Cleveland is a conservative sports town. The fans are thirsting for a winner, a championship, and the front office people of two of the city’s professional teams are very, very cautious. The Indians missed a World Series appearance by one game a year ago, and GM Mark Shapiro’s big off-season acquisition was Jamey Carroll. Last night, Cavs’ GM Danny Ferry picked J.J. Hickson from NC State, a player who likely will not be a contributor next season. Thank goodness for Phil Savage.
The Browns’ GM saw that his team missed the playoffs by one game in 2007, so he went out and traded his draft picks for proven veterans. The goal is to get back to the post-season in 2008. Getting Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers to upgrade the defensive line, a major weakness for the Browns, is a bold step in winning the AFC North. There is no question Savage is taking a gamble. He traded a starting cornerback in Leigh Bodden to get Rogers, leaving that spot weaker than last year, even more so with the injury to Davin Holly. Still, you have to like that Savage is going for it this season after being so close the year before.
Contrast that to the Indians, who seem to be in a constant state of inertia. It was obvious to most people the Tribe needed another reliable hitter coming into the season. They talked about players such as Miguel Cabrera and Jason Bay, but were reluctant to give up prospects. I understand that the ballclub has suffered injury problems this year, particularly to their #3 and #4 hitters, Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez, but the offense has struggled mightily, even before the disabled list called for Pronk and Victor. Meanwhile, highly touted farm products like Franklin Gutierrez and Jhonny Peralta have regressed and no longer have the value they did a few years ago.
The Cavaliers did pull off a huge deal at the NBA trading deadline last season, moving half of their roster to pick up Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, and Joe Smith. However, it feels like that deal was done more to rid the team of Larry Hughes’ bad contract and sour attitude. That deal did not bring the second star than LeBron James and the franchise desperately need to win an NBA Championship. Perhaps Ferry will make that move prior to the start of the season, but he didn’t do it last night.
The Cavs needed someone to be able to contribute in the 2008-09 season, and instead drafted a project. Hickson has some skills, as scouting reports have said he has a nice touch inside, something the Cavs need with the lack of offensive skills of Wallace and Anderson Varajao. However, he is 19 and probably isn’t ready to play the type of defense that Mike Brown requires in order to actually earn some playing time. Therefore, LeBron still has no Robin to play opposite his Batman.
Ferry still has three months before training camp opens to make a move. Here’s hoping he follows Savage’s lead rather than Mark Shapiro’s. The wine and gold need the rare Cleveland bold move to return to the NBA Finals and bring this city their first championship since 1964.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 