Breaking this Down

In the 2005-06 off-season, the Cavs needed to make a mark, a stamp in free agency. At the top of the list was shooting guard. The market had 4 marque players: Ray Allen, Joe Johnson, Michael Redd, and Larry Hughes. Ray Allen wanted too much money so the Cavs didn't seriously persue him. Fair enough. They really tried to get Michael Redd. In fact, LeBron sent him a video tape! He turned them down to make $13+ million to stay with the shitty Bucks. Fair enough.

But the Cavs didn't even attempt to look into Joe Johnson. The reason: The Suns wanted too much ( two 1st rounders). Some critics also believed giving Johnson that amount would leave less money to re-sign LeBron. Here is a fun fact! There is something called BIRD RIGHTS. These rights allows the team that drafted a player to re-sign him to as much money as they want, more then any other qualifying offer from another team, even if it is above the salary cap. We could have signed Joe Johnson and dished out 100 trillion dollars to LeBron.

So this leaves us with the two 1st round picks vs. Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson>>>>>>> Shannon Brown plus the 2008 1st round pick. But we didn't even look into the Johnson situation, a player who makes a million LESS than Hughes and is outperforming him in every major statistical category known to man (and animal).

Let's look at some numbers:
2006/07
Player A
Games played: 32/44
14.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.3 apg
40.4 FG%, 39.3 3PT %, 66.43 FT%
Player B
Games played: 38/42
24.9 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg
48.1 FG%, 38.2 3PT %, 75.4 FT%


2005/06
Player A
Games played: 36/82
15.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.6 apg
40.9 FG%, 36.8 3PT %, 75.6 FT%
Player B
Games played: 82/82
20.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 6.5 apg
45.3 FG%, 35.6 3PT%, 79.1 FT%

Obviously Larry Hughes is not Player B. Joe Johnson is putting better stats without Steve nash feeding him the ball. Teams are locking on him and he is putting up better numbers across the board while playing the same minutes. UGHHHHHHHH

Larry Hughes wants to coach.

What does $13 million give you? OPINIONS! And lot's of them!

Apparently, Larry Hughes thinks the Cavs need to change their offensive style.

Sunday at The Q, after the team the Cavs so want to play like, the Phoenix Suns, turned a four-point game after three quarters into a 115-100 drubbing, Hughes said the only "stops" are of the Cavs themselves.

"We need to run more," he said. "Our identity is not as a defensive team. It is to get out and push the ball down the court. That's obviously how we've been more successful. The wins and losses show it when we're in the attack mode.

"Trying to call us a defensive team when we need to put the ball in the basket is not what we need."

When you go 3-13, 1-4 from beyond the arc, 0-0 FT, and collect 0 rebounds in 39 minutes, you may want to just shut the fuck up and stare at the wall. Not surprisingly, this was a typical lackluster Larry performance. The Cavs trailed by 4 going into the 4th quarter against the really ridiculously hot Phoenix Suns. What the Cavs needed was someone other then LeBron to hit an open jumper. Enter Larry Hughes, king of smiles himself. This douchebag smiles so much, I swear he cracked some grins at his brothers funeral. Larry missed every shot he took (it seemed), puncuated by a jumper 4 seconds into the shot clock with some time left to climb back into the game. Yes, the Cavs ended up losing by 15. Perhaps coach Mikey should sit Larry for a few games. We'll see if he still smiles. Then again, getting 13 million to shoot 40% and average 14 ppg will make you smile. Horray!