I just made a giant post about this in my blog at http://www.elitethatsme.com but i figure i'll post it here too :)

I was looking at some of Lebron James's comments after the game 7 loss against Boston and i found this quote:

"I think what we have is very good, but we need to continue to get better. We know that," James said. "If that means some personnel changes that need to happen, then so be it. The teams around us in the league are continuing to get better."

Now think about this. The Cavs could have as much as $27 Million in expiring contracts to work with this summer. Here are a list of their expiring players and contracts:

Player 2008/2009 Salary

Wally Szczerbiak $13 Million
Eric Snow $7.3 Million
Damon Jones $4.4 Million
Delonte West $2.7 Million

Lets analyze each of these players and what they mean to the cavs

Eric Snow was inactive and not even on the playoff roster so he is basically just a contract at this point. The Cavs actually expect him to retire this summer but maybe he would agree to a offseason trade to help the team.

Damon Jones barely played in the playoffs for the Cavs so he seems to be an afterthought.

Wally Szczerbiak was a starter but certainly did not earn his paycheck, he only averaged 10 ppg in the playoffs and shot a very low percentage for someone who is on the floor to be a shooter. You could argue he is one of the main reasons the Cavs were unable to advance and I'm sure most Cavs fans would have no problem letting him go.

The only player i see Cleveland wanting to hold on to is Delonte West, He seems to be a decent young player and they can probably resign him for a reasonable price at this point in his career.

With all that said... Why is this all so attractive to the Knicks?

Donnie Walsh has made it clear that we need to get under the cap for the summer of 2010 when the super talented class of 2003 become free agents. The only way to do this is to package some of our higher paid more talented players for expiring contracts. Most of our players are overpaid, but some of them are actually talented they just do not fit with our roster. Some of these guys could possibly help a team like Cleveland that already has its superstar in Lebron and needs a #2 option. For instance Zach Randolph is scheduled to make 14.6 million next year and is signed past the 2010 season so he hurts our chances at getting under the cap. He has fit in horribly here in New York but he is still a 20 point 10 rebound big man with a excellent post game. Imagine Lebron being able to throw the ball down low to Zach in the half court or run the pick and roll/pop with such a offensively capable big man. Not to mention being paired with Ben Wallace might help hide his defensive liabilities which are pretty glaring here in New York.

The main problem is, one of those players that New York has targeted just so happens to be LEBRON JAMES. Would Cleveland really want to make a move to HELP New York pry Lebron away from them? Probably not, but at the same time.. They want to keep Lebron happy and give him a shot at WINNING while he still IS a in Cleveland. A move like this might be a step in the right direction for both teams:


Zach Randolph (14.6 mil) + Quenten Richardson (8.8 Mil) = $23.4 mil total

for

Wally Szczerbiak (13 mil) + Eric Snow(7.3 Mil) + Damon Jones ($4.4 Mil) = $24.7 mil total


Its close but I believe that would work under the salary cap.

For New York, we get nearly 24.7 million in salary cap relief which is desperately needed but I'm sure Cleveland would have to throw in a few Lottery Picks to make this fair in terms of talent. The Knicks would have absolutely no use for the players they would be receiving, however in this case i see it as addition by subtraction. Losing Q Rich allows us to move Wilson Chandler to the starting 3 spot and finally get Balkman some consistent minutes. Losing Zach Randolph opens up the middle for Eddy Curry again and slides David Lee back into the starting position where he belongs.

For Cleveland they basically upgrade Wally Z with Q Rich who is a similar player but a better version of Wally especially on the defensive end. A great 3rd option for Lebron and can knock down the open 3. I already explained why Zach Randolph would fit but he still would have to learn to share the ball and sacrifice because 'Bron won't stand for any of this nonsense:



Even if this is not the exact trade that goes down, I think Cleveland is a team Donnie Walsh needs to be on the phone with this summer. They are a match in terms of what they need, what we need, what they have to offer and what we have to offer.. The trick is making it work. But that's why your here Donnie!!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!



[Edited by - elite on 19-05-2008 10:09 AM]

Not bad, but I don't think Q is a better version of any NBA player. He simply doesn't have the athletic ability to play in the league anymore.

[fantasy]

Crawford, Zach, Jeffries - for - Cleveland's 30M 2009 expirings

Let Marbury and Malik walk at season's end = 30M 2009 expirings

Total expirings 2009 = 60M

We'd be at ~35M next summer.

[/fantasy]

bah........

There is no way we can get rid of Zach unless we take back the same amount of money of more. Do you realize how bad Portland got us in that trade. The only good thing that came out of the Zach trade was bitty.

Posted by crzymdups:

Posted by nyk4ever:

I made a thread about this same exact trade a week ago.

http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=26708

i made a post about how the cleveland trade wouldn't work and they might want zach months ago in the 6 page thread about the cavs/bulls deal, if you want to get nitpicky.

Lets get nitpicky!

I cant see Cleveland helping the Knicks (OR the Nets for that matter) get under cap and steal Lebron from them when he becomes a F.A.

Thanks Envy and NYK

I realise how difficult trading Zach will be but if anyone might give him a shot it could be the Cavs.

Also I addressed the point about the Cavs not wanting to help the Knicks, but think about it.. If your cleveland you got to do everything you can to make Lebron happy NOW. You have a chance to win NOW. You can't make decisions on what might happen like that if your Cleveland, make Bron happy and win win win as soon as you can.

[Edited by - elite on 19-05-2008 12:17 PM]

Posted by MS:

That trade is just terrible QRICH is about to break down and zach is a huge cancer. They would be better off just trading wally to the kings for Artest and Kenny Thomas if they wanted salary relief and they wouldn't have to add zachs years.

And then they could just pacakge snow and jones and get another quality player that a team is looking to unload they could use west with those guys for a player like michael redd midseason if the bucks are again struggling.

First of all.. Q Rich is ABOUT to break down? HE already DID break down. But he also has not been healthy. When QRICH was healthy he was very good, if he can be healthy again he would fit in perfectly for Cleveland like i said he is a improvement over Wally he plays much better Defense than wally when healthy. Zach may be a cancer but do you think he would act that way around Lebron? Do you think Lebron would allow it? Zach cant be stupid he would know he would have a chance to actually WIN in that situation my bet is if he'd ever get his act together that would be the situation where he could do it.

The other trades you preposed do sound better for the Cavs thought I must admit

Zach has a monster contract that will have a tremendous impact on any team that takes him. Isiah did Portland a huge favor by taking Zach off of their cap. He will be tough to move and might need to be sent with a boat load of money and a pick to make it attractive to a normal, competent gm who is aware that a salary cap exists.

Posted by DarkKnicks:

I would go farther to make the trade happens, because I dont see Cleveland accepting that.

Zach Randolph + Jared Jeffries + Nate Robinson
for
Wally Szczerbiak + Eric Snow + Cleveland's 2009 2nd round pick.

I would package Zach & Crawford and take back Wallace & ending filler (Snow?) and their first rounder this year.

Wallace is so finished, its not even funny.

If the Cavs had had Crawford against the celtics, they probably win the series. He is a chucker and he goes hot and cold, but he is not afraid to take big shots- and no one on the Cavs were able to hit open baskets.

Same goes for Zach- yes, he shoots a bit too much, but he has no fear.

I think the question is can Ferry & Cleveland get better deals elsewhere?

Trying to be objective, I honestly think that trade makes them better.

Posted by King1:

There is no way we can get rid of Zach unless we take back the same amount of money of more. Do you realize how bad Portland got us in that trade. The only good thing that came out of the Zach trade was bitty.

It was rough living in Portland and I don't know if I could take Cleveland