For the life of me, I don't know how anyone could ever take the Cleveland Cavaliers organization seriously.
While most of the sporting world had their eyes and ears glued to the final national championship game in the history of the BCS, the previously mentioned Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls decided to sneak a trade through the NBA offices while no one was looking. Per the folks over at RealGM (big ups to Danny Leroux):
Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Bynum and draft picks, a league source told RealGM.
Deng had been in constant trade speculation, and the Bulls were adamant they wouldn’t deal the two-time NBA All-Star in a salary dump. Nevertheless, the non-guaranteed portion of Bynum’s salary – saving the Bulls upwards of $15 million – had become appealing late in the Cavaliers’ quest to unload the championship center.
The Cavaliers announced that they’ve sent the Bulls three future NBA draft choices and the right to the first round pick in 2015, top 14 protected.
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What makes matters worse is that this could produce enough pressure to have management overpay Deng when he becomes a free agent this summer, which would actually be the worst of both worlds. While I love Deng as a player and competitor, his value to teams will erode as he gets older and he appears destined to get a bigger contract than his play will warrant for his early thirties. Plus, Cleveland had cap space to work with anyway so they are relying on Deng taking a “hometown discount” for a team he plays with for a few months that also does not lead to him getting overpaid. A risky proposition.
The bigger question is why. Like the Charlotte Bobcats and Sacramento Kings to a degree, the Cavaliers appear to be going all-in at exactly the wrong time. This draft looks to be the best in a decade and there just is not enough talent beyond Irving on this Cleveland team to make any noise in the postseason even if they make it in.
So the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team stock-piled with young talent and another chance to do quite well in the most loaded draft class since 1984/1996/2003, has decided to give up some cap space to win with Luol Deng? I mean for Christ's sakes, why? This reminds me of when the girls in the 9th grade were trying way too hard to be cute and decided to hijack their mama's makeup because they think the boys will like them more. When in actuality, the girls end up sullying their reputations and the girls who decided to chill as freshman become fine as hell later on in high school.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the freshman girl in high school whose stuffing their bra, wearing high heels and wearing their mama's perfume while struggling to get through Algebra without cheating off of somebody.
Who knows, maybe Cleveland won't re-sign Luol Deng and they'll keep their salary cap alive and well. Who knows, maybe the Cavaliers will find a way to brainwash Kyrie Irving into keeping his talents near the Cuyahoga River. Who knows, maybe Dan Gilbert's team will find a way to get a high draft pick once again and bring an elite talent back to northeast Ohio. Who really knows....
...but what I do know is this. LeBron James is no dummy, and it's these kinds of moves that should remind us all that The King wants no parts of the shenanigans and tomfoolery that's taking place with his first NBA organization. Those freshman girls who try to hard are never worth it.
Here is your pertinent reading material for Tuesday, enjoy.
The Pappy Van Winkle Whiskey Mystery -- Kernel Mag
NBA finally reaches buyout deal with former ABA owners still getting TV revenues -- Pro Basketball Talk
Trent Dilfer Had an Oddly Prophetic Conversation with Jameis Winston in 2011 -- Extra Mustard
The Air Jordan 6 Goes All-Infrared For Its 23rd Anniversary -- Sole Collector
Steve Smith And The Panthers Are Angry At Their Now Former Friend, Ric Flair -- TD Daily
The Brooklyn Nets Call Joe Johnson 'Joe Jesus' -- SLAM Online
Stuart Scott Spoken Word on the Dubs -- Warriors World
Twitter Cofounder Biz Stone Launches Jelly, A Visual Q&A Platform -- Fast Company
It’s time for the Bengals to say goodbye to Andy Dalton -- The Front Office
10 Video Game Levels That Gave Us Grey Hairs -- The Smoking Section
Eddie Maisonet is the founder and editor emeritus of The Sports Fan Journal. Currently, he serves as an associate editor for ESPN.com. He is an unabashed Russell Westbrook and Barry Switzer apologist, owns over 100 fitteds and snapbacks, and lives by Reggie Jackson’s famous quote, “I am the straw that stirs the drink.”
