Cavs 106, Pacers 97
–So this will surely disappoint some of you and also anger some of you, but I cannot yet say what player the Cavs are considering making a deal for. I have to protect sources. But I can tell you that I have talked to two different people in different organizations that have confirmed the talks are serious. I know you want more, but I just can’t give it to you at this point. I am not trying to build up ratings here, I am reporting what I can report. Just know that Danny Ferry is serious about trying to upgrade the roster. Whether or not it gets done though is up in the air. It’s 50/50 at best.
–Here is what I can tell you, it is a trade that would change the dynamic somewhat of how the Cavs play but not directly affect the way LeBron James plays. Also, if this deal goes through, it would potentially allow the Cavs to make another deal.
–Also, the Cavs are trying to get a first-round pick as part of the deal. Which is a sticking point, the other team doesn’t want to give it up. Perhaps this is because they are thinking of trading their first round pick this year or next year as part of another deal.
–After the game, the Cavs locker room was buzzing about the deadline. There are players who have heard their names in rumors and are convinced they are being traded. Some players even were half-jokingly saying goodbye to one another. Others who have been in rumors weren’t paying attention. But make no mistake, there is a strong belief in the Cavs locker room that they are going to do something. Maybe nothing will happen. A year ago on this night I was writing about how Danny was beating down the doors trying to get Mike Bibby and it didn’t happen. I am just trying to do my job.
–Now, here’s the news on Daniel Gibson. He got rolled up on by Travis Diener in the third quarter tonight. It looked very bad. There was lots of cussing on the Cavs bench as Boobie rolled around on the court in pain. Afterward the Cavs said it wasn’t as bad as it looked. But Boobie wouldn’t tell me if it was a high ankle sprain or a low ankle sprain. Of course, this is a major difference. I am not a doctor, but the nature of the injury made it look like it could be a high ankle sprain. When you get rolled up on, that injury is often a result. But the Cavs are thinking positively, so who am I so say different.
–Oh, yeah, the game. LeBron had another triple-double. He is the first player since Magic Johnson in 1987-88 to have two back-to-back triple-doubles in the same season. There’s a stat for you. He was huge in the fourth, not only scoring but also rebounding, setting up his teammates but also on defense. He was guarding Troy Murphy for awhile.
–The Cavs won this game their way, playing defense down the stretch. They controlled the tempo in the fourth, holding the Pacers to 5-of-16.
–The Cavs have won 8 of their last 10 games on the road.
Pregame
Starting lineups
Cavs: Larry Hughes, Ira Newble, LeBron James, Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Pacers: Travis Diener, Danny Granger, Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Jeff Foster
–Jaamal Tinsley (left knee) was a late scratch and Jermaine O’Neal (left knee as well) are both out. The Cavs have a talent advantage here tonight, which just isn’t always the case.
–This is a game of mental toughness. The Pacers want to play fast and turn it into a scoring fest. The Cavs can take advantage in transition but they cannot just stop moving the ball and turn it into a chuckfest. That’s what the Pacers want.
–The Cavs have beaten Indy five straight times and twice here. If they win tonight they will be above .500 on the road, something they haven’t been this late in the season in 15 years. Plus they have lost two straight. This is a game they should and need to win.
Halftime — Cavs 60, Pacers 54
–Folks, I have not watched a second of the first half as I pursue some hot trade rumors with the Cavs. They are being very active and are in talks over a blockbuster that has not been reported yet. It does not involve Mike Miller. More to come later.
Postgame
Stars
LeBron, 31 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists
Ilgauskas, 14 points, 17 rebounds
Hughes, 19 points
Granger, 30 points, eight rebounds
Murphy, 20 points, six rebounds
Quotes
Mike Brown: “What can I say? He’s the MVP. He’s the MVP this year. I don’t care how many games are left, or whatnot. This guy is terrific. He does everything out on the floor. He doesn’t just score, he doesn’t just get people easy shots, he doesn’t just rebound, he defends. He guarded shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards tonight.”
LeBron: “I’m going to get us in the best position to make plays in the fourth quarter, I attract so much attention that a lot of guys are going to get open looks. I’m going to do my thing no matter who’s in or who’s out.”
{ 4 trackbacks }
{ 95 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Unbelievable..yes definitely most refreshed blog page ever…and to find out that we can’t find out who the rumors are about. Ah well..Brian when can we find out!
If the Cavaliers are wanting a first round pick (and it’s the sticking point), then I’d have to believe that it’s something big.
Not Vince…he wouldn’t change our dynamics.
For some odd reason, I’m thinking that Big Z may be the one going out. Perhaps for a smaller, stonger BIG man, who can RUN?
Just a thought. What else qualifies US to get a first???
Usually the team getting the draft pick is giving up the most talent. I’m not sure how the Cavs could give up more talent than the trading partner and it still qualify as a blockbuster. UNLESS, it’s a multi-team trade. But it seems fishy to me.
hey ELMO,
why don’t u quit writting on blogs and become a comedian… why would u kid about something like that? ur a sick guy
Its Baron Davis for Hughes, Gooden, Sh. Brown
World B. Free comes out of retirement, Cavs sign him to a contract. They trade him for the rights to Wilt Chamberlain. Since Wilt is dead, we get a first round draft pick thrown in.
The Cavs get a hall of famer, as well as a first rounder. The other team gets an expiring contract, and World B Free gets to sit on their bench for the rest of the season.
Sigh, another modern NBA trade.
Your killing me Brian.. The only deal to change the dynamic of how we play is to get rid of Z. Move to more of an uptempo style.
Okay…shoot me for thinking this…BUT, WHAT IF…..
The Cavaliers are trying to deal with NY… for Curry,Lee and Crawford?
THAT would definitely be Blockbuster.
New York Outgoing Players: Jamal Crawford, Renaldo Balkman, David Lee, Malik Rose, Eddy Curry
Cleveland Outgoing Players: Sasha Pavlovic, Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Daniel Gibson, Dwayne Jones
It can’t be for a point guard cause that would change the way Lebron plays. I would think it would be for a shooting big man and we lose Gooden. That would change the way our team plays because we would not be as big on the front line, but not neccessarily change how Lebron plays.
Who in the name of Crash Mengelt is Travis Deiner?? He rolled Daniel Gibson’s ankle, bridged LeBron during a drive to the basket and wolverine clawed Damon Jones going for a rebound? I thought the league had long evolved past scrappy little guys from the Y coming into the game just to injure as many opposing players as possible. The Pacers dumped all their thugs for this??
A change of pace COULD be a guard, but it seems more likely that Z could be traded. Who could use a size upgrade that has a star player they’d be willing to trade to get it?
don’t tease us with a bosh trade. no way in hell
?
O man – I don’t like this. Stick with the team you have, and trade the expiring contacts NEXT YEAR when you can get a SUPERSTAR in exchange!
If we end up with some horrendous contract for a minor upgrade, then we’re EFFED! Don’t DO IT DANNY!
I agree that it sounds like a deal involving Z.
Very interesting. I’m thinking in order for us to be asking for a first round pick, and the other team actually considering it, the team must be a playoff team and not a lottery team. What lottery team is going to even consider trading away a lottery pick for someone on our roster, with the exception of Lebron? Because of this, I don’t think it would be Milwaukee or NJ. Maybe a team in the West that’s looking for a big man (Z) to compete with LA, Phoenix and SA that has a surplus of talented guards. Hmm… this is a puzzler.
The stat about back to back triple doubles is just plain wrong. Jason Kidd had a back to back this very season on Jan. 4 and 5th.
Andrei Kirilenko and 1st round pick for Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ira Newble?
I hope we’re looking at Redd or Artest, rather than Mike Miller or VC. The last thing we need is an over-the-hill star with a huge contract. Also, I can’t imagine trading Z — people commenting on this blog don’t appreciate how valuable he is. Z is a terrific offensive rebounder and has a great mid-range game. He’s probably got the most reliable mid-range shot on the team and he’s the only true big on the team.
Even Gooden is under-rated, though I think that he and Ira Newble’s expiring contract are our only true trade assets.
heathmalk’s trade is horrible, why not just sign snow to a new six year contract? Like we wsnt ny trash
Hughes for Odom??
I’ve been thinking more about this – maybe it’s Z and Hughes and maybe Gibson to Denver for Iverson, some backup point guard and a 1st round pick. We’d get an all-star guard to go along with Lebron and that would change our team to more up-tempo and Denver would then have Hughes, Melo, Camby and Z together which would still provide them with the slasher in Hughes and Z would give them more scoring and rebounding from the 5 to compete with LA, Phoenix, Utah, Houston and SA.
I dont think the trade will involve Carter bc that doesnt change the dynamic of the team.. all that does is upgrade Hughes.
The Iverson comment is preposterous. No way Denver gets rid of him.
I agree to an extent with Z being involved, bc that would change the dynamic because we could become a true up tempo team starting Andy at C.. the only problem i have with that is that i dont see how getting Z enables western teams to now “compete” with the other teams who go big men. Z is not known for defense.. and the west teams dont need offense.
i got all excited for mike bibby during last years deadline (then again in the summer), and then nothing happened. so im not holding my breath for anything, especially with this roster. im willing to wait til the offseason anyways, a title might be too hard to get this year. i think getting out of the east would obviously be tough but doable, we have shown we can play with boston and we know we can take detroit. but the west looks just too damn good. phoenix, dallas, and the lakers are going all out for a title this year, and except for the lakers the other two don’t look like they will be as good next year cause they are just getting older and they are selling out their future. san antonio is also just getting older, although parker is great. if we just hold onto our hand and wait a year we can make a serious and legitimate push for a title. although if this deal is amazing than i retrack everything, lebron is god and we will win it all
Ian Says:
February 21st, 2008 at 12:22 am
The stat about back to back triple doubles is just plain wrong. Jason Kidd had a back to back this very season on Jan. 4 and 5th.
He said “TWO back-to-back triple doubles,” meaning he had back to back triple doubles earlier in the year, and once more yesterday and today.
Its gonna be Wade
http://mvn.com/nba-cavaliers/2008/02/20/cavscast-cavs-on-the-verge-of-a-blockbuster-trade/
above is the link
February 20th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
I just got off the phone with a league source and he is indicating to me that the Mavericks are the team that wants Z and they are willing to part with Josh Howard. However, the Mavs gave up two first-rounders to the Nets in the Kidd trade, so that’s where the question of draft picks is coming up. Dallas believes a big man like Z gives them size to match up with Gasol, Shaq, and Yao while JKidd just makes everybody better. That paired with MVP Dirk might push them over the top.
The Mavericks look like the correct team. If you are awake right now, let me know what you think? Here are some questions…
Is Z the only one that would change the dynamic?
Are the Mavericks the team?
Where is this draft pick coming from?
What would we be getting in return?
What would we be giving up?
Ill be up til three praying these schmucks make a move
You cannot do this and then not update. YOU Should be ashamed
im up now, and i have no idea what this trade is going to be….ive been thinking about it and heres what i think….I don’t think Z is going to be traded, but if he is, there are really only a few options out there. For Z to be traded, it would have to be to a contender, because only a contending team would want to trade for Z. I think we can all agree on that. If you look at all of the teams out west, the only ones really in need of a big man are Dallas and Golden State. The only player that we would take from Dallas for Z is Josh Howard, and I HIGHLY doubt they would give up Howard for Z. B-Diddy seems like the only option on the Warriors, because Monta’s contract is too small, and the Cavs wouldn’t trade for Al Harrington. I don’t think the Nets consider themselves a contending team, and there is no way they would throw in what would probably be a pretty good 1st round pick, just to dump Carter, only to pay Z almost the same amount of $$$, minus 1 year. In the East, there are really only 4 other contenders. Boston has nothing we want, no way are we trading with Detroit, Orlando doesn’t need a center, and the only player on Toronto that has a contract to match Z is Bosh, so that is not happening. Therefore, I don’t think that Z is going to be traded.
I noticed that BW said it would SOMEWHAT change the way we play. Trading Z would drastically change the way we play. I don’t think that the Cavs are going to make a move at all. BW, you should have watched the first half tonight instead of wasting time chasing false rumors. But, your site has kept me on my heels all night waiting for something to happen. I don’t want to get rid of Z either. He has been important to this team and organization, and i would like to see him retire as a Cavalier. Not many players in sports can say they started and ended with the same organization
Hey Mark, I think BW meant it is the first back to back triple double as in consecutive nights. Kidd has a few trip dubs in a row but not in back to back games on consecutive nights.
Andre Miller or Michael Redd, like we’ve been saying for months. If we could get both of them, I’d assume I’ve died and gone to heaven. Gooden’s numbers lookd glossy and nice, but he’s a non-factor late in games, he cant catch a pass with any zing on it, and Lebron looks like he wants to kill his goofy a$$ with his bare hands some nights. I see Gooden being the centerpiece of either deal, and guys like Shannon or Ira being the throw-ins. As far as the inter-divisional trading thing goes… while it is rare, it certainly isnt unheard of. Milwaukee sucks, they’re desperate, and therefore, they’re a perfect trade partner.
BW, waddaya say big guy?? New news?
LOL about James looking like he wants to kill his “goofy a$$ with his bare nads some nights”. I agree completely. And it is more than merited.
i reckon it could be tmac!
i think that its doesn’t have nothing to do with carter…the President of NJ just said in espn that hes not trading away Vince Carter…hope we make a move that can get some help for the mvp lebron james…
didn’t bob sura have like 3 triple doubles in a row for golden state like 6 years ago
Cribs4students.com – The Place To Find The Place
You can list and search Apartments, Sublets, Rooms, Rentals for vacant properties for students.
Cribs4students.com – Apartments, Sublets, Rentals
- The Place To Find The Place
The #1 online site for students who want apartments and sublets closest to their universities. http://cribs4students.com
Drew Gooden, Ira Newble, Shannon Brown and Cederic Simmons to Chicago for Ben Wallace.
“Drew Gooden, Ira Newble, Shannon Brown and Cederic Simmons to Chicago for Ben Wallace.”
Riiiight. Because the Cavs want to make sure they have both the worst (Larry Hughes) and 2nd worst (Wallace) contracts in the entire NBA on their roster.
Damon Jones for the Matrix, Sean Merriman
maybe alan friend who got sick during the cavs run got sick again so he is unable to give hotdog head credit for this trade….come on alan speak or forever hold your peace….grace and peace billy
Sheed 2 problems with ur post:1.Sean Merriman is a football player
2.Damon Jones for Shawn Marion…..Crazy
lets give brian credit: two sources – one for SEA, one for CHI. and another sharpshooter on the floor will hopefully open up the middle for lebron to drive, but he’ll still kick to the open guy. and lebron won’t have to worry about gooden brain farting on defense.
← Previous Comments