Mr.Bottomtooth
07-07-2007, 08:35 PM
Cavs' tandem could be split
Bob Finnan
07/07/2007
If Varejao gets a big offer the Cavs decide to match, team could trade forward Gooden
The Cavaliers' one-two punch at power forward might be as talented, productive and deep as any in the NBA.
But does the organization really want to break up the tandem of Drew Gooden and Anderson Varejao?
If the Cavaliers are forced to match an offer sheet to Varejao from the Memphis Grizzlies that they deem exuberant, league sources say they have entertained thoughts of dealing Gooden. The Cavs are already paying Gooden $6.4 million this year. In their thinking, they can't justify paying Varejao more than the starter. It's unclear whether Memphis has formally given Varejao an offer sheet, but if the Grizzlies haven't, one appears to be coming. A call to Varejao's agent, Dan Fegan, wasn't returned on Friday.
Bulls forward Andres Nocioni has agreed to a five-year, $38 million deal with Chicago, but he can't sign the contract until Wednesday. Nocioni supposedly was No. 1 on the Grizzlies' free-agent wish list. With him off the table, Memphis likely will come after the 6-foot-10, 240-pound Varejao. The Grizzlies can offer a contract starting at more than $8 million for the valuable Brazilian big man.
Sources say the Cavs are not going to let Varejao walk away from the team for nothing. He's a restricted free agent, and they can match any offer.
Right now, the Cavs have the best of both worlds with their tag-team approach of Gooden and Varejao. They have much flexibility. If one player struggles, they can ride the other and still get the job done.
Neither player is an All-Star, but together they're very effective.
There are teams out there that like Gooden enough to want to trade for him, along with one of the bad contracts on the Cavs' roster, in exchange for perhaps a point guard.
Gooden averaged 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season, while Varejao added 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds. Together, that's 17.9 points and 15.2 rebounds per game.
If the Cavaliers decide to break up that dynamic duo, they might regret it. Not only will they need to find another big man capable of playing major minutes, but one who can generate some numbers. The free-agent market is not deep with talented big men. The next best big man is Orlando's Darko Milicic.
It's not out of the question for the Cavs to also entertain offers for center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and forward Donyell Marshall, although their market value is limited. Also, a sign-and-trade deal with Varejao is possible, even though the goal is to bring him back.
New D League team
The Cavs will be affiliated with the new Rio Grande Valley Vipers, who are owned in part by two Quicken Loans Arena season-ticket holders (Mark Pollard and Steve Demetriou), along with several local owners in the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas. The Cavs share their Rio Grande Valley affiliation with Houston and New Orleans.
http://www.news-herald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18560441&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21848&rfi=6
Bob Finnan
07/07/2007
If Varejao gets a big offer the Cavs decide to match, team could trade forward Gooden
The Cavaliers' one-two punch at power forward might be as talented, productive and deep as any in the NBA.
But does the organization really want to break up the tandem of Drew Gooden and Anderson Varejao?
If the Cavaliers are forced to match an offer sheet to Varejao from the Memphis Grizzlies that they deem exuberant, league sources say they have entertained thoughts of dealing Gooden. The Cavs are already paying Gooden $6.4 million this year. In their thinking, they can't justify paying Varejao more than the starter. It's unclear whether Memphis has formally given Varejao an offer sheet, but if the Grizzlies haven't, one appears to be coming. A call to Varejao's agent, Dan Fegan, wasn't returned on Friday.
Bulls forward Andres Nocioni has agreed to a five-year, $38 million deal with Chicago, but he can't sign the contract until Wednesday. Nocioni supposedly was No. 1 on the Grizzlies' free-agent wish list. With him off the table, Memphis likely will come after the 6-foot-10, 240-pound Varejao. The Grizzlies can offer a contract starting at more than $8 million for the valuable Brazilian big man.
Sources say the Cavs are not going to let Varejao walk away from the team for nothing. He's a restricted free agent, and they can match any offer.
Right now, the Cavs have the best of both worlds with their tag-team approach of Gooden and Varejao. They have much flexibility. If one player struggles, they can ride the other and still get the job done.
Neither player is an All-Star, but together they're very effective.
There are teams out there that like Gooden enough to want to trade for him, along with one of the bad contracts on the Cavs' roster, in exchange for perhaps a point guard.
Gooden averaged 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season, while Varejao added 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds. Together, that's 17.9 points and 15.2 rebounds per game.
If the Cavaliers decide to break up that dynamic duo, they might regret it. Not only will they need to find another big man capable of playing major minutes, but one who can generate some numbers. The free-agent market is not deep with talented big men. The next best big man is Orlando's Darko Milicic.
It's not out of the question for the Cavs to also entertain offers for center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and forward Donyell Marshall, although their market value is limited. Also, a sign-and-trade deal with Varejao is possible, even though the goal is to bring him back.
New D League team
The Cavs will be affiliated with the new Rio Grande Valley Vipers, who are owned in part by two Quicken Loans Arena season-ticket holders (Mark Pollard and Steve Demetriou), along with several local owners in the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas. The Cavs share their Rio Grande Valley affiliation with Houston and New Orleans.
http://www.news-herald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18560441&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21848&rfi=6