Waiting for LeBron
Posted July 5th, 2006 by Brian Windhorst
I’ve gotten several of e-mails asking me if LeBron’s delay in commenting on the Cavs’ max contract offer is hurting them in free agency. I believe this is primarily because they’ve told Drew Gooden to wait until LeBron is settled before they press on with him, at least that’s what Drew’s agents have been telling me.
The truth is no one outside the Cavs front office can truly say whether this expanding decision process is changing their plans. Even though they had interest in Nazr Mohammed and Joel Pryzbilla, I not sure why either would wanted to have come to Cleveland with Zydrunas Ilgauskas in place. I thought they’d have interest in Speedy Claxton, but his agent told me Cavs interest was lukewarm. My guess is because he’s not a great outside shooter.
In short, I’m not sure if the Cavs have aggressively pursued any free agent thus far. I think they saw this class as being somewhat weak and they might want to sit back and see what develops. Certainly it would help all parties if LeBron committed, but I don’t think it is harming the team right now.
In other news, here is the summer league roster, which was announced today:
15 Martynas Andriuskevicius F/C 7-2 240
4 Jermaine Blackburn G/F 6-6 216
6 Shannon Brown G 6-4 205
8 C.J. Bruton G 6-2 170
27 Sharrod Ford F 6-9 223
18 Je’Kel Foster G 6-2 210
21 Daniel Gibson G 6-2 190
1 Stephen Graham G/F 6-6 215
26 Brandon Hunter F 6-7 266
31 Brian Jackson F 6-9 245
3 Sasha Pavlovic G/F 6-7 210
50 Roderick Riley C 6-11 275
10 Clay Tucker G 6-3 195
40 Ejike Ugboaja F 6-9 225
July 5th, 2006 at 11:50 am
I dont see Luke Jackson’s name on the roster ?
Is this a sign of a trade in the works ?
July 5th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
The Cavs signed Je’kel Foster?!?! That’s awesome. Does he have any chance whatsoever to have a seat on the bench next year? Next to Ira or that crappy lurpster foreign center guy? Here’s one buckeye fan hoping so.
July 5th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
luke had another back surgery in may and hopes to be ready by training camp in oct., hence he cannot play in the summer league.
my guess is that sasha is playing to showcase himself for a trade. since luke has zero trade value, it makes sense for the cavs to try and move sasha, since they drafted two guards and are committed to them for the next few years.
July 5th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
“Certainly it would help all parties if LeBron committed, but I don’t think it is harming the team right now” …
You’ve got a future in politics, Brian!
July 5th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
House Minority Whip Brian Windhorst. I like it.
July 5th, 2006 at 7:49 pm
Here is LeBron’s reasoning (obviously) in my opinion. His rival, Wade, just won it all. With that comes tons of publicity and Wade has been in the national spotlight since the Finals. What have you seen on PTI, Around the Horn, major sports websites? LeBron signing, LeBron signing, and LeBron signing. Wade, Melo and Bosh are all small headlines, and everyone is talking about LBJ. To be a star at LBJ’s level you have to have some ego, and I am sure Wade’s press really bugged LeBron. This is part of the game for him, and just his way of being #1 again.
And this will not hurt the Cavs in free agency…Ferry knows what is going on, and he still may have some suprises to come (or at least that is what I am hoping).
July 5th, 2006 at 8:18 pm
I think it’s pretty silly that people believe James will ever play a real role in free agent signings. Especially people that should know better, such as sportswriters.
Bottom line is the bottom line. James or no James, these guys go where the money is. Why is Stojakovic going to sign with New Orleans…because he likes gumbo?
Gooden and his agent couldn’t care less if James re-ups or not. Who are they kidding? Is somebody willing and able to fork over the cash and deposit it into Gooden’s account? That’s all they want to know.
July 6th, 2006 at 8:20 am
I love reading the comments, you guys are great, even ATUCK.
Anyhow, KC, you have a very believable opinion. It makes sense when you lay it out like that. If he was to sign as soon as it hits 12:01 am what would be the rest of the drama be about?? not his contract, i can tell you that.
His whole life he has been in the spotlight and I am sure he likes it, even jst a bit. LBJ, will he stay? dunno, just hope so?
July 6th, 2006 at 8:54 am
while i tend to agree (egads!) with mr. tucker about the money comment, one can easily say that new orleans/ok. actually has a much brighter future right now than the pacers do. so, it seems to me it was a win/win for peja. and i think most agents and players are looking for that scenario, obviously. go to a playoff (or playoff ready) team and get a huge contract. but if having to choose between the two? most nba’ers take the dough.
July 6th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
Do you think LeBron might not stay because of the D-Jones trade rumors…
seriously, no more handshake!…maybe Bron is upset about that
July 6th, 2006 at 6:09 pm
All these lovely conspiracy theories floating around about LeBron James really give me that warm, familiar feeling of despair that goes with being a Cleveland sports fan. Even if they aren’t true.
July 6th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
They probably aren’t true, but LeBron is sending a message with the silence.
July 6th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
That whole “free agents will come because of LeBron” nonsense being spread like fertilizer by sportswriters is…well, nonsense.
For the sake of discussion, let’s assume the Cavs could have offered Stojakovic big money, but it would have been a million a year less each year over the duration of that contract. Would he have signed for less $ for that golden opportunity to play with the great LeBron James? Uhhhh…yeah, that’s what I thought.
The only guys who will ever even give it a passing thought are the guys with eroded abilities equivalent to the Bernie Kosar’s Diminishing Skills Era. The guys who don’t deserve big contracts anymore, but there’s still a GM or two out there to sign something. The guys who will give sportswriters more nonsense to write about. That imaginary oh-so-vital “veteran locker room presence.” Gotta love that silly phrase. It says so much without saying a darn thing.
Hey, Ferry, check your caller ID. Cliff Robinson’s agent is on call-waiting.
July 6th, 2006 at 9:22 pm
Too bad Cliff already re-upped with the Nets!
July 6th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
Actually, the Nets didn’t exercise Robinson’s option, but supposedly they’re looking to sign him again, but naturally, for less. So Ferry’s Free Agent Batphone could still ring.
Of course, if Robinson does stay with Jersey, Ferry may still be able to woo Scott Williams out of retirement.
July 6th, 2006 at 11:39 pm
Hey Brian, what would it take to get Chris Wilcox in a Cavs uniform? I think he’d fit our needs well and be an intimidator that we need. Any chance we can even involve Gooden in a double sign-and-trade here? Any at all? I know Seattle wants small contracts so they won’t take Z.
July 7th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
FREE LEBRON JAMES
If LeBron James stays in Cleveland….
he’s the next Dominique Wilkins
The Cavaliers are capped out for the forseeable future and are built/invested around an aging Euro center. Gooden is a journeyman, and the current roster is filled with them. There is no Shaq or Pippen, let alone a Rasheed Wallace, in Cleveland. And with their draft status, the Cavs are stuck in “no-man’s-land”.
Like T.O., LeBron belongs on the biggest stage possible. Hollywood is where it is at.
If LeBron goes to LA, imagine the glamour, marketing opportunities and championships? A dream back court of 23 & 24? The greatest coach of all time and young role players like Odom already in the fold… wow, I’d be out of Cleveland in a hurry. He’d truely be King of the NBA - he just needs to get out of Cleveland.
July 7th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
“Young role players like Odom.”
Huh? What? He’ll be 29 by the time LeBron would be eligibile to sign with the Lakers. That’s two years older than Hughes is now.
July 7th, 2006 at 10:40 pm
Who is Hughes? The Journeyman from Golden State… maybe Washington? My point exactly, Hughes is more Devean George than a 29-year-old Lamar Odom in his absolute prime. Odom is an unselfish superstar who can rebound, pass and initiate the offense, an all star roll player, a la Pippen. If Larry Hughes is the future #2 sidekick in Cleveland, then LeBron should demand a trade now…. Larry Hughes? Please… at least go with Arthritis Sabonis, or Ilgauskis
July 8th, 2006 at 7:34 am
I was never debating the talents of Hughes, I was simply pointing out that your “young role players like Odom” comment made no sense.
And, who is Odom? The journeyman from the Clippers…maybe Miami?
My point exactly.