[2k12]Moving on without the King - Cavaliers (0-1)

[Loupeitak]

Hey everyone, this is the first association I do with NBA 2k12 on these forums. I'm mostly a lurker around here, but I decided to test out my skills at rebuilding a team. I usually try not to make trades unrealistic, but I probably do abuse of the CPUs logic in relation to draft picks. It seems the CPU doesn't value them as much (especially weaker teams) so I get as many as I can. I rebuild teams through the draft and dont worry much about the high profile names on the FA list. I'd rather sign some solid role players and develop rookies.

I decided to pick the Cavaliers for my association. They have a solid rookie with tons of potential in Kyrie Irving along with a nice big man in Tristan Thompson. Without further to do, let's start off:

Game: NBA 2K12
Platform: PC
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Difficulty: All-Star
Played Quarter Length: 12 minutes
Sim Quarter Length: 12 minutes
Season Length: 29 games
Playoff Length: 7-7-7-7
Rosters: Realistic Roster
Sliders: Albys
CPU Trades: On

Roster:

Starting Five:

PG- Kyrie Irving | SG- Anthony Park | SF - John Salmons | PF - Tristan Thompson | C - DeAndre Jordan

Bench:



Ramon Sessions (PG/SG) | Alonzo Gee (SF) | Jonas Valaciunas (C/PF) | Tiago Splitter (PF/C) | Daniel Gibson (PG) | Reggie Evans (PF) | Omri Casspi (SF)

Inactive:


Mychel Thompson (SF/SG) | Ryan Hollins (C) | Luke Harangody (PF/SF)

[Loupeitak]

After a disappointing season, Cavaliers sign new GM. Baron Davis out.

The Cleveland Cavaliers knew, coming into the 2010/2011 season, that they were going to lose a lot more than they were used to, losing their franchise player Lebron James to free agency. Nobody thought, however, that they would lose this much. After pulling out a 61-21 record in the season before, the Cavs managed only 19 wins, showing the reason why Lebron and the Cavs never managed to win an NBA championship - There wasn't a good enough supporting cast. With that, the Cleveland Cavaliers have decided to shake things up, and have signed a new General Manager - Pedro Silva.

Pedro is going to be GM for the first time in his career. The portuguese native had a professional career in Europe, but never got a call to play for an NBA team. After retiring, Pedro went on to coach and manage Braga basketball team and managed to turn them into National champions with average players. NBA owners started eyeing him, until the Cavaliers swept in and offered him a contract.
In a press conference earlier, Pedro announced that he is excited to finally be in the NBA, even if not as a player, and he has very big expectations for the future of the Cavaliers.

"This is a very promising team." - he said - "With the addition of players of Irving's caliber and Thompson's potential, the team looks headed in a positive direction. I would also like to announce my first move as a GM - we have decided to use our annual Amnesty provision on player Baron Davis. We are very glad for Baron to have contributed to our team this past season, but it was in both of our interests to part ways. We wish him nothing but the best."

With Pedro, the cavaliers not only hope that their young players pan out, but also hope that their rookie GM makes solid moves and moves the team in the right direction. The fans still want revenge on Lebron and hope that they can get a ring before he does.

[Loupeitak]

New Cavaliers GM, Pedro, shakes up Roster before the shortened season starts.

Pedro, the Cleveland Cavaliers new General Manager, took a while to get seated in the front office, which gave a chance for other teams to swoop in and make most of the free agency period. Meanwhile, the Cavs didn't really make any moves. That is until today.

In an incredible week, the Cavs hosted three trades. First off they traded the expiring contract of Antawn Jamison and Semi Erdeh to the Spurs for Richard Jefferson and Tiago Splitter. In this trade, the Cavaliers got a solid up and coming PF in Splitter, along with boosting up their weak Small Forward position in Jefferson, while the Spurs got a solid player in Jamison to play alongside Duncan and Co. Losing out on Splitter was a bad decision though.

After getting those two pieces, Pedro wasn't done as he decided to ship out the newcomer Jefferson in a three team deal. Jefferson was sent to the Bobcats, who sent Corey Maggette to the Kings. The Kings on the other hand sent John Salmons to the Cavaliers. There were also picks involved in the trades, with the Cavs getting both the Bobcats and the Kings first round picks and sending next year's second round pick to the Bobcats.

We all thought Pedro was done, but in a surprising turn of events, the Cavaliers had one more trade in mind, this time with the Clippers. They sent out Christian Eyenga, Anderson Varejao, Samardo Samuels and this year's second round pick for DeAndre Jordan, Reggie Evans and their first round pick.


These trades were very solid for the Cavaliers, getting a nice addition to their weak Small Forward position in Salmons and bolstering their big positions with Splitter and Jordan. The Jamison deal also frees up the starting spot in the Power Forward position, which should give rookie Tristan Thompson solid minutes to develop his game. Overall, it's very solid deals for the Cavaliers frontcourt.

Recap
Trade 1:
Out:
• Antawn Jamison (Spurs)
• Semi Erdeh (Spurs)

In
• Richard Jefferson
• Tiago Splitter


Trade 2:
Out:
• Jefferson (to Bobcats)
• 2013 second round pick (to Bobcats)

In
• John Salmons (from Kings)
• 2012 first round pick (from Bobcats)
• 2012 first round pick (from Kings)

Trade 3:
Out:
• Christian Eyenga (Clippers)
• Anderson Varejao (Clippers)
• Samardo Samuels (Clippers)
• 2012 second round pick (Cavaliers to Clippers)

In
• DeAndre Jordan
• Reggie Evans
• 2012 first round pick (Clippers to Cavaliers)

[Loupeitak]

Cavaliers sign promising Center Valaciunas

With the fifth overall pick in the 2011 draft, the Toronto Raptors selected Jonas Valaciunas. However, problems with his contract in europe prevented him from coming to the NBA. Recently, however, Valaciunas and BC Lietuvos Rytas had a disagreement, which ended with a buyout. Jonas Valaciunas could play for the NBA, but showed that he has no interest in playing for the Raptors. The Cavaliers, who were very interested in the Lithuanian prospect during the draft, decided to swoop in on a deal for the young big man. The Cleveland Cavaliers shipped out the King's 1st round pick in the upcoming draft and cash considerations for Valaciunas' draft rights, signing him for his rookie scale contract.
The Raptors showed disappointment that their 5th overall pick would refuse to play for the team that drafted them, a year after losing Chris Bosh, and having to take such a deal. The Cavaliers look forward to adding this young player with tons of potential to their frontcourt and to the future of the team.

[Loupeitak]

2011/2012 Season begins with a Cavalier loss at home 100-86


Coming into the 2011/2012 season, the Cavaliers had quite a different team than the year before, and looked to improve their young roster with a win against the lowly Washington Wizards. However, Nick Young had other ideas in mind.

In the first quarter, the Cavaliers defence was non existant, letting the Wizard players drive in at will. When the defence finally decided to protect the paint, the Wizards did an amazing job collapsing the defence and kicking out to an open player, usually Nick Young. Young had an amazing 38 points, 9 of them on 3 pointers, and he was mainly responsible for the Wizard's 30-26 lead by the end of the first quarter.

After the break, the Cavaliers came out running, led by Tristan Thompson, who made 10 of his 16 points in the quarter on a flurry of dunks, got the Cavaliers a brief lead, but the Wizard's backcourt tandem of Wall and Young ended the drought, with Young making a buzzer beater 3 to end the first half with the game tied at 51.

With the 3rd period underway, the Cavaliers looked dazzled and confused. They didn't play defence and couldn't convert shots at the other end. Young and Wall continued their fabulous offensive game, beating the Cavs in the 3rd quarter 31-14. The Cav's only brightspot was John Salmons who attempted to keep Cleveland in the game, scoring 8 of his 18.

Taking a 82-65 lead into the fourth quarter, Saunders rested his starters and had most of the bench out during the quarter. The Cavaliers attempted a run, but with the clock ticking, eventually Byron Scott pulled his starters out as well to rest them up for the next game. Tiago Splitter and Valaciunas showed promise to be quite a frontcourt powerhouse blocking and rebounding wise during these minutes.


Final Score: Wizard 100 - 86 Cavaliers

Notable players:
Cavaliers:
[*]John Salmons - 18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
[*]DeAndre Jordan - 10 points, 11 rebound, 2 blocks
[*]Tristan Thompson - 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block

Wizards:
[*]Nick Young - 38 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists
[*]John Wall - 22 points, 1 rebound, 7 assists
[*]Rashard Lewis - 12 points, 6 rebounds.

Next game @Charlotte

[john26]

Good job on getting Val from the Raps, scouts says he's going to be a good player.