Cleveland Cavaliers Thread 2008-09

[Lebron232]

Williams trade being explored

Ridnour would land here in 3-way swap

By CHARLES F. GARDNER
cgardner@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 12, 2008

Milwaukee Bucks guard Mo Williams could be headed to Cleveland as part of a three-team trade, with the Bucks targeting point guard Luke Ridnour of the Oklahoma City franchise, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics.

NBA sources confirmed that there had been discussions involving the three teams. Cleveland is searching for backcourt help to complement LeBron James, and Williams could fit the bill.

But Williams carries a hefty price tag with five years and $43 million left on the $51 million contract the point guard signed with the Bucks before last season, when he was an unrestricted free agent.

Cleveland had some interest in Williams last summer, and the Miami Heat made him an offer, but he chose to stay with the Bucks.

The Cavaliers have been unable to come to a contract agreement with point guard Delonte West, who is a restricted free agent this summer, and he could be part of the deal in a sign-and-trade, according to reports.

Or Oklahoma City could receive former Bucks forward Joe Smith, who has an expiring contract and will be paid $4.8 million next season, as part of its compensation in the deal.

The Bucks are interested in Ridnour, according to league sources. The 6-foot-2 guard from Oregon has played five seasons for the SuperSonics since being selected 14th overall in the 2003 draft.

Oklahoma City suddenly has a surplus of point guards with Ridnour, Earl Watson and Russell Westbrook, the fourth overall pick in the June draft.

The 27-year-old Ridnour has two years and $13 million left on his contract, and his acquisition would allow the Bucks to unload Williams' contract, negotiated by former Bucks general manager Larry Harris.

Ridnour will make $6.5 million in each of the next two seasons. Williams will be paid $8.4 million next season and is under contract through the 2012-'13 season, when he has a player option. In order to make the salaries match, other considerations might be part of the deal.

Ridnour made only five starts in 61 games with Seattle last season and averaged 6.4 points, the lowest total since his rookie season. During the previous three seasons, Ridnour started a total of 217 games and averaged in double figures each year, including a career-best 11.5 points and 7.0 assists during the 2005-'06 season.

Williams averaged 17.2 points and 6.3 assists and shot 48% for the Bucks last season.

He played in 66 games but was bothered by a sore right thumb for much of the season. After the season, Williams underwent surgery to repair ligament damage in the thumb.

The surgery was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York by hand specialist Michelle Carlson.

New Bucks general manager John Hammond has reshaped the team this summer with a trade that sent Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for veteran small forward Richard Jefferson, and the drafting of forwards Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=782633

 

[Lebron232]

TRADE is Official according to ESPN.

Cleveland gave up Joe Smith and Damon Jones.

Maurice Williams to Cleveland
Joe Smith, Desmond Mason to Oklahoma City
Luke Ridnour, Damon Jones to Milwaukee



Cavs pull off big deal to land point guard

In three-team trade, Mo Williams coming to town to run offense

By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sports writer

POSTED: 02:27 p.m. EDT, Aug 13, 2008

An NBA executive said the Cavaliers, in a trade expected to be completed later today, finally have acquired a top-level point guard in executing a six-player, three-team deal.

The Milwaukee Bucks traded point guard Mo Williams to the Cavs in exchange for the expiring contracts of guard Damon Jones and forward Joe Smith. As part of the deal, the Bucks will receive Jones and Oklahoma City point guard Luke Ridnour. Oklahoma City acquires Smith and Bucks forward Desmond Mason. Oklahoma City also will send swingman Adrian Griffin to the Bucks.

Williams scored 17.2 points per game with the Bucks last season. He averaged 6.3 assists in 66 games, shooting 48 percent from the field, 86 percent from the free-throw line. He was drafted out of the University of Alabama by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft.

Williams is coming off three strong seasons with the Bucks, where he established himself as one of the league's better offensive point guards. He is known for his ability to break down defenses off the dribble. The Cavs are taking on significant salary with this move.

Williams has five years and $43 million left on a contract that he signed last summer. He'll make $8.5 million this season and owns a player option for 2012-13 at $8.5 million. The Cavs showed interest in him last year, but he resigned with the Bucks.

Williams will likely be the starting point guard, which leaves restricted free agent Delonte West without much bargaining power in his protracted contract negotiations with the team.

Sources said the Cavs still want to bring West back but this increases the chances that he will take the qualifying offer of $2.8 million for one season.

The loss of Smith is expected to be made up by rookie forward J.J. Hickson, the Cavs' first-round draft choice. He impressed the Cavs during summer-league play last month.

Jones played in 67 games for the Cavs last season, averaging 19 minutes and 6.5 points. He played three years for the Cavs and likely will be remembered most for his game-winning shot against the Washington Wizards in the 2006 playoffs.

Smith, who was acquired in the blockbuster deal last February from the Chicago Bulls, averaged 8.1 points, five rebounds and 21.5 minutes in 27 games for the Cavs.

An NBA executive said the Cavaliers, in a trade expected to be completed later today, finally have acquired a top-level point guard in executing a six-player, three-team deal.

The Milwaukee Bucks traded point guard Mo Williams to the Cavs in exchange for the expiring contracts of guard Damon Jones and forward Joe Smith. As part of the deal, the Bucks will receive Jones and Oklahoma City point guard Luke Ridnour. Oklahoma City acquires Smith and Bucks forward Desmond Mason. Oklahoma City also will send swingman Adrian Griffin to the Bucks.

Williams scored 17.2 points per game with the Bucks last season. He averaged 6.3 assists in 66 games, shooting 48 percent from the field, 86 percent from the free-throw line. He was drafted out of the University of Alabama by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft.

Williams is coming off three strong seasons with the Bucks, where he established himself as one of the league's better offensive point guards. He is known for his ability to break down defenses off the dribble. The Cavs are taking on significant salary with this move.

Williams has five years and $43 million left on a contract that he signed last summer. He'll make $8.5 million this season and owns a player option for 2012-13 at $8.5 million. The Cavs showed interest in him last year, but he resigned with the Bucks.

Williams will likely be the starting point guard, which leaves restricted free agent Delonte West without much bargaining power in his protracted contract negotiations with the team.

Sources said the Cavs still want to bring West back but this increases the chances that he will take the qualifying offer of $2.8 million for one season.

The loss of Smith is expected to be made up by rookie forward J.J. Hickson, the Cavs' first-round draft choice. He impressed the Cavs during summer-league play last month.

Jones played in 67 games for the Cavs last season, averaging 19 minutes and 6.5 points. He played three years for the Cavs and likely will be remembered most for his game-winning shot against the Washington Wizards in the 2006 playoffs.

Smith, who was acquired in the blockbuster deal last February from the Chicago Bulls, averaged 8.1 points, five rebounds and 21.5 minutes in 27 games for the Cavs.

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/26919019.html

 

[LinasKleizaFor3ITisGOOD2]

OMG this is super trades, now Cavs will win NBA for sure

 

[Lebron232]

I like the attitude of Mo Williams, and this young man got a winning attitude unlike Larry Hughes, who's the biggest scumbag in the history of the NBA.

Mo Williams comments after being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Asked about his expectations, Williams said, "I think there's only one goal. I think it's to win the championship. You come in the first day and start right now.''

Williams said he thought he'd be able to help LeBron James and he knows James will help him.

"I think that watching from afar with LeBron, he handles the ball a lot,'' said Williams, who has been working out in Vancouver and said he was completely healthy after having surgery on his right thumb after last season. "I think that I can take a load off of him handling the ball at times. He's a guy who sets his teammates up a lot. I think I can relieve him from that. That will help him as far as be a little fresher at the end of the season, not the end of games, but as far as the end of the season as far as the playoffs are concerned.

"I think that a guy who can make plays and handle the ball takes a lot of pressure off me handling the ball a whole lot. I'm more than comfortable playing off the ball. That's one of my strengths, and I really get to use that strength now. I'm very excited about that.''

Cavs coach Mike Brown said Williams ''most likely'' will start. The coach is confident Williams will become a factor defensively. He knows he'll help offensively.

"We think Mo will bring a dimension of adding easy baskets for us,'' Brown said. "The things Mo can bring to the table are going to make us more dynamic offensively.''

Before the call ended, a reporter mentioned that James, playing in Beijing with the U.S. Olympic team, was aware of the trade and seemed pleased.

Showing his sense of humor and some fine comedic timing, Williams quipped, "If he would have said no, I think I'd be in Milwaukee.''

http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/08/new_cleveland_cavaliers_guard.html

 

[Lebron232]

I read a rumor that the Cavaliers are planning to acquire Stephen Jackson from the Golden State Warriors, and he's going to be a good addition to the team because he's an underrated defender, and he already won an NBA Championship ring while playing for the San Antonio Spurs.

Eric Snow and a First Round Pick in exchange for Stephen Jackson.

 

[Lebron232]

LeBron James on David Letterman


Great Interview, and LeBron is definitely one of the most charismatic Superstar in the NBA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqjkEw169xo&fmt=18

 

[mvblair2]

About the Mo Williams trade:

I'm really disappointed that we lost Joe Smith. He's a great veteran with lots of skills. Unfortunately, we need a good passing guard more than a good veteran big man. The trade for Mo Williams was good. Our line-up is looking slightly better than last year:

PG: Mo Williams, Daniel Gibson
SG: Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, Sasha Pavlovic
SF: LeBron James, Sasha Pavolvic
PF: Ben Wallace, Anderson Varejao, Lorenzon Wright
C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Lorenzon Wright

Hopefully Williams is the PG we've been looking for since Andre Miller left. We're still a little light at SG, but maybe Wally will start to meet our expectations.

 

[Lebron232]

Delonte West Signs Multi-Year Contract with Cavaliers

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CLEVELAND, OH - September 12th, 2008 - Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West has signed a multi-year contract with the team, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today. Per team and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Acquired from the Seattle SuperSonics on Feb. 21 as part of a three-team, 11-player trade, West played in 61 games (31 starts) for Seattle and Cleveland and averaged 8.3 points on .413 shooting, 3.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 25.1 minutes per game during the 2007-08 season. In 26 games (all starts) with the Cavaliers, the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 10.3 points on .440 shooting, 3.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 31.0 minutes per game.

“This is the first time since I was offered a scholarship at St. Joes that I feel like I am valued as a person and a player. Dan Gilbert and the Cavaliers have shown me that they value me as a person and a player and that was the most important thing to me,” said West. “In that sense, this was not about a specific dollar amount. You can’t really put a dollar value on a person, their skills you can, but not their heart and what kind of person they are. My family is blessed and I feel a great relief to be able to concentrate on basketball now.”

“We have consistently communicated our desire to keep Delonte as a member of this basketball team. His tenacity helps us on both ends of the floor and his defensive play certainly reflects how we want to play the game,” said Ferry. “Contending teams need areas of strength and need depth. Having Delonte, Mo (Williams) and Daniel (Gibson) certainly creates an advantageous situation for us.”

West, 25, started all 13 games during the 2008 postseason and averaged 10.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.8 minutes per game. He set career playoff highs with 21 points and five three-point field goals made, including the game-winning three-pointer, in 37 minutes in Game 4 at Washington. He tied his career playoff high in scoring on two occasions in the conference semifinals against Boston, tallying 21 points, five rebounds and seven assists in 39 minutes in Game 3 and totaling 21 points, four assists and four steals in 43 minutes in Game 5.

In 240 games (156 starts), West has career averages of 9.8 points on .444 shooting, 3.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 27.8 minutes per game.

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/delonte_west_080912.html

 

[mvblair2]

I'm not impressed with signing West. I guess he doesn't have a very big contract, so it's not that bad. I just don't like him much as a player. I thought his shooting percentage was terribly low, but now that I'm looking at it, it's only 44%...not that bad. Still, I don't want him to take minutes away from Gibson.

 

[Dtown2]

I think with these deals the Cavs are a more dangerous regular season team, but in the playoffs it's the same story as the last few years, they'll go as far as Lebron will carry them. Always the darkhorse never the favorite.

 

[mvblair2]

I think with these deals the Cavs are a more dangerous regular season team, but in the playoffs it's the same story as the last few years, they'll go as far as Lebron will carry them. Always the darkhorse never the favorite.

Not so fast, Dtown. We might be getting The Biloxi Bandit, Ronald Dupree, according to an internet rumor! He played in 5 games last year and will be sign-and-traded to Cleveland by the Seattle S-er-Oklahoma Thunder.

 

[Lebron232]

Cavaliers Expected To Have Dupree In Camp

Sep 21, 2008 10:17 AM EST

The Cavaliers are expected to have forward Ronald Dupree in camp later this month, according to Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Dupree has spent parts of five seasons with Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota. In those seasons, he averaged 3.6 points per game.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/54476/20080921/cavaliers_expected_to_have_dupree_in_camp/

Dupree will be a good replacement to Billy Thomas, and Kaniel Dickins, and he performs well in the Training Camp I can see him being included in the Cavaliers Official Roster.

 

[Shin_Dong_Pa2]

Speculations that Lebron will leave Cleveland is an insult to the city

Speculations that Lebron will leave Cleveland is an insult to the city

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James may wear a New York Yankees hat everywhere from his hometown of Akron to Beijing, but Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert thinks rampant speculation that the superstar will leave Cleveland in two years is "an insult to the city."

Gilbert said James has given him no indication that he plans to leave for New York after his contract expires in 2010. He called the talk of his departure nothing more than conjecture from bored sports reporters.

LeBron James


"It's kind of an insult to the city of Cleveland in my opinion -- an insult to the Midwest," said Gilbert, who spoke to the media at the Cavaliers' suburban practice facility Thursday, a few days before the team opens training camp.

James has two years remaining on a contract extension he signed with the Cavaliers in July 2006. He has said that he can't see himself playing anywhere else right now, and has declined to address what will happen in two years.

But his fondness for New York has helped prompt speculation that he will leave Cleveland for the New York Knicks or the New Jersey Nets, who are partly owned by his good friend, rap mogul Jay-Z.

James riled Cleveland fans last October when he attended an Indians playoff game against New York wearing a Yankees cap. He was wearing one again earlier this month on the sideline of the Dallas Cowboys -- another of his favorite teams -- before the Browns' season opener.

James' loyalty has been questioned by everyone in Cleveland from fans to newspaper columnists to Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who earlier this month said, "LeBron isn't a Cleveland guy. ... who knows if he even likes the Cavaliers?"

Edwards backtracked a few days later, saying it was only a sarcastic joke.

Source:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3609246

 

[Lebron232]

Although trading for Michael Redd was a nice fantasy, getting Mo Williams off the Bucks is hardly a consolation prize. He's a younger version of the Mike -- Bibby -- Cleveland tried for years to add and should give Bron help.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2009&week=-1

The Cavaliers are the 6th best team in the NBA heading into the training camp.

 

[Lebron232]

My Predictions


Cavaliers are going to win the NBA Championship.

LeBron will win his first MVP Awards

Daniel Gibson winning the NBA 3 points Shoot Out

Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be voted in the NBA All Star Game for the third time in his NBA Career.

LeBron James will lead the NBA in Scoring and Steals.

 

[Lebron232]

Is Mo Williams the missing part to a Cavs championship?

BY CHRIS BEAVEN

CHRIS.BEAVEN@CANTONREP.COM

INDEPENDENCE Watching the NBA playoffs from home the last two years, Mo Williams often found himself switching uniforms in his mind.

"You kind of envision yourself with these different teams," the new Cavaliers point guard said. "One team I always envisioned myself with is here (in Cleveland), so it was fortunate for me that it did come true."

The Cavs traded for Williams in August, acquiring him from Milwaukee, where he put up good numbers for a bad team. He comes to Cleveland with expectations of being a player that can make the Cavs a championship team.

"I thought they were a piece away," Williams said.

"From what I do on the basketball floor and what they already have ... I can only make them better."

Williams is not alone in that view. Cavs superstar LeBron James loves the thought of Williams joining him on the floor.

"It brings another dimension to our team," James said. "It allows defenses to not to overload on the side of the floor I am on. If you do, Mo is able to create by himself one-on-one against anybody in this league."

The Cavs know quite well what Williams can do. He lit them up to the tune of 26.0 points and 9.0 assists per game in four matchups last season, shooting 50 percent from the floor. Overall, he averaged 17.2 points and 6.3 assists.



"He's a terrific shooter," Cavs Head Coach Mike Brown said. "He's a guy that can create off the dribble for himself or for his teammates. Just from the short amount of time that I've been with him he seems like he has a nice grasp of the game. He's intelligent. Other things will come out as we go along.

"These are all things that sitting on the other side and getting torched by him like we did, I had a good feel for him."

Williams is confident his game will fit in well with the Cavs.

"The way I play, the way LeBron plays, he's a great complement to what I do, and I'm a complement to what he does," Williams said.

When James has the ball, Williams said it's simple:

"I can play off him. ... I can sit there and knock those shots down."

When Williams runs the show, especially when he pushes the ball on the fastbreak, it frees up James.

"It allows me to finish," James said.

"I don't know anybody in the league that's better than him in the open floor," Williams said.

The addition of Williams, along with the continued development of fellow guards Daniel Gibson and Delonte West, should give James more of an offensive breather. Not every possession should require him to make something happen.

"I can go a few possessions and just worry about the defensive end," James said.

James also should be able to take longer breaks on the bench, something the Cavs rarely could afford last year. Things tended to get ugly if James sat too long.

"When I come off the floor, I know we're not going to go through those spells where we may not get good looks at the hoop," James said.

What Williams has to prove, though, is he can succeed in the more structured offense of Cleveland compared to Milwaukee.

"I'm very coachable," he said. "I played in Utah (for Jerry Sloan). I don't think as far as a structure-wise system that it can get more structured than that."

After averaging at least 17 points and six assists the last two years for a team going nowhere, Williams is eager to help a team go somewhere.


"I come in with a different motivation knowing that I'm coming to a team that's competing for a championship instead of a situation of trying to make the playoffs," Williams said. "That's a big difference. I have a chip on my shoulder that's never gone away. I still feel like personally I have something to prove, being in a different situation on a winning team and being able to contribute the same way I have in the past."

Williams averaged 26.0 ppg, and 9 apg againts the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2007-08 NBA Season. He's one of the most underrated PG in the league because he's playing with the Bucks, but now i predict that he's going to be a top 3 PG in the East next season because he's now playing with one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.

http://www.cantonrep.com/printable.php?ID=433895

 

[mvblair2]

Cavaliers are going to win the NBA Championship.

That's a bold prediction. I'm not confident enough to say that! I think we'll be looking at Boston, Los Angeles, Houston, San Antonio, maybe Phoenix, maybe Cleveland. Maybe even Toronto.

LeBron will win his first MVP Awards

I agree. I think that will happen.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be voted in the NBA All Star Game for the third time in his NBA Career.

I hope so. Z has deserved the award almost every season he's played 50+ games. He's a fantastic center and any team would be happy to have him. There are not many centers better than him.

 

[damelo2]

Cavaliers are going to win the NBA Championship.

Sorry, it's an impair year... Everybody knows who's winning.

 

[Lebron232]

Sorry, it's an impair year... Everybody knows who's winning.

Manu Ginobili, the 2nd leading scorer of the Spurs will miss 25 games in the regular season due to injury, and If the Spurs wants to win the NBA Championship Duncan and Parker need to step up in the regular season.

 

[Lebron232]

Cavs' Varejao knows now how important preseason can be

Thursday, October 2, 2008

BY MIKE POPOVICH

INDEPENDENCE Anderson Varejao was nowhere near Cavaliers training camp this time last year.

The energetic Brazilian was back home, running, lifting and waiting for a new contract with the Cavs to get ironed out. Both sides were far apart. Two and a half months would pass before a deal finally was reached.

Fast forward to this week. Varejao has been in camp with the Cavs since Day 1. No negotiations hang over him or the team.

The 6-foot-10 forward is eager to take advantage of what preseason offers, a luxury he did not come close to having last year.

"Everybody knows I got here late," Varejao said. "Now I'm going to start the season from the beginning. Preseason is a very important thing for me, for the players."

Last season was somewhat of a lost year for Varejao. It began with his holdout and ended with a left ankle injury he was slow to recover from.

Varejao went into the 2007 offseason a restricted free agent, but not many suitors were enamored with the asking price. The Memphis Grizzlies showed some interest before they chose to sign 2003 lottery pick Darko Milicic.

The Cavs ultimately matched a three-year, $17 million offer sheet Varejao received from Charlotte. He saw his first action Dec. 11 against Indiana, the team's 22nd game of the regular season.

"It's much better to start the season with everybody," Varejao said. "Preseason is good. That's when you practice. That's when you have the exhibition games and everything to try to improve.

"It's important for me. And I'm excited."

Getting up to speed was not the hardest thing after the holdout ended. Varejao kept in shape by working out with his brother in Brazil. He played with confidence after he rejoined the Cavs and averaged 13 points and 13 rebounds off the bench during one three-game stretch.

"I felt really comfortable," Varejao said. "My game was showing up."

Varejao, however, suffered a setback in late January when he sprained his ankle in a game against the Lakers. He was inactive for a month, but never close to 100 percent the rest season.

The injury also prevented Varejao from playing for Brazil in an Olympic qualifier. Surprisingly he received criticism in his own country for sitting out the qualifier and rehabbing his ankle.

"What was tougher for me is the media in Brazil didn't know what was going on," Varejao said. "I didn't know why. Everybody started talking like I didn't want to play for the national team. That was tough. Brazil is a soccer country. Basketball is not that big, so they didn't really know what was going on.

"The good thing is I took care of my ankle with a lot of exercise and rehab. And I feel pretty good."

Varejao said the ankle is still swelled a little, but not as bad as it was. He worked on his jump shot in the offseason and hopes to impact the Cavs the way he did two years ago when they went to the NBA Finals.

"Everywhere I played I just tried to find a way to be important to the team," Varejao said. "Here is no different. What I have to do to be important is play with energy, rebound and be ready on offense every time I have a chance to do anything.

"I think it's going to be a different season for me. I don't know why but it's going to be different."

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=17&ID=434076&r=0&subCategoryID=27