The Cavaliers owner is taken to task by a disgruntled fan ... and other thoughts in this week's reader mailbag.
View full sizeHas Dan Gilbert escaped legitimate criticism from media and fans for LeBron James' departure and the Cavaliers' current woes? Mary Schmitt Boyer doesn't think so.Hey, Mary: As a native Clevelander and a lifelong Cavs fan, I'm dumbfounded at the lack of criticism directed towards Dan Gilbert by local media in the wake of "The Player Who Left" (TPWL) leaving. Does writing a scathing letter that I admit did encapsulate the feeling of a lot of fans at that very moment somehow absolve him from any accountability? From everything I've read and heard from national NBA writers, it sounds like Gilbert kow-towed to TPWL when he was here and then somehow was surprised when TPWL acted like an entitled, spoiled child. Furthermore, does anyone feel confident the Cavs are headed in the right direction? Is Gilbert the "Teflon Don" in regards to this misstep as well? -- Eric Sulzer, Columbus
Hey, Eric: I think The Plain Dealer columnists and assorted radio personalities have, in fact, taken Dan Gilbert to task for coddling LeBron James, although I'm not sure most owners wouldn't have done the same thing. They sure didn't seem to mind being yanked around by James during his little dog-and-pony show last summer. That being said, the fact that James never called Gilbert personally before making his announcement is inexcusable. I also have written that the impact of that letter on potential free agents has yet to be determined, although, more than likely, players will just look at the bottom line of any contract the Cavs are offering.
Looking forward, I think the Cavs have been slowly trying to determine what kind of team they have left and what direction to take. I don't think you can blame Gilbert for that. The Cavs made many moves over the last few years trying to surround James with a cast worthy of winning an NBA championship. Ripping the core of that team apart has left the players floundering. The Cavs are not in a position of strength as far as making deals right now, but I don't sense that they're ready to throw in the towel either. I think the next couple of weeks will determine the course they take and whether they decide full-blown "rebuilding" is in order.
Hey, Mary: With an inability to find any consistent scoring and health outside of Boobie Gibson, what do you think it would take to pry O.J. Mayo from the Grizzlies? He's been relegated to sixth man with disastrous results (8.6 ppg off the bench), but he's never missed an NBA game and prior to this year averaged 18 points? -- David Buona, Erie, Pa.
Hey, David: I don't think the Cavs are looking specifically at Mayo, but I think they'd like to find some wings who can score and defend, and I certainly think he'd be in that category. I don't think Memphis is in a position to take on a lot of salary, so the Grizzlies probably would be looking for a combination of younger players with lower salaries to match Mayo's $4.5 million salary this year. He will make $5.6 million next year.
Hey, Mary: If a team wanted to trade draft picks for Antawn Jamison, but couldn't fit him under their salary cap, could the Cavs trade Antawn and the trade exemption at the same time to the same team? -- Mitch Schwartz, Fairfield, Calif.
Hey, Mitch: No, the Cavs can't trade the exception. The Cavs can take a player in and not send a player out, thus the other team gets an exception for the amount of the salary sent out. They also cannot combine a player and the exception.-- Mary