It’s fashionable to blame Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry for not giving LeBron James enough help, but the truth is, Ferry did some really good things ... until he balked on trading for Amare Stoudemire at the trade deadline, writes Mike Prada.
NBA Playoffs Thursday Night Viewing Guide: Cleveland Made A Big Mistake Not Getting Amare Stoudemire
The sum of all these moves was that the Cavaliers went from 45 wins in 2008 to 60+ the last two seasons, and that’s without LeBron himself making significant improvements. Ferry erased his own mistakes from 2003-2007, finding a great mix of role players and shooters designed to take advantage of LeBron’s passing and driving ability. The 2009/10 Cavaliers entered the season with a roster designed to play any style. They could go big (Shaq) or small (Varejao/Hickson) inside; they could go big (Parker/Moon) or small (West) on the perimeter, and they could throw elite defenders at you from every position. It was a roster that made sense. About the only thing Ferry did wrong during this stretch was holding onto Brown as his coach, but that was owner Dan Gilbert’s call, not his.
Just how close was this trade to happening? Here’s what ESPN’s Chris Broussard reported on February 14, just days before the trade deadline.
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