Some things to keep in mind
Posted July 6th, 2007 by Brian Windhorst
The Cavs have been quiet in free agency thus far, which was to be expected. Without cap space to spend they were never going to be in the market for the big-name players. With restricted second-tier free agents like Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao, the game is going to have to play out for a little bit. Here’s some things to chew on:
–The Andres Nocioni watch is in full effect and it involves Anderson Varejao. The Chicago Tribune, which has been all over this story, is reporting the Bulls are still the front-runners to keep Nocioni despite the Memphis Grizzlies’ serious sales pitch. Supposedly, the Argentinan media is reporting el Chapu has been offered $46 million over five years by Memphis. That may be in error, because the Tribune says Nocioni may be ready to take a $38 million deal with the Bulls.
There is wide-spread speculation that if the Grizzlies fail to get Nocioni, they will target Varejao. This is probably true. Here is the thing, it would be hard to believe Varejao would get the same offer as Nocioni because he’s an energy rebounder, not an offensive threat in addition to a talented defender like Nocioni. Even if Varejao gets a deal that averages $7-$8 million, it seems the Cavs will likely match even if it is a bit of an overpay. That is the life of restricted free agents. By the way, I still stand by my story that Varejao’s representation have told people he has an offer (solid or not, on paper or not) over the mid-level exception of around $6 million to start.
–Expect Cavs GM Danny Ferry to let the process play out with Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic. Last year, he waited all summer on Drew Gooden. Gooden didn’t get an offer sheet and ended up signing a very reasonable contract. If the Grizzlies don’t make Varejao a big offer, he may have to do the same thing so and Ferry may wait. If Memphis or another signs him to a sheet, the Cavs will take their time in thinking about it while other free agents may dry up. As for Sasha, there doesn’t seem to be much action at all going on with him right now. In judging the market, I’d say he ends up signing for somewhere between what Matt Carroll (6 years, $27 million) and Jason Kapono (four years, $24 million) signed. Unless he gets an offer sheet, which is a possibility but as yet no major suitors have emerged, his market is probably a deal starting between $3-$4 million per season. Then again, I could be wrong.
–Keep an eye on Juan Carlos Navarro, a Spanish guard who surprised some this week when he cut a deal with his Euro team, FC Barcelona, to come to the NBA. I saw Navarro play last summer in Japan and I was impressed with him as shooter, both from mid and long range. If memory serves, he played shooting guard mostly for Spain because Jose Calderon and Sergio “Spanish Chocolate” Rodriguez were running the point. But he ran the offense at times, I think. Here are the stats.
The Washington Wizards own his rights and have since 2002, but he’s a second-round pick and not subject to rookie salary scale. It sounds like this came as a surprise to the Wizards, too. So here is the thing, based on my understanding of the salary cap, if the Wizards want to sign Navarro to something more than the minimum salary (and he’s not coming over for $400,000, folks) they will have to use a piece of their mid-level exception. Considering they also want to re-sign DeShawn Stevenson, whom they don’t have Bird rights to, it seems hard to believe they can do both. Which is why there are rumors the Wizards are listening to offers to help in the decision. The Cavs may have interest in both Navarro and Wizards’ restricted free agent Andray Blatche, whom the Wizards have partial Bird rights to so they won’t have to use part of the exception with him. So it wouldn’t be surprising if the Cavs and Wizards had some talks over this issue. The Wizards seem to be looking to move Etan Thomas and/or Brendan Haywood. Thomas has a bad contract and good relations with head coach Eddie Jordan while Haywood has a good contract and bad relations. Just stuff to chew on.
July 6th, 2007 at 7:37 am
“The Cavs may have interest in both Navarro and Wizards’ restricted free agent Andray Blatche, whom they have partial Bird rights to so they won’t have to use part of the exception with him.”
Hi Brian - can you explain the ‘partial Bird rights’ bit - how would the Cavs get Bird rights to a Wizards player? Or am I mis-reading the sentence?
July 6th, 2007 at 9:02 am
hey stupid mot, its the wiz that have the tweety bird rights to blatche yes you mis read.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:11 am
A mediocre talent who kisses the coach’s butt and has a bad contract? It looks like the Cavs have found their man–Etan Thomas is coming to Cleveland!
July 6th, 2007 at 9:25 am
Mot is correct to ask for clarification. I am confused as well.
As written, the sentence makes it sound like the Cavaliers have partial rights to Blatche.
I know you skipped college for the NBA, LeBron, but this should have been covered in 9th grade English grammar. You did take that, no?
July 6th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Thanks again Brian. This mirrors most of the stuff I’ve culled from internet searches. These scenarios make the most sense. We shouldn’t lose Andy, and we definitely need more athleticism in the middle to make up for Z. Point guard doesn’t need an overpaid superstar. Just someone who is not an offensive liability (Snow or Hughes) or defensive liability (DJones) who can share time with Gibson until he’s ready to take over (sooner than some think!). You continue to be the most intelligent source of reliable information on the Cavaliers. The irrelevant misguided trash I read in the PD (why do I bother?) continues to give me a headache.
Than you Brian!
July 6th, 2007 at 10:23 am
i’m missing something here. it says whom the wizards have partial bird rights to. where is the confusion? how did anyone get the cavs had partial bird rights out of that?
July 6th, 2007 at 11:56 am
“By the way, I still stand by my story that Varejao’s representation have told people he has an offer (solid or not, on paper or not) over the mid-level exception of around $6 million to start.”
This sentence is a perfect example of why I sometimes have a problem with your writing, Brian. Agents and front office people that you trust as sources know that you’ll write anything they tell you. I would have thought you learned your lesson from the James fiascos, both with respect to his purported long-term extension (which you later discovered was totally false) and his endorsement contracts (which you later discovered was totally false).
Fact is, you dropped some information, which you strongly implied was indeed true. Then sportswriters across the country picked up your story, and spread it like fertilizer from coast to coast. Thus doing precisely what Varejao’s agent wanted, which was to manipulate the truth and posture Varejao into a better contract offer. Clearly, that offer had never, in any way, shape or form, been put out there, in writing or not. It simply didn’t exist. But you clearly implied that there was a strong likelihood that it did indeed exist.
Orlando, Charlotte, Milwaukee and Memphis were the sole teams able to offer greater than the midlevel exception. Of these four, only Memphis is looking for a forward. Given that former Celtics uberdunce Chris Wallace went to South America for the purpose of getting Nocioni, it’s now become readily apparent that Varejao’s agent was never offered a damn thing by anybody, including Memphis. Oh, Varejao may now have to be Memphis’ Plan B or Plan C, but the agent clearly dropped a bald-faced lie, and it was perpetuated by a too-eager media that is terrified if it’s not printed, a scoop may be lost. So instead of looking at complete bullshit with a jaundiced eye, and refusing to print it until there is strong evidence that it’s actually true, it’s printed and spread. Thereby doing exactly what the agent hoped you’d do. He tells a big-mouthed front office guy that he knows has a big mouth and just *luvs* to talk. The front office guy, in turn, tells a gullible media. The gullible media, in turn, tells everybody else. It’s the equivalent of Muppet sportswriting. All that’s missing is a hand up your butt.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
What Brian is saying is that Fegan is lying, Alan. He’s acting like an agent.
July 6th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Please leave Tucker, for the sake of this blog and anyone with intelligence, I beg you to go.
July 6th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Tucker’s got a point:
“By the way, I still stand by my story that Varejao’s representation have told people he has an offer (solid or not, on paper or not) over the mid-level exception of around $6 million to start.”
Personally, I like it when BW speculates, and think he should do it more often, a la writers I see who cover other NBA teams. But why defend speculation or second hand guessing like it’s some kind of well-founded story? If it is a story, who did Varejao’s representation tell? Why didn’t anyone pick up a phone and call the Grizzlies GM?
This happens in all parts of the newspaper these days because it’s become perfectly acceptable to run stories with unnamed sources.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
hey lufer, or satan, what ever your name is, all you have to do is reread the sentence and you will see that he did not place a comma in the right place, go get your ged, when you are not busy trying to steal souls.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
“The Cavs may have interest in both Navarro and Wizards’ restricted free agent Andray Blatche, whom they have partial Bird rights to so they won’t have to use part of the exception with him.”
– I didn’t notice that this was confusing because I knew what it really meant to say. But if you were gonna be really strict about the grammar then you’d notice that it says that the Cavs have Bird rights to Andray Blatche. The Wiz do, of course and not Cleveland.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
I wonder who has partial Bird rights to Unfounded Rumor Central, also known as the Akron Beacon Journal sports section.
This was the exact wording in the original story: “According to an NBA executive, Varejao has been presented with a hefty contract offer in excess of the league’s mid-level exception, which is around $6 million for next seasonts section.” The story was presented in such a way that a reasonable person reading this would assume the writer’s source was impeachable. Pure gold. Indeed, the story’s headline definitively stated, “Cavs’ Varejao Gets Hefty Contract Offer.”
Well, turns out the entire story was complete BS. Total horsehockey. Total unfounded speculation presented as fact. An agent manipulating the media. Making poor Danny Ferry pee in his pants. Ferry, who has made a veritable clownish cottage industry of bidding against himself for free agents, was being played to the hilt by the agent’s unwitting co-conspirator and resident rumormonger, a Cavs beat writer.
Every reader out there should have a major problem with totally unfounded speculation being presented to the readers as fact. Doesn’t matter who the writer is, it’s lousy journalism. Why get defensive unless you indeed know your source and your story turned out to be every bit as credible as a Wesley layup? Larry is right, if you’re talking out of your hat, then just say so.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Uh, I meant unimpeachable. Not impeachable. Completely different meaning. I apologize for my severe astigmatism.
July 7th, 2007 at 12:18 am
Varejao is a goof. Still, if the Grizzlies can’t get the guy they really want, and Varejao spends the next few years dining at a Memphis rib shack, I will always have tremendous respect for him as a result of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTidgKFsdl0
July 7th, 2007 at 9:57 am
We don’t need prospects (Blache/Navarro), we don’t need veteran stiffs (Steve Blake, Mo Peterson), and we don’t need over the hill former contributors (Wesley, Fisher,), and contractual baggage. Cap space is too precious (can you spell Newble, Jones, Marshall).
What we need is an NBA caliber point guard who can help put us over the top-aka Jason Kidd (also a leader). Enough lessons learned burning cap space on marginal players their teams don’t want that have serious limitations. Danny-go make the impact needed and get that point guard, do what you need to do in terms of moving contract for contract (Larry Huuuuuuuughs).
Brian-I enjoy your insight, I’ve heard you on several of the talk shows and you are one of the finest in terms of Cavaliers insight.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Randy, Navarro is not a prospect is the best combo guard of europe,more than 10 nba teams are interested in him
July 7th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
You somehow neglected to mention Ilgauskas when discussing baggage. The guy oughta try putting that bald spot to good use by selling advertising space to American Tourister and Samsonite.
I stumbled across an interesting tidbit, and I am awfully curious as to the identity of the Japanese publication for which our esteemed blog host purportedly writes. Until I read it, I did not realize he may know some Japanese words that don’t involve any lyrics from “Mr. Roboto.” Brian, what do you do for them, review our nation’s karaoke bars? “Sacramento International Airport was sushi-rific!”
July 7th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Oh, come on, Jes. More than 10 NBA teams are interested in him? Why, because his agent says so?
July 7th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Folks, I find it so easy to just scroll past A.T.’s rambling, incoherent diatribes, don’t you? Absolutely no one comes here to read a single thought from that guy, do they? Of course not. His attacks on blog-writing styles (where speculation, rumors, etc. is perfectly welcomed & expected) and grammer is space-filling nonsense.
Brian, keep the inside scoops coming, because we sure don’t get much from those boasters at “the big one.”
July 7th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
A false rumor presented as pure fact constitutes an “inside scoop?” Really? I did not know that.
Obviously, you scroll, Reality Check. Otherwise, you’d know I was not attacking a “blog-writing style.” I was attacking his stories PRINTED IN THE ACTUAL NEWSPAPER. I don’t give a crap what’s printed in a blog. Rumor away. But a NEWSpaper is not supposed to be a gossip column. There’s a separate place for that in the paper. Maybe Joan Rivers or Madonna is a subject there today, I don’t know. Haven’t read it.
When our blog host spent three years writing complete falsehoods about James’ endorsement contracts not containing escalation clauses, he had the guts to finally apologize in print for being misled and for being wrong. Granted, the mea culpa was done in this blog, not in the paper (at least I don’t recall seeing it there), but at least it was done.
July 7th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Oh, and one other question, Reality Check, because it has me fascinated…when in the hell have I ever attacked any person’s grammar other than my self-deprecating own? Seriously, what brand of crack are you smoking, dude?
July 8th, 2007 at 5:57 am
hay tucker, why yoo not so funny know moor? yoooo sound lyke yoo ar madd. the tuckker i no and luv is rilly funnee.
Sincerely, Billy’s dad
July 8th, 2007 at 6:00 am
Sorree, I ment sinseerly billy’s daD
July 8th, 2007 at 7:42 am
Jes, cmon-Navarro has never set foot on an NBA court and can only be defined as a prospect. We need a proven point guard, not the next Euro hope (ie Andrucevecious, or however you spell his name-remember him?).
As for Z-he’s contributing; starting, scoring, and rebounding. Maybe not to everyone’s standards-but contributing nontheless. He’s certainly not an empty cap eater like Hughes, Newble, Jones, Snow, et al.
July 8th, 2007 at 10:04 am
I have a question: Am I mis-remembering or didn’t BW travel out to Vegas for the summer league last year? Are the Beacon’s new owners too cheap to send him this year?
It would be nice to hear how Shannon Brown’s doing. I’ll bet Branson Wright’s out there.
July 8th, 2007 at 11:25 am
I believe I can answer your question, Larry. I spoke with former Beacon Journal writer Tom Reed. Apparently the Greyhound sending Brian to Vegas has been delayed by a clogged fuel filter somewhere near Albuquerque. It’s the weekend, and NAPA is closed. Have some patience.
July 8th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Randy, do you honestly believe Ilgauskas is “contributing” given the enormity of his contract and the very special skills of his teammate? I mean, those Monty Python catapults launched cows over the castle walls and crushed some enemy soldiers, lords and ladies on the other side, but do you really want to take that same deadly cow-launcher and storm the shores of Normandy? Sure, a few Krauts would have been killed by flying bovines, but the first 15 minutes of Spielberg’s movie wouldn’t have been nearly as effective.
July 8th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Reality Check’s right. I finished reading through these comments much faster than usual because I got tired of AT and was pushing right on past those posts. AT’s gonna have to come up with a different name if he wants to get read.
July 8th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
If you want to read my posts, that’s fine, if you don’t want to read my posts, that’s fine, too. Why are you so concerned about what I write, anyway? That’s a more profound question than why folks would spread a rumor that the latest in Eurotrash is a hot commodity. Unless Pau Gasol needs a pal to flick the fleas out of his beard, why would anybody want this guy? He’s a dime a dozen.
July 8th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
By the way, I was speaking of that Dave Navarro guy from Jane’s Addiction and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or whatever that guard’s name is. I’m not talking about Varejao being Pau’s beard flea-flicker, as I actually think Varejao is a pretty decent guy to have around as a backup playing 20-25 minutes a game. Or, in the Cavs’ case, a starter and Ilgauskas bolted to the bench. Ferry’s already destroyed the salary cap, anyway, so if the sole issue is the luxury tax, then I say match whatever offer he happens to get.
July 8th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Alan-given the lack of low post centers anywhere in the NBA, yes I think Z is contributing. He forces defenses to guard the low post-it’s not his fault that the CAVS have nobody who can hit an outside shot. If and when we do acquire someone who can consistenly hit from the outside-the inside out game with LeBron and Z would be very effective.
Z makes $11M per year, certainly not chump change but not a Larry Hughes situation. The guy would get that or more on the open market-again, there are very few legitimate low post centers in the NBA. No he’s not Shaq, but he is an option and does do some things well. He’s the least of our problems. I think you’ll also find that he’s tradeable if the CAVS want to go that route-unlike Larry Hughes and his absurd contract and mediocre skills and bad attitude. (Eric Snow is another example of a huge contract who is untradeable-the guy will make 8 Million each of the next two years. When put in that context Z is serviceable).
July 8th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Actually, Randy, there’s not a chance in hell Ilgauskas would ever get that on the open market again. Nor, for that matter, would he have gotten anything remotely close to it from anybody else when he re-upped, let alone that 15% escalation clause which effectively prevents him from ever being traded. If Ferry wanted to be a meanie to his old buddy and sign him for the mid-level exception, he could have. In fact, he should have. Ferry is the worst kind of negotiator on the planet, the kind that bids against himself.
True or false: Despite having LeBron James, the Cavs’ offense is absolutely terrible.
The obvious answer to this question has always made me wonder why in the hell the Z devotees always raise the point of his offensive game as some sort of valuable attribute for the team. Seems to me Ilgauskas’ very presence on the court has produced the exact opposite.
July 8th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
When I said Ferry could have signed him for the mid-level exception, I meant he could have signed him for similar money…technically, and perhaps somebody who knows more about the collective bargaining agreement can chime in here, I don’t believe the mid-level exception is used to sign your own free agents.
July 8th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
On second thought, maybe I’m wrong, maybe the mid-level exception could have been used, as Ilgauskas was unrestricted. Somebody help me out here.
July 8th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Sorry Alan-can’t agree with you about Z. And I repeat, he’s the least of the Cav’s problems. You should focus your wrath where it belongs (Hughes, Newble, Snow, Jones, Marshall).
July 8th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
And, try (or try not) to imagine the Cavs offense without Z in the low block. That would be a gaping whole-his value is more in what he prevents than what he appears to produce. Take him out and you are left with a Mikki Moore type low post presence-minor league.
Sorry, but we totally disagree on this one. I’m not here to make Z out to be what he’s not-but until you have a better option I’m not buying it.
July 8th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
A better option? Randy, there is no better option. Ilgauskas is here to stay. There won’t be any better option until Ferry’s long assembly line of horrible contracts start coming off the books.
I mean, let’s be serious. Read the original blog entry. Fans are actually supposed to “chew on” the prospect of Etan Thomas or Brendan Hayward in a Cavaliers uniform. This is the best hope that 2007-2008 has to offer? It’s depressing. If Gilbert had business sense, he’d open up a pharmacy next to the gift shop.
July 9th, 2007 at 6:31 am
I repeat, Z is the least of the CAVS issues.
Etan Thomas and/or Brendan Haywood won’t be coming here-please. Before you continue to bash the 2007 Eastern Conference Champions wait until they’ve made their moves. “Let’s be serious”.
July 9th, 2007 at 8:19 am
I am not bashing the “2007 Eastern Conference Champions,” which is like saying I’m bashing the sexiest one of my dog’s nipples. No, I’m bashing a 6′10″ white guy with a shaved head.
And if indeed “Z is the least of the CAVS issues,” then Ferry’s “moves” will be just for show. It will be like watching Bono clean New Orleans with a Dustbuster.
July 9th, 2007 at 9:28 am
The team that deserves your wrath would be Larry Dolan’s phony organization. Now that’s a team run without committment to anything other than filling Dolan’s buck teeth filled pockets. The Indians continue to have the lowest payroll in the central division, and one of the lowest in baseball. Fans that would support that with their own pocketbook should check themselves.
The Cavs are a different story-Gilbert is totally committed to excellence and doing whatever it takes, spending money included. I can attest to how they treat season ticket holders-unlike any other in Cleveland sports.
Not a perfect situation, but one committed to moving in the right direction.
I have confidence in the Gilbert/Ferry operation that things will get done. I’ll reserve my bashing for Larry Huuuuuughes and his thievery at this point, knowing things will keep moving foward. Today Eastern Conference Champions……..tomorrow…………..
July 9th, 2007 at 10:03 am
If Gilbert truly cared about the season ticket holders, he’d make them turn down the decibels and would dispense with the phony canned crowd noise. The atmosphere at Cavaliers home games is a combination of Spinal Tap and Milli Vanilli. Thank God my season ticket-holding father is dead, because Gilbert’s circus would have killed him.
July 9th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Mr. Tucker: When you say “eurotrash” talks about two guys that win the World Championship this summer, while the “dreamteam” watch the final at tv? Or maybe about the MVP this season? Please. Be respecful.
July 9th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Kenny Natt, cavs asst. coach as left for the Kings, Wow, what will we do now.
July 9th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
go to http://www.cavs.com and click on shannon brown picture to see his monster slam last night. also dgibson sprained his ankle and dawayne jones grabbed ll boards. I believed Shannon Brown is the real deal and will need some significant playing time, so bye-bye, Sasha.
July 9th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Oh, come on, Randy. How can you question Dolan’s commitment to winning when the Indians have consistently signed marquee free agents like David Dellucci, Jason Michaels, Trot Nixon, Roberto Hernandez, Jason Johnson, and Keith Foulke under his watch?
I can’t wait til next year when they coax Harold Baines out of retirement to play right field.
July 9th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
WTF-my man! Finally, someone who GETS it as far as the Indians are concerned. You sound like me trying to talk sense into my friends………
Delucci, Fultz, Hernandez, Borowski (and his 5.5 era)……real committment in the off-season for a team that tells us they are contenders. Once again, lack of money spent on bullpen and corner outfield will do this team in. Take a bow Dolan and Shapiro-not everyone is fooled.
July 9th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I also like Shannon Brown’s athleticism, just hoping he can hit an open J as well.
July 9th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Wayne, I stand by “Eurotrash.” Besides, it’s catchier than “Spanish Carp.”
July 9th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
I went to school with an Alan Tucker………..glasses, short, chubby.
July 9th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
I believe you may have me confused with that guy the Suns just drafted. You forgot black.
July 9th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Carp is what you’ve got in your brain? Sorry i’m not speak english. I’m spaniard
July 9th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Well, since there is already a “Spanish Chocolate,” I figured “Spanish Carp” might be a possibility. Would you prefer “Spanish Fudge?” “Spanish Rice?” “Spanish Boobie?”