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C Big Z
PF Marshall
SF James
SG Hughes
PG Saras
Damn. That's a good team.
I'd be shocked if they didn't make it to at least the second round of the playoffs.
Marshall agrees; point guard next?
Euroleague's Jasikevicius expected to reach deal
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter
http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plai...150.xml&coll=2
Point guard Sarunas Jasikevicius is expected to become the latest free agent to agree to a deal with the Cavaliers, according to several league sources.
News of a verbal agreement between the sides could be announced in a few days. Friday is the earliest free agents can sign with teams.
Jasikevicius will join fellow free agents, forward Donyell Marshall, guard Larry Hughes and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas to bolster a Cavs team that has made significant strides during the off-season.
Jasikevicius, the best man at Ilgauskas' wedding, has been a Euroleague star the past four years. At 6-4, he is an outstanding 3-point shooter who was the Euroleague MVP two years ago. He led his Maccabi Tel Aviv team to the last two Euroleague championships, and last summer lifted the Lithuanian national team over the U.S. in the Athens Games.
More than likely, the signing of Jasikevicius and the addition of Marshall will eat up the rest of the $28 million the Cavs had available under the salary cap, which is projected at about $49 million. But under league rules, the Cavs can go over the salary cap by signing players to minimum contracts.
The NBA minimum is about $400,000 and the Cavs will probably fill out their roster by signing players from the summer league roster. The Cavs are not in danger of paying a luxury tax. Teams will have to pay a luxury tax if their salaries are above $60 million.
Marshall, meanwhile, agreed Tuesday to a four-year deal worth between $20 million and $25 million, a deal he is expected to make official Friday. Marshall, 32, is an 11-year veteran who played last season with the Toronto Raptors. He has averaged 12.4 points and 7.3 rebounds for his career.
"Coming to Cleveland is the right place at the right time because they're a team on an upward swing with other free agents and the re-signing of Ilgauskas," said Marshall's agent, Andy Miller. "Donyell's never had an opportunity to win before and he can be a contributing piece."
Miller said that several teams were interested in Marshall but LeBron James proved the best bargaining chip.
"The chance to play with LeBron was pivotal in Donyell's decision," Miller said. "LeBron was proactive in this process and that helped Donyell in [with] the decision."
Marshall will provide the Cavs with additional outside shooting. Marshall, at 6-9 and 230 pounds, is a career 35 percent 3-point shooter, and he shot 41 percent from 3-point range last season.
Marshall scorched the Cavs last season when he nailed 5 of 10 3-pointers that led to a Cavs' loss on March 20. That was also Paul Silas' last game as Cavs' coach. Earlier last season, Marshall's 12 3-pointers against Philadelphia tied him with Kobe Bryant for the NBA record for 3s in a game.
"Adding Donyell will stretch out the defense because of his shooting but he's also a good rebounder," said Cavs guard Ira Newble. "Right now, percentage-wise, he's our best 3-point shooter and he will cause match-up problems for a lot of teams . . . So far, I like our moves. The organization is going in the right direction.
"On paper, we have the talent to play with the top teams. It's just a matter of putting it together during training camp."
C Big Z
PF Marshall
SF James
SG Hughes
PG Saras
Damn. That's a good team.
I'd be shocked if they didn't make it to at least the second round of the playoffs.
Thats a pretty sick starting 5.
The Nets should be running out a pretty damn good one also
C-Kristic
PF - Sars
SF - Jefferson
SG - Carter
PG - Kidd.
Teams are getting better over in the East.
Ferry is on fire. Mike Brown just needs to set the direction of the team, stay on course, and keep them all playing as a team...not easy to do in the NBA.
If draft pick Martynas Andriuskevicius makes the team this year (dinged-up in Summer League)...that would give the Cavs three players from Lithuania...and ALL from the same town (Kaunas).
The East is getting better. I am still wondering if Hughes is a good fit for the Cavs. Cavs and Nets might look good on paper but the line-up does not say anything about their ability to play defense. They won't beat the Pistons, Pacers, Heat without defense.
So how much is Sarunas going to make? I had the impression they only had enough money let to get Marshall.
Sounds like Ferry's line of "I operate this team the way Pop runs the Spurs, except I have LeBron James" is pretty convincing to free agents.
Just as long as the effective line isn't "You may be living in Cleveland but remember, it isn't San Antonio..."
This is true...however they do have the ability to create TOs. They have the #1 and #3 ranked steals leaders in Larry and LeBron. They also have "Z" in the middle to discourage or alter shots, who ranked #8 in blocks per game.
I will be shocked if james trust his teamates after teh go on a lossing streak
Do you all think Marshall will start or come off the bench for Gooden? STSA guys were saying that Marshall would come off the bench and I can't see Gooden being ok with not starting, but I think Marshall makes that starting lineup better, unless he will be the spark off the bench. Either way, I like their 3 man rotation of bigs with Z, Marshall and Gooden.
Jasikevicius gives them another tremendous outside shooter to go with Marshall, solving that problem completely, and it makes the Hughes signing even better. Larry Hughes is a utility guard who does a number of things well but no ranged jump shot. This lets him play off the point guard more.
Their problem will be defense. Getting steals is a flashy way of 'playing defense,' but as Spurs fans we know it's all about position defense.
they will be strong team.. saras will run fast game.. you can expect killing run&gun every night. and a lot of atractive passes, and alley-oops..
So Mike Monroe was pretty accurate after all...
So far Ferry has done a decent job of surrounding James with some players who fit his talents. Better Boozer than Marshall but Marshall should be a nice fit for them.
Danny is having one of a first season as GM. Props to him.
yes but if james leaves he will be rembered as the gm that let james leave
BIG PROPS TO HIM THOUGH
James only leaves if the Cavs are still spinning their wheels.
Ferry already has them in gear.
The national media was convinced Duncan would leave San Antonio in 2000 from the moment the Spurs won the lottery. They're still pissed he didn't.
Dude, Jim Paxson is the one who got the Cavs 28 million under the cap. Anyone can spend money, its just hard getting the money. Anyone of us could do what Ferry did.
tell that to the hawks
Spending money doesn't guarantee you are doing the right thing......see Knicks, New York
Big props to Ducks for spelling "though" correctly.
yeah but only an idiot signs allan houston for that much. Layden anyone>?
Who is a bigger idiot? Layden or Thomas?
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