Draft Day Performance

Why did the Cavaliers have a media gathering on draft day if absolutely nothing was going to happen? Perhaps the media felt it needed to be present in case Danny Ferry acquired a second rounder. I hope the food and beverages were worth the trip.

As you can see, this corner is going ride Danny Ferry until he significantly improves the roster. We gave him the lowest grade of any Cavalier personnel in 2006-07 - including team, coach and ownership - for a reason.

The fact that he was groomed in the "San Antonio System" does not impress us. His moves to date have been less than stellar.

Damon Jones and Donyell Marshall have not worked out. They were brought to Cleveland to assume the role Ferry himself had in San Antonio - to make open jumpers, and neither has played consistently well in that limited role.

His biggest pick-up - Larry Hughes - has been an investment flop when you consider the price Hughes, a player who flourished in Washington's up tempo, has not been able to be that second scorer the Cavs were hoping to acquire when they threw $12 million a year at him. He has been fragile, as his resume indicated coming in, and has not been a significant contributor in the playoffs.

In Ferry's defense, Hughes was probably the best available player on the market at the time since Ray Allen and Michael Redd opted to re-sign with their respective clubs. Still, it doesn't take much talent to throw ownership's money around.

His draft grade is yet to be determined. Ferry gets kudos for acquiring Daniel Gibson in the second round, but the jury is still out on his #1 pick of two years ago - Shannon Brown.

We would argue there would be much more heat on Ferry if 23 hadn't turned in an MJ-like performance in game #5 at Detroit to steal that series. Fortunately for Ferry and the organization, the Cavaliers can now fall back on "We made it to the Finals for the first time and won 50 games for the second straight year."

That may appease long-suffering fans from a PR standpoint, but those who truly understand the game know this team needs a serious influx of talent if the goal is to win a championship before 23's contract expires.

Chicago will continue to get better, Detroit's management team will not sit still, and there are several other teams in the East with more young talent on their roster than Cleveland.

Get to work Danny.