This post may soon be outdated but it appears that the Cavs appear to very close to acquiring the player that I’ve been clamoring for years.  Brian Windhorst (the best Cavs beat writer) is reporting that Danny Ferry is working very hard to make this deal.  http://blogs.ohio.com/cavaliers_blog/ It appears that Sacramento is very interested in Drew Gooden and possibly the expiring contract of Scot Pollard.  If we trade both those big men, it will be interesting to see if we try and acquire another big as we would be very thin with front-line depth.  This deal would push us into a lot of luxury cap tax, but Dan Gilbert seems willing to field a championship team and not worry about the costs (a refreshing change in Cleveland).  If this trade falls through, lets kneel and pray that the Cavs don’t get desperate and trade for Marcus Banks.

He appeared in 21 games in his Cavs career averaging 2.8 ppg and 2.5rpg.  But, his dunk at Pitt was called perfectly by Bill Raftery, “Send it in Jerome!”

Boston – Out of all the absolutely dreadful teams in the Eastern Conference, this is the one that has the potential to turn it around the quickest.  They have a good core of young players that are developing in this throw away season.  Al Jefferson is an absolute stud; Gerard Green is maybe the best athlete in the NBA with a sweet stroke.  They also have the makings of solid role-players with Ryan Gomes and Delonte West.  If Rondo develops into a competent PG, and they strike Durant or Oden gold in the lottery this team will be solid a few years down the line.

Philly – Andre Iguodala is putting up an impressive 17-5-5, with numbers significantly higher than that since Iverson was dealt.  There is no quick turnaround in sight with this team as they are paying Korver, Green, and Dalembert way to much money for average performance at best.

New York – This team is legitimately frisky, but going nowhere this season.  There has  been enough said about this franchise.

Atlanta – This team might have the most talented two and three spots in the NBA.  Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith and Childress are all able to fill it up, and Joe Johnson is a legitimate NBA superstar.  Too bad there stuck with Speedy Claxton and Tyronne Lue setting the table.

Charlotte – Have some solid young players with Felton, Okafor, May, and Wallace.  Need to finally make a splash in free agency to be competitive (uh-hmmm Vince Carter).

Milwaukee – This roster screams blah to me.  Seems to be stuck in mediocrity and Redd’s injury has made the mediocrity turn into awfulness.

Middling Crap

New Jersey – This teams frontline is an absolute joke.  Mikki Moore (who isn’t bad), Nachbar (who somehow posterized Drew Gooden), Uncle Cliffy, and Jason Collins compose there frontline rotation.  Jason Collins might be the least productive player in the NBA with 2.5ppg and 4.2rpg in over 23 minutes a night.  They could have LeBron, DWade and Nash as there backcourt and they still wouldn’t win with this hideous collection of stiff big men.

Indianapolis ­­– The trade seems to have made them a better team, but nothing on there roster stands out to me except for O’Neal.  Looks like a tough first round exit team to me.

Orlando – Overachieved at the beginning of the season and has now fallen back to earth.  Dwight Howard is an absolute monster and at one point in the year had scored 48% of his points on dunks.  They really seem to have no go to scorer as Nelson, Hill (at this point in his career) and the rest of there roster (even Howard) aren’t good enough to take over down the stretch of a game.  Also, you can almost hack-a-shaq, Howard at this point in his career with his poor FT shooting.

Miami – Yes, I have the Heat as a middling crap team.  There roster is too old and carrying excess weight to make any sort of run in this years playoffs.  Jason Kapono has been there 2^nd best player the last few weeks (that’s saying something).  Shaq is not a dominating presence at all anymore.  Besides for Wade, do they even have another above-average player on there roster?

Decent

Toronto – Bosh is the best big man in the east, and Jose Calderon is a nice point guard.  They have some solid role players in the homeless man (Jorge Garbojosa), Carter and Bargnani.  First round exit seems likely to me.

Washington

Gilbert Arenas called out LeBron for not wanting the ball at the end of games.  Ummm Gilbert I believe it was you who missed clutch free throws and a wide open 3 last year to win games in a playoff series. Without a down low presence this team will struggle to make it past round 2 in the playoffs.

Wildcard

Chicago – If the Bulls make a trade for Gasol, they become the best team in the East.  If they stand pat, there an ok team that will struggle to get out of the first round.  Luol Deng is a nice player, but if there is a trade to be made to get a legitimate big man, they have to pull the trigger.

Hmmm…

Cleveland – If LeBron steps up like he did the second half of last season, this is the second best team in the east, and the only team besides the Pistons that I can see representing the east (if
Chicago doesn’t make a trade).  But, if Lebron doesn’t play at a superhuman level, this team is very flawed.  Hughes and Snow have been awful this year.  Z has struggled and Drew Gooden is still Drew Gooden.  I think the Cavs have a chance to rep. the east, but are going to struggle to beat the Pistons.

Eastern Representive

Detroit – This year they have man-handled the Cavs.  Before signing Webber I had very serious doubts about this team.  But now that Nazi Muhammad is planted on the bench they have the best starting 5 in the East and have the bigs and toughness to win in the playoffs. Ugh.

Larry Hughes

35.7min/game, 14.7ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.0apg, 1.26 steals, 40.7% FG%, 68% FT%

These numbers are a far cry from his contract year in
Washington where he put up 22ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.7apg.  Hughes has never been a terrific shooter in terms of percentage and he is making threes at career clip.  But, where has his terrific all around game gone.  He was one of the best rebounding guards in the association while in
Washington.  Now, he hauls in a rebound every ten minutes of playing time.

Sasha Pavlovic

16.9min.game, 6.7ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.1apg, 42.6% FG%, 79.7% FT%

Sasha’s overall numbers are not overwhelming but it is his production of late that has been very impressive.

Their per 48 minute stats for the season are very similar as Pavlovic puts up a 19.2/5.4/3.3 split and Hughes has a 19.7/4.5/4.1 split. But, it is Pavlovic’s month of February where he has 24.9/5.2/4.7 per 48 minute numbers that should earn him 30 minutes of action a night.

Perhaps the most telling stat is the on court/off court stats.  When Pavlovic is on the court the Cavs as a team are +6.8 per 48 minutes (the highest number on the team).  When he is off the court the Cavs are mediocre +0.9 (net rating of +5.9).  In comparison when Larry Hughes is on the floor the Cavs are +1.8 and but are even better when he is on the bench +3.3 (net of -1.5).

Should Sasha start over Larry Hughes? In conclusion I say no in terms of team chemistry and the way Hughes would become disgruntled over being benched.  But, it is something to consider if the Cavs (hopefully) think of shopping Hughes in the off-season.