The Budds Plan

In case any of you bastards out there were wondering, "What would Buddies do if he were runnin' things for the Cavs this off season?" I'm going to tell you.

As stated before, there are three ways for the Cavs to acquire players:

1. Trades

Since the mid season threat of a fire sale from Phoenix when everyone wanted Amare Stoudemire , I have been more interested in Shaq. Stoudemire plays absolutely no defense. That is his policy and we all accept him for what he is, but that doesn't mean I have to want him on my team.

Shaquille O'neal is the ultimate teammate. You can say that Antawn Jamison or Joe Smith are good teammates because they blend into the crowd, but Shaq is an inspirational character who makes you feel like you are at the center of attention (in a good way...not a T.O. way) no matter where you are. Of course Shaq has had problems with teammates, like Kobe Bryant for example, but that's good. Kobe was an asshole and Shaq wouldn't take his bullshit. That's what being the ultimate teammate is.

Bringing in Shaq would also give Cleveland one guy who is on the same respect level as LeBron...maybe even one higher, if that's even possible. LeBron is learning...Shaq KNOWS. It's almost ridiculous to ask a team with a young coach, a young star, and a young supporting cast to navigate their way successfully through the playoffs on their first try. Having Shaq, a man whose life is lived in those huge moments is an indescribably valuable influence on LeBron James and the rest. And that doesn't even get into his basketball value for Cleveland.

The word is, however, that Phoenix wants talent in exchange for Shaq. I'm just about fed up with this...

Listen Phoenix, you're poor and you suck. That's your situation. You have a 37 year old Center who cannot help you. Would you rather pay him or not? People are either going to give you talent who you have to pay...a lot, or cap relief. You can't have it both ways. Frankly, the deal you get from Cleveland will give you a minimum of $10 million and a possibility of $14 or $15 million depending on the likelihood of a Ben Wallace buyout. How can you do better than that? There is no way in hell we are giving you Delonte West. Get over yourself.

2. Free Agency

My number one option: Trevor Ariza.

Bill Simmons put it perfectly in his recent post-finals column. Players like Ariza are what made it possible for the Lakers to win it all (and really what allowed the Cavs to be good...I'll explain). Players who will sacrifice their egos to win it all. The Cavs' supporting cast did this, but it was easier for them because they are not nearly as talented as Ariza. In the old days, this would be the summer that Ariza gets a $65 million contract from the Golden State Warriors after how well he played in the playoffs. But in this economy, people are saying he just earned his way up to the full Mid-Level Exception (about $5.8 million starting salary). I would give that to Ariza without blinking. Lock him up for as long as you can, give him incentives for making All Star Teams and winning titles...maybe even promise that if he makes two consecutive All Star Teams, you'll restructure his deal. I'm not even sure any of this is legal, but at $5.8 million, this guy is a steal for a team on the brink.

My second option: Josh Childress

I have no idea what this guy's situation is or if it's even possible to sign him, but he would serve the same purpose as Ariza...I'm just not as in love with him.

3. Draft

Recently, I've been seeing in mock drafts that they expect Cleveland to just take the best scorer or athlete available. I'm still more into the idea that we need a back up point guard first.

With the 30th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select...

Darren Collison.

I know, it's not that interesting...umm...yeah, it's not. But Collison is a guy who continued to sacrifice in college year after year when one-and-done players were coming through the system and getting all the love, but they kept winning. I'm basically assuming this has a lot to do with Collison. Nothing wrong with that.

In all honesty, if we could move up to somewhere around 18 and get Eric Maynor, I would be ecstatic...but we're assuming this isn't happening here on the Bullshit.

With the 46th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select...

Demarre Carroll.

Sure, why not. Not an All Star (in fact, probably a D-Leaguer), but an athletic, aggressive, smart, good-natured, hard-working player who played all four years for a good coach and did what he was told and did it well. Sign me up. I know we think we don't need another Small Forward on our team because we have LeBron James, but that is delusional. In fact, I want a glut of athletic shooting guard/small forward type wings because eventually, LeBron will become a power forward. If I were in charge, I would play him about half and half this season and Small and Power Forward whether he likes it or not. If he wants to play past 30 years old, he'll be primarily a post player. Imagine a line up with our two sniper guards, Ariza at the wing, LeBron at the four and whoever else at Center. That team does not have trouble scoring and that team, in all honesty, doesn't need a great Center, does it?

I'll be writing a draft analysis in the near future, but there it is. Any thoughts?