Cavs just matched Varejao's offer

[ohara831]

Although it was a feeble attempt it still was an attempt.

I'll take Abdur Raheem since Sac is rebuilding...especially after the K-mart injury.

that actually got me into thinking


can this be really feasible? i mean, can and how will we do this? i'm kinda lost right now...

from hoopshype it looks like it's a MLE used on him (5.8 mil this year for the next 3, progressing to 6.6 mil). I'm certain the Kings would like to get him off their books....

I don't think he's the best option for us, but we have very few options.

Please, please, no more acquiring marginal players for what is inevitably a lost cause this season. Let us just ride this thing out, and start building for the future Part II, because this first attempt hasn't quite caught hold. The playoffs are an absolute pipe dream, so let's get off that horse already. Why should we be saddled with an aging, declining player with a multi-million contract? Please, no more treating the symptoms, let's get on with finding the cure already!!! And that doesn't include acquiring talent that will, at best, possibly help win 5 more games this season, but do nothing for us in the long-term.

Instead of maybe making the playoffs over the next couple years (not happening this year, obviously) and being a marginal team with the talent we have acquired thus far, the only real solution is a massive overhaul. Out of 15 roster spots, we have only 4 players that I think can help propel the 'Cats to the level of a legitimate eastern conference player: GW, Mek, Matt and Dudley. That leaves 11 expendable players. We need to try to unload what we can of this 11, and only acquire players that will help round out the remaining 4. Is this going to be easy? No way. But I'm willing to give management a reprieve, if they show us an ability to acquire NBA talent, and not continue to placate us by making empty promises of making the playoffs. I'm just worried that they are going to be so obsessed with just making the playoffs, they're going to ruin our chances of ever being an eastern contender by making bonehead moves to keep our heads afloat.

If I could write an open letter to Bobcats management it would be, succinctly:

I assure you, Misters Jordan, Bickerstaff, and Higgins, you don't need to make the playoffs this season, or next season. Your true fans are not going to abandon you if you fail at this. A successful future, built on a solid foundation of legitimate NBA talent is much more preferrable than promises of playoffs this season, or the next, with mediocre talent, which will yield, at best, marginal short-term success, with no vision to the future.

A loyal, yet concerned Bobcats fan.

__________________________________________________ ___

Beagle, I agree with 99% of what you said. But, although I have been critical of him in the past, I would not leave Ray off your list. I would make the list of keepers 5. I also am unsure of dumping Jermareo. He has shown a very nice jumper from 10-12 ft, and an agressive Defense. If he can get some PT this year, and lose the Rookie mistakes, he can be helpful off the bench.

[TheBeagle]

How many years are we supposed to 'rebuild', Beagle? We're in year 4, your plan gets us to the playoffs in year 6, maybe.

With the JRich acquisition and some other draft day debacles (injuries playing a part, I admit), our growth has been stunted significantly. If the front office follows what I propose, I'm thinking possibly year 6, but more likely year 7, with the foundation laid for consecutive berths from year 7 onward. Not unlike the Timberwolves of the KG era, but with more postseason success, obviously. They made their first trip to the playoffs in year 8 and made it either 8 or 9 consecutive seasons.

[TheBeagle]

Beagle, I agree with 99% of what you said. But, although I have been critical of him in the past, I would not leave Ray off your list. I would make the list of keepers 5. I also am unsure of dumping Jermareo. He has shown a very nice jumper from 10-12 ft, and an agressive Defense. If he can get some PT this year, and lose the Rookie mistakes, he can be helpful off the bench.

I understand what you're saying, ohara, and I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I figure they have until their contracts run out to prove they can be added to the foundation. JD gets even more leeway because, like you said, he gets such little PT anyway. So, yeah, my point is instead of acquiring other fringe players, such as Abdur-Rahim, let's give the minutes to JD, for example. Basically, let's do what my Astros did last season after the All Star break when it was obvious they were going nowhere: turn the season into an open audition, or an extended preseason, if you will, to see who is a part of the team's future, and who isn't.

***And damn it if my Stros haven't overhauled the team so far, and besides some pitching, we look like we'll be ready to contend again in another season or 2!!!!

[davcbow]

This is a interesting article I found about the Varejao offer and why it was done.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketb...y_odd_scenario

Good Read

[tamburello]

Good find.. I certainly believe that Varejao-gate was nothing but a favor of Higgins to Fegan.

[spectre]

I'm starting to think Varejao was the big guy target all along. It's the NY Post, but according to them we were willing to pay him 10 per for 5 years, and their guess for our package was Harrington/Primoz (expirings, which is valuable to CLE due to their luxury issues) and a COMBINATION of pick(S).

That's showing a lot of faith that Varejao would be that missing piece.

[ohara831]

Well, rules prohibit the Cavs and Cats from trading for Andy now. But, Primoz, Harrington and our 2nd I might could have lived with. No way in Hell I give the 1st for Andy.