Las Vegas — So the Cavs and Kings are at it again with Mike Bibby. As one of the three writers who was swarming all over UNLV to break this story yesterday, I still am not quite sure why this deal broke down. It certainly looked like it was going to happen when both Damon Jones and Drew Gooden were in the gym with the Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof and their entire front office. Let me also pass this along, Danny Ferry really wanted the rights to Luis Scola from the Spurs. I mean really, really, really wanted him. It would also make sense for the Spurs not to hand players to a division rival for nothing but money. Yet, no dice.
The only thing I can think is the Kings just still aren’t happy with the package being offered. The Cavs can offer Gooden and expiring contracts (Ira Newble, David Wesley) or they can offer Gooden and a shooter (Jones) or a combination of both. They are still trying to get a third team involved, just as they were for hours and hours back in February, to sweeten the package. With all this talk, my gut tells me this probably gets done at some point in the future. They aren’t going to give up now.
On the Anderson Varejao front, one league executive told me yesterday: “This is going to be one to watch.” He meant for entertainment value, in a sick, detatched way. Andy’s agent, Dan Fegan, is looking for the big score. I’m talking about something like $9-$10 million a year. I believe the Cavs are offering something much closer to $6 million a year. You don’t have to be a math major to know that is a wide gap. The Cavs will not pay it and, because Varejao is restricted and no teams who want Varejao have cap space left, they will not have to pay it. They do not have to do a sign-and-trade for it if they don’t feel like it, either. Here’s the thing, though, Fegan does not like to compromise. He may rather have Andy play out a one-year qualifying offer and become unrestricted next summer.
Now, this doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. First off, because’s a second round pick, his qualifying offer is only $1.3 million. Sasha Pavlovic’s, for example, is around $4 million. That means Andy potentially would be leaving $5 million on the table just this season alone. This is a guy who has made just $2.6 million over the last three years combined. He may never make up that money. Second, next summer the free agent market is deeper and there are no teams that will have a bunch of money. So if he leaves the Cavs, it very likely would be just for the mid-level exception, which will be around $5.5 million next year. Does that make sense? No, but it does make a point, which is what Fegan might want to do.
Here’s something you need to keep in mind that no one is talking about. Andy really, really wants to play for Brazil in next month’s FIBA Americas Tournament. He loves playing for the national team and the Brazilians are fighting for one of the two spots in the Olympics next year. With the Americans and Argentines there, they need their best players. Andy can’t risk playing without a contract, remember he blew out his shoulder playing for the national team two years ago. I have not spoken to Andy since the season ended, so maybe his feelings have changed. But he’s always expressed to me how he wants to make the basketball team as popular as a the national soccer team, when the whole country shuts down to watch. That is probably unrealistic, but Andy always sounded passionate about it. Anyway, that means the contract has to get done in the next few weeks if he wants to play. We’ll see…
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Odd, jmoe…I’ve never personally attacked you in the comments section of this blog, and yet you see fit to lower yourself to Joe Taint’s level. Uh, I mean Rick’s level. Or whatever screen name he’s using this hour.
Nope…still Rick. Thanks for noticing but I’m not trying to draw attention to myself. But good to know that without a current coma crisis in your life, you are more than able to check up on these boards once an hour to verify if my screen name has changed. By the way, the quotes around my name earlier was a nice touch – I would never have been able to guess what you were implying with the quotes. But now that you’ve directly come out and accused me of being someone else, I can put 2 and 2 together and figure out your childish meaning of the quotes. I r teh smart.
Hey everyone look at me! I’m posting again to make you aware I still exist. I didn’t mean the grammer/spelling/whatever mistake in my last post so I’m posting again just to say don’t get obsessed over one grammatical error. Look at me! I’m Alan Tucker!! Hey guys…its me again!!! Don’t mock me for my spelling mistakes….please like me anyways! Accept me for being Alan!! Hey, look at me – its Alan again! Hey hey hey!! It’s me – you do like me don’t you? Its Alan, I like the attention!! Look at me!!!
Like I said, dude. Gemini.
Ah, right on time…like clockwork – see ya at 4pm Alan!
And please…explain the gemini thing to me…how does that relate to how bad the Eastern Conference is? Or how bad the Cavs are? Or how bad it is not to be in a coma? Or whatever sucks in your life today? I’m not as smart as you so by explaining, you get the attention you crave and perhaps convert one more to your pathetic whiny cause.
Wow. I thought they apprehended the guy that tried to kidnap Letterman’s kid.
Nice one – that the best you can come up with now? You’re slipping big time…you’ll really have to make up for it on the next post. These snappy one liners just aren’t cutting it, especially not from the great Alan Tucker!
By the way, I changed my screen name – its more catchy and works to your attention seeking ways. Win win. Feel free to criticize the Cavs for this one too.
hey alan you have met your match. what are you going to do next.?…….by the way fellas this is a sports blog, take your lovers spat to a online chat room.
Allan the natives are getting restless, dude, you better run and hide, because your ass is grass.
Aw man, the anticipation, the suspense, the drama….He must have a good one cooking to let this past hour go by w/o a single post. I just know he will come thru for us! He has to, doesn’t he? I mean, well, he’s Alan Tucker dammit. And if he fails on his mission of complete and utter negativity, what hope is there for the rest of us?
This next one is gonna be good…just do it Alan.
If Damon Jones is the reason we didnt get Mike Bibby, a shorter, weaker version of Larry Hughes, we should all go down to the local skin bar and thank him. This team needs Mike Bibby like a fish needs a bike.
At this point, I feel bad for both of you. Honestly, this is pathetic. Two grown men (I’m assuming) going back and forth and getting your panties in a bunch… and for what?
Tucker, being a gemini is not a valid excuse for dropping thousands of messages on internet chat boards each day. Go outside and get some fresh air. And seriously, “I’m a gemini”? What are you, a 13 yr old Cosmopolitan-reading girl?
As far as the playoffs go, while the East was weak and we got a good draw, New Jersey has 3 players who are All-Star caliber or close, and Detroit is always a threat… and CLEVELAND BEAT THEM, bottom line. I didnt hear anyone bashing the Heat’s path to the finals. Wonder why that is? Is everyone afraid of Shaq? Does the media have a giant crush on Wade? Or does the media have it out for Cleveland? I think we all know the answer. Let the media hate… all the way to a title.
Sup Lebron, how you doin bro? That ESPY show was slick. You da man.
Josh you are a fricking moron and Alan is king. Dude do you honestly
think the Cavs could beat any of the following 5 West teams in a 7
gamer.
1)San Antonio-ALREADY ANSWERED
2)Phoenix-they would beat us by 20 at AM WEST
3) Dallas-they would beat us in 5 regardless of what the Warriors did
to them
4) Utah-LOOZERS REDEMPTION
5) Denver-AI and Mello gang up on MC Whammer I mean LBJ
The only threat Detroit poses is to the Geritol title. And New Jerseys
new team name is the GUNS.
How many titles do the Suns, Mavs, Jazz, and Nuggets have b/t them. Zippo. The Spurs are the only team that should concern the Cavs. Come on, could the Nuggets beat the Pistons in seven? Give credit where credit is due. There were only two Conference Champs last year. Go Cavs.
Hey Tuck
Let these guys off the hook already or get your own website.
alan ran and hid because he realize his ass was grass and that he was going to be smoked.
The thing I love is how Alan simply refuses to acknowledge the fact that the Cavs beat the Pistons. All he can talk about is how the two teams they beat before that were “crap” or “jv” or whatever. The fact remains, Tucker: the CAVS beat the PISTONS. Say what you want about the nets and wizards, and no one is arguing with you that those two teams sucked. But they beat the Pistons, and no one was putting down the Pistons’ roster. But I realize, to acknowledge that would be like acknowledging how bald, fat, and pathetic you really are. And hey, in three years you can start up with your “LeBron is leaving for Brooklyn” rhetoric again. Gives you hope doesn’t it? Almost enough hope to wake up from a coma.
DAMN TUCKER, YOU CANNOT BUY A BREAK, DUDE GET YOUR HEAD FROM BETWEEN YOUR LEGS AND COME OUT AND FIGHT LIKE A MAN…… ONLY IN CLEVELAND CAN A FAT DRUNK CONVICTED GAMBLER GET A TALK SHOW.IE BRUCE DRENNEN
Jmoe,
“….faggot Damona….”?
I don’t care for him, either, but is was that necessary?
KEEP THE FIVE WE HAVE WE MADE IT THIS YEAR WE WILL WIN IT ALL NEXT YEAR JUST WATCH LEBRON AND BOOBIE
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CAVSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
LEBRON MAYBE A GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER…..BUT HE IS NOT I REPEAT IS NOT A VERY GOOD PERSON……JUST ASK MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER…WHO CRIED AFTER MEETING LEBRON…….NO NOT TEARS OF JOY…. OR EXCITEMENT…….BUT HURT FEELINGS……BECAUSE LEBRON WAS SO RUDE TO HER…AND ALL SHE DID WAS WALK UP TO HIM AND SAY CONGRADS ON WINNING THE EASTERN CONF…AND ASKED FOR HIS AUTOGRAPH…AND GET THIS… NO MATTER WHO I HAVE TOLD THIS STORY….ABOUT HOW RUDE LEBRON WAS TO MY 13 YR OLD DAUGHTER….THE ONES WHO HAVE HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH HIM HAVE A VERY SIMULAR STORY…JUST THINK,HE LIVED AROUND THE CORNER FROM US JUST A FEW YEARS BACK…BUT HE ACTS AS IF HE WAS BORN INTO BLUE BLOOD….YEAH RIGHT!!! ALL I CAN SAY LEBRON IS…… “BREAK A LEG”…BIG GUY…..
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