrote:After you lose the Finals because of essentially, a bad bench who couldn't score...yeah sign me up. Same with Melo. Same with anyone who can get points on the board. Don't need defense as badly in that unit. They just have to be able to play even since LBJ managed a positive +/- for the Finals.

After thinking on it some more...they just extended Korver and Crawford can draw a crowd and kick it out pretty well....and if no help he can score on his own. Korver needs open looks.

Cavs sign jeff green to a 1 year deal.

Pretty obvious what they're doing. Stick with the big 3, and try and add some depth to help especially when lebron has to sit out.

Windy last week: Lebron is not recruiting this offseason

Windy this week: Lebron called Crawford and he also recruited jeff green

Jamal Crawford going to sign with Minnesota instead.

friendfromlowry;1861791 wrote:Jamal Crawford going to sign with Minnesota instead.

It sounds like the Cavs chose to sign Cedi Osman instead of Crwaford and then were looking to package Osman and a couple of veterans to the Knicks for Melo.

Newest "middle of offseason, let's start a rumor" is lebron to philly!

SportsAndLady;1862790 wrote:Newest "middle of offseason, let's start a rumor" is lebron to philly!

Yeah, I heard this and with their youth, wouldn't be a bad move.

I'm sure Lebron is frustrated with the inept ownership here in Cleveland. If the Cavs disappoint this year, he may leave but the biggest X Factor is LBJ's ego. He likely wants to be paid the highest of any player in the league and there's only one place he can do that (Cleveland).

BR1986FB;1862813 wrote:Yeah, I heard this and with their youth, wouldn't be a bad move.

I'm sure Lebron is frustrated with the inept ownership here in Cleveland. If the Cavs disappoint this year, he may leave but the biggest X Factor is LBJ's ego. He likely wants to be paid the highest of any player in the league and there's only one place he can do that (Cleveland).

IF Lebron leaves, I am sorry, but this is a hook, line and sinker. You're already buying it. This is the exact narrative he would love to orchestrate if he were to leave to make it seem like the position the Cavs are in have nothing to do with him, when that isn't even close to being the case.


That being said, it is hard to buy the "LeBron is all but gone narrative," considering nobody ever knows wtf is going on in his inner circle and he still has one full season with the Cavs. Lebron isn't getting any younger, he is not going to purposely waste an entire season and a chance to win another ring when he is playing with a young superstar, who happens to actually have a real offseason for the first time in 3 years.

I have said it before, but I will say it again, the only teams that would make sense for LeBron at this point in his career are the Spurs and the Celtics if he is actually interested in winning anymore rings. Philly is nowhere near competing with the Warriors in a 7 game series and a 34 year old Lebron does not change that.

like_that;1862814 wrote:IF Lebron leaves, I am sorry, but this is a hook, line and sinker. You're already buying it. This is the exact narrative he would love to orchestrate if he were to leave to make it seem like the position the Cavs are in have nothing to do with him, when that isn't even close to being the case.


That being said, it is hard to buy the "LeBron is all but gone narrative," considering nobody ever knows wtf is going on in his inner circle and he still has one full season with the Cavs. Lebron isn't getting any younger, he is not going to purposely waste an entire season and a chance to win another ring when he is playing with a young superstar, who happens to actually have a real offseason for the first time in 3 years.

I have said it before, but I will say it again, the only teams that would make sense for LeBron at this point in his career are the Spurs and the Celtics if he is actually interested in winning anymore rings. Philly is nowhere near competing with the Warriors in a 7 game series and a 34 year old Lebron does not change that.

Even Stevie Wonder can see that Gilbert is pretty inept as an owner. He's good for two things, spending money (thank you) and turning over his front office constantly (not good). He's essentially a "Jerry Jones" of the NBA. Griff is gone because he wanted total roster responsibility and Gilbert said no because he wants to be able to help pick players. A good owner is going to be hands off. It's Gilbert's prerogative to want to have his fingers in the personnel pie but it usually doesn't equate to success.

The comment about Lebron had nothing to do with "hook, line & sinker." Even if he wasn't here and Gilbert were pulling the same shit he'd look just as inept in my eyes.