Trade Grade Time!

Well, it's been nearly a month since the Cavaliers made that "blockbuster" trade. Since I'm so incredibly bored, it's time to take a look at the new players, and grade them so far.

Delonte West: Let's see...he likes to play transition basketball, and is always pushing the floor on missed shots. He turns down too many shots and defers to LeBron a little too much, but once he gets enough confidence playing with LBJ, he'll stop doing that. He doesn't turn the ball over a lot, and makes a lot of hard passes look easy. He can shoot the ball, and he can block really well for a PG. Excellent FT%. Thumbs up for Mr. West.
Overall grade: A-.

Joe Smith: Doesn't play a ton of minutes, but is very productive on the boards when he is playing. Can really shoot it from the baseline, and can block a lot of shots. Good defender, but doesn't seem to want to pass the ball too much when he gets it. (Just like Drew Gooden).
Overall grade: B.

Ben Wallace: Only scoring about 5 PPG. Free throw shooting is terrible, but that's nothing new. In limited minutes, he gets a lot of rebounds. Averaging almost two blocks a game since coming to Cleveland, but on offense, he's terrible.
Overall grade: C+.

Wally Szczerbiak: The White Larry Hughes. Shooting less than 32% from the field, less than 31% from 3-ball land, and has less than 3-assists and rebounds a game. Pretty bad on defense, and commits too many fouls. He was brought in because he was a "shooter." Clearly, so far, that isn't the case.
Overall grade: F.

Well, there you have it. I like Delonte West. I like Joe Smith. I can tolerate Ben Wallace. I hate Wally Szczerbiak. I'd rather have Larry Hughes over that bum.

Hopefully he finds his shot...otherwise, it's gonna be a quick Playoff run for the Cavaliers.

Wally = White Larry.

No, seriously. Wally Szczerbiak is the white Larry Hughes. That's the only difference between them. I thought getting rid of Hughes was going to make us a much better team, because we'd lose the fact that he scores as many points a game as he takes shots. Then Wally Szczerbiak turned into the exact same person. He has taken around 11 shots a game since he came to Cleveland, and he is averaging 11 points a game. Hell, I'd rather have Larry Hughes. And no, I'm not being sarcastic. I truly mean it.

Yes, Larry "Silky Smooth" Hughes. I said it.

At least Hughes takes 20 shots a night, and will get you 20 points. At least Hughes can play defense. At least Hughes has a bunch of badass tattoos.

I understand that we didn't actually trade Hughes for Szczerbiak, but they were in the same deal.

I wish I had more things to complain about with the Cavs, but I just don't feel like it. We are still missing Sasha, Gibson, and Z. If we still suck when those three are back, then I'll be complaining my ass off.

One last thing...Joe Borowski STILL SUCKS. I know he had 45 saves last year, and was a big part of the Tribe getting as far as they did, but when you lead the league in saves, and the following year you're ranked 28th out of 30 closers, you're crap. I got a chance to watch the Indians spring training game a few days ago against Atlanta, and Borowski gave up 3 runs on 4 hits...in one inning.

Another stellar performance from clutch Borowski. I just hope he can hold on and save most of the games he comes into this season...otherwise, we're going to be in trouble.

Browns = Contenders?

No friggin' way. Over the past week, I have seen at least 20 articles on why the Browns could be the team to beat in the AFC North. On why the Colts, Pats, Steelers, Chargers better watch out for Cleveland. On how the Browns "could be Super Bowl contenders." Oh, the humanity.

This is the BROWNS we're talking about here.

Yes, the same Browns team that scored points at will last year, but also let the opposing teams score tons of points as well. Then we went out and got Corey Williams to help the D-line. Then we went out and got Shaun Rogers, another beast to help the D-line. Then we went out and got D-Stalls from New England. Stallworth will allow Braylon to run in single coverage more often, and if he's double covered, Stallworth and/or Winslow will be so wide open, it won't even be funny. Yes, this Browns offense is explosive.

It's funny, because at the beginning of last season, all the comments made were that the Browns were the worst team in the league, and would be lucky to win three games. Now, just a year later, all you see are comments like this:

Arguably no other “elite” team in the AFC added such an important piece (as Rogers). While New England was losing a bundle of free agents and teams like Indianapolis and San Diego were largely standing pat with their current rosters, Cleveland was building its argument as next season’s Super Bowl dark horse.

I never thought I'd see the day that people were actually saying the Browns could be not only a good team, but a Super Bowl dark horse. Damn, I've never been so excited about a football season in a long time. And it's only March.

Now, onto one other thing. Remember that LeBron guy? He went off--AGAIN--last night at MSG, with 50 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds. He got a standing ovation, and chants of M-V-P! at the end of the game...and this was a road game. How many times does that happen? Kobe, you're a great player, but you're not the MVP this year. LBJ is.

Then, after the game I heard something that really got me happy....

James on whether he's ever thought of leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers: ''You don't think about it. I am in a great situation. I am home, my family gets to see me play, the organization has been nothing but great to me. I have no reason to think about going anywhere else at this point.''

Please, LeBron. Stay in Cleveland. We love you. Don't leave us for Brooklyn in a few years to play for the Nets. Stick around. Break the Cleveland curse. Win some championships.

Thank you, Brett Favre.

Ever since I can remember, I've always seen Brett Favre play. He never missed a game. Before I realized what Cleveland sports meant to me, Brett Favre was my idol. He was THE MAN. That gunslinger approach, always going out and playing like a kid in his backyard. Brett Favre just looked like he really loved the game of football. Money didn't matter to him, just playing the game he loved so much was enough. Today, Brett Favre announced his retirement from the NFL, going out the way all superstars should--on top. No, he didn't win the Super Bowl, and yes, his last throw was an interception, but he's going out having had one of the best seasons of his career, and turning around a Green Bay Packers team not many gave a chance going into the season.

There are so many memories that come to mind when I think about Brett. Him running around the field in Super Bowl 31 after he finally got the Lombardi Trophy, him breaking Marino's record for TD passes, that Monday night game at Denver last year where he threw an 81-yard TD on the opening play of overtime. But the one that sticks out the most is the Monday Night game in Oakland against the Raiders on December 22, 2003. Brett had lost his closest friend, his father Irv unexpectedly to a heart attack the day before. I remember there being talk that he might not play that night, but he did--and he was incredible. I remember his wide receivers catching ANYTHING that came anywhere remotely close to them. I remember seeing his wife DeAnna up in a suite with their kids watching with tears in their eyes. I remember Brett in his interview after the game. That is the one thing that I'll always remember about Brett Favre. What a family man he was, what a great teammate he was, and what a great all-around person he became.



I remember reading an article in SI not too long ago about what Brett Favre means to the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was pretty amazing to see how much he's loved up there. I can't even imagine what all of those people are going through today.

Favre played for 17 seasons, and never missed a start. He played every game like it was his last, and with his heart on his sleeve. Brett Favre changed the NFL in his own way. He brought on so many new fans with the way he played. There are millions of kids who play little-league football, backyard football, JV football, high-school football, etc. because of Brett Favre. Not because of anyone else.

Brett Favre is an icon, and I can't imagine what it's gonna be like next year not seeing that #4 in the Green Bay huddle. The Hall of Fame is waiting for you, Brett.

Thanks for all the great memories.