Two big IF's...but IF Bynum is healthy for an entire season and IF Bennett is the ROY...

threat? no, playoffs? yes, holy **** if they get lebron? definitely

They have the worst defensive back court in the nba right now, and no real wing stopper with it, and bynum even when healthy isn't some elite anchor to cover holes (the lakers used to tandem the weak side/strong side between gasol and bynum to cover for it, whereas they need someone like a healthy dwight that can do both).

 

A healthy Bynum is the second best center in the league and the best posting center. The cavs would make the playoffs for sure and would scare the crap out of some teams.

As big of a bozo as Bynum is, he has contributed big time to two rings.

 

Threat in the sense until they meet the Heat they have a legit shot to win a series.

No one in the east can compete with the Heat EXCEPT the Nets and that is only if everything falls right (PP and Garnett get a 2nd wind, Deron shows up, Lopez learns to get some damn rebounds).

 

FIFY.

 

The funny thing with this is they had picked any of the following guys instead of Tristan Thompon they wouldn't have to deal with any of these IFs: Jonas Valanciunas (most logical pick), Klay Thompson, Alec Burks, Vessly, Leonard, Harris, Faried, D-MO etc all of whom would have been a better fit with the current Cavs team than TT, who's looking like a 3M a year guy at best.

But that's why LBJ left, the Cavs have one of the more passionate owners but their FO is ******* terrible. He fired Ferry but the guys he replaced him with seem worse, instead of trying to replicate OKC Thunder they've pretty been getting the most NBA-ready player they could get. How good would the Cavs have been instead with Irving, Drummond, Thompson and then Bennett if they really wanted him? Hell, if they just stuck to the "projected drafts" every site out there put out they'll be on their way to Thunder East by now: Irving, Jonas V, Barnes and then Oladipo. I predict Irving will shake his head and do a decision 2.0 after his first non-rookie contract finishes.

 

Maybe Tristan Thompson will be the guy to step up. I didn't think highly of him as a prospect and felt he was drafted too high, but his improvement last season was legit. This article is worth the read. Good luck to him for trying something unique to reach another level. I respect the effort.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/...g-history-by-switching-to-shoot-right-handed/

 

Pacers, Bulls and maybe the Nets(I'm still not believers in them) are the only real threats to Miami.

 

I don't see how Anthony Bennett will be able to play SF.

 

I mean...even if both of those things happen, the Heat, Pacers, Nets and probably the Bulls would still be heavy favorites over them, so I say no.

 

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts......


Remember Andy Bynum is the guy some of you swore Morey would settle for takin in trade in lieu of getting Dwight from Orlando a year ago.

Cleveland just gave away $6 million.

 

Cleveland sure has a loaded team.. don't forget Varejao was a monster before he got injured.

 

I would like to see LeBron face if Cavs make playoffs and beats them in first round. I don't need Christmass presents if that happens!!! :grin:

 

Sorry to burst your bubble. Lebron and Benett play similar positions. He is going to slow down Benett's growth. If they get him.
I'll get myself out of this IF game.

 

Irving(healthy) > Harden
Waiters = Lin
Bennett > Parsons
Thompson > our PF
Bynum(healthy) < Dwight

We have a better bench. If they get Lebron, it will be crazy

 

Not sure about these...


Not sure how you can say Bennett, who has yet to play an NBA minute, is better than Parsons, who's arguably a Top 10 NBA small forward. I'll believe it when I see it, but I'm skeptical, especially when you consider that Bennett will have to adjust to being a SF to begin his career.

And Irving and Harden are very close if they're both healthy, but Harden averages more points with a higher TS%, and higher PER. Granted...Irving is younger and I would probably say has a slightly higher ceiling, but he also plays a much deeper position and can't get through a season without injury. Harden is very durable and will be the best SG in the league for years to come, and it won't even be close once Kobe and Wade are done. For those reasons...I take the Beard.

 

No way. Ball dominant shooting point guards don't win in the NBA.

 

Bennett hasn't played a single game in the NBA. We'll see how good he is. Also, don't count on Bynum being healthy. He's probably close to done and the Cavs will be lucky if he plays half the season. Sad to say, but the Cavs will also be lucky if Kyrie plays the whole season.

They won't get LeBron because he won't leave Miami as long as Pat Riley is there. The early terminations will allow the Heat to, restructure, retool and repeat which I regret.

 

They would be a threat if Andrew Bynum had a brain.

 

If they get lebron they are the favorites, but you could say that about a lot of teams.