Been away for a little bit, here’s some points on recent Cavs goings on. Most of it is from this story that ran Sunday, which had the most Cavs news I’ve been able to report in awhile.
–There has been no official announcement on John Kuester being named an assistant coach yet, but my sources on the matter are rock solid. From the people I have talked to, the decision to hire him is a solid one. I don’t know John, but he has been described to me as a pro’s pro who is very experienced. He’s been a head coach on the college level and been with numerous NBA teams. Experienced with a championship ring, he is exactly the type of candidate the Cavs said they wanted when they started the process. He is known as a guy who is a strong all around coach. I know this is not the type of candidate many fans wanted, but as I’ve been writing for a year now Danny Ferry and Mike Brown do not believe they need a so-called “offensive coordinator/guru.” I have talked to both men about it and they have presented their reasoning to me and I don’t see it changing any time soon. One theory is that you can’t call offensive sets like defensive sets, which are usually changed in timeouts. Second, Mike Brown believes he’s learning and getting better at coaching offense. That doesn’t mean there won’t be changes, I’m just trying to explain their thinking on the offensive coordinator issue.
How did Kuester get the job? He got a strong recommendation from Gregg Popovich among other things. He is a part of the extensive Larry Brown coaching tree, first playing at North Carolina and then coaching with him in Philadelphia and Detroit. It was Popovich who gave Mike Malone, in my mind one of the brightest young assistants in the NBA, a recommendation when Mike Brown was looking to assemble his staff two summers ago.
–On to Allan Houston, who has been planning this comeback and has been on the Cavs radar for some time now. The reason he made it public now is the recent signing of Penny Hardaway and the Celtics’ pursuit of Reggie Miller. Houston let it be known to ESPN, who he works for, that he’s on the market, too. At 36, he might have something left in the tank if his knee is truly OK. I know the Cavs are thinking about it and they’ll probably work him out or watch him work out if they haven’t already. If he wants to play in Cleveland and he can help there is no reason for the Cavs not to pursue this option because he was and probably still is a great shooter. Houston is also known for his high character, which the Cavs put an emphasis on. He’s six years young than Miller, but then again Miller didn’t have to retire years early because of chronic knee problems.
If the Cavs are somehow convinced he can contribute, a deal may come down to two factors. Just what his role would be, considering the Cavs want to continue to develop Daniel Gibson. Houston told ESPN that he wants to be a role player, but it sounded like he wanted a defined role. And perhaps whether the Cavs or anyone else is willing to guarantee him a contract. The Heat signed Hardaway to a nonguaranteed deal, but Houston surely will want his guaranteed.
–Assuming Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic re-sign, the Cavs are looking at having three open roster spots. Scot Pollard is now in Boston and that is a loss because he was a quality fifth big man. They Cavs just never needed him, which didn’t make him happy to be sure. So that spot is open. The Cavs have been trying to trade for a versatile backup big man. With the news of Adonal Foyle being bought out by the Warriors, I wouldn’t be surprised if they put in a call to him. Foyle is a good shot blocker and is an excellent character guy to have in the locker room. We’ll see what his market is.
It sounds like David Wesley is going to retire. His contract, as has been reported, is only partially guaranteed ($250,000 of $1.75 million.). Unlike some veteran contracts, which become fully guaranteed in August or September, Wesley’s doesn’t until Jan. 10. So the Cavs will have until then to trade the contract, which can be used to reduce another team’s salary. So they are not in a rush to make a move with it. However, their $2.2 million trade exception expires in mid-October. This is also an empty roster spot and could be filled with a guy like Houston. Or not filled at all before the season, the Cavs are up against the luxury tax and they have lots of guards.
The third empty spot is Dwayne Jones’ role. It may be filled by Jones again, who looked terrible at the start of summer league but improved afterward and has a legit shot at making the team. He has the potential to be a very good rebounder, but his hands and footwork need improvement. We’ll have to see what the roster looks like come training camp.
–This is vacation time in the NBA for players, agents and GMs. Things don’t get done in August very much. Never say never, but I don’t expect there to be much movement on any front for the next few weeks.
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This Houston thing is just so unbelievably stupid. Houston can’t move. Can’t rebound. Can’t pass. Can’t defend. Shoot? Indeed, even Danny Ferry had a better career field goal percentage than Houston. Come to think of it, Ferry is such a classic example of the very definition of the Peter Principle, why doesn’t he just cut to the chase and simply sign himself. Seriously.
Is it possible that Dwayne Jones is just one of those big men that are slow to develop? He looks like, if he put it all together, he might fill the role of backup center. He seemed to be doing that in the Summer League. Besides, it doesn’t seem to me that there are many decent big men available. I assume any major trade would be for an up-grade in the point guard position, which would not include a high quality big man.
Is Allan Houston going to give the Cavs anything more than Damon Jones? or Snow? or Marshall? What is the freaking point to this? We have enough old guys hobbling and meandering slowly around the court. Unbelievably stupid signing if it happens.
Allan Houston, who cares, Cleveland is probably fourth in the east right now, behind Chicago, Boston, Detroit and Miami, oh, I’m sorry fifth. The team made it to the finals becsue of all the lame ducks in the east. Many of those ducks are fixed and walking fine now. Cleveland wants to contend they better find a runing mate for L. J., like hey, how about D. Wade or some other supper star-hopefully Damon Jones is a goner, as well as D Marshall. Lets get with it Cleveland or you’ll be sucking exhust all seson long. Mike Bibby anyone!!!!
why not give him a shot. there isn’t anyone else out there. sasha is our closest thing to a consistent 3 point shooter. also, if we sign him to a one year deal, it doesn’t matter who he is. he will have value when the trade deadline comes around. if he still has game bring him in. i trust ferry. keep continuity, and just fill in the holes. remember, we only made the NBA finals last year
Come on Allan Houston, if you gonna do that then go after someone who has some kinda presence….like Olajawon.(LOL)
I’m beginning to think that Danny Ferry, as a general manager, is looking to finish the job he started as a player, destroying the Cavaliers. I just hope Lebron can get out of Ohio while he’s healthy and end up on a team that can develope his talent.
Dunno if Houston is really gonna be able to help us much. If he accepted the Vet minimum, and we were planning on trading one or more of our guards that are currently sitting on the bench, then I guess it would be an okay signing, if it was for only one year, and at the minimum. But, if we aren’t trading away Damon,or Sasha or Eric, or Shannon,etc, then I don’t see the point in having him. All he is good for, assuming him knees are healthy, is 5-8 minutes max, because he cannot play defense.
I really don’t see it happening. I’m sure Allan would love to come to Cleveland, and ride our coat-tail to the finals…but I don’t think it’ll be happening.
Why don,t we just bring boat shoes out of retirement. He can
play with some of these bozos to see first hand the errors of
his ways. Yay lets go sign some old fart who can,t move.
He can stand around with everybody else and watch the 24
second clock expire. Lets not look at Boykins or somebody
who might uptempo our offense. Heavens no, Coach Potato
Head has another 3 years to wiggle his fingers between his
fat lips and spit into that disgusting cup before he installs his
version of the fast break “the turtle crawl”.
For the next three years of Ilgauskas, an uptempo offense is impossible, so why even bother raising the issue? Earl Boykins? There’s not a point guard, an “offense coordinator” nor a NASCAR crew pit in the world that can fix this flat until Z takes a permanent seat off to the side of the court.
With that said, I was actually halfway serious about Ferry. Why doesn’t he just sign himself? If he wants a retired stiff with rotting knees, why not just take a long loving look in his own bathroom mirror at home? Really.
Two years ago they needed shooters, a point guard and a presence at center, and two years later, they need shooters, a point guard and a presence at center. Since it’s become painfully clear this guy is incompetent in his front office position, why not become the first official player/GM in NBA history? I’ll bet after a few months of consistent practice, he could hang around the arc and occasionally sink one. And he won’t have any agent fees to contend with. What’s the going agent rate, 4%? 5%? 6%? 10%? Whatever it is these days, that’s cash money that Ferry can keep at 100%. Where’s he live, Westlake? Solon? The agent savings alone is more than enough to build both an addition and a nice deck, isn’t it? I’m no Bob Vila, but I think it is.
Was Jordan an official player/GM, or did he have to relinquish his GM role in order to play? Can’t remember.
Gene,
The Cavs had a supper star and it never seemed to benefit them. His name was Robert ‘Tractor’ Traylor.
Brian,
Since there’s no basketball news to write about, can you please comment on Terry Pluto’s move to the Plain Dealer?
Was he a free agent? Did the ABJ trade him for D’Arcy Egan and a monogrammed Roger Brown coffee mug?
How will this move affect the ABJ sports roster? Do you have to armwrestle Sheldon Ocker for Pluto’s cubicle? Are you in line for the columnist position?
Give us the dirt, man. Lord knows you don’t have anything else to report on this time of year.
“For the next three years of Ilgauskas, an uptempo offense is impossible, so why even bother raising the issue?”
When Z is off the court we can run. When Z is on the court we can run at times. We just need to pick our spots. We need a team with balance and I think Z gives us that. A team that runs all the time would fizzle in the postseason.
By the way, when Lebron was out last year the Cavs averaged 112 ppg and had their 3 of their highest fast break totals of the season. They were 3-1 and Z was on the floor. He had no problem with the uptempo of those games. Jabbar did fine with the uptempo Lakers and he was in a wheel chair…Chief did it with the uptempo Celtics and he had prosthetic legs. Those teams had games in the 130’s and neither of them dropped dead. Z can trigger fast breaks, he doesn’t need to finish them.
Z is the king of running the floor!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGzRpfwW_6w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjIbpy0UzsU
I agree with Kenny that Z can play uptempo basketball in the right offense. I’ve thought for years now that the outlet pass is a lost art in the NBA and especially on the Cavaliers.
Almost every time our big men come down with a rebound, *insert inept ballhandler here* stands two feet away to get the ball and turn up court. Drew and Z both have the ability to make long passes up court. I’d like to see our guards getting the outlet pass at half court and pushing before the big guys on either team even get up court.
On another note, as an almost lifetime resident of Akron, I’m sad to see Terry Pluto leave, but glad that he’s sticking with a local paper. On the bright side, J.A. Adande of the L.A. Times and Around the Horn joined ESPN’s NBA staff today… hopefully that translates into a couple more years of BW at the Beacon.
The Cavs are now the 5th best team in the East? What exactly did Detroit, Miami, and Chicago do to address their needs? Oh yeah, Miami lost their best shooter and added Penny Hardaway. Chicago decided to add low-post scoring by drafting Joahkim Noah, and Detroit resigned Chauncey Buh Buh Buh Big Shot Billups – who looked like a poor man’s Boobie Gibson in the playoffs.
Kenny Roda is Awful, no way on God’s green earth that they can ever run an uptempo offense with Ilgauskas. Never. You can’t compare him to the aging version of Kareem, the Lakers had awesome talent to make up for the times he decided to let them play four on five.
And what’s going on with Terry Pluto? I just read these posts here that he’s auctioned himself and his choir to the Plain Dealer??? Is Livingston or Shaw going to another paper, or what? Ferry sleeping on his ineptitude isn’t news. That was expected. But this? THIS is news. Somebody please fill me in. This isn’t one of those totally phony “Mo Williams was THIS close to signing with the Cavs” types of stories, is it?
http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2007/08/terry_pluto_joins_plain_dealer.html
Oh, and those YouTube videos of Ilgauskas…I do admit that approximately once a season, Ilgauskas somehow, out of complete nowhere, suddenly channels the spirit of a young Arvydas Sabonis. Even lumbering around and tripping over his feet until the age of 35, I anticipate he’ll still be able to do it once a season. But his once-a-season aberration certainly doesn’t give the Cavs a steady fast-break option. Their best fast-break option is for him to retire.
I sure hope we don’t fill up another roster spot with dead air like Allan Houston, a fine set shooter in his day. He brings back too many memories of David Wesley. Rather keep that roster spot freed up for some real current NBA talent. And GET that point guard.
John Kuester is a good hire from what I can tell……an agressive offensive minded coach (he was a point guard) with a winning pedigree. I like it.
Call me crazy but I’d love to see the Cavs sign Foyle. I’d also love to see Foyle start.
But nobody’s as crazy as Ferry. League sources tell me Ferry tried to lure Terry Furlow with a multiyear contract, but Furlow wants to find a team that will let him occasionally drive to the hoop.
Ferry tried to lure Terry Furlow with a multiyear contract? Wow. Today Terry Furlow, tomorrow George Mikan. Those Duke continuing education seance classes are really paying big dividends.
Whoops. I meant George’s son LARRY Mikan. George never played for the Cavs. Larry did.
Dang. My unnamed league source is usually very reliable. Maybe he meant Ron Brewer Sr.
Danny Ferry “shot his wadd” (monetarily) with all his “shooter” signings in the last couple years (like Donyell Marshall, Damon Jones, and, more recently, David Wesley) and now is in a straightjacket this year to (surprise!) try to get the Cavs a shooter. What’s up with guys coming to the Cavs then they can’t shoot worth a lick anymore (see Jeri Welsh and all of the above, for the most part)? It’s as if their shooter “mojo” dries up when they hit the floor for the Cavs…can anyone explain this phenomenon? (note: I wonder if Danny is playing “possum” this year so he can go after Gilbert Arenas next year…also they say next year’s free agent class is much better than this year’s…anyone know (other than Gilbert Arenas) who’s going to be available next year?)
Here is a list of next year’s FA Class –
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=2008FreeAgents
I agree that Bruce Drennan is a felon.
That’s a pretty lousy list of free agents. Who cares about the restricted free agents. Unless you’ve got knuckleheads like Paxson and Gund at the helm, a restricted free agent means little. The unrestricted free agents are what’s important, that selection is pretty paltry. None of the really good free agents will ever come to Cleveland to play the role of LeBron’s concierge, so let’s nip that in the bud right now.
I think houston would at least be a change that may help! WE need some type of change,anything but do some thing. The caves are a good teen” and for all thoes haters out there they will be back better and smarter then before.
Welcome ALLAN!!