A Team Half-Empty, A City Half-Full?

Yesterday I gave my thoughts on what has been the biggest negatives for the Cavs this season and now it is time to find the silver lining and see what positives we can take out of this season.  Everyone deep down knew the Cavs would not make the playoffs, barring a miracle, but realisticly I expected a 30 win season, my thoughts were 30-52, which is still possible but somewhere between 20 and 25 seems more likely at this point.

1.Youth
The Cavs have seven guys under the age of 25 on this roster.  They have some young guys who have the potential to develop into solid rotation guys and losing is always easier to swallow with a young team rather than a team of veterans.  Daniel Gibson is turning in his best career season so far and continues to improve and could be a solid piece in the future, every team needs someone to come off their bench and score.  I feel he is undersized as a shooting-guard, painfully obvious when they play a larger team, he brings a lot of energy and can flat out hit the three about as good as anyone.  Hickson's play has been inconsistent but when he slows himself down and lets the offense come to him, he has had some good games and is rewarded with minutes. He obviously needs to get a better grasp of Scott's offense but he has a chance to be a good player after developing.

2. Handy Andy
Anyone who knows me knows how much I have disliked Anderson Varejao over the years.  This year he is starting to change my opinion of him.  This is by far his best year to date, getting career highs in points per game, rebounds per game, blocks, and his having his third best shooting season (53.3%) while taking an extra shot each game.  Varejao's presence has been missed the last two games and he has been the only consistent post player all season.  It seems that Varejao is finally stepping up his game to become a glue guy like Chicago's Joakim Noah.

3.  Ramon Noodles
Ramon Sessions is starting to show his full potential.  With injuries hobbling Mo Williams and Gibson, Sessions has made the most out of his increased minutes.  It appears to me that Sessions has gained confidence and has a much better grasp on the offense and those factors have combined to produce his outburts against Dallas (19 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds), and Charlotte (22 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds.)  This kind of production could lead to interesting lineup options such as playing Sessions at point on offense and Mo at the two, while letting Sessions cover the 2 guard on defense because he is bigger than Williams.

4. Old Jamison
Antawn Jamison has been playing to the form he was traded for over the last couple games, capped off by his 35 point, 10 rebound outburst against Dallas.  Jamison's play has to be enticing for teams looking to add some punch to their lineup going into the playoff race and could lead to some valuable assets coming the Cavs way.  I have always liked Jamison, as a player and a role model, but I think youth has to win out in this situation and if the Cavs can get young players and/or draft picks in addition to the cap relief they have to do it.  Jamison also deserves the chance to be moved to another contender, he has played loyally and well for losing teams most of his career in Golden State, Washington and this Cavs team.

5.  No Exceptions
The Cavs $15 million trade exception makes them a very attractive trade partner, allowing greater flexibility in making moves and possibly taking a large contract in exchange for young players and picks.  Gilbert will spend money and with the exception allowing them to take on a bad contract, Gilbert is one of the few owners who would probaly be willing to buy out a large contract in order to improve the team through a trade.

6. Don't be Picky
Let's remember that the Cavs did not lose LeBron empty handed, although they literally got Mexican pesos on the dollar the Cavs received the trade exception and multiple draft picks.  The Cavs received Oklahoma City's second round draft choice that they had traded to Miami and it is a top-40 protected pick.  However the Thunder will be in the playoffs barring injury and means the Cavs will likely get the pick this year.  The Cavs also get New Orleans 2012 draft pick that had been traded to Miami, giving them three picks over the next two seasons.  The Cavs also receive top 10 protected first round draft picks from Miami in 2013 and 2015 and it is highly unlikely Miami will be a lottery team anytime soon.  The Cavs will have a nice chance to reload with some young players, maybe not all super star picks but let's remember that many good players have come out of the second round and in the middle first.  Basically it gives the Cavs a free chance, if you get a second round guy and he doesn't work who cares?  People only remember lottery picks that don't work out anyways so it could be a good chance to steal a talented player down the road.

Turning a franchise is not easy and it won't be quick but trying to look at the positives will help ease the pain of the turnaround.  Look at Oklahoma City and remember that a couple losing seasons, a lost free agent and a trade put them where they are now, much better than when they had Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis.