For the last two years the Cavaliers have mostly enjoyed harmony and good chemistry. It has been part of the reason they’ve become one of the best teams in the league even though from top to bottom they do not have the best talent. While other teams have had players fight, demand trades, boycott their coach and the like, the Cavs have gotten along for the most part. Those intangibles and under valued attributes like defense and rebounding made the Cavs an elite team. But, as Paul Silas liked to say, “Ain’t nothing in the NBA going to be a bed of roses.” So, at long last, here come some thorns.
Despite having three months to reach deals, the Cavs will open training camp without Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao. Neither of them signed deals my midnight Sunday and they are now, effectively, holding out.
I have written a great deal about Sasha and Andy over the last few months. There is no way to predict how things will go now. Their decision to not take qualifying offers is unprecedented in recent NBA history. It is a radical attempt to summon up some leverage, which they do not have now. There is some belief among people in the league that Varejao and Pavlovic are actually working together behind the scenes are are trying to put pressure on the Cavs by staying at home. There will certainly be pressure on the front office from the Cavs players and coaches, who surely want their full team on the floor, and from the fans, most of whom don’t understand why the Cavs aren’t signing key players.
Here is the nitty gritty: Money is so tight in the NBA right now that agents are getting radical. Only two free agents got more than the mid-level exception this summer while changing teams, Rashard Lewis and Darko Milicic. Guess how many free agents got the full mid-level exception for max years this summer? Try zero. Three years ago, there were around a dozen, last year there were just four. They were Joel Pryzbilla (Blazers), Nazr Mohammed (Pistons), Vladimir Radmanovic (Lakers) and Jared Jeffries (Knicks). Think any of those teams are happy with those deals at this point? Well, it’s showing in the marketplace.
Last season, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban correctly predicted this summer would be a “nuclear winter” for free agents. For the most part, he was right. Guess what, a peek at next summer looks like it will even be worse because there is less money and better free agents. After heavy spending from 2004-2006 (including a big salary-cap jump in ‘05), many teams are very close to the luxury tax these days and spending likely isn’t going back up until the summer of 2009.
Sasha and Andy are caught in the tightening and the Cavs are staring at a market without opposing bidders and where flexibility with contracts is more valuable than salary-cap space. So Danny Ferry is making what he considers is the proper decision for the long-term health of the roster and franchise, even if it is unpopular. Meanwhile, Pavlovic and Varejao are coming off career years and trying to get paid like their brethern have for the last three summers. They can’t be blamed for that.
I can explain all day why there is an impasse, but I can’t tell you how or when it is going to get resolved.
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Frank, I just finished reading your post … What??? That “had exactly one year?” In the summer of 2005, Ferry still had THREE MORE YEARS of James. At minimum. Are you telling me that Ferry couldn’t put together a series of powerhouse trades within a three-year span? By all rights, the Cavs should have been the team that plows their way to NBA titles. Now it’s never going to happen, and any Cavs fan who isn’t upset and frustrated by all this just wasn’t around when Ferry ruined the 90s Cavs with his first tour of duty. Ferry is a living breathing Vietnam flashback.
I’ll save the time of having to use a search engine for that planted story. Many agents may be sleazy, but nobody can reasonably argue they’re not clever.
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Cavs’ Varejao Gets Hefty Contract Offer
Move puts team in danger of paying luxury tax
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
As expected, the Cavaliers may have a difficult decision upcoming with free agent big man Anderson Varejao.
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 season.
Such an offer could be for up to five years and around $40 million or more. Only a handful of teams have cap space to make such an offer, but the one likely after Varejao is the Memphis Grizzlies.
An active player and rebounder, he fits with the up-tempo style of new coach Marc Iavaroni.
Varejao is a restricted free agent, which means the Cavs would have the option to match an offer sheet he could sign with another team.
Offer sheets can’t be signed until July 11 and the Cavs would then have a week to match.
Team sources indicate the Cavs would like to keep Varejao but they are wary of overpaying as they head into the luxury tax next season. Which makes the decision complex, especially with Drew Gooden as the team’s starter.
Varejao is currently out of the country and is preparing to play for Brazil in the FIBA Americas Championship in August.
What’s your point? It was a lie, and Ferry called his bluff. So what?
Speaking of human conduits, I’d be doing a disservice if I didn’t also include a sentence from the always rib-tickling funny Bob Finnan – -
“The Grizzlies would pair the 6-foot-10, 240-pound Varejao with 7-foot Pau Gasol in an imposing front line under new coach Marc Iavaroni.”
What do you mean what’s my point? My point is that Ferry and his minions go about planting stories with the press all the time. My point is this buffoon was so damn sure of himself, that the one time he actually needed to start a rumor, he didn’t.
Pavlovic has no leverage. Contrary to what you read here, Varejao still has it. The closer to the regular season it gets, the more leverage he’s going to have.
Hahahaha…..now THAT’S comedy, Alan.
I just saw we signed Hassan Adams to our training camp roster. Anyone think there’s any chance he can make the team and contribute anything at all?
Comedy? You wait. They can posture all they want, the closer it gets to the regular season, the more Ferry is going to twitch. More than the mid-level exception, but slightly less than Gooden. Count on it.
In a somewhat sadistic kind of way, I’d even like to see Ilgauskas get hurt during a preseason game, and then sit back and watch Ferry’s pasty face sweat like a walrus at SeaWorld. Not because I want Ilgauskas to get hurt, but because Ferry deserves it.
Based upon what I’ve read about Hassan Adams, apparently he can “contribute” the liquor cabinet he keeps in his car.
I just heard Larry Hughes accepted Allah as his lord and savior and now goes by the name Mustafah Hussein.
Will that increase his shooting percentage?
Despite all the complaints about Ferry, he put together a team that got to the NBA Finals. It was clear even last year that the market for restricted free agents was drying up, and Ferry took advantage by signing Drew Gooden to a contract that works for the Cavaliers. The market was weak again this year, and Ferry has patiently waited for Varejao and Pavlovic to realize that millions of dollars aren’t exactly waiting for them out there in the market. They will realize this eventually, or they will take a huge hit in their personal earnings.
Hey, Latrell Sprewell thought he was worth a lot. He’s still unemployed and lost his boat.
The entire NBA is full of overpriced players clogging up the salary cap. The Suns, that beacon of NBA excellence, had to give up two first round draft picks just to get rid of Kurt Thomas and the awful contract they gave him. Chicago is paying Ben Wallace $16 Million, or more than the mid-level exception *more* than Z. Bryan Colangelo was such a good GM that he was able to put a team together that was eliminated by the Nets in the first round, while paying Rasho Nesterovic $7.2 Mil.
Now tell me, who’s worth more, Andy or Rasho Nesterovic?
Look, Danny Ferry has made his fair share of mistakes, but on the whole, he’s done a good job. So has Coach Brown. So have LeBron James and the rest of the roster. They have exceeded everyone’s expectations so far, and I’m certainly not expecting that to change any time soon.
Go Cavs.
Mike C.
Mike C.-well said brother.
Mike, be serious. Ironically enough, it was San Antonio that signed Nesterovic to that contract. Then Colangelo was able to get San Antonio to effectively pay Nesterovic’s way to Toronto by getting “cash considerations,” along with being able to unload two of his own contracts. Then next summer, Colangelo has a nice expiring contract to trade. I mean, in two out the past three seasons, his own peers have voted Colangelo the NBA Executive of the Year. How many of those same peers do you thing have ever voted for Ferry? Ten bucks says he’s a private joke in the inner circle of good GMs, like Joe Piscopo used to be with comedians.
Alan-The comedy post was referring to the quote about the “imposing” front line of Varejao and Gasol. High comedy indeed.
Oh. In that case, my mistake.
And one other thing, Mike. Colangelo and the Suns didn’t sign Kurt Thomas to that “awful contract.” The Knicks did. Again, ironically enough, Cleveland had agreed to acquire Thomas and his “awful contract” from the Knicks at the trading deadline. Paul Silas said a deal was in place to trade Gooden and Newble for Thomas, but Paxson got cold feet at the last minute. And eventually, Colangelo was adept enough to unload Quentin Richardson’s huge contract in exchange for Thomas, and then Thomas did a nice job filling in when Stoudemire was out with the knee.
Be that as it may, bottom line is that Ferry is an idiot. And this is completely besides the point, but I laughed out loud when I read doc’s remark about Cedric Simmons’ “wingspan.”
Alan, first of all last time I checked what other Cavs GM has gotten the team in the NBA Finals? That’s right None! All the talk of bad contracts and stuff, it is easy to sit back 3 years after the fact and say they are bad contracts, that is the stuff of people who know nothing about the sport. Larry Hughes was coming off a great year, as was Marshall, and Jones was supposed to fill the need of the shooter. Obviously Hughes hasn’t lived up to the deal but not many free agents actually do live up to them. At the time I am sure you were clamoring for the Cavs to sign free agents and for you to sit there now and criticize is stupid and shows how little you know about the Cavs. To overpay for Varejao and Pavlovic would be a mistake and if you would know anything about hoops, Cedric had a terrific freshman and soph years at nc STate. To acquire the number 15 pick from the 06 draft for a player who never plays for us is a low risk high reward trade, but you being the basketball expert does not realize this. You should continue to blog as no one else should care about your opinions cuz you are a pretender, so enjoy watching the Cavs have another terrific year, I know you will hate every minute of it
By the way Alan, those free agents last year also helped the Cavs reach the NBA finals, Hughes played very well early on in the Detroit series, in Game 5 at the palace he had 12 in the first half to keep them in reach until Lebron took over. Marshall played well in the NJ series especially in the clincher. And Ferry’s Draft pick of Gibson provided much needed scoring throughout the playoffs. Also for Hughes to play thru his injury and still contribute tells a lot about the man, so knock the team all you want but it was a great year and the free agents from the year contributed to the success.
Also Alan those free agents contributed to the NBA finals run they had last year. Hughes played well in the Detroit series, he had 12 in the first half of game 5 which kept them close until Lebron took over. Marshall was huge in the NJ series, especially in the game 6 clincher with all those 3 pointers. Even Damon played some solid D and hit a few shots, are they superstars no but for Hughes to play through his injury and still contribute shows what type of a player he is. Not to mention Ferry’s draft pick of Gibson paying dividends for the team, and with Pavlovic holding out it opens the door for Shannon Brown to take advantage.
I’ve read all these posts and concluded that the answer to the question WWAD? (What Would Alan Do?) is that Ferry should have brought in some big men over the summer for “show” and have his “minnions” (WTF – is he Satan or something?) plant fake stories about how the Cavs are actively pursuing other players instead of Sasha or Andy.
And that would have worked because everyone knows that agents like Fegan and Cornstein are easily fooled by such tactics and would have immediately come crawling down to the Q on the hands and knees “OMG – don’t sign Reggie Evans!! We’ll sign, we’ll sign”.
Please. Ferry has offered these guys fair deals. THEY and their agents are the ones that are acting foolishly. The market has changed. Just because ridiculous contracts were thrown around in the past and teams were giving the full mid-level away 2-3 years ago, doesn’t mean they will NOW. Sasha and Andy just need to get over themselves and sign the fair deals presented to them.
In addition, I’d like to challenge Alan T to a bet. If Ferry caves like he predicts, myself and any of Alan’s detractors will give you full props and admit you were right. BUT, if he doesn’t and Andy and Sasha sign for qualifying offers OR less than mid-level you stay off this board for 3 months.
Brian, Ferry has had as much to do with the Cavs doing anything as the hair on your own toes. If you bought a house, and a month later your dog dug up an oil well in the backyard, would you then claim that you’re a certifiable genius for buying the house?
Seriously, what executive skills are required to sign a front office contract and have LeBron James as your best employee? If Paxson would have been allowed to remain on board, as dumb as Paxson was, he’d have “led” the Cavaliers to the same position. Ferry has had nothing to do with it.
Hey Alan if a GM doesn’t matter, you would be one by now. Just as I thought, you can’t contradict my facts so you try to throw some bs at it and see if it sticks, just keep writing your little thoughts Alan because I get quite a laugh reading them. Unfortunately when the Cavs win a title you will still suffer from little man disease and not enjoy it. Congrats on your dog finding an oil well by the way, must be why you have all day and night to blog.
“By all rights, the Cavs should have been the team that plows their way to NBA titles. Now it’s never going to happen, and any Cavs fan who isn’t upset and frustrated by all this just wasn’t around when Ferry ruined the 90s Cavs with his first tour of duty.” – Alan T.
I think this says all you need to know about Alan T’s perspective. Because the team hasn’t won a title already Ferry’s a failure in his eyes, and doesn’t believe it’s possible. And the root of it that Alan still hates Ferry for the trade Embry made so long ago.
Uh … no, Chuck. I’d be saying the same thing if Paxson made such unbelievably idiotic moves. Or Embry. Or Weltman. Or Stepien. Or Delaney. Or Musselman. Or Fitch. Or Mileti.
But the fact is, it was Ferry. The fact that he is also the exact same symbol of the effective destruction of Magic Johnson’s future “Team of the 90s” is just the exclamation point.
Alan — I don’t recall Ferry insisting that the Cavs trade Ron Harper for himself? How is this Ferry’s fault? Blame Gordon Gund and Wayne Embry for that one. Ferry turned out to be exactly the type of NBA player that every other team in the league thought he’d be. The Cavs evaluation was wrong. Again, how is this Ferry’s fault?
I also noticed that you’ve ignored my challenge. You predicted Ferry would cave and sign Andy and Sasha to big deals. I say you’ll be wrong.
Huh? First, I didn’t say Ferry will sign the Eurostiff to a big deal. Just Varejao. A little over the mid-level exception really isn’t a “big” deal, per se, but compared to what he’s really worth, I suppose it is.
As far as Ferry’s stiff time with the Cavs, it’s Gund’s fault, it’s Embry’s fault, it’s Ferry’s fault. What’s the difference who traded for him. He destroyed Magic’s Team of the 90s. He’s bad, bad karma. Making Ferry the Cavs GM was the equivalent of making Mike Phipps the Browns GM. Anybody who was around when that latter trade was made understands exactly what I’m talking about.
You Cav fans amaze me. Every time Alan makes a credible critisizm of front office bungling ……. you throw the “NBA finals” out like Ferry had anything at all to do with it. BTW to get to the finals in the east is not akin to earning a nobel prize… they made it to the finals by default in a crappy conference and were totaly outplayed by a Spurs team that must have felt like they were playing the JV after getting through the Western Conference. The east is full of mediocre teams and the fact that this team went to the finals does NOT mean that they are a better team than any of the 80’s or 90’s teams ( THAT WERE MUCH BETTER ) that had to get through MJ’s Bulls, PE’s Knicks, or for that matter the Reggie & his Pacer teams. WAKE UP you JV loosers
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