FIRST TAKE | Cavaliers STILL best team in East – Stephen A. after NBA agency deal, extension & trade

FIRST TAKE | Cavaliers STILL best team in East – Stephen A. after NBA agency deal, extension & trade

Been plenty of movement in the Eastern Conference of the NBA this off season. The Bucks added Miles Turner from the Pacers yesterday. Resigned Bobby Poris, lost Brook Lopez to the Clippers, traded Pat Coneton to the Hornets. The Celtics, who just won the title a couple years ago, have traded away key pieces from that 24 title team, sending Drew Holiday to the Blazers, Chris Saps Porzingis to the Hawks. Al Horford also remains a free agent. After a disappointing end to the year, the Cavs are reloading for next year as they acquired Lonzo Ball from the Bulls while losing Tai Rome to the Memphis Grizzlies. We take a look now at the odds to win the Eastern Conference, courtesy of ESPN Bet Sports Book, which has the Knicks and Cavaliers tied as the favorites at plus 290, followed by the Magic at plus 425. David, which Eastern Conference team are you highest on right now? I’m going chalk here. I’m going Cleveland. I’m going with the Cavs. I think that if you’re Cleveland, you’re telling yourself, hey, we didn’t have Daryus Garland. He was hurt for a little bit that uh second round. We’re going against win against the Pacers who were just riding a lightning bolt and they caught fire right at the right time and stole a game that was critical to us. But I’m feeling like we’re coming back as a 60- win team. We added Lonzo Ball. We added some of that defense, which I think was one of the issues that they were concerned about. And we should feel like we should be able to come back and win the East. Boston is not there, which I think was probably their biggest competition Indiana aside, of course. I think you’re saying Boston’s not there. The Knicks don’t have a coach. Maybe there’s some sort of issue there, but we feel like we’re the best team in the East. We just had a bad run in that second round.
Yeah, I’d say there’s a reason the Cavs and Knicks are tied at the top, right? The Cavs obviously are coming off the 64 win team our season. They have a very good team. Adding Lonzo Ball, I think, will help them if he could stay healthy. However, there are a lot of concerns about health with the Cavs. Lonzo Ball, huge injury question. Donovan Mitchell the last couple years has worn down as the season’s gone on. Darius Garland has worn down the last couple years as the season’s gone on. So, I’m gonna go with the Knicks. Yes, they don’t have a coach. Kind of a problem, but they have time to get a coach. The get game slot starts till October. I thought they had a really nice job over the weekend getting or yesterday getting Gerselli, getting Jordan Clarkson, adding to their bench, adding three-point shooting, two things they didn’t have. This is a team that got to the conference finals last year and has a clear identity of how they’re going to play. And I don’t think a new coach is dramatically going to change that because of the pieces they have. So, I like their depth. I like their durability. I like the fact that they’ve got they’ve shown an ability to get through a couple rounds of the playoffs, something the Cavs haven’t done yet. And while a couple other teams, Atlanta, Orlando have made jumps up, these teams falling off, I think it could be prime opportunity for the Knicks. Are you are you saying coaching doesn’t matter or are you operating under the premise that the man Mike Brown who got a second interview who’s more accomplished than Tom Tibido, to be fair, is likely to be the head coach? Cuz to pick a team that doesn’t have a coach as the best in the East indicates that maybe you think coaching is a little bit overrated. Well, I would say that I think the Knicks are going to certainly Mike Brown would be a good coach. We’ll see if he lands there. But I think more than anything else is that the Knicks team is what it is. They didn’t go into this off seasonason not really knowing what their roster was going to look like, right? Their top seven guys are set. They had one slot they could use for a player above the minimum. They signed Gersian Yabisell fill several holes for them. Jordan Clarkson’s a nice fa piece as a bench minimum score. They could get some other guys too with minimum slots. I mean, look, this is a Knicks team that obviously still needs to get a coach. still have some other things to figure out, but to me, this is much less about the Cavs and the Knicks. It’s much more about the Pacers falling off and the Celtics falling off. Those teams going into the conference finals, I would have felt or going into the second round, I would have felt like would have been teams that could really push on this year and be the favorites in the East. With them gone, you kind of have the Cavs and Knicks just standing here looking at the sitting at the top of the conference by default.
Yeah, I do think it is those two teams. I’m just kind of stuck like if you’re talking durability, the Knicks were probably as healthy as, you know, they’ve been in a while last season. Uh, I’m not sure if they can sustain that come for for this season. There’s a lot of minutes that they played last year. Uh, they had just gotten Brunson back in time for the playoffs. Both of these teams are going to have some injury concerns that that are possible. And I wouldn’t be surprised if we looking at a playoffs where the Knicks are not as healthy this year as they were last year.
I’m going to guess the starter minutes go down next year. Just a hunch. Wendy, which Eastern Conference team are you highest on right now?
Yeah, I mean, look, if you look at the top five finishers from last season in the regular season, three of them had catastrophic injuries and have had to radically change their roster. So saying Cavs and Knicks is that’s the that’s the only honest answer. Now, let me say two things. One, I’m very tempted to bring up the Philly 76ers here because when you look at their roster, it is hard not to be impressed by the level of talent that they have on it and you know that they’re going to have the injection of VJ Edge, but I don’t want to be embarrassed uh when you bring back footage of this in three or four months. So, I’m going to try to avoid, you know, shame. I I I just want to say one thing about the Knicks. The Knicks had a schedule and it was hard to necessarily sell it after the wake of the male Bridges trade. I realize again that was a trade that a lot of people felt a certain way about, but the Knicks looked at the Celtics and said they can’t keep that team together. They’re too expensive. Second apron. They look at the Cavs. The Cavs are now in the second apron. And the Knicks plan was built completely around Jaylen Brunson’s willingness to take way less than his max contract to keep them out of the second apron. So here the Knicks are a a builtout team. Now I’m not saying if they don’t if a star player doesn’t come available that they don’t go, you know, right into it. But the Knicks are a builtout team. Now they legitimately go 8 n deep and they’re looking at the Celtics. Of course, nobody could have foreseen the Tatum injury, but the Celtics would have had to have taken their team back a step or two this year for the Second Apron. And they’re looking at the Cavs, who are very strong, but are facing Second Apron realities into the future. And the Knicks wager on this is that they can outlast these teams that they’re going to outlast the Second Apron teams because they’re not in there. They’re going to be able to add to their roster and they’re going to be able to make trades. Right now, if a star player became available, the Knicks would be more available to trade for that star player than the Cavs because the Cavs are a second apron team. So the my answer is Nick Knicks and Calavs. Cavs and Knicks, however you want to say it, it’s close either way. It’s going to be to bet on health, but the Knicks are in a position of very good strategy. Maybe it works out, maybe it doesn’t, but I think it needs to be pointed out.
Sounds like the mayor of Cavs Corner knows that I’m right, but won’t admit it because he’s the mayor of Cavs Corner. Sounds like to me.
Now, what’s interesting is Wendy did bring up a team that, speaking of Cavs Corner, a reference to the Hoop Collective podcast. Um, there was a team that Wendy just brought up that you said before last season, Bon Times definitively with no argument as the best big three in the NBA of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Max. Hold them accountable.
I am they at the time were the only team with three all-stars from the previous season on it. So, it was definitive and then they decided to not play last season, which is kind of a problem.
But is your definitive take last year applicable to this year?
Well, here’s the thing. If the Sixers are healthy, right, which again, there couldn’t be a bigger if than if the Sixers are healthy. But if the Sixers are healthy, I think you can make a very good argument they have the highest ceiling of any team right now in the Eastern Conference because that means Joel Embiid is playing like an MVP. That means that Tyresese Maxi is playing like an all-star. That means Paul George is playing like an all-star. If those three guys are healthy and playing the way they were two years ago, then yes, I think you could certainly put Philly in this conversation. However, I don’t think anybody can seriously do that right now when we have Joel Embiid having had surgery in the spring. We have not had an update on that. We have no idea what Paul George is going to look like coming back this year. This team did just lose Gershanelli. They’re pretty light in the front court. So, look, if Philly is healthy, I do think they’re going to be in the mix in the East, especially with all these injuries. But again, I just don’t think we can really seriously talk about it till we see them. Yes, exactly. I’m I’m not doing this. We’re not doing the Philadelphia ifs anymore. I’m not You said if like 10 times talking about this team. I am not falling for this. I It was brought to me. I have fallen for this so many times. last year pumped the brakes on this team on the panic and all that stuff. I am fully in no in disbelief that Philadelphia is going to pull this thing together. I’m not falling for it again. Uh fooled me once all the time. You fooled me about 10 times this Philadelphia 76ers team. I’m not I’m not doing it.
Ryan Winhor very smart just set up Bontemps on purpose. He knew what would happen as a result. Very smart by bonds. I mean by windy there with bonds. You know there is a team we haven’t talked much about in the East. Let’s bring in our bombshell Kevin Clark. Kevin, you have a team that you are high on this off season into this season in the East Conference.
Friends, how you doing? I’m not angry. I’m just disappointed.
Can I leave now? Can I just walk out?
You’re trapped here, buddy.
That’s really going.
The Orlando Magic are not only a contender that you guys haven’t brought up, except when you were talking about the odds, oddly enough, cuz Vegas seems to know, but they’re also going to win the Eastern Conference. Full stop. They’re not a contender. They’re going to win. Let me lay this out here. They already won the offseason with the Bane trade. They undercut everybody by going out and getting the second best catch and shoot three-point shooter on the planet. Steph Curry being number one.
That’s nice of you to put Steph.
Yeah. No, by the way, Steph, I didn’t think Steph was available, but Steph, hop on the bandwagon, buddy. There’s still time. There’s still time. It’s a long offseason player empowerment. You can get to Orlando. But when I look at the way this roster is set up, guys, I look at statistically the best defense in hoops, an offense that is going to get better cuz Pala Banker was making the leap before his injury problems this year. He will make a bigger leap next year. We know what Fran Vagner can do. We know what a healthy Jaylen Suggs can do. The Magic have not had an offense in the top half of the league since Dwight Howard was on the roster. That seems fake, but is 100% correct. Okay, now you add Bane who solves all of their shooting problems, opens up the floor. All of them opens up the floor for Powell Banko and France Vagner and Jaylen Suggs. This is the move of the off season and the Magic are going to take a leap. When you look at the Eastern Conference, which is what we’re looking at, all the injury issues, all of the roster issues, it’s Orlando Magic, guys.
Couple couple things here. First of all, Kevin Clark, my friend, is the biggest Orlando Magic homer on the planet, which is
I wasn’t saying this last off season. Well, you’ve made a lot of Orlando Magic takes over the years, I will say. Uh, the Orlando Magic last won a playoff series in 2010. I was at the last game the Orlando Magic played outside the first round of the playoffs, game six of the 2010 conference finals in Boston when they lost at the Celtics, who then went on to the finals. I do think the Desmond Bay trade was a very good move. I do think the magic of a very good team. However, they are a team that the last two years has completely run into a wall in the playoffs from an offensive perspective. I don’t think Desmond Bane is fixing that all by himself. Let’s see if Paulo Ben Carol can improve as an efficient score and a shooter. Let’s see if Fron Vagner can fix his jump shot, which last year’s has not worked. Let’s see if Jaylen Suggs can be healthy. The most important thing that happened last year to the Magic was Jaylen Suggs had a knee injury and when he left the court, the Magic went off a cliff. So, yes, they have a good team. They’re going to be in the mix. I certainly think they’re a top four team in the East now, but there’s a long way to go from that to them winning three series and winning the East.
Okay, wait a minute. So, you’re dismissing it. What’s more likely? LeBron gets traded or the Magic East?
If you’re giving me that argument, I would say the Magic winning the East.
Look at this, Kevin. You got Fonts.
You got Vontents, David. This is great.
I think uh
Which one’s more likely?
What’s most likely is Yes, the Magic winning the East. I like the Magic. I think they’re a top four team. I think Beno Vagner, they make a leap. I think they’re they’re they I thought they were a top four team this season, but minus they would have been there in the mix this year. did not happen. I think if we’re going to rank these things, it’s Magic winning the East, Philadelphia Sixers making a a run here, and LeBron getting traded somewhere down like about right by my kneecap.
The door is unlocked for source behind me. The door is unlocked. Coming up, we have a special A-list on the way. Who the top five scorers in the lifetime of one D [Applause] Oh my goch. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] Hey everyone. [Music] Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Oh, down here. [Music] Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. [Music] [Music] Whatever. There we [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] [Music] Okay. Yeah.

FIRST TAKE | Cavaliers STILL best team in East – Stephen A. after NBA agency deal, extension & trade