Portland Trail Blazers

Cavs, Anderson Varejao Agree on Six-Year, $42.5 Million Deal; Also Add Guard Anthony Parker

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:25:00 -0500

The dollar amount per year (about $7 million per) makes sense. But six years?

That's the length of the deal agreed upon between Varejao, who once said that he'll never play for the Cavs again the last time he was a free agent, and GM Danny Ferry. Incentives can push the deal to about $50 million over the life of the contract.

And as is the custom with Ferry's negotiations, the last year of the deal for the 2014-15 season (yeah, you're going to be seeing Andy for that much longer) is only partially guaranteed.

This signing came on the same day that the Cavs reportedly agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent guard Anthony Parker, as detailed by Smooth earlier. Parker, at 6'6", gives the team a tall body on the perimeter and exceptional backcourt depth behind Mo Williams and Delonte West.

The Cavs had said since Day 1 of free agency that keeping Varejao around was their priority. Now, he's pretty much a Cav for life (something we wish we could say about LeBron, but that's another story), as the deal will take him through the end of the prime of his career. He also gets long-term financial security as well as a slight pay raise from the $6.2 million he would have made had he picked up his player option for next season.

It is alarming how many people across the internet don't like this deal. If you are one of those people, that's exactly why you don't have a job in an NBA front office and are instead sitting behind a computer taking shots at a guy who does.

The Cavs were out of options, and they have an old front court. If you have taken Economics, you know that one of the first things they teach you is supply and demand. The supply of young big men under 30 who are above-average defenders and rebounders was paper-thin. For the Cavs, the demand was extremely high, especially considering their lack of cap space and the age of Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

In fact, if they had lost Varejao, they wouldn't have a single power forward on their roster (tell me you're comfortable starting Darnell Jackson or J.J. Hickson's back problems over Varejao). Name one big man younger than 30 who averaged at least 8.6 and 7.2 while being a sharp defender for a good defensive team and could have reasonably been had this summer (reasonably being the key word, please).

It is unfortunate that with these Cavs, we will too often link them with the six games of the Eastern Conference Finals instead of the joyful 66-win season and the best record in the NBA. Yes, they didn't win the whole thing, but they were easily the third-best team in the league behind L.A. and Orlando, and Varejao had a lot to do with it.

There are at least 26 other teams who would have loved to have their season end the way that the Cavs' season did, and not a single fan could sit here and say that they expected the team to accomplish what they did this past season.

Big guys don't just grow on trees, and too often they get overpaid. Nene, another Dan Fegan client, got six years and $60 million three summers ago for playing a role similar to Varejao's. My only issue with this deal is the six years, not the dollar amount. With the salary cap going down next season, free agency in 2010 will not be the way to go to add talent to this team.

Also, if you have followed the Cavs for the last five years, then you know that Varejao's impact absolutely cannot be quantified by numbers and statistics. ESPN's TrueHoop put together this spectacular piece on Andy and statistics back in November of 2007 when Varejao was in the midst of his controversial holdout.

As for Parker, the 6'6", 215-pounder and brother of the more well-known Candace Parker of the WNBA was a target of Ferry's after coming over from Europe in the 2006 offseason, when the Cavs settled for David Wesley. Parker ended up signing a three-year contract with the Toronto Raptors and missing out on a trip to the NBA Finals, a Game 7 of the second round (or the second round altogether, considering he played for Toronto), a 66-win season, and a 39-2 home record.

If all works out for him, he could be joining the Cavs at the perfect time: just when they're about to win an NBA championship.

Last season, Parker played in 80 games, started 71, and averaged 10.7 points in 33 minutes per game. The year before, he played and started in all 82 games and put up a career-high 12.5 points. He also shot 39 percent (94-for-241) from 3-point range last year after shooting 43.8 percent (133-for-304) the year before.

If he replicates those numbers in Cleveland, the Cavs are really set. Having that kind of length and production for the first guard off the bench would be phenomenal for the Cavs, who lacked that from guys like Wally Szczerbiak and Sasha Pavlovic in the past. That's who Parker will replace, and if he's scoring 10 points off the bench behind Mo and Delonte, then this signing will be money by Ferry.

The Cavs will now have to replace Ben Wallace as the backup power forward, and former Knick and Trail Blazer Channing Frye is the odds-on favorite to win that distinction. While I am not at all a fan of Frye's after watching him for the last two years in Portland, you can't argue with a backup role for the former lottery pick.

Cleveland would also, for once, be getting younger in the front court after adding a 37-year old Shaq and moving a 34-year old Z to the bench.

Analysis of Boston's Addition of Rasheed Wallace

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:30:00 -0500

As you all know, the Celtics negotiated with free agent forward Rasheed Wallace, who has verbally agreed to join the C's, and looks to sign a two-year deal for the full mid-level exception on Wednesday.

The addition of Sheed will impact the team in a way I can't yet figure out. His off-court attitude will certainly be a problem, especially if he's going to be with us for two years (unless trades or injuries change that). But it's been said that teammates love him and guys think he's a winner. After all, Kevin Garnett did hunt him down.

After the jump, analysis on the great Rasheed Wallace (kidding on the "great" part guys, no need to bash me... or is there?).

Latest Cavs News Roundup

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:57:10 -0500

Could Channing Frye (middle) be the Cavs latest free agent target?

In what's been a wild and crazy past few days, here's the latest in what's going on in the Cavs world.

Cavs Assistant Moving On

After Avery Johnson and Joe Dumars could not come to terms on becoming the next Detroit Pistons head coach, Dumars turned to a familiar face and has picked Cavaliers assistant John Kuester as the next Pistons head coach.

The Detroit Pistons have agreed to terms with Cavaliers assistant coach John Kuester to be their new head coach, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told SI.com.
Another league source said the contract was for two seasons with a team option for a third year.

Kuester has been with the team since 2007, when he replaced Kenny Natt on Mike Brown's staff.

Kuester has been credited in revamping the team's lowly offense and turning it into a much improved unit. He served as the de facto "offensive coordinator" on Mike Brown's staff and handled a lot of the offensive duties last year.

LeBron Denies Commitment To Ariza

The 2010 circus continues to grow.

After Trevor Ariza claimed that LeBron told him he was staying past the 2010 season, LeBron's camp came out and denied that.

According to a source close to LeBron James, the current NBA Most Valuable Player did not tell free agent Trevor Ariza that he was for sure going to be with the Cavaliers past 2010.

So what's the real story here?

My best guess is that what Ariza said is probably true and LeBron's camp is trying to cover this up and act like nothing happened. Ariza has nothing to gain from putting this out in the press so why would he make this stuff up? It's not likely he did.

So why did LeBron's camp deny this if he's staying? This just seems like LeBron trying to keep things close to the vest and keep the media guessing, which he seems to love to do.

So even though the Cavs missed out on Ariza, more good news came from this than any other "loss" the Cavs have had this off-season.

(P.S. - the secret meeting in Los Angeles that Ferry and Brown went to, was supposedly to meet with Ariza to sway him to coming to the Cavs. Ariza supposedly considered signing with the Cavs, after agreeing with the Rockets, but decided to stay with Houston.)

Marion To Mavs, Not Cavs

The Cavs were supposedly interested in adding Shawn Marion but not it appears he'll be heading to Texas.

The Mavericks and Toronto Raptors, according to NBA front-office sources, are in advanced discussions on a sign-and-trade deal that would bring Marion to Dallas.

Shawn Marion and his agent, Dan Fegan, have been looking for a deal somewhere in the range of $10 million per year and they're not going to get that on the open market so the only way to get that money is through a sign-and-trade.

The most the Cavs could have offered for Marion was their full MLE (around $5.8 million). The Cavs weren't also likely to offer him long-term security, which could have been another sticking point.

While Marion could have added some much needed talent to the Cavs lineup, the fit would be questionable. Marion is best suited in an up-tempo offense where his size and shooting ability are disguised and his athletic ability is highlighted. Putting him in a half-court offense would highlight and disguise all the wrong things.

Ferry Is After Frye

With the "stretch" power forward market starting to thin out, the Cavs have started to set their sights on a long time Danny Ferry favorite in Channing Frye.

After making a free-agent scouting trip to Los Angeles on Sunday, Cavs GM Danny Ferry came home and hosted free-agent power forward Channing Frye on Monday at the team's practice facility in Independence. Frye is the type of "stretch" forward the Cavs are interested in during the free-agent period as they look to find big men who can hit jumpers when teams collapse on LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal.

While Frye may not be the name that most fans would want to see in connection with the Cavs, the PF options are starting to slim out and it's looking like if the Cavs want a decent, well-priced, stretch PF, then this is likely to be their best bet.

After having a breakout rookie season in New York, Frye was shipped off to Portland where he struggled to play and produce behind guys like LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla.

Frye is a guy that Ferry has been very high on for a long time, similarly too Delonte West, and could be a guy that the Cavs may ultimately end up with.

The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns are also supposedly in the running, with the Suns being the rumored favorites to land Frye's services.

McDyess Would Be Nice

Another one of the Cavs top PF targets is former Detroit Piston, Antonio McDyess.

McDyess is reportedly waiting until the Pistons have a new head coach to make a decision on whether or not he wants to re-sign with the Pistons.

In addition to the Pistons being interested, the Cavs (supposedly have offered their full MLE over two years), Magic and Spurs have McDyess in their sights, with the Spurs being the favorites as of now.

Hey LeBron! Your Boy J-Kidd Even Rejected The Knicks!

Yep, LeBron's "boy", Jason Kidd, turned down the Mecca of Basketball and the best city in the whole wide world (sarcasm) to stay in Dallas, Texas.

The free agent point guard has agreed to sign a three-year contract for more than $25 million to remain with Dirk Nowitzki and the rest of the Mavericks. The New York Knicks were among Kidd's suitors.

The Knicks were supposedly offering Kidd a similar deal, which was seemingly in opposition of their plan to clear as much cap space for the 2010 off-season as possible. The Knicks probably saw this as an opportunity to get one of LeBron's friends in New York, so they could make it easier for him to leave Cleveland.

So let's hope LeBron takes a page of his buddies book and does the same thing as J-Kidd: turn down NY to stay with his current team.

Wade 'I'll Stay If They Contend'

Looks like Dwyane Wade is taking a stand about his future in Miami.

"I'm going to listen. I owe the Miami Heat that much. I'm going to listen to what they have to say and I'm going to think about it," Wade told The Associated Press. "But right now, the way I feel, I want to make sure that we're on track to where I want us to be on track to before I sign back."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"I'm good with that," Wade said, "for one year."
Another season around .500, though, won't be as enticing.
"That's not enough for me," said Wade.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I've told Coach Riley this: All my life, all I've ever wanted to do is win and be put in a position where I can win and succeed," Wade said. "Build me a team. Put the pressure on me to win a championship. Give me a team and say, 'All right, you've got to go do it,' and I'll take that pressure. Give me guys that we feel can compete every year to win a championship. I don't want to go anywhere else."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"I want to make sure that we stay competitive and we have an opportunity to win championships, like I've done before," Wade said. "I don't want to be content with winning games. I don't want to win games. I want to win championships. That's what I'm all about."

Looks like Wade is a bit unhappy about being on a team that doesn't exactly have a championship caliber future.

So if Wade and LeBron have similar minds, does that mean LeBron is staying in Cleveland then?

Cavs In Contact With Linas Kleiza

One of the more interesting names mentioned this off-season in connection with the Cavs, could be forward Linas Kleiza.

Kleiza, a restricted free agent, has supposedly been in contact with the Cavs, as well as the Toronto Raptors throughout this free agency period.

Kleiza, a Lithuanian, is a very interesting player. He's a swing forward with good shooting ability. But his ability to put points on the board fast, along with this potential, is perhaps his best trait. He doesn't exactly fit into the defensive mold that Mike Brown likes but Kleiza has the potential to develop into a decent defender with the Cavs.

Kleiza is only 24 years old and has a lot of room left to grow. For the right price, he could be a nice piece to develop and have come off the bench to provide some bench scoring, something the Cavs sorely lacked last year.

Drew Gooden Wouldn't Mind The Cavs?

DrewGooden The teams I wouldn't mind going to, Spurs, Cav's, Magic, and Golden St! What do you guys think?

What do I think Drew? There aren't enough words in the dictionary to say how I would feel about you coming back. The shortest and nicest word in the dictionary: NO.

Sheed A Celtic

Yet another reason to hate the Celtics.

Sheed is going to Boston.

The Boston Globe reported Wallace will sign for two years at the midlevel exception.

This will be interesting to see how the rest of the Celtics off-season pans out. Leon Power (UFA) and Glen Davis (RFA) are both free agents and it doesn't look like either are expected to be back at this current point in time.

This move also let's us know what we already know: the Celtics championship window is closing and closing fast.

Even though Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins represent good, young talent on the Celtics, the rest of the core is aging fast. Garnett is 33. Allen is 33. Pierce is 31.

Looks like the Cavs won't have to be worrying about the Celtics for too many more years.

LeBron Gets A Special Invite

Looks like LeBron and Dan Gilbert are going to get some extra time to bond together....in Idaho.

LeBron James will be spending some time with friend Warren Buffett at the prestigious Allen & Company media industry conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.
But it wasn't Buffett who got James and LRMR Marketing CEO Maverick Carter the invite to the ultra-elite five-day conference that has been labeled as "summer camp for billionaires." It is a place for executives and movers and shakers in the media industry to share ideas and sometimes strike major deals.
According to a source, James got his extremely hard-to-secure invite with help from Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert, who will be attending the event for the seventh consecutive year. Gilbert has been pushing for James to be included for the last couple years.

James and Gilbert are among about 260 guests and their families on the guest list, which is expected to include Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, NBA Commissioner David Stern, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettmen.

That pretty much wraps up what has been a crazy free agency period to start and there's going to be a lot more of that still to come.

How Good is Portland?

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:30:00 -0500

Wallace committing to C's.

Ever since the 2007 NBA Draft, the Portland Trail Blazers have been a team the NBA has kept an eye on. That mere "eye" became "eyes," and the quick sideglance at the team became a stare as the Blazers went on a 13-game winning streak in 2007-08 without Greg Oden, whom they drafted first overall in the 2007 Draft. Oden was out for the year with injuries, but was supposed to return the subsequent season.

The next season the Blazers finished fourth in the Western Conference, compiling a 58-24 record, as well as having Greg Oden for 61 games. Unfortunately for the fans in Rip City, the Blazers were ousted from the playoffs by a red-hot Houston Rockets team.

They are looking at a number of players to acquire this offseason. Hedo Turkoglu had reportedly been in verbal agreement with the Blazers to sign a contract just days ago, but quickly changed his mind and headed to Toronto to negotiate an eventual monster contract with the Raptors.

But in a matter of hours, the Blazers had been mentioned in rumors once again, this time being linked to Knicks forward David Lee.

Which raises a question: How good is Portland?

Rumor/Free Agent Updates

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:08:48 -0500

No story today guys. A few rumors heading your way however...

Hedo, Raptors, agree on five year, $33 million deal.

Frank Dell'Apa: Summer jobs for bench riders.

Bull Riding: Chicago SG analysis.

Danny Ainge keeps eyes on Big Baby.

Rajon Rondo deals with all trade rumors.

Portland considering David Lee.

Teams interested in Marbury.

Red's Army: Doc Meeting with Grant Hill.

Cavaliers Hot For Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:29:08 -0500

So the previously unsubstantiated speculation regarding the Cavs as a possible destination for unrestricted free agent swingman Ron Artest were not so far off, after all.

It's definitely not a done deal, by any stretch, but Artest may have emerged as the no. 1 target for Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry as free agency opened its doors on Wednesday morning. From the Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst:

According to several league sources, the Cavs have been in contact with Houston Rockets free agent forward Ron Artest. It even included a face-to-face pitch from LeBron James Tuesday night in Los Angeles as both were in Southern California for various events.
Artest, who is an unrestricted free agent after a contract that paid him $7.4 million with the Rockets expired, is being courted by several teams. Artest is believed to prefer to play for a championship contender. In addition to the Rockets, the Cavs may be getting competition from the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers for his services.
With the Rockets facing the uncertain injury status of stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, it is unclear how hard they will try to push to re-sign Artest. They are pursuing Orlando Magic free agent center Marcin Gortat.

If the market is not there for Artest, he can definitely use the Cavs to have another career year on a team that will be on national TV all the time. He could also get infinite exposure for his game if the Cavs make another deep playoff run and even win their first-ever championship next spring.

But Artest isn't the only lockdown swingman defender that Ferry is pursuing.

From ESPN.com's Chris Broussard:

With at least five teams pursuing Ariza, the Lakers are currently unwilling to pay him more than the $5.6 million mid-level exception.

"They're letting him go," one of the sources said.

Cleveland is making a hard push for Ariza, and the Cavaliers' coaching staff was speaking with him on Wednesday. While Cleveland can only offer the mid-level as well, Ariza's disappointment with the Lakers' stance has moved other suitors ahead of his current team.

The Rockets, Clippers, Raptors and Blazers are also showing interest in Ariza. Portland and Toronto could each offer more than the mid-level exception.

Finally. Two players that have been on my radar as perfect fits for the Cavs have finally emerged as the two players that Ferry wants the most. Not a "stretch big" like Charlie Villanueva or Rasheed Wallace. But Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza.

And with Orlando looking likely to lose Hedo Turkoglu to the Western Conference's Blazers pretty soon, the Magic's mismatch problems will be a thing of the past. But if they do resurface, a guy like Artest or Ariza is the perfect panacea for a team that really doesn't need many more parts to become an NBA champion.

At 24, Ariza would definitely be a long-term solution on the wing in Cleveland. Some sources on Tuesday night even speculated that the Cavs are in the hunt for a wing player who can slide LeBron to the power forward spot next season, and the 6'8" Ariza -- a small forward by trade -- fits the bill.

He can even play some shooting guard, and he's definitely quick enough to cover other two's. Regardless, he makes the Cavs deeper, better on the perimeter on both ends, and a little bit more athletic. Add him with other young pieces like Delonte West, Mo Williams, and a hopefully re-signed Anderson Varejao, and you're finally talking about Ferry building a nice core around LeBron.

Something tells me Thursday's going to be a big day. Stay tuned.

Free Agent Profile: Channing Frye

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:59:03 +0000

Well off the radar of most Spurs fans, Channing Frye still holds some promise. He got off to a great start his rookie year before a combination of David Lee's emergence, Isiah Thomas being his coach, and dwindling minutes in Portland took their toll on his stat line.

Frye isn't a stellar defender, and his rebounding could use some work, but he does have a versatile offensive game. Numbers vary, but when he gets 20-25 minutes a game, and gets a chance to touch the ball, he gives you decent production. He only shot 33% from 3 last year, but with the Spurs roster, and the drive and kick style of Ginobili and Parker, it isn't unreasonable to expect that to rise above 40%.

Frye is still young enough to improve and add some more stuff to his game, but the big question is if he can be a force beside Duncan. San Antonio needs another rebounder who can be physical under the hoop and alter some shots.

If Portland doesn't match it, Frye could possibly be attained for $2 million/year. He seems to have stalled since his rookie year, but that likely has as much to do with who he's had to play behind as anything else. San Antonio is a 'for the good of the team' kind of place, and they're short on big men. Frye could have a career revival here. If nothing else, he's more proven than Mahinmi is.

Oh yeah, he's yet another product of Arizona too.

Sifting Through Rumors

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:31:26 -0500

After just an hour of posting a rumor entry, we once again have some rumors to discuss. Brace with me, because this one will include a bit of rambling from the ol' Celticsfanatic.

Could the two Huskies be reunited?

Yahoo! reporting Gordon, Villanueva, may be Pistons soon (once again, hat tip to CelticsBlog):

Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon and Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva flew to Detroit on Wednesday morning for a mid-day meeting with team president Joe Dumars and indications are both are moving rapidly toward deals with the Detroit Pistons, league and sources close to the two players told Yahoo! Sports.

Gordon and Villanueva, both unrestricted free agents, would be significant strikes on the first full day of NBA free agency.

Gordon and Villanueva have history together, and are good friends. They played for the University of Connecticut, although never together. The Pistons have nearly $20 million in salary-cap space and it's thought that the offers to these two players would come close to expending that money.

I've said it once, I'll say it again: The Pistons will be an entirely different team next year. Joe Dumars will not settle for anything less than destruction of this Detroit squad. Although this may not involve trades at first, believe me when I say that he will try to move guys like Hamilton if he signed Gordon, and would most certainly not re-sign Rasheed Wallace if he managed to snag Villanueva.

Hedo heavily targeted by Portland:

"The Trail Blazers' summer agenda was revealed late Tuesday night at the minute the free agent market opened. That's when general manager Kevin Pritchard and assistant general manager Tom Penn called agent Lon Babby to begin the courtship of small forward Hedo Turkoglu. `Kevin Pritchard and Tom Penn called me at the earliest possible moment and expressed enthusiasm for engaging in discussions about Hedo becoming a Trail Blazer,` Babby said late Tuesday night. `We have begun that process.`"

Apparently Hedo's value has gone up significantly since the Vince Carter trade. It seems that the Magic will not try to retain Turkoglu after acquiring Vinsanity from the Nets, most likely filling out their roster with solid bench players. Carter and Mickael Pietrus will probably be Orlando's starting shooting guard and small forward, although the specific position they'll play has not yet been determined in my eyes.

Danny Ainge comments on Lester Hudson.

"Lester is probably known for being a scorer in college basketball," Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. "But we see Lester as a much greater player than that. He's one of the best defensive players in college on the perimeter, he averages eight rebounds per game as a point guard. He's a tough kid."

Here's a Memphian friend of mine on Hudson:

Lester has had SEVERE grade problems, because at a ridiculously young age (11, 12) he was a playground legend in Memphis and he never had to work for anything. He grew up in a rough neighborhood and had plenty of opportunities to go astray; fortunately, basketball was his way out. His life is one helluva soap opera, I hope I have time in the next couple weeks to do a write-up.
He had HUGE grade problems everywhere he went, and had some other skirts with trouble, too. He finally got his head together, but his transcript was so screwed up, no major college would touch him, not even Memphis (who did recruit him lightly after his juco career).
Lester is the best prospect you've never seen and/or barely heard of. He could really be something special some day, if he keeps his head straight.

Hudson has been quite a scorer all of his life, and like Danny said, he can play some great D. Both Ainge and my friend implied that Lester is a tough kid, and he shows on the basketball court. Eight rpg as a PG? I'll take that anyday.

Varejao Opts Out, Becomes Unrestricted Free Agent

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:59:00 -0500

Could Anderson Varejao be headed elsewhere this summer?

Dan Fegan strikes again.

In what is no surprise to anyone who has followed the Cavs over the past year or so, Anderson Varejao has decided to exercise his player option and opt out.

Forward Anderson Varejao did not exercise the final year of his contract on Tuesday, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer, a source close to the player told ESPN.com's Chad Ford.

By opting out of his deal for next season, Varejao is leaving $6.2 million of guaranteed money on the table to try and test would could be a bare market this year.

It's been reported that Varejao could be seeking a contract with a per year earning of upwards of $9 million. In this economy with very few teams having that type of cap space, it's unlikely Varejao will get an offer that is around his asking price.

Right now it looks like there will be 5-6 teams that could challenge the Cavs for Varejao's services and offer a lucrative contract. Those teams with significant cap room are: Detroit Pistons ($19 million), Oklahoma City Thunder ($13 million), Memphis Grizzlies ($13 million), Sacramento Kings ($7 million), Portland Trail Blazers ($9 million), and Toronto Raptors ($9 million, if they let Parker, Marion and Graham walk).

Out of those teams it looks like Varejao may get a look from 3-4 teams.

The Pistons have bigger fish to fry than Varejao and are looking at some top free agents.

The Toronto Raptors are looking for a perimeter scorer and it's questionable how far under the cap they'll get at this point.

The Oklahoma City Thunder look like they want to add a young player and make a splash in free agency, so Varejao might be a back-up plan with them needing some bigs there.

The Memphis Grizzlies were rumored to be interested in Varejao last off-season so if things fall through with their other targets (reportedly David Lee) then some of that interest could be re-kindled.

The Sacramento Kings were adamant about including Varejao in the Mike Bibby talks a couple years ago and that could parlay the Kings into offering all of their cap space to Varejao should their other options dry up.

The Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly been looking for toughness and defense to backup Aldridge and Varejao would be a great fit there. The only problem is that he might be too expensive.

The good news for the Cavs is that Varejao isn't going to garner a ton of interest from the teams with major cap room and that Varejao isn't looking like anyone's primary option.

While the Cavs can't match any offer because Varejao is unrestricted, the Cavs do look like they're going to put re-signing Varejao as their #1 priority and should get it done if Varejao keeps his demands reasonable (you never know with Dan Fegan).

It's been speculated that the Cavs might be willing to pay up to $9 million per year for Varejao but that might change once he hits the open market and the Cavs see what's available.

The right thing for the Cavs to do would be to re-sign Varejao at a reasonable price.

(P.S - And no, re-signing Varejao to a long-term deal doesn't mean the Cavs won't have 2010 cap space and not be able to sign Bosh. The 2010 cap space is an illusion and there's no way the Cavs will be able to have enough cap room to field a competitive team. So don't be worrying about that.

The problem with Varejao will be determining his value to the team. While I'm sure Fegan and Varejao see it as one thing, I'm also sure the Cavs see at as another.

Varejao is a good player but he's not worth $8.5-$9.5 million a year. Maybe if it was on a short-term deal (2-3 years), then it could be possible. But there's no way I can see the Cavs paying him that type of money over a long commitment.

Varejao's worth is probably in the $7.5 million range (give or take a half million) for a decent amount of years.

If Varejao and Fegan can't come to grips with reality, then the Cavs will probably be forced to either do a one-year deal at a high rate or sign-and-trade Varejao.

While the Cavs may not want to sign-and-trade Varejao, it may ultimately come down to that.

The one good thing is that Danny Ferry and Dan Fegan have since repaired their relationship since they hit rocky times last summer while negotiating Varejao's previous contract. Having a good working relationship is critical in working with agents and crossing the line when the two parties start getting into uncomfortable territories.

So will Varejao end up staying with the Cavs? Right now it's anybody's guess but with the way the market looks and how bad the Cavs want Varejao back, it looks like it's in the Cavs favor.

Danny Ferry: You Screwed This Draft Up

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:30:00 -0500

Far be it for me to be a Negative Nancy.

Last year, when the Cavs selected little-known power forward J.J. Hickson from N.C. State, the masses were up in arms. They didn't know Hickson. Picking him at 19th overall was cause for an uproar. People automatically labeled him a bust. They wanted a wing player. Chris Douglas-Roberts, they said. Bill Walker, I said (or was saying before that draft).

But after the pick was made, I came on here and defended Ferry, Hickson, and that pick. I liked it. Here is exactly what I had to say about the Hickson pick immediately after it was made amidst the mass disappointment:

In 31 games with the Wolfpack, Hickson achieved double-figure scoring 25 times and reached 20 points on seven occasions. Hickson also notched 10 double-doubles.

All that...as a freshman.

Which is why you should be excited.

This pick was all about building on a core group of young players for the future. Leave the "LeBron/Jay-Z" rumors to the clowns who have nothing better to do with their lives. The Cavs can't live in constant fear of LeBron, and they have to make the best pick for today as well as tomorrow. And based on the kind of player Hickson can become within the next five years, they certainly did that on Thursday night.

Today, in the wake of the 2009 NBA Draft, I cannot say that I maintain the same attitude. Because I know that Ferry effed up. And effed up badly.

That's because when Ferry selected Christian Eyenga, a 6'6" swingman out of Congo, with the 30th pick of the draft, there were better players available. He didn't -- for a fact, actually -- get a guy who could contribute right away. And even worse, he picked a guy that might have still been around when the Cavs picked again at #46.

These aren't the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, or Sacramento Kings. These are the Cleveland Cavaliers. You know, the same team that made massive headlines yesterday after acquiring Shaquille O'Neal? The same team that has The King? The same team that has to win and win now in order to please said King?

Eyenga wasn't even expecting to be drafted, let alone get drafted in the first round with a guaranteed contract. Hell, even he seemed shocked out of this world when his name was called. Even David Stern was a little surprised (as if to say, "What the F, Ferry? I pretty much forced Steve Kerr to hand over Shaq to you and you screw up less than 24 hours later?").

Here's what draftexpress.com's live blog said when the Cavs made their selection:

10:25 Cleveland locks up the [1st] round with Christian Eyenga? This is an insane pick. Eyenga put his name into this draft hoping not to get picked period, and now he goes in the first round? Over DeJuan Blair and Sam Young? Wow. It looks like Eyenga's plan to avoid the first round salary scale definitely backfired.

Last year was a good time for a project/developmental pick. The Cavs were 45-37, and the Hickson pick had to be made. The Cavs badly needed a young frontcourt player. Hickson was the best one available. Some considered it a reach, but it probably wasn't considering that Hickson wouldn't have fallen much further.

This year, the Cavs got a player in Eyenga who will not contribute the way Hickson did last year. Here's a guy that will probably be stashed away overseas for a year, maybe two. And even worse, the Cavs could have gotten a much better player to fit the very need that they probably want Eyenga to fill.

His name is Sam Young.

I thought that the Cavs would have had to trade up to get Young. Many mocks had him going as high as #20 to Utah. Some on draft morning even had him going 18th overall to Minnesota. But Young, for whatever reason, fell all the way to the Cavs' pick at #30. And the stars were aligned for a match made in heaven, a Godsend for the Cavs.

Except Ferry failed to cooperate.

Young wound up going just six picks later to Memphis at 36th overall. But the Cavs whiffed on a tremendous opportunity to pick an NBA-ready rookie who would be ready to contribute right away. They did the same damn thing last year when they passed up on Courtney Lee, but again, picking a young big man was necessary and Hickson's selection was easily justifiable.

A year later, don't even bring up the word "justifiable" to describe Ferry's draft-day skills. As someone who lives in Portland, I've seen a team use the draft as the single avenue to build its way back up and take a 21-win team in 2006 to a 54-win team in 2009. So I know it can be done.

The Cavs need a player to help them win now. Christian Eyenga won't even be on the roster next year, let alone rotation.

And this just adds to the fact that the Cavs are failing miserably in adding young talent around LeBron James. ESPN.com's Chad Ford recently wrote that when 2010 comes around, there will be no basketball reason for LeBron to stay in Cleveland. There will be no young wingman that he can form a legendary Jordan-Pippen 1-2 punch with. Mo Williams just isn't that guy. Shaq is 37 and might even be gone after this year.

That's not to say that Sam Young would have been the single reason to convince LeBron to stay in Cleveland, but at least the Cavs would have started to build a core of nice young role players to grow with LeBron and fit around him. Young is 24, the same age as LeBron, so he would be able to complement James for the rest of his career.

Add a guy like Young to other young guys like Mo, Delonte West, Daniel Gibson, Anderson Varejao, and Hickson, and you're finally starting to piece together some nice young parts that can help form the foundation for this team.

And anyone using this draft's "weakness" as an excuse should just stop right now. Every single draft -- every single draft -- has guys who can be core rotation players right off the bat. Did you know that 17 of the 30 second-round picks from a year ago made an NBA team this past season? Many even received playing time. None of those two will apply to the Cavs' first round pick from this year!

Speaking of second round picks, North Carolina's Danny Green was a great pick at #46, a pick the Cavs were supposed to give away in the Shaq deal. But as great as the Green pick was, his selection would have been unnecessary had Ferry taken Young and then settled for hs Congoan mancrush at 46.

So get excited about Shaquille O'Neal if you must. It's a move for 2009-10 and nothing more. But for an organization that has been obsessing itself over what happens after that, Thursday certainly wasn't a step in the right direction.

Fang's Bites: ESPY's moronic entertainment for brain-dead.

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:14:02 -0500

Bored on Draft Day? Here's Something To Do: Live Comment Thread -- All Day, All Night

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:52:40 -0500

Sidenote: This isn't a live blog friends. The thread will take place in the commenting section below the article. I'll also have a rumor section below this for tomorrow's rumors, trades, and updates. Make sure to check in throughout the day/night for new rumors, trades, and updates!

Rumors/Trades/Updates

NBA Draft night over at Project Spurs: In addition to this comment thread (comment guys!), Project Spurs will be providing live coverage of the NBA Draft (link is above). Project Spurs will be offering you guys a lot of options over at the site. They will have an ongoing live blog powered by Cover It Live, as well as a live-streaming podcast, which will be hosted by Project Spurs' Michael De Leon, and the Dugout Sport Show's Glenn Moore. The two will be interviewing bloggers live on the podcast.

There will be an MVN representative at the live event provided by Project Spurs, Jeff Garcia. Jeff will be able to call in a few times throughout the night to tell us about the atmosphere and environment at Madison Square Garden. Jeff will be tweeting and offering his analysis on the picks through Twitter, which you can follow both on his profile (which is where the "Twitter" link directs you to), or from the live blog, as Michael will have his updates going through the live blog. Make sure to check it out!

Shaq heading to Cleveland.

Insight: Well, looks like Danny Ferry took notice of the work pile he had waiting for him. This deal took a big load off of the Cavs' executive. It looks to me like the Cavs won't try to do much more this offseason but draft another J.J. Hickson-type guy with the 30th pick they hold. The team will be preparing and/or meshing all offseason. Expect them to be reared and ready to go by the beginning of the '09-10 season.

Congrats LeBron. You've got yourself a second chance. Do something with it.

SI: Rondo could possibly be involved in package deal.

Yao out indefinitely with foot injury.

Insight: Could the Rockets pull off a deal today?

Suns active, rumors of Amar'e going to Warriors.

Nets, Magic, agree to deal, send Carter to Orlando.

Insight: Here's that link. Few quick thoughts...

This could either make or break the Magic's chances next year. Carter has always been a reliable scorer and a clutch player, which may prompt them to let Hedo leave. The main reason they were trying to re-sign him was because of the major role he played on the team. With Carter there, they won't need to restrain him from joining another team. But, Carter also has been known for his disruptive behavior in the locker room at times (more on the third bullet). Screwing up chemistry is dangerous for any team, especially the Magic.

The Magic are likely done this offseason. They may try to shape their team out this Summer by signing a few minor free agents. Obviously, if they don't grab an SG in the free agent market, Mickael Pietrus will assume the starting shooting guard role, allowing Carter to become the team's small forward (that is if the Magic don't bring back Turkoglu).

Van Gundy will have his hands full next year. Although Alston is gone, he still has some big egos with Howard, Carter, Rashard Lewis. The Magic have an interesting mix of players, and it will be costly for SVG to even think about letting his guard down.

Lakers send 29th pick the New York Knicks for cash.

Rumors have the Suns asking for Chandler in exchange for Ben Wallace.

Pacers Pulse (via Indy Cornrows): Pacers close to trading for Bulls two first rounders, surrender 13th pick.

Rondo's agent responds to Ainge's criticism.

Ray believes he'll stay.

Ray WANTS to stay.

CelticsBlog: Analysis of Draft day.

Expect Rondo to be involved or mentioned in Draft day trades.

Bob Ryan: The curious case of Rajon Rondo.

Blazers deal three picks to Dallas for pick number 22.

Crawford to Atlanta.

Draft Day is here, and I thought you guys might want something else to do besides refresh ESPN and Yahoo! every five seconds. So I set up a comment thread for the sole purpose of discussing the rumors and trades going on during the day, as well as the selections being made at the Draft. I'll be updating the rumor section, which as you can see is featured above, throughout the day and providing the latest whispers and the hottest trades being made throughout the day.

I'm sure they'll be a lot of issues to talk about during the day/night, so let your voice be heard and express your opinion by commenting below! After all, this is a commenting thread right?

Draft Updates: Crawford Headed to Atlanta

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:06:30 -0500

Expect Rondo to be on the move.

Hawks, Warriors close to blockbuster.

The Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors are closing in on a trade that would find a new home for Jamal Crawford.

NBA front-office sources say that the Warriors and Hawks will soon complete a deal sending Crawford to Atlanta for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton. -- ESPN

Trail Blazers trade for Mavericks' first rounder.

The Portland Trail Blazers acquired the 22nd pick in Thursday's NBA draft from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the 24th and 56th picks in this year's draft, and worst of their second round picks in 2010. -- ESPN

NBA trade buzz continues to build

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:36:15 -0800

The Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors are closing in on a deal that would send Jamal Crawford to the Hawks for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton.

Nam's take: This is an interesting trade for the Hawks. It will definitely have an impact on what type of contract offer they give to Mike Bibby. Crawford is not a true point guard but he is a prolific scorer. I would have preferred the Hawks re-sign Bibby and try and find a legit center because a frontcourt of Zaza Pachulia and Al Horford won't cut it.

Stu's take: Crawford is a good player, and will certainly be an offensive spark plug for Atlanta. However, Crawford does not have a history of being a winner and has shown that he needs to be a volume shooter to be a successful contributor to a team. A talent upgrade for Atlanta? Absolutely? Does it bump them up a tier within the East? I don't think so.

The Portland Trail Blazers acquire the 22nd pick in Thursday's NBA Draft from the Dallas Mavericks for the 24th and 56th picks in this year's draft, and a 2010 second round pick.

Nam's take: Word around the league is that the Sacramento Kings are interested in Omri Casspi from Israel with the 23rd pick. Casspi is a lanky 6'9'' post that plays all out and can step back and shoot the three-ball. Casspi would be a good pick for the Blazers, who can provide some toughness in the front court. Other possible selections for the Blazers could be Florida's Nick Calathes, Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair, Georgetown's DeJuan Summers, or VCU's Eric Maynor.

Stu's take: Who knows what the Blazers are up to. I've heard Ty Lawson rumblings recently, but they seem a bit unfounded given the recent Kirk Hinrich rumblings as well. Something's got to give. While this trade might indicate that they have their sights set on a specific player (possibly Casspi), it also could be used as a more valuable chip in a larger trade. I expect Kevin Pritchard to be up to his old tricks again this year, and we can definitely expect more draft activity from Portland.

There are strong indications that the Pistons will be very active this offseason. They are planning to pursue Ben Gordon aggressively. They also wish to sign Carlos Boozer but will walk away if he demands $14 or $15 million.

Nam's take: Boozer would be smart to just exercise his $12.6 million option and wait for 2010's free agency market. I don't believe Ben Gordon will be the answer for the Pistons to move back into the Eastern Conference's elite teams. They have a decent core with Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince. In order to battle with the Dwight Howard's and Kevin Garnett's they will need some young, athletic big men to support the aging Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess.

Stu's take: The addition of Gordon would be redundant with their current core in place (Stuckey, Hamiltion), although Detroit's interest may mean there is some truth behind their shopping of Hamilton. Gordon did show his grit and determination throughout that epic first round battle against Boston, and he definitely has higher value than he did last year. Boozer would be a nice addition to any team for the right price, and he would be a nice addition to the Pistons - especially if 'Sheed isn't playing with his threats of early retirement. I agree with Nam though, in this shaky economy, Boozer might be better off staying put until the market rebounds.

Chicago has been very willing to part with Tyrus Thomas however; Kirk Hinrich's name continues to come up on the Blazers wish list given their growing pessimism with Phoenix unlikely to trade Steve Nash or attempting to sign Jason Kidd away from Dallas.

Nam's take: The Blazers are obviously trying to find a point guard that can take them to next level; someone they can pair with superstar Brandon Roy in the backcourt. If they do find another PG they will have to get rid one of their current PGs, so there won't be any controversy in shared playing time.

Stu's take: The point guard situation in Portland is such an enigma, but it's looking like there will be changes in the backcourt whether it is through trading for a vet or building through the draft. Sergio Rodriguez is as good as gone after expressing his desire to be elsewhere next season. Steve Blake was highly criticized after an unproductive series against the Rockets this year. And Jerryd Bayless is somewhat of an unproven commodity, although people in Portland love his intensity, toughness and ability to get to the rack. But, we all know, you have to give something up to get something back. One or two of these guys might be packing their bags this offseason.

NBA rumors, news, and trade buzz

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:29:00 -0800

The Boston Celtics shopping Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen to the Detroit Pistons for Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince. There were other rumors of sending Rondo to the Sacramento Kings for Kevin Martin and a pick.

Supposedly there are rumors that the Celtics are unlikely to re-sign Allen to a long-term extension next summer and are hesitant to sign Rondo to an expensive long-term contract. Also, the case of Rondo's maturity and relationship with the rest of the team continues to pop up. However, Danny Ainge has twittered, "I'm not sure why his name is popping up, but we love Rajon. It doesn't seem like you have to have any source any more (to report rumors)." He also twittered, "I've heard speculation we're dissatisfied with him; we're gonna trade him because he was late for a playoff game? That's not true."

Personally, I think it would be absolutely idiotic for the Celtics to trade Rondo...for anyone. Rondo almost averaged a triple-double in the playoffs this year without Kevin Garnett. People fell in love with Derrick Rose in this year's first round of the playoffs, but you could easily argue that Rondo won the point guard battle because his team came out victorious and his stat lines were just ridiculous.

There are rumors that Portland is very active in attempting to move up from No. 24 to 8-14, where they are confident they can land a point guard. Portland worked out with North Carolina's Ty Lawson on Monday. Portland's GM Kevin Pritchard also is trying to figure out a way to get maximum cap room this summer to use for a free agent or in a trade. The Magic's Hedo Turkoglu gets the most mention, but sources say Portland's real target is Bulls point guard Kirk Hinrich.

Why would the Blazers want another point guard? This completely frustrates me. Steve Blake is the starting point guard with Sergio Rodriguez coming off the bench. Rodriguez is Rudy Fernandez's best friend on the team and they have great chemistry on the court together as you probably cannot count how many alley-oops they've converted this year. Then, you have an extremely talented young point guard Jerryd Bayless as your third-string who rarely gets playing time and now they want to draft another PG?

The Boston Globe reports an NBA executive confirmed Phoenix offered Amare Stoudemire (detached retina) to the Timberwolves in exchange for Al Jefferson and the 6th overall pick. The Wolves declined.

The Timberwolves were smart to decline, understanding the likelihood of Stoudemire opting out for the 2010 free agency. The Suns most likely knew that they had no chance of scamming this deal out of Minnesota. I don't believe Stoudemire will be moved this offseason unless Phoenix engages talks with a title contending team. I think Stoudemire will be asking for a huge contract once 2010 comes and hoping to go to a big market. Perhaps reunited with Mike D'antoni in New York?

The Detroit Pistons made a small deal Tuesday, trading Amir Johnson to the Bucks for Fabricio Oberto.

Um, who cares?

Another Suns rumor is swapping picks No. 14 with Oklahoma City's No. 25, but also getting back their 2010 first-round pick. The Suns traded that pick to the Thunder a few years ago as part of the Kurt Thomas trade. The trade is unprotected next year, and since the Suns seem to be rebuilding, they would definitely treasure that pick.

I am not really sure what to expect from the Suns anymore. They will probably run-n-gun this year under Alvin Gentry but not play defense at all and miss the playoffs again. I kind of hope Steve Nash and Stoudemire go back to D'antoni in 2010...along with Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh...a guy can dream, right?