How Dan Gilbert Saved Cleveland - March Recap

[fumanchu]

can't wait for FEB games....

[J@3]

TOP FIVE TEAMS:

EAST:
CHI : 11-4
MIA : 11-5
ATL : 10-5
CHA : 9-6
ORL : 10-7

WEST:
HOU : 14-4
OKC : 10-4
PHX : 12-7
DAL : 10-6
MIN : 10-6

BOTTOM THREE TEAMS:

EAST:
NJN : 5-12
CLE : 4-11
PHI : 5-12

WEST:
UTA : 7-11
GSW : 4-9
MEM : 7-13

BEST IN THE LEAGUE:

EAST:
DWIGHT HOWARD
22.4 PPG | 15.0 RPG | 0.9 APG | 1.1 SPG | 3.5 BPG | .616 TS% | 28.9 PER

WEST:
DIRK NOWITZKI
30.4 PPG | 8.4 RPG | 1.3 APG | 0.3 SPG | 1.5 BPG | .627 TS% | 26.4 PER

TOP ROOKIES:

EAST:
JOHN WALL
12.0 PPG | 3.2 RPG | 7.1 APG | 2.0 SPG | 0.4 BPG | .492 FG%

WEST:
WESLEY JOHNSON
13.3 PPG | 4.6 RPG | 1.4 APG | 1.1 SPG | 1.6 BPG | .454 FG%

D-LEAGUE STAND-OUT:
RICH PAYTON - PF - LA D-FENDERS
21.5 PPG | 12.3 RPG | 0.8 APG | 0.9 SPG | 2.1 BPG | .449 FG%

TOP PERFORMANCES
Jamal Crawford: 43 points | 2 rebounds | 3 assists | 0 steals | 0 blocks vs CHI
Danny Granger: 53 points | 5 rebounds | 2 assists | 4 steals | 3 blocks vs MEM
Chris Paul: 37 points | 5 rebounds | 11 assists | 7 steals | 0 blocks vs NYK
Kobe Bryant: 45 points | 5 rebounds | 5 assists | 3 steals | 0 blocks vs CLE
Danny Granger: 27 points | 5 rebounds | 2 assists | 2 steals | 2 blocks vs PHX

I'm uploading videos for the next update, I've got 2 or 3 from the Miami game alone. I'll probably focus on that one a little more than the other games. No transactions either since I turned them off.

[shadowgrin]

D-LEAGUE STAND-OUT:
RICH PAYTON - PF - LA D-FENDERS
21.5 PPG | 12.3 RPG | 0.8 APG | 0.9 SPG | 2.1 BPG | .449 FG%

I like this. Giving some love to the D-Leaguers.

[Lamrock]

I hate the D-Leaguers. It's tedious, and arguably a waste of time, but I like to kill them by editting their ages to 47, and Years Pro to 27 so they retire and the D-League fills with real guys trying to make it. (though its absurd to see guys like Brad Miller in the D-League)

[J@3]

Rich Payton of Baltimore Claws fame. I don't bother with the D-League unless I'm desperate.

[Lamrock]

Looking forward to next month's results.

[J@3]

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Coming:

Around The League
Dan Gilbert's reaction to Cleveland's victory over Miami
Further explanation/analysis of the Mo Williams trade

[Lamrock]

Congrats on taking out LeQueer and the Cold! Stunning result there. I hate the Mo Williams deal though. Makes no sense to swap a borderline all-star for an aging Center coming off a fluke season.

Interesting all-stars there. What's Andray Blatche rated?

[J@3]

I think he's like 75 or something. I'd love to have him but I can't think of a realistic trade to put together.

And since you commented on the deal, I will post the reason/breakdown of it now..

NOTE: I was going for realism in this trade. I could probably have just traded Williams for Mohammed straight up but that'd never happen in real life, no team is going to take on a guy like Williams with like 24 million left on his deal for an expiring with no other considerations.

THE TRADE

Cleveland Trades:
Mo Williams
'10 1st Round pick (Via Miami)
'10 2nd Round Pick (via Milwaukee)
'10 2nd Round Pick (via Charlotte)

Cleveland receives:
Nazr Mohammed

WHY FOR CLEVELAND?
This was a salary dump plain and simple. Mo Williams contract continued for another season after this one, and then had a player option on top of that. That left him earning roughly 16 million dollars over the next two seasons. It eats into our cap flexibility for this coming off-season, because after re-signings we were looking at having about 10 million dollars in cap space, not taking into account rookie deals. Now with Mo gone and Nazr Mohammed's 6.8 million dollar expiring deal, we go into the next off-season with close to 17 million in cap space after re-signings. Once you factor in rookie deals that drops to about 15 million, but still enough to make a run at a max contract or trade for a larger contract from another team.

Charlotte Trades:
Nazr Mohammed
Gerald Henderson

Charlotte Receives:
Mo Williams
J.J Barea
'10 1st Round Pick (Dallas)

WHY FOR CHARLOTTE?
Since losing Raymond Felton they haven't really had anyone step up and fill that point guard void. Mo Williams does that, he gives them a solid offensive option and really fits in with their nucleus of Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace. J.J Barea will be a back up point guard but is solid and could challenge the underperforming DJ Augustin, and they also pick up a mid-late 1st round pick which will soften the blow of losing Henderson.

Dallas Trades:
'10 1st Round Pick
J.J. Barea

Dallas Receives:
Gerald Henderson
'10 1st Round Pick (via Miami)
'10 2nd Round Pick (via Milwaukee)
'10 2nd Round Pick (via Charlotte)

WHY FOR DALLAS?
Dallas was brought into this to balance contracts basically. I wanted to include a team with a mid-late first round pick to sweeten the deal for Charlotte (i.e the Wizards took on a similar salary in Kirk Hinrich for the 17th pick in this draft just gone) and for their troubles they manage to pick up Gerald Henderson and a bunch of picks from Cleveland. Miami's pick won't be as high as theirs but at least they still have a pick, and they have a few second rounders to play with.

EXPLANATION:
I have a plan going into this off-season. Before this trade I was looking at 10 million dollars in cap space, and also 2 first round picks to go with 3 or 4 2nd round picks. If I were to sign all of those players, not only do they take up 6 roster spots but probably another 6 million in salary. So four million dollars in cap space left to try and improve a team that looks like it's heading to the lottery.

The situation now is that we'll have 17 million in cap space, an early first round pick and maybe two second rounders. If I can trade into the late first round I will but it won't make a huge different and should still leave us with 14-15 million dollars. I could either chase a max free agent with that (Tim Duncan, Carmelo Anthony will be available) or throw it at two lesser guys who might fill positions of need. Add that to a lottery pick and the team is in a far stronger position.

I'm also considering trading for a guy and just absorbing his contract. There are a fair few players with 8-9 million dollar deals who I could absorb without sending anything else out (David West for example). Either way, this deal gives a lot more flexibility financially and getting rid of some of those draft picks won't cripple us roster-wise.

tl;dr - salary cap reasons.

[shadowgrin]

That's what LeBron gets for trying to be fancy. Denied!

[|)e8*]

Holy crap great job beating LeBron!

[Axel The Great]

Great job kicking LeBron's ass. I'm surprised Corey Maggette made the All-Star game.

[Lamrock]

Trade makes more sense now, but still not sure about it. You may be hard pressed to find a PG as good as Mo Williams for his contract.

[kibaxx7]

Good deal, lots of cap space coming. But if I were you, wouldn't sign TD as you're rebuilding, I only see 2 or 3 more years of him, imo.

[J@3]

That's a good point actually, I hadn't thought about it. Though there is still the "we'll win a championship before the self proclaimed King" thing.

[Martti.]

Jennings at the All-Star game!

[Murat]

Wow, you defeated LeQuit. Exactly the block is awesome!

[Valor]

Awesome win over Queen James and her cronies

[J@3]

EASTERN CONFERENCE

TOP 5

CHI - 12-6
MIA - 14-8
ATL - 11-6
CHA - 12-8
ORL - 11-8

BOTTOM 3

CLE - 6-13
WAS - 9-18
NJN - 7-16

WESTERN CONFERENCE

TOP 5

HOU - 18-6
OKC - 14-5
LAL - 14-7
DAL - 14-7
DEN - 15-9

BOTTOM 3

SAS - 8-13
MEM - 9-15
GSW - 6-14

BEST IN THE EAST

DWIGHT HOWARD | ORLANDO MAGIC
21.8 PPG | 14.2 RPG | 0.9 APG | 1.2 SPG | 3.4 BPG | .616 TS% | 27.9 PER

ROOKIE: EVAN TURNER | PHILADELPHIA 76ers
12.0 PPG | 5.3 RPG | 4.3 APG | 1.1 SPG | 1.0 BPG | .544 TS% | 15.4 PER

BEST IN THE WEST

DIRK NOWITZKI | DALLAS MAVERICKS
30.0 PPG | 8.8 RPG | 1.0 APG | 0.3 SPG | 1.5 BPG | .628 TS% | 26.1 PER

ROOKIE: WESLEY JOHNSON | MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
12.9 PPG | 4.7 RPG | 1.4 APG | 1.2 SPG | 1.5 BPG | .522 TS% | 13.8 PER

D-LEAGUE STANDOUT
MATT RUSH | SG | NEW MEXICO THUNDERBIRDS
24.6 PPG | 1.8 RPG | 1.3 APG | 0.8 SPG | 0.0 BPG | .448 FG% | .378 3P%

TOP PERFORMANCES OF THE MONTH

LAMAR ODOM: 11 POINTS | 21 REBOUNDS | 5 ASSISTS | 0 STEALS | 1 BLOCK vs PHX
KENDRICK PERKINS: 16 POINTS | 21 REBOUNDS | 4 ASSISTS | 1 STEAL | 5 BLOCKS vs IND
KOBE BRYANT: 43 POINTS | 3 REBOUNDS | 11 ASSISTS | 0 STEALS | 0 BLOCKS VS BOS
DIRK NOWITZKI: 40 POINTS | 17 REBOUNDS | 0 ASSISTS | 0 STEALS | 2 BLOCKS VS PHX
DAVID LEE: 16 POINTS | 13 REBOUNDS | 10 ASSISTS | 0 STEALS | 0 BLOCKS VS SAC

Next month's league wrap-up will be better, and I'll have full team records (not just top 5/bottom 3).

[Martti.]

Hahaaa, great stuff!

[shadowgrin]

EVAN TURNER YEAH!

Dirk's tearin' it up.

[Murat]

Dan Gilbert FTW

[Lamrock]

Jesus fucking christ Badger, stop quoting whole recaps you fucking dumbcunt!

Hilarious recap. Wouldn't have been surprised if Gilbert had blamed his original letter on bad cough medicine.

[Axel The Great]

Jesus fucking christ Badger, stop quoting whole recaps you fucking dumbcunt!

Hey, shadowgrin was supposed to say that! Either way, hilarious.

Dan Gilbert on Dancing With the Stars? Good stuff right there Jae .

Houston 18-6? What are Yao's and K-Mart's stats?

[J@3]

Jesus fucking christ Badger, stop quoting whole recaps you fucking dumbcunt!