Can Paxson find more help for LeBron?
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford
Tuesday, April 27
Right now, the Cavs' organization looks a little like this. LeBron James is the savior. Carlos Boozer is the sidekick. Paul Silas is the captain. Jim Paxson is the CEO.
To quote from Sesame Street -- one of these things is not like the other.
James has proved after just one year in the league that he has the potential to be a top-five player in the league within the next couple of seasons. That's all anyone can ever ask from a No. 1 pick.
Boozer has proved to be the perfect complement. While LeBron scores points and hands out assists, Boozer does the clean-up work. He crashes the glass, posts up in the paint, throws his body around and does all of the little things teams want in a No. 2. He's not flashy or pretty, but he gets the job done.
Silas has always been a pretty good coach. What he proved in Cleveland was that he knows who to get along with and who to shun. He embraced LeBron and Boozer. He figured out a way to get their 7-foot-3 center, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, involved. When the team needed a point guard, he rehabilitated Jeff McInnis on the fly. When trouble makers like Ricky Davis started pouting -- he kicked them to the curb, quickly.
2004 Free agents
Paxson? That's another story altogether. You've got to hand it to the guy. He was on the ropes. It appeared (though the Cavs deny it) that he intentionally gutted a rebuilt roster to put the team in position to get the No. 1 pick and a shot at LeBron. It was a gutsy move that paid off. Suddenly, with that one pick (and a nice call on Boozer in the second round) he went from whipping boy to being mentioned as a possible candidate for Executive of the Year.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. James, Boozer and Silas are three critical components to the Cavs' success. But if this team is going to turn into a championship contender, then Paxson will have to make some tough choices this summer.
Is he up to the challenge? Recent history suggests yes. Look back a few more years and the answer gets much cloudier.
Paxson is the guy who once drafted Trajan Langdon over Corey Maggette and Ron Artest. He's the guy who took Dajuan Wagner over Amare Stoudemire, Nene Hilario and Caron Butler. And he took DeSagana Diop over Richard Jefferson, Joe Johnson and Zach Randolph.
The one lottery pick he did get right (other than LeBron), Andre Miller, was traded away to the Clippers for Darius Miles. Miles was then traded for McInnis. Miller for McInnis? That's not so hot.
Even recent history doesn't always bear him up. Last summer Paxson paid way too much money to free agents Kevin Ollie and Ira Newble. Both had never had more than one-year contracts before. Paxson gave them each five-year deals.
Cavs fans have a reason to be nervous. This summer will be one of the most pivotal in Cavs history. If Paxson drafts well, makes the right choices in free agency and makes a good trade or two, the Cavs could be serious playoff contenders soon. If he stumbles? The solid foundation the Cavs have built could crumble underneath him.
Can Paxson really turn the Cavs into a contender? Here's a look at what to expect as Insider continues its summer blueprint series.
Cavaliers Summer Blueprint
DRAFT: The Cavs should count themselves lucky that they missed the playoffs. Finishing out of the playoffs meant the difference between the No. 10 pick (where they now stand) and the No. 15 pick (where the Celtics, the No. 8 seed, are picking).
Wisconsin's Devin Harris would be a nice fit in Cleveland's backcourt.
The Cavaliers currently have a 1.8 percent chance of getting the top overall pick. Lightning struck once last season, Cavs fans. Don't get greedy. The Cavs really have a number of needs that could be addressed by the draft. Point guard, shooting guard and center are the most pressing.
The Cavs should be able to find a decent prospect in the draft if they're looking at their backcourt. UConn's Ben Gordon or Wisconsin's Devin Harris could both be on the board when the Cavs pick. So will St. Joseph's Jameer Nelson. The problem with Nelson is that, at his size, he'll never be able to play in the same backcourt with Dajuan Wagner. Of the three, Harris is the best fit in Cleveland, though there's a chance he won't be on the board when they pick.
The Cavs could also go for a talented two guard. Arizona's Andre Iguodala, Russia's Sergei Monya and high school star J.R. Smith are all real possibilities.
Or, the team could gamble on a big European. Tiago Splitter, Kosta Perovic and Peja Samardziski will all probably be on the board when the Cavs pick. Either way, they should be able to add another piece to the puzzle through the draft.
FREE AGENCY: Free agency shouldn't hit the team too hard. The only major loss will be swingman Eric Williams. The Cavs traded for Williams because of his leadership in the locker room and his tough defense. However, he fell out of Silas' rotation toward the end of the season and wasn't much of a factor on the court. The friendship he made with LeBron is important, but probably not important enough for the Cavs to consider spending the money to re-sign him.
Jeff McInnis
Shooting Guard
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs also have to decide whether to keep McInnis around for another season. His $3.6 million salary for next year is only guaranteed for $300,000 if he's waived before July 1st. McInnis was great in the limited time he played for the Cavs this season. His injury was a death blow to the Cavs' playoff chances.
The word is that the Cavs will pick up his option next year. He's a big point guard who had surprising success with the Cavs toward the end of the season. Even if the Cavs draft a point guard, McInnis would be worth another year. The team could clear a little more than $5 million in cap room if it waived him. But that's probably not enough to make a real difference in free agency.
The Cavs may be a little hamstrung, however, if they don't waive McInnis. The team would be around $1.6 million under the cap right now. That means the Cavs won't have their mid-level exception available to them (you must be over the cap to get it). In a way, the team is almost penalized for being under budget. This becomes moot if it chooses to re-sign Williams. Having Williams' salary on the books would push the Cavs over the cap and give them back their mid-level exception.
TRADES: Here is where the Cavs could really make their splash. They own one very tradeable asset in Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas is heading into the last year of his contract, and Paxson knows Z's trade value has never been higher. He's been healthy for two consecutive seasons, and his contract provides few risks at this point. Z isn't in the long-term future of the Cavs.
Dajuan Wagner
Shooting Guard
Cleveland Cavaliers
If they can turn him into draft picks, a veteran point guard or just more young talent, now's the time to do it. Several Eastern Conference teams that believe they are one big man away from contending will jump at the chance to rent Ilgauskas for a season. Better to lose him now and get more building blocks for the future.
Third-year guard Dajuan Wagner could also be on the block (he doesn't appear to have much of a future in Cleveland), though it's hard to imagine that his stock could get any lower. Two seasons ago Wagner was supposed to be the next Iverson -- a big-time scorer packed in a little frame. Now he's just a nuisance. He's not going to be a point guard and he's too much of a ball hog to leave on the court with LeBron. Either Paul Silas figures out how to bring Wagner in as a spark plug off the bench (when LeBron's sitting) or they dump him. What a waste of a No. 6 pick.
COACHING: Paul Silas went through some ups and some downs in Cleveland, but he's generally thought to have great job security at the moment. He nurtured LeBron last season and his laid back demeanor seems to fit the team. Still, Silas' inability to get anything out of Darius Miles this season will haunt the Cavs down the road. Miles blew up in Portland after the trade, making you wonder why he couldn't have done that in Cleveland.
FRONT OFFICE: Give Paxson an "A" (and a no-duh) for drafting LeBron and the deal that shipped Ricky Davis and Chris Mihm off to Boston. He also gets an "A" for being the guy who drafted Boozer in the second round. Everything else? Not so hot. In time, the Miles-for-McInnis trade may end up looking like the most lopsided in a long list of lopsided Paxson trades.
Paxson's defining moment will come this year. He's got to start picking the players he's going to surround LeBron with. If he chooses wisely, the Cavs will be competiting for an NBA championship in three years. If he chooses poorly, LeBron may end up like Tracy McGrady or Paul Pierce, frustrated superstars who want out because the team can't win. It's all up to Pax.
Paxson's ability to draft another piece and to defer the playoff dream one more year by dumping Ilgauskas and Wagner now, while they still have trade value, will be key. He's got two pieces of the puzzle in LeBron and Boozer. One more talented young star and a few veterans mingled in and the Cavs could be the team to watch in another year or two.
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford
Tuesday, April 27
Right now, the Cavs' organization looks a little like this. LeBron James is the savior. Carlos Boozer is the sidekick. Paul Silas is the captain. Jim Paxson is the CEO.
To quote from Sesame Street -- one of these things is not like the other.
James has proved after just one year in the league that he has the potential to be a top-five player in the league within the next couple of seasons. That's all anyone can ever ask from a No. 1 pick.
Boozer has proved to be the perfect complement. While LeBron scores points and hands out assists, Boozer does the clean-up work. He crashes the glass, posts up in the paint, throws his body around and does all of the little things teams want in a No. 2. He's not flashy or pretty, but he gets the job done.
Silas has always been a pretty good coach. What he proved in Cleveland was that he knows who to get along with and who to shun. He embraced LeBron and Boozer. He figured out a way to get their 7-foot-3 center, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, involved. When the team needed a point guard, he rehabilitated Jeff McInnis on the fly. When trouble makers like Ricky Davis started pouting -- he kicked them to the curb, quickly.
2004 Free agents
Paxson? That's another story altogether. You've got to hand it to the guy. He was on the ropes. It appeared (though the Cavs deny it) that he intentionally gutted a rebuilt roster to put the team in position to get the No. 1 pick and a shot at LeBron. It was a gutsy move that paid off. Suddenly, with that one pick (and a nice call on Boozer in the second round) he went from whipping boy to being mentioned as a possible candidate for Executive of the Year.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. James, Boozer and Silas are three critical components to the Cavs' success. But if this team is going to turn into a championship contender, then Paxson will have to make some tough choices this summer.
Is he up to the challenge? Recent history suggests yes. Look back a few more years and the answer gets much cloudier.
Paxson is the guy who once drafted Trajan Langdon over Corey Maggette and Ron Artest. He's the guy who took Dajuan Wagner over Amare Stoudemire, Nene Hilario and Caron Butler. And he took DeSagana Diop over Richard Jefferson, Joe Johnson and Zach Randolph.
The one lottery pick he did get right (other than LeBron), Andre Miller, was traded away to the Clippers for Darius Miles. Miles was then traded for McInnis. Miller for McInnis? That's not so hot.
Even recent history doesn't always bear him up. Last summer Paxson paid way too much money to free agents Kevin Ollie and Ira Newble. Both had never had more than one-year contracts before. Paxson gave them each five-year deals.
Cavs fans have a reason to be nervous. This summer will be one of the most pivotal in Cavs history. If Paxson drafts well, makes the right choices in free agency and makes a good trade or two, the Cavs could be serious playoff contenders soon. If he stumbles? The solid foundation the Cavs have built could crumble underneath him.
Can Paxson really turn the Cavs into a contender? Here's a look at what to expect as Insider continues its summer blueprint series.
Cavaliers Summer Blueprint
DRAFT: The Cavs should count themselves lucky that they missed the playoffs. Finishing out of the playoffs meant the difference between the No. 10 pick (where they now stand) and the No. 15 pick (where the Celtics, the No. 8 seed, are picking).
Wisconsin's Devin Harris would be a nice fit in Cleveland's backcourt.
The Cavaliers currently have a 1.8 percent chance of getting the top overall pick. Lightning struck once last season, Cavs fans. Don't get greedy. The Cavs really have a number of needs that could be addressed by the draft. Point guard, shooting guard and center are the most pressing.
The Cavs should be able to find a decent prospect in the draft if they're looking at their backcourt. UConn's Ben Gordon or Wisconsin's Devin Harris could both be on the board when the Cavs pick. So will St. Joseph's Jameer Nelson. The problem with Nelson is that, at his size, he'll never be able to play in the same backcourt with Dajuan Wagner. Of the three, Harris is the best fit in Cleveland, though there's a chance he won't be on the board when they pick.
The Cavs could also go for a talented two guard. Arizona's Andre Iguodala, Russia's Sergei Monya and high school star J.R. Smith are all real possibilities.
Or, the team could gamble on a big European. Tiago Splitter, Kosta Perovic and Peja Samardziski will all probably be on the board when the Cavs pick. Either way, they should be able to add another piece to the puzzle through the draft.
FREE AGENCY: Free agency shouldn't hit the team too hard. The only major loss will be swingman Eric Williams. The Cavs traded for Williams because of his leadership in the locker room and his tough defense. However, he fell out of Silas' rotation toward the end of the season and wasn't much of a factor on the court. The friendship he made with LeBron is important, but probably not important enough for the Cavs to consider spending the money to re-sign him.
Jeff McInnis
Shooting Guard
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs also have to decide whether to keep McInnis around for another season. His $3.6 million salary for next year is only guaranteed for $300,000 if he's waived before July 1st. McInnis was great in the limited time he played for the Cavs this season. His injury was a death blow to the Cavs' playoff chances.
The word is that the Cavs will pick up his option next year. He's a big point guard who had surprising success with the Cavs toward the end of the season. Even if the Cavs draft a point guard, McInnis would be worth another year. The team could clear a little more than $5 million in cap room if it waived him. But that's probably not enough to make a real difference in free agency.
The Cavs may be a little hamstrung, however, if they don't waive McInnis. The team would be around $1.6 million under the cap right now. That means the Cavs won't have their mid-level exception available to them (you must be over the cap to get it). In a way, the team is almost penalized for being under budget. This becomes moot if it chooses to re-sign Williams. Having Williams' salary on the books would push the Cavs over the cap and give them back their mid-level exception.
TRADES: Here is where the Cavs could really make their splash. They own one very tradeable asset in Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas is heading into the last year of his contract, and Paxson knows Z's trade value has never been higher. He's been healthy for two consecutive seasons, and his contract provides few risks at this point. Z isn't in the long-term future of the Cavs.
Dajuan Wagner
Shooting Guard
Cleveland Cavaliers
If they can turn him into draft picks, a veteran point guard or just more young talent, now's the time to do it. Several Eastern Conference teams that believe they are one big man away from contending will jump at the chance to rent Ilgauskas for a season. Better to lose him now and get more building blocks for the future.
Third-year guard Dajuan Wagner could also be on the block (he doesn't appear to have much of a future in Cleveland), though it's hard to imagine that his stock could get any lower. Two seasons ago Wagner was supposed to be the next Iverson -- a big-time scorer packed in a little frame. Now he's just a nuisance. He's not going to be a point guard and he's too much of a ball hog to leave on the court with LeBron. Either Paul Silas figures out how to bring Wagner in as a spark plug off the bench (when LeBron's sitting) or they dump him. What a waste of a No. 6 pick.
COACHING: Paul Silas went through some ups and some downs in Cleveland, but he's generally thought to have great job security at the moment. He nurtured LeBron last season and his laid back demeanor seems to fit the team. Still, Silas' inability to get anything out of Darius Miles this season will haunt the Cavs down the road. Miles blew up in Portland after the trade, making you wonder why he couldn't have done that in Cleveland.
FRONT OFFICE: Give Paxson an "A" (and a no-duh) for drafting LeBron and the deal that shipped Ricky Davis and Chris Mihm off to Boston. He also gets an "A" for being the guy who drafted Boozer in the second round. Everything else? Not so hot. In time, the Miles-for-McInnis trade may end up looking like the most lopsided in a long list of lopsided Paxson trades.
Paxson's defining moment will come this year. He's got to start picking the players he's going to surround LeBron with. If he chooses wisely, the Cavs will be competiting for an NBA championship in three years. If he chooses poorly, LeBron may end up like Tracy McGrady or Paul Pierce, frustrated superstars who want out because the team can't win. It's all up to Pax.
Paxson's ability to draft another piece and to defer the playoff dream one more year by dumping Ilgauskas and Wagner now, while they still have trade value, will be key. He's got two pieces of the puzzle in LeBron and Boozer. One more talented young star and a few veterans mingled in and the Cavs could be the team to watch in another year or two.
