The Cavs should be looking to stand pat, just like the Celtics. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Marion isn’t the answer for the Cavs. They don’t need more defense. Plus, he’s a rental. He’ll walk if you don’t resign him for big bucks.

As for Carter, he sulks and loafs on D. He’s absolutely the last player the Cavs need.

Everyone could use Rasheed Wallace, but I doubt if the Cavs have the pieces to get him.

You know, that adage is great if the goal is to be above-average. There’s no doubt that making a trade now would certainly mess up the great chemistry they’ve got going on (though, as we’ve seen in the past, LeBron can pretty much will them into the playoffs, so it’s not like I think there’s a risk they’ll miss it unless he gets injured.) That being said, the goal of the NBA is to win championships, not games in December. Whether you love them or hate them, we all have to admit that for the Cavs to get to the Finals they’re going to likely have to go through Detroit (and, yes, I know they’re flailing a bit right now, but they’re still a force in the East with their playoff experience.), and DEFINITELY through Boston. As of right now, the Cavs are 0-3 against the Celtics and 0-2 against the Pistons.

So, really, what’s the point of the status quo? At the very least, Wally should be moved if you’re serious about contending this year. If all they do is tread water, making it to the playoffs and getting a few rounds but ultimately getting knocked out, LeBron won’t stay, and then where will the Cavs be? All their loyalty will mean nothing. The only good reason to keep the expiring contract is to pursue someone in free agency this summer, though who’s really there that they could afford?

Frankly, EVERY player should be available if your goal is to win a championship, and that rule should apply to every team, even our beloved Celtics. I understand it’s blasphemy to suggest it, but if Ainge could make a deal involving one of the Big Three that would better position us to win championships now and in the future, I’d support his pulling the trigger no matter who it was. The same should apply to the Cavs. Fans tend to be a whole lot more forgiving of trading away their favorite players when the result is a title.

That’s not an issue for the Cavs. LeBron is untouchable. Everyone else is tradeable.

Quite frankly, I don’t see anyone obtainable who is a better fit than Szczerbiak right now. One possible offer would be Szczerbiak and either West or Gibson for Lamar Odom, but if you were the Lakers, would you make that deal? Suppose the Lakers also wanted JJ Hickson as a sweetner. Would you do that if you were Cleveland?

Szczerbiak has his limitations, but he’ll hit the open J and always make his free throws, which is a huge consideration in a close playoff game.

A person could hope that the Cavs would be idiotic enough to trade for the tanker Carter. Except that any trade that takes him off the Nets roster makes the Nets more formidable.

cleveland has a short window the length of lebron’s contract to get something done so i don’t blame them for searching. i personally would keep varajao because he is a tiger on the boards, but i would have kept big al and gomes and look where that would have got me. carter has stats and that’s it. marion would help them but he is big bucks and not worth what he gets. a multi player deal like last year might do it. they see the celtics this year and are worried and i don’t blame them. somehow, i wish we had kept dwest.

I think the Cavs have learned a lesson from the Celtics last season,never be content with what you have.There is always room for improvement and D.Ferry most likely will make a move before this season is done.I see them adding a BIG to their bench .

I can certainly see them adding a Joe Smith. But I don’t see them adding anyone with Wally’s contract and Varejao.

If I understand Cleveland’s cap situation correctly, they almost have to trade Wally, don’t they? Since they are over the cap, isn’t it true that they could only re-sign Wally and not be able make an offer to a big free agent this summer or next? If they make a trade for a longer contract (like Carter’s), they can keep that player, or if they make a trade for someone who expires this year (like Marion) but who they might like to extend, they can get someone who they might have around for awhile. Otherwise, they can only sign Wally. And who wants that.

Then again, maybe I misunderstand Cleveland’s situation.

Watching Steven A and Skip Bayless on ESPNs 1st and 10, and the question was “are the celtics better this year” and of course Posey came up and they decided we were a better regular season team, but wont be a better playoff team (even though it took us more games to win the title than any team ever last year)
Anways, what bothered me was how they kept saying how Cleveland is way better yadaa yadda yadda, but is it just me or could the same thing be said about the cavs but even more so, that they’ve just become a better regular season team???

Varejao is a very valuable player for Cleveland, especially considering the ages both Ben Wallace and Big Z. Also, that if Cleveland get that big man in 2010 (Amare, Bosh, Dirk?), they’ll need a defensive presence like Varejao next to him.

It would be better if they could find another piece to move along with Wally. Maybe Pavlovic or even Gibson? If they’d give up Snow’s contract that would be great. I like Hickson but he isn’t important enough to me to turn down a deal that I feel gives Cleveland a much better chance at a title.

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Anyway,

I think there’s a lot of virtue to gaining a second star for Cleveland, I think you give LeBron a true #2 option and something incredible will happen. I’m not convinced Marion is good enough to be that, but Vince Carter would be.

I think this regular season success is also false security for where the Cavs really. I also think their playoff success against Boston last year is creating a false sense of security, because I don’t see Rondo+Ray+Pierce performing anywhere near as badly this time around, and one wonders if a few of their players contributions can be equaled (Joe+Wally). The difference between Boston and Cleveland is a lot bigger than it presently looks.

I don’t think it’s a hard decision for Cleveland, if a deal is available (for that #2 option) they should make it because they need.

From Cleveland’s perspective, Marion would make me nervous only because he’s such a primadonna. If he couldn’t deal with playing second banana to Steve Nash, who’s to say that he’s going to be happy playing next to LeBron? He’s a guy who has publicly expressed that he’s more concerned about being “The Man” than playing on a Championship-caliber team.

BUT – he wants to get paid, and he gets paid by playing his hindquarters off for the next few months and into June. Otherwise, I don’t see him getting a contract near what he seems to be expecting. I mean, he’ll get paid, but he isn’t going to get PAID!

And, he would improve Cleveland’s frontcourt a lot. Anyone know how he’s matched up historically against KG? He makes me nervous because, ugly or not, you’ve got to respect his outside shooting so that’s likely to take KG or Perk out of the paint. He’s long and athletic enough where he ought to be able to at least make life difficult for KG. You’d much rather have him out there at the PF spot than Big Ben; let Ben to back up Z at the 5.

If you can do that deal, I think you have to make it. You’ve got to figure that Mo and Delonte will be (or at least could) take most of Wally’s minutes in the postseason, and Boobie should be able to contribute as well. Sideshow Bob’s not a bad guy to have around, especially since he can play at the 5 a little, but he’s nowhere near the player that Matrix is. You can live without Sideshow if you’ve got Marion, Z, and Ben in the frontcourt. Who knows, maybe Wally could even do a McDyess; does Miami really NEED him? Could they buy him out, let him rest for thirty days, then Cleveland bring him back?

LeBron NEEDS a legitimate running mate. I’m the biggest Delonte fan in the world, but he’s not a real #2. Mo’s been better than I thought, but still…. you need another star/near-star, preferrably in the front court (no Vince; two guards don’t win you anything, especially since he’d just be peeling minutes away from Mo and Delonte).

The per 36 numbers on Marion (37mpg) vs Varejao (26mpg)

Marion – 11.8ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.7apg plus 1.3bpg, 1.3spg
Varejao – 12.2ppg, 9.4rpg, 1.6apg plus 1.4spg, 1.0bpg

Varejao is a vastly superior interior defender while Marion is vastly superior perimeter defender.

Varejao is a 26 year old big man who is on a modest contract, and is still improving. Marion is a 30 year old combo forward who will demand a massive contract, and is declining.

Well sure, Cleveland is willing to package Szczerbiak with Gibson or Varejao.

But for what? Marion and Carter are not good fits. Sheed’s contract is expiring too and you can be sure that Detroit will demand alot more than that if it trades Sheed at the deadline. So who are you going to bring in? Odom? Kirilenko? Brad Miller? JO? Shaq?

I hope and pray they make a big trade because they would be fools to trade away Varejao. If the rumors are true that they’d get Carter or Marion – fantastic, bring ‘em on. I would pay to see Carter play for the Cavs. He’s a Celtic dream come true. Please Danny ferry…please please get Vince Carter.

You think AI can tear the Pistons apart you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

The ONLY thing standing between the C’s and banner #18 is injuries.

If PP plays Lebron the way he did last year on D and they play team D, we win. Do you honestly think King James will be giving up the rock to anyone come crunch time?

of Ben Wallace and Z are on the decline in their careers. The Cavs would be wise to shore up a talented big for the long term to keep Lebron happy.

It’s an interesting topic…..but….Prince James is walking ..to New York (although he won’t be called for steps)

Cleveland can’t be better losing Wally and Varejao for one Marion. Ferry should stand pat but I’m all for him yanking defeat from the jaws of victory and bringing in VC.

I still believe Cleveland’s success against us last year was more a product of how we played at that time then anything else. We were still under the Rondo pass and then cut to the corner and stand there scheme. The would just leave him alone and look to double anyone else. It appears at this point that we have solved that part of the equation. With both Perk and Rondo on the verge of reaching another level, once we sure up the bench with a few minor tweaks I just don’t see them being able to stop us.

Cleveland’s record against above .500 teams is good 9-4, but not unbelievable.

Is there a reason nobody other than Who has mentioned Eric Snow’s expiring $7 million contract. I also don’t see this talked about in any of the Cavs trade rumors talked about so far, but it seems to me that Snow is absolutely on Ferry’s mind to be traded. If a team wants cap space, doesn’t this and Wally look pretty good?