Kori Ellis
07-25-2005, 12:29 AM
Priority might be Jaric
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sports writer
With more bullets to fire than anyone else, Danny Ferry has been hitting free-agent targets.
The Cavaliers' general manager now will have to resort to deadpan negotiations and strategy to land a much-needed point guard in the next few days, as the market starts to intensify.
The Cavaliers are set to host Los Angeles Clippers restricted free-agent guard Marko Jaric on Tuesday, a visit that was pushed back from last week.
He might turn into their top priority.
Two NBA insiders said Sunday that the word spreading around the league is that the Utah Jazz are confident they'll land Lithuanian guard Sarunas Jasikevicius.
The Cavaliers, who started the free-agent season with $28 million to spend, now have about $3.5 million if the salary cap comes in at the expected $49 million.
The final number will be announced this week.
The Jazz told at least one of their other guard free-agent choices that they were moving in another direction Sunday, likely to Jasikevicius.
The Jazz have more available money (their entire $5 million mid-level exception) and an intense desire to get a backcourt mate for prized No. 3 overall pick Deron Williams.
With Jaric getting attention from teams looking to use their mid-level exceptions on him and the Clippers still owning matching rights, Ferry might have to get creative. Considering the market, it will take more than $3.5 million to get Jaric.
``There are five or six teams still interested in Marko,'' Jaric's agent, Bill Duffy, said Sunday. ``He's still very interested in the Cavs.''
The Cavaliers might be interested in a sign-and-trade to get Jaric, but not for forward Drew Gooden as some news outlets have falsely reported. Insiders suggest that they might be open to trading Gooden, but not without landing another quality big man who could start.
The Cavaliers don't have a draft pick they can trade until 2009 but might be willing to part with Luke Jackson or Sasha Pavlovic and use their salary-cap space to balance out a sign-and-trade for Jaric.
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/12214500.htm
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sports writer
With more bullets to fire than anyone else, Danny Ferry has been hitting free-agent targets.
The Cavaliers' general manager now will have to resort to deadpan negotiations and strategy to land a much-needed point guard in the next few days, as the market starts to intensify.
The Cavaliers are set to host Los Angeles Clippers restricted free-agent guard Marko Jaric on Tuesday, a visit that was pushed back from last week.
He might turn into their top priority.
Two NBA insiders said Sunday that the word spreading around the league is that the Utah Jazz are confident they'll land Lithuanian guard Sarunas Jasikevicius.
The Cavaliers, who started the free-agent season with $28 million to spend, now have about $3.5 million if the salary cap comes in at the expected $49 million.
The final number will be announced this week.
The Jazz told at least one of their other guard free-agent choices that they were moving in another direction Sunday, likely to Jasikevicius.
The Jazz have more available money (their entire $5 million mid-level exception) and an intense desire to get a backcourt mate for prized No. 3 overall pick Deron Williams.
With Jaric getting attention from teams looking to use their mid-level exceptions on him and the Clippers still owning matching rights, Ferry might have to get creative. Considering the market, it will take more than $3.5 million to get Jaric.
``There are five or six teams still interested in Marko,'' Jaric's agent, Bill Duffy, said Sunday. ``He's still very interested in the Cavs.''
The Cavaliers might be interested in a sign-and-trade to get Jaric, but not for forward Drew Gooden as some news outlets have falsely reported. Insiders suggest that they might be open to trading Gooden, but not without landing another quality big man who could start.
The Cavaliers don't have a draft pick they can trade until 2009 but might be willing to part with Luke Jackson or Sasha Pavlovic and use their salary-cap space to balance out a sign-and-trade for Jaric.
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/12214500.htm