Hey, it's only money, right?
Better yet, it's not ours.
So can anyone think of a reason why the Cavaliers shouldn't have gotten this party started?
Didn't think so.
"This is no time to get conservative, after spending almost $400 million for the franchise," said Dan Gilbert, the man who signs the checks.
It was the Cavs owner who rubber stamped last week's roster rupturing blockbuster trade that looked more like a cattle drive than a fair exchange of basketball meat on the hoof.
When the dust had settled, the Cavs had subtracted half their team, added half of a new team, and taken on $6 million to their payroll this year and next.
Hey, it's only money, right? Better yet, it's his money. And he apparently intends to spend it.
Prior to the Cavs' 109-89 dismantling of the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday - kudos, by the way, to the NBA schedule maker for serving up the Washington Generals as the opposition while the Cavs were still trying to figure out how many "Z's" in Szczerbiak, and whether Big Ben prefers to dunk with his left or right hand - Gilbert spoke to the media for the first time since Tradius Gargantuous.
That was last week's 11-player swapapalooza, to which the Cavs contributed six and received five.
The Cavs also, as Gilbert clarified Sunday, added $6 million to their payroll this year and $6 million next year.
But, hey, you know what you and I say about other people's money: "Easy come, easy go!"
Gilbert said he felt the added money, and inching further into luxury tax territory was worth it.
"I thought the risk-reward was good, and it was the right thing to do for the value of the franchise,'' he said. "I'd rather pay more in the short term than for a longer period of time.''
That's the case in this case. The Cavs add payroll for two years, but then get cap relief after that, which allows further flexibility to win a championship before you-know-who runs out of patience.
"People say we need to win a championship before LeBron leaves,'' said Gilbert. "Well, what if we win a championship in the first year of his contract, but not in the third?"
Good question. We'll just have to throw confetti off that bridge when we get to it.
If nothing else, the Cavs in this deal proved they are willing and able to configure and pull the trigger on a complicated, roster-rocking trade that adds payroll, but also, they hope, victories.
"It's going to work. I'm not worried about that,'' said a confident James of the deal. "It's going to work."
Without question, the deal has energized the team and the town that supports the team. There has been increased voltage in the electricity in the Q in the last two games.
Talk about hitting the refresh button.
"This is Cavaliers two point oh," said Gilbert of his new look team.
The need for the new look seemed obvious to everyone from Moondog to the very top.
However, while many teams need to add pieces, not all of them do.
"I thought it was pretty important to do something,'' said Gilbert. "It wouldn't have been the death of the franchise if we hadn't, but in order to compete at a higher level, we needed to do something. And I think now everyone feels pretty good."
The role of ownership in professional sports is to hire the right people, then get out of the way and let them do their jobs. And, when the odd Tradius Gargantuous presents itself, to help analyze it, and, if all the pieces fit, to green light it.
Even if it costs a few million dollars more.
The early returns on this deal are encouraging. Heck, based on Sunday night the Cavs have to feel very good about their chances if they face the Grizzlies in the NBA Finals.
James, who said before the game, "it's almost like we have a new team,'' seemed to play with a little extra exhilaration Sunday night. Through most of the third quarter Cavs coach Mike Brown had LeBron and The Four New Guys on the floor together.
It was so interesting to watch nobody seemed to notice that the Cavs were out-scored by six in the quarter.
The honeymoon will have to be a short one, though, because there is a home-court advantage to be secured for the first round of the playoffs, and after that ... who knows?
Certainly the future seems brighter now for the James Gang than it did a week ago.
"Sometimes you feel really good in the gut about something,'' said Gilbert. "That's how we feel about this.''
The clientele seems equally invigorated.
Call it Cavaliers two point oh-my!
JIngraham@News-Herald.com