I don't like Antawn Jamison as a player. I love him. He is a great, great player, underrated, professional … name it. And the thought that the Cavs have talked to the Wizards about him is as pretty enticing.
This story was broken by Ian Thomsen of SI.com, and he's pretty well connected. According to Thomsen, the Cavs would give up Wally Szczerbiak's expiring contract for Jamison and one other player/salary. If it's possible, there's no reason for the Cavs not to do it. Jamison would provide a huge scoring lift off the bench. He's a class act, a real pro. And he's a team player. Jamison would be a huge addition — if it happens.
That being said, the trade seems a longshot – at best. Both Thomsen and old friend Brian Windhorst have said this trade is far from completed. In fact, by the time I'm writing this it might be barely alive.
Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott said this in The Washington Post: "You can't always be in charge of names that come up, but let me ask you something: If you were one of the other 29 teams in the league, who would you ask for? You'd ask for Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. So we can't be in charge of who people ask for. All we can do is say yes or no. My belief is that people are inquiring and as far as I know, the answer is no. We believe in the core of this team, we know why we are where we are. We just don't have healthy bodies."
So I have just become an official blogger. Because I've written with great excitement about something that doesn't appear likely to happen. Is that not the epitome of the blog? I mean, why don't I write that the Cavs are going to bring George Mikan, Julius Erving and Tiny Archibald back from retirement, then sign Darryl Dawkins from whatever planet he was on.
Still … Antawn Jamison … Cavs sixth man … it does sound like a good idea, no?
Thank goodness …
The Cavs do not have interest in Vince Carter, and that's a good thing. The last thing a team playing like a team needs is to add a player who never saw a shot he didn't like.
More trade talk …
Various reports also have the Cavs talking about acquiring Marcus Camby and/or Brad Miller. I'd prefer Camby as the better fit, especially because of his defense. Bottom line: Danny Ferry is not sitting back. He's trying to make the Cavs a better team, even if it might affect the chemistry that's developed. Bottom line: Adding the right guy (emphasis on "right guy") could increase the chances to win a championship. Which is what it's all about.
Team decision …
I asked Mike Brown his involvement in trades. He said he does not want to know about possibilities or talks, that he has enough on his plate. When something is final or ready to be or could be completed, Ferry presents it to Brown. And there have been some trades that have been proposed that were not completed because Brown was not in agreement. If that's the way it works, then clearly the Cavs work as a team should.
Foiling the Knicks? …
Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com writes here that the Knicks dream of landing LeBron James a free agent might be a pipe dream. About time someone in the national media noticed. I still say James signs an extension this offseason to stay in Cleveland. What do I base it on? Nothing, other than the fact I've got a blog. And yes, this is the appropriate time to slam the forehead against the desk.
Money matters …
It's interesting how so many NBA moves being made – like New Orleans' trade of Tyson Chandler – are for economic reasons. The spillover from the economy's struggles has yet to fully hit sports, but we're starting to see the beginnings.
Dangerous team …
I don't think anyone is going to want to play Kent State in the MAC tournament. Geno Ford's team has found itself a bit, winning seven in a row and finally making a run in the MAC. Akron and Kent State both seem to be playing their best basketball at the right time — and Akron has a big game tonight against Miami.
Hmm …
Let's see … a world class athlete has a substance injected into his body two or three times a month for three years and he didn't know it was wrong or a steroid? It's just kind of hard to believe Alex Rodriguez, isn't it? These baseball mea culpa news conferences are turning into comic theater. Then again, given the climate that exists about baseball and the way baseball turned its head to steroids for so long, was there really anything that Rodriguez could have said that would have helped his cause?
A-Rod — or A-Fraud or A-Roid or A-thinkofsomethingcleverhere – kept going to the young-and-stupid well in his news conference. The self-flagellation was admirable in a sense, but this was one of baseball's best players doing something to make himself better. Being the best wasn't good enough. He had to inject his body with this whatever it was stuff anyway. If that doesn't indicate the culture of the times, I don't know what does.
On the Browns quarterbacks …
Many people keep reporting Derek Anderson's contract status incorrectly. Anderson's $5 million bonus is not dependent on his being on the roster. It is guaranteed money. The only way the Browns don't have to pay the bonus is if they trade Anderson prior to March 15, but what team will acquire him prior and assume the bonus? Only a desperate one. Again, Anderson's bonus is guaranteed. Which makes me ask: Why not keep him and Brady Quinn for another year? Doesn't last year show that a team can never have enough quarterbacks? As for the claim that one would be unhappy. Well that's just too bad. If he's unhappy, we can all have a pity party for him.
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
We have to make a trade for another star before the deadline. Our window could potentially be only two years to win a title here, and if Ferry thinks we can win a title now? Then we need another big rebounder for the playoff stretch. Otherwise the Celtics' deep bench will take us out of the East race in the playoffs again. Only a COMPLETELY healthy Cavs team (as is) can compete, and so far this season, we haven't been able to do that since early in the year.
Remember, there is no next year in Cleveland sports, there is only now.
i agree with you ed. now or never. but the cavs can't force the wizards to give up jamison. judging from all the supposed trade scenarios i've seen the cavs are unwilling to trade eric snow and all that fat insurance cash. and that's a shame. as alan has been saying, shaq would be a nice piece on this team. wally and snow could make that happen. if the cavs are unable to make a move i don't think that it's a good thing. if i'm lebron i'm not signing an extension before i become a free agent if i think the cavs could have made a play for shaq.
You don't know if Wally and Snow could get Shaq, personally I think the Suns are going to stay with what they have now and see what happens. Besides, did you see Shaq in the playoffs last season? He wasn't very effective.
what is really going to happen with the suns? are they better than last year or the year before? kerr and sarver are fooling themselves if they believe that. i see a first round exit for the suns. if i am kerr and i can get wally's expiring deal and all that snow insurance cash for a 37 year old $20 million dollar player on a bottom tier playoff team i'm all over it. if that's not good enough then steve kerr is a fool.
how shaq performed in the playoffs last year is irrelevant. get shaq on a team with lebron and it's over in the east. shaq at 37 will still kill anyone in single coverage. and if they want to double shaq then good luck stopping lebron and the rest of the cavs.
That's true. Even at 37, and just as a BODY, Shaq could offer something to the Cavs. Problem is I think he's making a ludicris amount of money the next two years.
Alan,
Where is your "wisdom" that you are forcing down our throats daily? Hello? He is obviously having computer issues.
Pat, let me throw out there a very strong possibility, the 800-pound elephant in the room that the local media continues to refuse to acknowledge. I hope I'm wrong, we'll find out by tomorrow. (By the way, if you don't publicly acknowledge that Hynde's healthy Twinkie is a dynamite menu idea and a suitable compromise for everybody, for both veggie mavens and for us big fat meat-eating slobs alike, then I'll know you're a shill.)
OK, here's the 800-pound elephant in the room: Gilbert, like every other businessman these days, is having some real problems, real problems separate and apart from James' inherent ability to fill an arena. The series of imaginary events over the course of the past month has been entirely calculated like a public-relation firm's wet dream. These proposals are actually not happening outside of a friendly phone call with no real expectations of anything. There was never any actual intent to add future salary to replace Cleveland's expiring contracts. There was never any actual intent to pay luxury tax beyond this season. The weeks leading up to now with "we have great chemistry" and "with the recent injuries, perhaps it may be better we keep Wally" filtered to always reliable friendly pipelines like Windhorst and the other media outlets was merely an extremely calculated set-up to lead to a plausible explanation for when nothing happens.
Why do I say all this? The Tyson Chandler future salary dump. However, not dumped upon the Cavaliers payroll and the Cavaliers roster when all Ferry had to do was simply ask. My God, a legitimate young defensive talent in the paint like Tyson Chandler was available to Mike Brown for next-to-nothing in human bodies, but instead Chandler is playing in Oklahoma City!!! Red flags and explosions should have been going off all over the sports departments of the Plain Dealer and the Beacon Journal after hearing this news.
I mean, hadn't the local media been going on and on and on about Ferry was doing everything in his power short of again breaking into Varejao's parents' house, but this time to shoehorn Marcus Camby from the Clippers?
Tyson Chandler, for God's sakes! For next-to-nothing!
"Hello, this is Danny Ferry. You know, the guy who once specialized in nothing but dirty elbows to Charlotte players' heads. Yes, yes, that's me, you remember! How is everything? How's the wife? The kids? The dog? Good? Well, golly, that's just great. OK, here's the deal. My paint play really, really sucks. Offense and defense. Especially defense. My head coach constantly privately complains about it all the time. I tell you, my friend, it's like having another nagging wife. Ha ha ha! I made a joke! But anyhoo … we have some minor holes right now, and James has improved so much since I took the job that I want to wet myself! But I'd say that's our biggest weakness right now, that darned paint. If I close most of that hole, a good chance we're going to get a title this season, maybe next season, too. So if James leaves for New York, then that's still two titles for me. I look good. Make sense? So I need Tyson Chandler from you creepy Cajun, shrimp-eating, crawfish-crapping, hurricane-suffering, smelly little market folks. … Uh, did you just say OK, no problem, and what's my fax number?"
Again, I hope I'm wrong. When Walt Wesley scoring 50 points is actually a highlight of my fond Cavaliers memories, Lord knows I hope I'm wrong. But this may all be yet another Ferry calculated ruse, pulling the wool over the eyes of an extraordinarily gullible local sports media.
Of course they can still win it all, no matter what happens, trade(s) or not. No doubt. James is too dominating, and he now finally has a reliable scorer who can occasionally pass when needed. Obviously, Eric Snow wasn't that guy, and everybody knows about Larry Hughes. But that was then, this is now. So when that door is standing there wide open, don't you make that one simple phone call for Tyson Chandler, who just "happens" to have a contract which would pile on both future salary plus dollar for dollar future luxury tax on top of that? Something just doesn't smell right.
If Ferry ends up with somebody like Camby or Shaq, and there has been an underlying plan here, then all is forgiven. Terrific move, Ferry! But if it doesn't happen, regardless of how far the greatness of James ultimately takes them, the local media should finally stop kissing up to both Ferry and Gilbert, and hold them out for the A-Rod-type PR frauds they really are. I guess we'll find out by tomorrow.
End of long stream of consciousness ramble and rant. I hope Ferry comes through. Healthy Chrissie Hynde Twinkies for all.
Happy, "drew?"
It just occurred to me, I don't think there is an "800-pound elephant," unless that elephant also happens to be anorexic. 800-pound gorilla. Elephant in the room. No pounds.
geez alan, still trying to digest all of the white noise and nonsense of your first post.
my guess alan, is that new orleans probably wanted joe smith more than wally. they wanted to dump salary and still have a chance to win. acquiring a quality big (although a lot older) in exchange for chandler makes a lot more sense than getting a slow sf who can't defend.
exactly what actions has gilbert ever taken that back up your theory that he is incapable of taking on more salary?
Cavs seem to be focusing on the right players — Jamison and Camby for example.
The question is not if Ferry is talking to Brown about trades but if he is asking LeBron?
AlanT's Russian novel aside he makes a sound point about Chandler. I'm wondering if Chandler is damaged goods.
No, andy, New Orleans didn't want two journeymen who couldn't even get real minutes on the worst team in the entire league. Who's their future center, Chris Paul? George Shinn, continuing his long history of sleaze and sticking it to season-ticket holders even though New Orleans opened its doors for him after he gave Charlotte the raspberries. That stinks.
Second, by tomorrow we'll know the answer, andy. And let me fill you in, andy, the housing market, well, it ain't so good these days. It's Gilbert's core business.
Shinn is just like Gilbert, a successful entrepreneur. But there Shinn is, pawning off a guy who last season received coaches votes for the all-defensive team, including an opposing coach's first-team vote, in exchange for two overpaid pieces of wood. But Ferry doesn't jump on Chandler like white on rice? Hmmm…
noticed you didn't answer any of my points. would new orleans rather have wally or smith? smith.
what actions has gilbert taken with the cavs that would indicate that he won't add salary for the sake of winning? you offer no examples, just the nature of his business. in fact, all of the evidence is to the contrary. his building of a 20 million dollar practice facility. upgrades to the Q. trading for williams (5 years 50 million) taking on ben wallace contract. etc.
keep in mind that the Cavs draw about as well as anyone in the nba, their merchandise sales are up 60%, and they have a cash machine in james, and they will make even more as they are poised for a deep playoff run. all of this makes it easier to spend.
"Second, by tomorrow we'll know the answer, andy". no we wont alan. the only way the cavs don't make a deal tomorrow will be because it does not make sense basketball wise, or because another team won't want to part with their talent.
andy, if the cavs don't make a trade it's because they don't want to spend the money. next to raef lafrentz's contract the cavs have the second best package to offer. did you see the interest rate for the loans that 15 nba teams plan to take out? almost 9%. eric snow's contract guarantees cash in hand. don't tell me that there aren't some g.m.'s that would pee themselves to get their hands on that money. you think shinn would pass on a deal like that? i don't.
alan is right on this one. the cavs could win it all with the team they have but if they don't make a move it is not a good sign for the future.
Oh, come on, andy. Seriously, a windstorm blew the roof off my house, I'm dicking around with an insurance adjuster and no shingles, there is a bucket filled with water in my bedroom and my kitchen, and now I'm getting all emotional about this. I guess the Cavs mean a lot to me, I don't know why.
You can't possibly believe what you're writing. Role players aren't going to help the Hornets. They couldn't care less what they got, so long as it comes off the books in a few months. They're waving the white financial flag. A deal could have easily gotten done to satisfy New Orleans. Ferry didn't have to be Bobby Fischer with his chess pieces.
In the real world, the Cleveland Cavaliers don't exist in a vacuum separate and apart from Rock Financial. Gilbert isn't playing with Monopoly money, it's real. If Rock Financial is losing money, then it hurts Dan Gilbert. If it hurts Dan Gilbert, then it hurts the Cleveland Cavaliers. We can't see the books of any of his private companies, but clear circumstantial evidence is proof. We'll know by tomorrow.
Ferry passed on an outstanding defensive player, albeit a player with years remaining on his contract. That $12 million or so that Chandler is making next season? Well, for luxury tax purposes, that is actually a total of $24 million to Gilbert and his partners. For one single year of work. For one employee. I don't care who you are, $24 million is a lot of money to pay for one employee who doesn't add anything relative to putting money into the coffers. James is the moneymaker. Chandler would simply have been talent.
Both Mike Brown and Cavaliers fans would have loved this guy. When he's emotional, he wears his emotions on his sleeve. Plus, the dude can really play.
This is Pat's brog, blig, grog, whatever it's called. It's his, not mine. Ask him about the state of the housing market. Ask him about the $175 credit line fund the NBA is borrowing and making available to its franchises as of February 26. An amazing 50% of the franchises have already said they'll be tapping into it. Doesn't Kent State have access to Google? Expiring NBA contracts are like finding Donald Trump's wallet lying in the street.
Right now, there's a distinct odor. Even Cleveland fans who have no financial stake should recognize it, we've all smelled it before. I hope it's merely the smell of my own farts. There had better be another reason for not taking advantage of the Chandler gift. Camby? Shaq? We'll know by tomorrow.
I can't believe this Chandler thing is pissing me off this much.
I wrote the NBA is borrowing $175 for its franchises. Typo, not quite accurate. Try $175 million.
alan t, tereje
i understand your argument but this article proves both of you wrong. "The Cavs are definitely being super aggressive," one Eastern Conference executive said." we could have jamison right now if washington would agree to it.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=TradeTalk-090218
i am fully aware of the housing problem, i know it may take a 500 billion dollar bailout to solve the underwater housing problem. you don't have to insult my intelligence.
i am going by what i have seen. the contracts we have taken on, the fact that we have the 2nd or 3rd highest payroll in the nba. are you two calling ferry a liar when he praises gilbert for always thinking basketball first, finances second? a "penny saved is just a penny" "money and numbers follow they do not lead". so far they have practiced what they have preached.
if anything ferry could use the economy as an excuse for standing pat. but you don't hear him doing that. shapiro always refers to "the realities of the market" he also has bemoaned the state of the economy. the browns hid behind the economy cloak as justification for their layoffs. i'v not heard anything like that from the cavs.
andy, never believe what you hear from Cavs executives or the media who believes every word many of these guys put into their computer keyboards for them. Watch what they do, not what they say. If they take on salary tonight or tomorrow and pay the luxury tax next season, Gilbert is a man of his word, he'll spend to win, no matter the cost. Otherwise, draw your own conclusions.
Take last week, for example. These "executives" lie and do whatever serves their own best interests. Owners, GMs, whoever. Pete Vecsey, who is tied into hard reliable sources a billion times better than anybody in Cleveland will ever be, wrote from Phoenix during the all-star break. His source told him that it was a done deal, 100% certain, Terry Porter was being fired by Phoenix before the next game. Robert Sarver steadfastly denied Porter was being fired. Steve Kerr steadfastly denied Porter was being fired. Other Suns executives steadfastly denied Porter was being fired. Here's the link for tonight's Phoenix game against the Clippers. I'm probably going to bed early, please let me know if Porter is on the bench.
http://www.atdhe.net/live-tv-3637.html
alan t. the executive i quoted from the stein story was not likely a cavs exec. so your previous post makes no sense. marc stein is probably more connected than your boy vecsey too.
anyway, why would a cavs exec say they were actively pursuing a trade? that would be a slap in the face of the player they are looking to deal, especially if they end up not trading him. this source is likely a guy from another team who does indeed know that the cavs are actively looking for an upgrade.
also, i am looking at what these guys do. i think the cavs are over the luxury tax right now, might that mean they would be willing to do it next year too? also i have given you several examples of how the cavs have put monetary concerns behind for the sake of winning in previous posts.
andy, 15 teams are collectively going to borrow $175 million at 9% interest. are you honestly saying that none of them would happily take the eric snow contract off the cavs hands? it's because they aren't offering the snow contract, that's why. the cavs want that money for themselves. so money is an issue.
if ferry pulls off a deal then it's all moot. if not, you will know that the cavs were thinking dollars over adding another piece to help win a ring.
andy, because it's all about perception. Every year they try to make it appear to the media that they're trying to do something. It looks good for the fan base. Ferry isn't the exception. Or, in some instances, as Hubie Brown pointed out in a radio interview I heard yesterday, sometimes it's done simply so the GM will make it look to the owner like the GM is really doing something, not simply being paid to goof off. So they pass out rumors to the media like candy.
No valid excuse outside of pure financial reasons for not making that Chandler deal, not unless there is something better looming on the horizon.
Keeping both BQ and DA, for depth and to acknowledge the Browns are stuck paying the $5 million bonus under most scenarios, is fine. Except the team really needs to recoup some of this year's picks lost during Trader Phil's regime.
And since we've reduced every significant sports figure to his initials, isn't it time to start calling you McM. Just a thought.
alan t. why would an exec. on another team and an espn reporter (stein) try and make the cavs look good? i don't think you are looking at my arguments completely. also, you have no inside knowledge on the chandler deal, they were probably looking for more than wally. and please don't tell me joe smith does not have more value than wally.
clearly i am not going to come to terms with you and terje, and that's fine. it is probable that the cavs will not make a deal tomorrow, but i do not think a financial concern will be the primary reason for it. as i have stated, finances have not hindered the cavs moves in recent years.
MAC Tournament is going to be wide open this year. KSU and Akron have just as good a shot as anyone to win it. After Akron's win tonight, and Bowling Green's win at Buffalo, there are five teams at 9-3 (UB) or 8-4 (UA, KSU, BG, Miami) in the East. Ohio is last in East at 6-6, but would be tied for first in the West. Crazy. Going to be a great tournament at the Q.
andy, national reporters aren't intentionally trying to make the Cavs look good, nor anybody else look good. They have to write stuff. Some are extremely gullible. Windhorst, who I don't read anymore, used to report any rumor that came across his computer. I remember he even made one up, and later admitted it!
Anyway, I can't sleep, so I'm up right now watching the Phoenix-Clippers game. They just said the Chandler trade was rescinded by Oklahoma City! Chandler took his physical with Oklahoma City, and failed it.
"Something just doesn't smell right."
alan, you called it on the chandler deal.
Apparently Sam Presti sent him back because they're concerned about the long-term health of his feet over the full term of his contract. Hell, I'm selfish, I have no money to lose, I want him. In 2007, the dude got two opposing coaches to vote that he's the best defensive center in the league, and four opposing coaches to vote he's the second-best defensive center in the league. In 2008, he got one opposing coach to vote he's the best defensive center in the league, and six opposing coaches to vote he's the second-best defensive center in the league. Dude needs a change in scenery, seems less motivated this year. Grab him! Ilgauskas is an expert on feet, he can give Chandler nightly foot massages.
i'm guessing the foot explains why ferry didn't get in on that deal in the first place. having 1 z was tough enough.
alan called it?!!!
terje, alan just got done ridiculing the cavs for not trading for chandler, implied that the cavs might soon be on a florida marlins fire sale because financial catastrophe could have been the only reason for not getting chandler. meanwhile, i suggest in my last post that we don't have the inside info on the chandler deal. at least give me an assist terje.
by the way alan, good call on the "something doesn't smell right" i will admit that smith does not have near the value of chandler.
maybe we can get joe smith now
andy, the Cavaliers have doctors, too, you know. If there was a problem, they would have found it. He'd take a physical in Cleveland at the Cleveland Clinic by Cleveland's doctors, with the exact same right to rescind.
Unless Chandler has a staph infection or foot problems, they'd find it. Going all the way back to botching Brad Daugherty, the Cavs' Cleveland Clinic doctors seem to be lacking in the medical feet department. Not to mention the staph infections.
Besides, I'm still ridiculing them, unless there is something else brewing. It would have not been made strictly for financial reasons, not because of medical reasons, because they wouldn't have known anything until the physical.
And Marlins fire sale? Huh? What does not wanting to pay the luxury tax have to do with a fire sale? I can certainly understand Gilbert if he doesn't want to pay it next season, but don't engage in bad faith and lie to us if you never had any intent to pay it in the first place.
Bottom line, unless there is something else brewing, the purse strings have been closed. O'Neal. Camby. Chandler. In that order.
i was joking about the fire sale thing alan. you were so bent out of shape that okc got him so cheap, that you thought that the fact that they got him and we didn't must have meant that gilbert could not afford him. (you even brought up the housing crisis) you also said "No valid excuse outside of pure financial reasons for not making that Chandler deal"
i know that the cavs have doctors alan, not sure why you brought that up.
Maybe Gilbert *can't* afford him along with the luxury tax, andy. Which is my entire point. We'll find out by tomorrow what he can and can't afford.
For the three people who care, or the nine people who even know who Tyson Chandler is, here's his blog. Apparently you can also nickname his new baby, if you're interested. "Gilbertferry" has a ring to it. Oh, and he likes fishing.
http://www.tysonchandler.com/tysonchandlersblog
As an added bonus, he texts on a thing called Twitter, whatever the hell that is. Unless they get O'Neal or Camby (who has an ear infection, but who cares), I'm still hoping Chandler will Twitter tomorrow that he's been acquired by Cleveland.
http://twitter.com/tysonchandler
No, EastSideJoe called it. Chandler is damaged goods. Most all the above is hot air.
Heck if his feet are as bad as Z's it would be worth acquiring him throwing him on an operating table and waiting a year or two for the investment to come through.
As far as Jamison is concerned, isn't he pretty old? How long is his current contract? I'm not a 'future is now' believer with this team and think LeBron will want to see a team that can stay together for the long term.
my bad eastsidejoe. you are right. alan hit the board but you hit the bullseye.
let's rename the blog, "Beside the Point: The Blog by Alan". He writes more words in his posts than Pat anyway.
"drew," come trade deadline time, if you're not as excited and interested about this time as I am, then that's your problem. The way Ferry completely ruined future Cavaliers trade deadline excitement when he completely botched 2005, the 2008 and 2009 trade deadlines have finally been something to watch for something other than what other franchises might be up to.