Dan Gilbert was right all along...

[asujbl]

OK - I'm 90% kidding - but if the Heat lose this year (and the new CBA kicks in - and for those that haven't been paying attention the Heat are officially going to be in Luxury Tax HELL if they want to keep all 3 guys) - the Cavs are looking better and better...

LeBron can opt out in 2014 - if he looks at the rosters without him on them...

Heat – Wade, Bosh, and the same crap they currently have – and Wade will be older and even less effective then he is now (which is not very effective). If LeBron stays they are still in cap/tax hell. If he leaves the cap space they have is irrelevant to him unless he takes a 75% pay cut. So essentially the Heat are what they are for the next few years unless they trade Wade or Bosh.

Cavs – Irving, Thompson, Harrison Barnes (or whoever they take at #4), Anderson Varejao and a crap ton of cap space – they only have 9 million committed to the 2014 season (plus Barnes on a rookie contract which is cheap)...

What if they throw a max deal (or close) to James Harden? Or Roy Hibbert? And still have plenty of cash to try to get LeBron to come home as they'd be well under the cap in 2014 even if they made a max signing this summer...

And then you've obviously got teams like the Thunder that are going to get better as the Heat get older.

Just saying. Gilbert might not be so far off base saying the Cavs could win a Title before LeBron does.

[Brobocop]

I highly doubt that LeBron will ever play in a Cavs jersey again as long as Gilbert owns the team. Other than that I think that this really could ring true if the Heat don't win this year. Cave are looking better and better while the Heat are starting to show more and more areas of concern. The stigma of being unbeatable has long washed away from the Heat.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by Brobocop

I highly doubt that LeBron will ever play in a Cavs jersey again as long as Gilbert owns the team. Other than that I think that this really could ring true if the Heat don't win this year. Cave are looking better and better while the Heat are starting to show more and more areas of concern. The stigma of being unbeatable has long washed away from the Heat.

Depends on how rational Gilbert is.

If he is a sane person he throws a max deal at LeBron and convinces him to come home and repair his image and play with Irving/Barnes/Thompson and a ton of cap space.

If he’s an insane person he holds a grudge and doesn’t want the best player in the league back on his team because he's bitter.

Obviously a HUGE assumption LeBron would even consider coming back – but if Gilbert didn’t put 110% into trying to convince him to come back then he is a crazy person.

[PDawson21]

Irving/Barnes/LeBron/Thompson is a solid young 4 in my opinion.

Pickup another big man, definitely solid.

[Zacky1053]

Originally Posted by asujbl

Depends on how rational Gilbert is.

If he is a sane person he throws a max deal at LeBron and convinces him to come home and repair his image and play with Irving/Barnes/Thompson and a ton of cap space.

If he’s an insane person he holds a grudge and doesn’t want the best player in the league back on his team because he's bitter.

Didn't LeBron already allude to the fact that coming back to Cleveland is not out of the possibility?

Like you suggested it would be hard to pass up with all the young talent around him.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by PDawson21

Irving/Barnes/LeBron/Thompson is a solid young 4 in my opinion.

Pickup another big man, definitely solid.

Varejao is still under a very good contract as well - less then 10 million per.

Throw a ton of money at Hibbert (as an example) as they have the space...

Irving/Barnes/LeBron/Thompson/Hibbert with Varejao off the bench.

[PDawson21]

Originally Posted by asujbl

Varejao is still under a very good contract as well - less then 10 million per.

Throw a ton of money at Hibbert (as an example) as they have the space...

Irving/Barnes/LeBron/Thompson/Hibbert with Varejao off the bench.

Even McGee showed some nice flashes in Denver this season.

[murrke03]

Gilbert is nuts.

If he takes Lebron back he will be the biggest loser the league has ever seen.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by PDawson21

Even McGee showed some nice flashes in Denver this season.

Yeah - that wouldn't be a bad addition at all.

Probably a pipe dream as a Cavs fan - but watching the Cavs add good young pieces - with 4 draft picks in this years draft - as well as all the Cap Space just gets the excitement going - especially as you really read how much tax hell the Heat are in and how "bad" Wade has been (for Wade at least)

I know there was a twitter "Harden2013" hashtag campaign started last night by Cavs fans since we have so much cap space.

Haha.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by murrke03

Gilbert is nuts.

If he takes Lebron back he will be the biggest loser the league has ever seen.

This makes alot of sense.

[mrveggieman]

I can't see Harden leaving OKC for cleveland.

[jeff152380]

Gilbert is a moron....and you are all crazy.... you need top tier superstars and/or vets to win championships not a bunch of young talent.... sorry its not how the NBA works.... Heat are still winning this series anyway

Lebron may leave the Heat someday... but it wont be for the Cavs....

[PDawson21]

Originally Posted by jeff152380

Gilbert is a moron....and you are all crazy.... you need top tier superstars and/or vets to win championships not a bunch of young talent.... sorry its not how the NBA works.... Heat are still winning this series anyway

Lebron may leave the Heat someday... but it wont be for the Cavs....

So.....if OKC wins, you are going to change your mind?

[jeff152380]

how would that change my mind?

[theautographkid]

I can't see Harden leaving OKC for Cleveland, but I can see LeBron coming back to Cleveland (not just saying that because I live here). If you ask me, I think, Gilbert and LeBron planned this out from the beginning. Don't know how or why, but just a general opinion. LeBron, still loves the city, and I know a LOT of people, that would take him back. I would, in a heartbeat! Others, are still mad at the guy, and all I have to say, is get over it and move on. We all make mistakes.

[PDawson21]

Originally Posted by jeff152380

how would that change my mind?

OKC besides Westbrook(top tier)/Durant(top tier)/Fisher(old) is young talent right?

[jeff152380]

Yes Durant and Westbrook are top tier talent....and I think they are going to lose to the Heat.... but my point was the Cavs have no chance with the roster they have/project to have after the draft.... the only talent they have is Irving and im not sold he will ever be as good as Westbrook already is....it would take another top tier star along with Irving just to be over 500 in the east.....Compiling young talent has never won championships in the NBA...

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by jeff152380

Yes Durant and Westbrook are top tier talent....and I think they are going to lose to the Heat.... but my point was the Cavs have no chance with the roster they have/project to have after the draft.... the only talent they have is Irving and im not sold he will ever be as good as Westbrook already is....it would take another top tier star along with Irving just to be over 500 in the east.....Compiling young talent has never won championships in the NBA...

Your use of hindsight is amazing to me.

[pac213up]

Originally Posted by jeff152380

Compiling young talent has never won championships in the NBA...

To some extent this is true but I would be more focused on experience vs age. Durant is only 23 BUT this is his 5th year and Westbrook's 4th.

[murrke03]

Originally Posted by asujbl

This makes alot of sense.

thanks. i guess you are in agreement.

[Qwasian]

at the end of the day all you need to remember is, no matter what way you flip or bounce it, the heat were in the finals for the last 2 years, just think about that, and realize your flipping/bouncing doesn't mean anything, it's all hype...... lebron is the real deal, you put him on teams and they contend immediately.

[theautographkid]

Originally Posted by jeff152380

Yes Durant and Westbrook are top tier talent....and I think they are going to lose to the Heat.... but my point was the Cavs have no chance with the roster they have/project to have after the draft.... the only talent they have is Irving and im not sold he will ever be as good as Westbrook already is....it would take another top tier star along with Irving just to be over 500 in the east.....Compiling young talent has never won championships in the NBA...

A lot of people, though Westbrook wasn't going to be that great either...Look at him now. It only takes one season, to make a name for yourself. You don't really know that much about basketball, so I tried, to keep this short and easy for you

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by murrke03

thanks. i guess you are in agreement.

Yep. Sure.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by theautographkid

A lot of people, though Westbrook wasn't going to be that great either...Look at him now. It only takes one season, to make a name for yourself. You don't really know that much about basketball, so I tried, to keep this short and easy for you

Exactly. It's hindsight in the fullest.

Westbrook wasn't as good as Kyrie coming out of school. Look at him now.
Ibaka wasn't as good as Thompson when drafted. Look at him now.
Harden wasn't as good as Barnes (assuming they take Barnes) when he was drafted. Look at him now.

Saying the Thunder had Top Tier talent when they were drafted compared to the Cavs - other then Durant - is insane.

[fsu2007]

I'm sure we will be bumping this thread for years to come and the Cavs still won't have a title.