Cavs '05-'06 wrap up

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

6/1/06

Free agents the Cavaliers might consider


Sunday, May 28, 2006


SPEEDY CLAXTON
Team: New Orleans/ Oklahoma City.
Position: Point guard.
The vitals: 5-11, 170 lbs.; 12.3 points per game, 4.8 assists per game.
Scouting report: The type of quick point guard the Cavs crave. Claxton can break down a defense, penetrate and find the open man. He can nail the open shot and blow past defenders for layups.

MILT PALACIO
Team: Utah.
Position: Point guard.
The vitals: 6-3, 210; 6.2 ppg, 2.7 apg.
Scouting report: Former Cavaliers player can find the open man and provide leadership, similar to Eric Snow.

REGGIE EVANS
Team: Denver.
Position: Power forward.
The vitals: 6-8, 245; 5.6 ppg, 7.5 rebounds per game.
Scouting report: A throwback player. A blue-collar player who loves to rebound. Could average 15 to 20 rebounds per game in Cavs' offense. Plays with a toughness the Cavs often lacked last season.

NAZR MOHAMMED
Team: San Antonio.
Position: Center.
The vitals: 6-10, 250; 6.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg.
Scouting report: Mohammed is a solid rebounder with toughness. He knows how to win after playing with the NBA champion Spurs.

JOEL PRZYBILLA
Team: Portland.
Position: Center.
The vitals: 7-1; 255; 6.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg.
Scouting report: A replacement if the Cavs trade Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Przybilla can run the floor, and he's one of the league's best shot blockers. An athletic center who loves to play the pick-androll.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

6/4/06

Familiar face a nice fit

Cavs should find way to bring Andre Miller back as point guard

By Terry Pluto

<!-- begin body-content -->Fans have been writing the Cavaliers must get Kevin Garnett. Or Allen Iverson. Or some other big-name star.
Want to know who would make the Cavaliers a big-time contender in the Eastern Conference?
If you've followed the Cavs for a few years, you'll know his name, and you should remember him fondly
Andre Miller.
It's no secret the Cavs can use an upgrade at point guard, but only if it's the right point guard. It has to be someone who doesn't want to dominate the ball, someone not hung up on scoring or being the star.
He must be able to score enough to demand defensive attention, able to share the ball and not an embarrassment on defense.
That's Miller.
The Cavs won't talk about Miller, because he's under contract for three more years (about $28 million) with the Denver Nuggets. But General Manager Danny Ferry and Miller were teammates with the Cavs in 1999-2000, and it's no secret that Ferry has long admired Miller's game.
Miller is 30. He has been in the NBA for seven years, and missed only three games! He's a sturdy 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. He's coming off a season where he averaged 13.7 points, 8.2 assists and shot 46 percent. Those are nearly identical to his career numbers: 14.2 points, 7.5 assists, 45 percent shooting.
The question is if the Cavs could make a deal with the Nuggets for Miller.
The Nuggets supposedly have an interest in Drew Gooden, who is a restricted free agent. The Cavs will not allow Gooden to leave and receive nothing in return, even if it means matching a high offer from another team.
They believe Gooden is a solid big man who will always have market value, especially since the 6-10 forward is only 24.
The Nuggets would probably want a point guard in return. Coach George Karl supposedly is a fan of Eric Snow, but Snow has three years and $20 million left on his contract.
Obviously, he would not trade Miller for Snow straight up. And adding Gooden creates a salary-cap mess, as he'll probably secure a deal starting at least at $6 million annually.
The Nuggets were wiped out in the first round of the playoffs. They have Carmelo Anthony, and they want to build a team around him that contends. Odds are that the Nuggets will do something dramatic this summer; why not with the Cavs?
If the Cavs use Gooden in a sign-and-trade deal, they need to find another big man. One possibility is Nene of the Nuggets, a restricted free agent who played only one game because of a knee injury.
At one point, he was considered a strong prospect.
In his first two seasons, he averaged 11 points, 6.3 rebounds and looked like he would keep improving. At 6-11, 270 pounds, he has the size the Cavs need.
The key would be his health. He missed 27 games in his third season, and 81 out of 82 games last year.
But when you look at the landscape of Gooden, Snow, Miller, Nene and perhaps some other players -- there might be room to make a trade if both teams get creative.
TALKIN' CAVS
• I've mentioned Jamaal Magloire before as a possibility for the Cavs. He averaged slightly more than nine points and nine rebounds for the Milwaukee Bucks. He played in all 82 games, and is a defensive power forward/center. He has one year and $8 million left on his deal. The Bucks would trade him for a more athletic power forward. This could lead to a deal for Gooden.
• Another player of this type is Nazr Mohammed, an unrestricted free agent from the San Antonio Spurs. Ferry played and worked for the Spurs before coming to the Cavs, and knows Mohammed well. It's a safe guess that Mohammed is a player the Cavs will consider if they end up moving Gooden.
• Gooden is a restricted free agent, meaning the Cavs can (and probably will) match any offer he receives. They can sign him and trade him.
• The Cavs won't let Gooden leave unless they have another viable big man. They want four guys to handle the center and power forward positions. They have Zydrunas Ilgauskas at center. Donyell Marshall is a natural power forward, but he can play some center. Anderson Varejao is the third big man -- and impressed in the playoffs. The Cavs see Marshall and Ilgauskas as big men who can score, Varejao as a defensive specialist whose offense is growing. They'd like another defensive big man in the mix.
• One NBA coach told me that Varejao's biggest weakness isn't his offense, which is emerging. It's his low-post defense. He reaches too much and doesn't have a lot of lower body strength. He tries to draw charges and flops a lot. This can be improved with work in the weight room and experience.
• An unrestricted free agent at power forward is Reggie Evans, one of my favorites. In 20 minutes per game, he averaged 7.5 rebounds this season for the Nuggets and Seattle SuperSonics. He doesn't score (4.1 points), and at 6-foot-8, he has trouble defending some bigger players inside. But he loves to rebound, doesn't care about scoring and would fit if the Cavs come up empty in their hunt for some other big men.
• In case you missed it, DeSagana Diop had a big game when the Dallas Mavericks beat the Phoenix Suns in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, scoring seven points and grabbing nine rebounds. He was a force on defense. He's playing the kind of defensive-focused game the Cavs hoped he would in his four years here.
• If you think about it, Diop would have just been coming out of college after four years last summer. With the Cavs, he was a raw kid, only in the U.S. for two years and about 50 pounds overweight. He was handed more than $4 million, and just wasn't really motivated to learn. When he became a free agent, he lost those 50 pounds, and went to Dallas, where he was told not to shoot -- just rebound and block shots.
• Diop averaged 2.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game in the regular season. Heading into Saturday's game, Diop is averaging 3.0 points, 5.7 rebounds in the playoffs. He is a factor on the boards, and it's because he's matured and grown up. You never know when (or if) a player like Diop will figure it out. Give him credit for doing so.
• An unrestricted guard to consider is Speedy Claxton, who is 28 and averaged 12.3 points and 4.8 rebounds for the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets this season. He's an iffy outside shooter, but is quick and can penetrate to the basket.
• Flip Murray is an unrestricted free agent, and it's doubtful he'll return. His priority (in addition to a big contract) is to start. I've heard for more than a month that he could end up with the Charlotte Bobcats.
• The Cavs don't want to make a major trade unless they are convinced the player will absolutely, positively fit into a team with LeBron James. They also want to keep the roster somewhat stable, because there have been so many changes in the last few years. That's why Miller is appealing, because he enjoyed playing in Cleveland and would love a chance to play for a title with James.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

6/14/06

Offseason moves approaching

It's no secret that the Cavaliers will be looking to add a few pieces to the puzzle for the '06-07 season. The only problem that the Cavs will face is how to make additions without hurting the team's existing roster.

Drew Gooden is a restricted free agent, meaning the Cavaliers can match any offer he receives on the open market. Ronald "Flip" Murray is an unrestricted free agent who is free to sign with any team. The Cavs have no rights to his services and have to bid just like any other team would.

A lot of dead weight remains on the roster. Players like Ira Newble, Luke Jackson, project-player Martynas Andriuskevicius and Sasha Pavlovic remain tied to contracts and have to be counted against the cap for next season, unless: A.) The Cavaliers can make a trade -or- B.) The Cavaliers cut them and eat the remainder of their salaries.

So, it would come as no surprise if GM Danny Ferry gets creative this off-season and makes some moves to re-tool the roster.

Here is a break down of the rumors floating around about possible moves for the off-season:

"One of the crazier rumors circulating at the pre-draft camp was that Cleveland, in an attempt to help superstar LeBron James, may shop guard Larry Hughes, whom they signed to a lucrative free-agent contract last summer. " - Journal Times

"Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry is strongly denying talk that center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is trade bait" - The Plain Dealer

"The Cavs won't talk about Miller (Andre), because he's under contract for three more years (about $28 million) with the Denver Nuggets. But General Manager Danny Ferry and Miller were teammates with the Cavs in 1999-2000, and it's no secret that Ferry has long admired Miller's game." - Akron Beacon Journal

Here's a list of other rumored players the Cavs may target this off-season:

- Reggie Evans
- Speedy Claxton
- Jamaal Magloire
- Nazr Mohammed
- Jay Williams

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

6/16/06

<H1 class=red>Cavaliers will give Gansey workout

</H1>

Friday, June 16, 2006

Mary Schmitt Boyer

Plain Dealer Reporter

Eight weeks ago, longtime season ticket holder Mike Gansey was sitting in The Q, wearing one of those black "Witness" T-shirts, waving a towel and rooting the Cavaliers on to victory over the Washington Wizards.

In two weeks, Cavs fans could be cheering Gansey if the team selects him in the NBA Draft on June 28.

The former Olmsted Falls High and West Virginia University star has been invited to work out for 21 teams, including the Cavaliers next week.
Gansey, a 6-4, 205-pound shooting guard, has seen his stock rise since the end of his senior year at WVU, where he averaged 16.8 points a game and led the Mountaineers in rebounds (189), steals (62), field-goal percentage (.550) and 3-point field-goal percentage (.429).

Though most mock drafts have him going in the second round, Toronto senior basketball advisor Wayne Embry and Sacramento player personnel director Jerry Reynolds, as well as Fred Hoiberg of the Minnesota Timberwolves' front office, think he could go in the first round.

"I'm a big Gansey fan," said Embry, the former Cavs general manager. "He keeps growing on you. He plays the game of basketball the way it should be played. He makes big shots. He likes to take big shots. He's a legitimate factor. When you look at two-guards, I don't know why you wouldn't put him in your top 10."

Said Hoiberg, "He's a very smart player, a very good shooter. He moves very well without the ball. I think he's a better athlete than people give him credit for. Anybody who can put the ball in the hole like that is going to get a look."

Added Reynolds, "Once you see him up close and personal, there's a lot to like."

Reynolds likened Gansey to Duke star J.J. Redick, as well as former Utah star Jeff Hornacek.

In fact, writing for ESPN's Insider, Doug Gottlieb suggested Gansey could go 14th to the Jazz who should "salivate over getting the next Jeff Hornacek in Gansey."

Gansey, represented by Cleveland-based agent Mark Termini, already has worked out for eight teams. Some of the workouts are more rigorous than others. Sacramento's was the most thorough and ended with wind sprints.

The Clippers took a few measurements and then had the athletes they invited in just play.

So far, the feedback he has received has been good - especially after he bench pressed 185 pounds 17 times for the New York Knicks.

"Everything I've heard has been positive," Gansey said after working out with Termini clients John Edwards and Calvin Booth at the Omni Fitness Center on the West Side recently. "But I really won't know anything until the draft. Still, this is something you dream of as a kid. To get an opportunity to showcase my talent is very exciting."

With at least eight more workouts scheduled, Termini has been trying to help Gansey keep his focus, only telling him where he's going a few days ahead of time.

"My advice is to concentrate on one workout at a time," Termini said. "What happened yesterday or where you're going tomorrow is irrelevant. The only workout that matters is the one you have today."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4668

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

6/18/06

Windhorst on the Cavaliers

Cavs have their reasons to keep quiet

With a first-round pick in this year's NBA Draft, GM Ferry not giving any hints about his plans

By Brian Windhorst

<!-- begin body-content -->For a second consecutive June, there is little draft buzz surrounding the Cavaliers.
This time, it's for a more rewarding reason.
Last year, the Cavs had traded away their lottery pick and their second-round pick. After making the playoffs for the first time in eight years, this time around the Cavs have the 25th pick in the first round, their lowest in the round since they took John Morton at No. 25 in 1989.
They have three picks overall in this draft, which is June 28. They own their second-round pick (No. 55) and the Philadelphia 76ers' second-round pick (No. 42), which they obtained during this season in a trade involving Lee Nailon.
The Cavs are playing things very close to the vest when it comes to their intentions, which is by General Manager Danny Ferry's design. In the past when they had lottery picks, the Cavs announced who and when they were working out players, then allowed them to meet with the media. This year, the Cavs have not made a public peep.
Most of the players they've had in are point guards and combo guards, an obvious need because both point guards on their roster, Damon Jones and Eric Snow, are in their 30s. The Cavs' likely strategy will be to rank the point guards and take the top one left on their board when their pick arrives.
Over the past two months, the club has held a handful of workouts, looking closely at guards like Maurice Ager of Michigan State, Kyle Lowery of Villanova, Daniel Gibson of Texas, Quincy Douby of Rutgers and one of the more intriguing point guards in the draft, Spain's Sergio Rodriguez.
At least one more workout is planned for this week when Iowa State's Will Blalock is scheduled to come in, a big 6-foot-6 point guard who is like another big guard the Cavs might be considering, Temple's 6-5 Mardy Collins.
With their emphasis on defense and versatility -- having players like LeBron James, Donyell Marshall, Larry Hughes, Anderson Varejao and Jones (who all play multiple positions) -- taking a big guard who can defend might be desirable. Of course, the team still needs reliable jump shooting, so that would be a priority as well.
Predicting anything in this draft will be challenging. With no high school prospects due to the NBA's new age rule, it is one of the thinnest drafts in recent years. Also, after a handful of players at the top -- names like Gonzaga's Adam Morrison, LSU's Tyrus Thomas, Texas' LeMarcus Aldridge and Italian star Andrea Bargnani -- there's not a lot of separation.
``I would say this draft has some depth, but players taken from 20-40 may not have that much separation in between them,'' said one team executive who runs the draft for his franchise. ``There are some sure-fire rotation players in there.''
The Cavs would be thrilled if they could land a rotation player at No. 25. Historically, about 30 percent of the players taken between 20-30 make it, and the somewhat muddy waters this year make it even tougher on the Cavs. Because they don't have a first-round pick next year (traded to Boston for Jiri Welsch), the Cavs can't trade out of the first round, although they can swap picks on draft night.
With the extra second-round pick to use, moving a few spots up to pick a guard they like is a possibility. So is getting a player at No. 42 that could have just as much upside as the No. 25 pick, the way things are looking.
If not, look for the Cavs to use one of their second-round picks on a European player they can leave overseas for a while. They have 11 players under contract and will want to add several free agents, which doesn't leave room for all the picks on a 15-man roster.
Dribbles
• New Sacramento Kings coach Eric Musselman recently asked the Cavs for permission to speak with assistant coach Kenny Natt, a holdover from Paul Silas' staff who didn't seem to have the same chemistry with Mike Brown as the rest of his staff did last season. Yet Brown didn't want to lose Natt, and according to peers in the coaching community, the two got together recently and had a positive meeting that convinced Natt to stay. There are no signs of Brown adding to his staff. The organization seems confident Brown and his current assistants can improve the offense.
• Plugged-in league executives report the Memphis Grizzlies are in trade talks with the Utah Jazz about ex-Cav Carlos Boozer, who has endured two injury-riddled years in Salt Lake City that have led to trade rumors in the past. After getting swept out of the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, the Grizzlies might be looking to add some toughness. Boozer has four years and $47 million left on the deal he signed two summers ago.
• Boozer is just one big name that appears to be on the trading block this summer. Rumored for months after Philadelphia media outlets reported the 76ers were investigating fan reaction if they traded Allen Iverson, all signs point to him genuinely being on the trade block. The team refuted those prior reports, but dropping attendance this season sent a message. Now word going through NBA circles is 76ers Chairman Ed Snider recently held a meeting and ordered rebuilding -- including a trade of Iverson.
• LeBron James held a media blitz promoting a new Powerade marketing campaign Thursday and was a guest on ESPN Radio, ESPNews, SportsCenter and the Best Damn Sports Show, Period. He talked a lot about friends Dwyane Wade and Jay-Z, but was not asked about his impending decision on his contract extension. T-minus 12 days until the $75 million offer.
James recently filmed a piece for Microsoft at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School's gym in conjunction with his bike-athon coming up Saturday.
<!-- end body-content --><!-- begin body-end -->

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

6/20/06

Snow teaching skills

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Mike Popovich REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER[/FONT]



CANTON - The Edward “Peel” Coleman Community Center was abuzz with bouncing basketballs and screeching sneakers before the final buzzer sounded Monday.
Cavaliers guard Eric Snow looked on as the first day of his annual Canton Community Basketball Camp wound down. Around 90 boys and girls were taking part in scrimmages throughout the gym.
This is a familiar sight at this time of year. For the past 11 summers, Snow has returned to his hometown to hold a camp for the city’s kids.
The week-long event involves more than basketball skills. Snow wants kids who attend his camp to be the best they can be, work as hard as they can and have fun.
“That’s the main objective,” Snow said. “Not all these kids will go on and play basketball, but they will go on and do something in life. I think those three intangibles will work no matter that they do.”
The first day of Snow’s camp is usually an orientation day. The kids learn about the camp’s rules and events that will take place throughout the week.
One event is competition on the court. Campers are split into teams. Each team will compete in a mini-season that culminates with a championship game.
“Today is like an exhibition,” Snow said. “Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is like the regular season.. And, Friday you have the playoffs.
“We’ll keep records and try to play it all out. Basically what you’re playing for this week is who gets the higher seed.”
Snow was not the only NBA player in the gym Monday. Utah Jazz point guard Keith McLeod, another former McKinley High School star, stopped by to say hello.
McLeod recently completed his third NBA season. He was never drafted and had to cut his teeth in the USBL, CBA and in Europe before he made it to the top.
“I’m happy for him,” Snow said. “His path made him a better player, a better person and a stronger person. You’re looking at a guy who’s about to have a 10-year career. His path has humbled him and made him work even harder for a guy who already put the work in.
“To be a starter in this league at any point in your career shows you can definitely play. He’s just learning the NBA game, and he is still young, but there’s a great future ahead of him.”
There also is a great future ahead for Snow’s Cavs, who had one of the best playoff runs in team history this season. The Cavs beat Washington for their first series win since 1993 and came within one victory of knocking out defending conference champion Detroit.
“It was exciting,” Snow said. “It was exciting to see the city really excited. For the players, the atmosphere was great. “It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t keep going. But what we’ve done is put a great deal of excitement and anticipation for next season to come back, try to do a lot better and win a championship.” Reach Repository sports writer Mike Popovich at (330) 580-8341 or e-mail: [email protected]


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[ScriptOhio]

LeBron confident of deal with Cavs

Posted: Wednesday June 21, 2006 4:24PM; Updated: Wednesday June 21, 2006 4:34PM
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Now that good pal Dwyane Wade has won an NBA title, LeBron James is even more driven to get his first.
"It just makes me hungrier," James said Wednesday at the groundbreaking for a $4.7 million housing project on the city's east side that he and his business team are partially funding. "The best team won it this year, D-Wade and the Miami Heat. But the NBA doesn't stop in one year.
"I've got a long time to get mine."
And, it's clearer than ever that James wants to win his first championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On July 1, the club will offer him a five-year, $75 million maximum contract extension. That date has been circled on the Cavs' calendar since they drafted the 21-year-old first overall in 2003.
James is convinced he'll be in Cleveland for a long time.
"I'm very happy here with our team and I'm very excited about our future," he said. "I'm confident we'll get something done. I've got confidence in the organization and what we've done together."
During the announcement of his latest business venture, James was handed a shovel for a photo opportunity to show his commitment to rebuilding an urban area of Cleveland he called the "hood."
The Cavaliers can only hope it also symbolized that their superstar is digging in for a long time.
NBA rules prevent general manager Danny Ferry from publicly commenting on James' contract situation, but it's no secret the team is eager to get beyond July 1.
"It's great that LeBron is showing his commitment toward Northeast Ohio and the city," Ferry said at the ceremony. "The organization is proud of him."
James is proud of Wade, named finals MVP after leading the Heat to four straight wins over the Dallas Mavericks.
Following Miami's 95-92 series-clinching win in Game 6 on Tuesday, James spoke to his jubilant friend in Dallas.
"He was out of his mind, and he doesn't touch alcohol," James said. "I'm excited for him. I'm very happy for him. He's one of my best friends in the whole world. Hopefully, I'll get there one day and he can be excited for me."
James averaged 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists this season while leading the Cavs into the playoffs for the first time since 1998. He was just as good in the postseason (30.8, 8.1 and 5.8) as Cleveland beat Washington in the first round before losing in seven games to Detroit.
There will be a new road block for James next season: the NBA champions.
"We're happy for the Heat," he said. "But at the end of the day it's another step for us (Cavaliers). We want to get better."
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/nba/06/21/lebron.cavs.ap/index.html
<!--startclickprintexclude-->

 

[wadc45]

link

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland Cavaliers Team Needs</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By DraftExpress.com, special to Rivals.com

Draft picks: No. 25, No. 42, No. 55 Depth chart

PG: Eric Snow / Damon Jones
SG: Larry Hughes / Flip Murray* / Aleksandar Pavlovic / Luke Jackson
SF: Lebron James / Ira Newble / Stephen Graham*
PF: Drew Gooden / Donyell Marshall / Anderson Varejao
C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas / Alan Henderson* / Martynas Andriuskevicius
*Potential free agent


Could use help at: Point Guard, Center

Bottom line: The Cavs have a very bright future with Lebron James already dominating the league at 21 years of age, but they will need to bring in a few more pieces truly to contend in the next few years. The main problem they have is that most of their main guys would thrive in a running system, but key rotation big men like Ilgauskas and Marshall are better suited playing in a half-court offense. The other area where the Cavs could use help at is point guard. Eric Snow is aging and Damon Jones had an off year.
Draft outlook: The Cavs could look for an athletic center that can run the court with the 25th pick. Hilton Armstrong would be an ideal fit, but might be out of the Cavs’ range. Another option could be Saer Sene from Senegal. He can block shots and run the floor, but he is raw in many other areas of the game. In the second round the Cavs could look to players like Ryan Hollins and Justin Williams to attempt to fill this void. The ideal point guard would be a good defender, passer and shooter. Since Lebron handles a lot of the creating and distributing duties, a point guard who can be effective without the ball would be ideal. At the 25th spot, Rajon Rondo, Kyle Lowry, Jordan Farmar and Dee Brown could all be options, though each of them seems to lack one of the skills Cleveland will be looking for. With their two second-round picks, Cleveland could also go for somebody like Jose Juan Barea or Sean Dockery.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

6/23/06

NBA star James invests in housing project

<TABLE class=byln cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=428 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom><TD class=byln width=328>6/21/2006, 9:01 p.m. ET

By CONNIE MABIN
The Associated Press

</TD><TD width=3> </TD><TD width=97></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James traded his basketball jersey for a gray business suit and white hard hat as he announced his involvement in a $4.7 million housing development in one of the city's roughest neighborhoods.

The Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star and three friends who formed LRMR Development LLC, are among the investors in the 18-unit project that will feature two- and three-bedroom, 2,000-square-foot townhouses expected to sell for $265,000 to $325,000 each.

"We're very excited about refurbishing and bringing great things to what we call the 'hood. Everybody else may call it the city but we call it the 'hood," James said to cheers at a symbolic groundbreaking for the project. "That's where we grew up at and we never ever had an opportunity like this."

Donning the hard hat that barely fit the head of his 6-foot-8 frame, the 21-year-old James clutched a shovel as he posed for photos with neighborhood children during a pounding rain at an event marking the release of plans for Parkside Townhomes.


The homes will overlook Rockefeller Park near the Glenville neighborhood east of downtown, where one of his business partners grew up. They will be built on a lot that used to be a vibrant retail center but has been vacant for years.

The lakeside area, once home to the city's most affluent families, is in the beginning stages of a redevelopment after race riots in 1968 caused widespread arson and looting that chased away businesses and residents for nearly 40 years.

The nonprofit Glenville Development Corp., formed in 1978, is charged with revitalizing the neighborhood and is overseeing the effort with Beirne Enterprises, a suburban builder based in Medina, that together with James' company will pony up about one-fourth of the money for the project.

Tracey Kirksey, executive director of the development corporation, said it was James and his team who came to the city looking for a real estate project to invest in.

"We have been truly, truly blessed but I also believe we have been lucky," she said.

LRMR Development was formed with James' associates from high school known as "The Four Horsemen." The company's name comes from the first letters in the men's first names: James, Randy Mims, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School teammate Maverick Carter and Richard Paul.

Paul, 25, who met James when the star was in high school, grew up in Glenville.

"I lost a lot of lives, a lot of friends in this neighborhood on these streets," Paul said. "I got hit on the head for doing stuff I wasn't supposed to do. But you live and you learn. I'm here today as someone who's making an impact on the neighborhood and on the city."

Other investors in the project include National City Bank, which is providing a $3.4 million construction loan, and the city, which is putting up a $300,000 grant, according to Mayor Frank Jackson. He thanked James and other investors "for understanding that it takes all of us working together to make Cleveland a true city of choice."

James, who will be offered a five-year, $75 million maximum contract extension by the Cavaliers on July 1, has said he wants to use his basketball fame and fortune to invest in businesses that allow him to give back to the needy. He said he was excited about LRMR's first project.

"It's wonderful how things can happen in such short time. LRMR Development Company, I mean we're four young men but we're dedicated to making things better especially for the city of Akron and the city of Cleveland," he said. "Hopefully we can expand through the state of Ohio and keep going all the way through the United States, and like I like to say, go global, throughout the whole world."

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

6/26/06

Rumor mill links Cavs with guard

Team could be planning to select Longhorns' Daniel Gibson in draft

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->Waiting through 24 picks makes it impossible to have an ironclad game plan on draft night, but there are some hints the Cavaliers might be hedging their bets for Wednesday's NBA Draft.
Chatter from some fellow teams and on the Internet has the Cavs seriously looking at University of Texas guard Daniel Gibson with their first pick, No. 25 overall.
Gibson, a 6-foot-2 combo guard, averaged 13.4 points and 3.1 assists as a sophomore shooting guard for the Longhorns last season. He averaged 14.2 points and 3.9 assists playing point guard as a freshman.
The Cavs have been mum on all topics since the season ended. The team has not said with whom or when they were working out potential draft picks.
There is evidence, however, suggesting the Cavs might have indicated to Gibson he's a serious candidate.
Every year at this time, there are rumors of teams giving draft ``promises'' to players in an effort to shield them from working out for others. Perhaps the most successful case occurred in 2002, when the Phoenix Suns convinced Amare Stoudemire not to work out for anyone else and stole him with the No. 9 pick.
Here are some of the clues related to Gibson and the Cavs:
• Gibson, who played two years at Texas, decided to stay in the draft last week despite not holding any workouts for teams in more than three weeks.
• After working out for the Cavs on June 1, Gibson canceled a series of workouts on the West Coast and pulled out of the NBA's Pre-Draft Camp at the last moment.
• His father, Byron, who was speaking for Gibson because he had not hired an agent, told media outlets in Texas that Gibson only wanted to stay in the draft if he were reasonably sure he would go in the first round.
• Web site DraftExpress.com reported Friday that Gibson has turned down teams' recent requests to work out.
Gibson is known as a solid outside shooter, defender and ball handler. He finished sixth in his high-school graduating class of 212.
Dribbles
Larry Brown is a free agent again, but he won't be coming to the Cavs, a team official confirmed Friday. The Cavs interviewed Brown for a front-office position last season before he took the New York Knicks coaching job.... Friday, the Cavs worked out Cleveland native Mike Gansey, who played shooting guard at West Virginia. He could be a candidate for one of the Cavs' two second-round picks.
<!-- end body-content --><!-- begin body-end -->

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

6/27/06

Hey LeBron, schools need a big assist

By David Lee Morgan

<!-- begin body-content -->Worldwide consumer advocate Ralph Nader did it, so why can't I?
A few years ago, when LeBron James signed his unprecedented $90 million endorsement deal with Nike while he was still in high school, Nader wrote a public letter to James. In essence, Nader said James had the responsibility of promoting world peace, feeding the hungry, and clothing and housing the homeless.
Keep in mind that at the time James was 18 years old.
How do you put all of that on the shoulders of a kid still in high school?
At the time, James was more worried about getting a ``B'' in English class or getting to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School on time.
As Akron residents know, James has been visible and loyal to the community -- and long before he earned a dime playing basketball.
When James was a senior in high school, he befriended a kid from Akron who had lost family members in a tragic fire.
Often thinking about his own days as a youth, James is inspired by young people on and off the court.
So when James signed the Nike deal and received other endorsement opportunities upon reaching the NBA, his charity, from a financial perspective, grew.
An example of giving back took place again over the weekend with the second annual King for Kids Bikeathon, which was a success.
He was the reason that a number of NBA stars showed up in Akron.
They included Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, who was named the MVP of the NBA Finals; Richard ``Rip'' Hamilton (Detroit Pistons); 2006 Rookie of the Year Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets); Amare Stoudamire (Phoenix Suns); and Cavaliers teammates Donyell Marshall, Larry Hughes, Ira Newble, Eric Snow and coach Mike Brown.
Nader aimed too high when he wrote that ridiculous letter to James. The kid was a great high school basketball player, but he wasn't going to cure cancer or change the plight of child labor in Asia -- regardless of the millions of dollars he possessed.
But there is something James could do that would be highly praised right here in his own backyard. He could do city kids a favor by funding freshman and middle school athletic programs in the Akron Public Schools for the 2006-07 school year.
After all, those are programs of which he was a product (Margaret Park Elementary and Riedinger Middle School) before he graduated from St. V-M.
It would be a one-time unprecedented move that some might feel would hurt the future of state funding for those activities. (Like state funding isn't already a mess.) But if you know a student enrolled in Akron Public Schools, you know that the failed levy this past May is having an effect.
The Akron Board of Education is studying how much to keep and what to cut in its middle school and junior varsity programs along with other extracurricular activities that aren't sports-related but are just as important to the development of young people. Examples include honors and music, and drama programs.
But sports is one place where James could come in, and with the stroke of a pen across a multimillion-dollar check, relieve for one year some of the financial burden that the public schools are feeling.
Maybe that check could free up other funds so that crucial nonathletic programs aren't eliminated permanently.
Maybe I'm way off base (it's not like I haven't been before). I'm not trying to tell James how to handle his money, but he could have a say in the future of athletics here in the city.
Still, let's not just put this all on James' broad shoulders. He can only do so much giving. So, I'm starting first and offering $10 to get a campaign started to save extracurricular activities in the district.
I'd give more, but I have four children and a mortgage.
<!-- end body-content --><!-- begin body-end -->

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

6/27/06

Cavs mull draft options


Tuesday, June 27, 2006

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Mike Popovich REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER[/FONT]


CLEVELAND - Selecting LeBron James with the No. 1 draft pick three years ago was a no-brainer for the Cavaliers. Success has made preparing for Wednesday’s NBA draft a little more complicated for General Manager Danny Ferry and his staff.
The Cavs are not complaining. They will have the 25th pick in the first round — their lowest first-round pick ever. As long as they remain a 50-win team and become a championship contender, their only chance of landing a top-flight pick is through a trade.
But do not dismiss the Cavaliers’ chances of landing a player at No. 25 who can come in and help out.
“With the guys we’re looking at at 25, I think one of them can be a contributor in the NBA,” Ferry said.
To protect interests, Ferry will not specifically comment on players the Cavs are targeting and those who have worked out for the team. He estimated between 30 to 35 players participated in workouts.
One report Ferry refuted was an Internet rumor about Texas guard Daniel Gibson that surfaced last week. The site DraftExpress.com reported most teams it has spoken to thought the Cavaliers have promised to select Gibson at No. 25.
“I’m not going to comment on every rumor, but I’ll just say our 25th pick has not been guaranteed to anybody,” Ferry said.
With the draft only a day away, there are no guarantees the team will stay at No. 25 either. Ferry said the Cavs are still exploring all their options. They could move up or down.
Do they have enough to move into the top 12 with the other lottery teams?
“I would be surprised if we got into the lottery,” Ferry said. “Again, we’re exploring all our options. We’ll make calls to all the teams and see what we can do as far as improving our draft position. But it’s also what will we have to give up.”
The Cavaliers also have some added flexibility with two second-round picks at Nos. 42 and 55. The 42nd pick was acquired from Philadelphia in February for Lee Nailon.
Ferry said he would be surprised if there are three rookies on next year’s roster. The Cavs could package one of the second-round picks in a trade to move up in the first round or send at least one of them to the NBA Development League or overseas.
“However that shakes out, we’ll see,” Ferry said. “ ... We’re just balancing the decisions, making the calls and seeing where this game takes us.”
Ferry believes this year’s draft pool is good, but there have been deeper ones in the past. This year also marks the first time players must be out of high school at least one year to be draft eligible.
“There will be some good basketball players,” Ferry said. “Hopefully we can get one of them when we draft.”
ANOTHER BIG DAY
The Cavs are also counting down the days until Saturday, when they can offer James a contract extension. The maximum deal would pay him $75 million over five seasons.
Ferry currently cannot specifically comment on James’ extension or the signing of free agents.
“We will be in contact with free agents or rookie-scale extension guys on July 1,” he said. “We’ll see where things lead from there. “We are confident we have done a good job as an organization and things are in a good direction, but we take nothing for granted.” Reach Repository sports writer Mike Popovich at (330) 580-8341 or e-mail: [email protected]




</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

6/28/06

Ferry not tipping his hand for draft

Cavs' GM has 25th pick in first round, two in second

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry already has earned all the poker analogies you could come up with in reference to his watered-down public persona when it comes to his draft methodology.
Ferry and his staff, under strict orders, basically aren't saying anything about strategy for tonight's NBA Draft. The truth is the Cavs are in the same position as most of their league brethren when it comes to how things will unfold: they're uncertain.
With no high school players available due to the NBA's new age limit and no surefire stars on the board, this draft generally is considered one of the weakest in recent years.
Most pundits feel parity is the order of the day.
For weeks, that has left general managers saying they think the draft has depth.
So enter the Cavs, who have three picks, starting with the 25th overall in the first round. They also have the Philadelphia 76ers' second-round pick (No. 42) in addition to their own second-rounder (No. 55).
One of the team's offseason priorities is to add a point guard or a combination guard who has good speed and can shoot.
Starter Eric Snow is 33 and Damon Jones will be 30 in August, leaving the Cavs without anyone youthful to develop at the position. Based on the series of players they brought in for individual workouts over the past six weeks, it appears that is the direction they intend to go with their first-round pick.
Waiting through 24 picks with so much fluidity in the potential order makes it impossible to project who will be available. Ferry and his scouts and assistants likely have ranked players they want and will try to get the highest-ranked one available.
League rules prohibit them from trading out of the first round because they didn't have a first-round pick last year and they don't have one next year. But they can move around in the first round or draft a player and trade him.
Using their extra second-round pick or perhaps one of the players already on the roster might allow them to move up for a player they want.
Here's a look at some of the point and combo guards who might be available that would interest the Cavs with the 25th pick tonight. The top five are the most likely to be selected if available at No. 25:
Jordan Farmar, 6-2, 170, UCLA: Ferry long has been rumored to be interested in Farmar, who impressed at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando. He is more of a pure point guard.
Sergio Rodriguez, 6-3, 180, Spain: A flashy ballhandler known as ``Spanish Chocolate,'' his name steadily has risen up draft boards. A strong performance from Spanish point guard Jose Calderon last season with Toronto has intrigued teams about Rodriguez. The Cavs worked him out recently.
Rajon Rondo, 6-1, 170, Kentucky: It would be a surprise if he was there at No. 25. He is thought by some to be the best pure point guard in the draft because of his speed and passing skills.
Shannon Brown, 6-3, 200, Michigan State: More of a combo guard than a pure point, he showed natural chemistry with LeBron James in All-Star games when both were seniors in high school. He has risen up draft boards with good individual workouts, including one with the Cavs last week.
Kyle Lowry, 6-0, 185, Villanova: One of the better defensive players in the draft. He has good speed but is not a skilled scorer, though his shooting has improved.
Guillermo Diaz, 6-2, 190, Miami: He averaged 17 points for the Hurricanes and has good offensive skills and speed, but is known as a streaky outside shooter.
Daniel Gibson, 6-2, 185, Texas: Played both guard positions at Texas and didn't stand out at either. He is among a group with the best upside for point guards in the draft.
Mardy Collins, 6-5, 220, Temple: A big body who can play both guard spots. The book on him says he's solid across the board but not great at anything. His length might be attractive to the Cavs.
Quincy Douby, 6-3, 185, Rutgers: Averaged 25 points last season, showing he's a prolific scorer. One of the better shooters who should be available but not known as a great defender.
Will Blalock, 6-0, 205, Iowa State: Some don't feel he's a first-round pick. A pure point guard whose long arms and willingness to work on defense have impressed teams, including the Cavs, who need perimeter defenders.
Maurice Ager, 6-5, 200, Michigan State: An accomplished player who averaged 19 points for the Spartans. A talented offensive player, but not much of a ballhandler. He had two workouts with the Cavs.
Darius Washington, 6-1, 195, Memphis: Former prep star has talent, but hasn't done enough to stand out. Not a great shooter, but he is very quick with good ballhandling skills. Might slide to the second round.
<!-- end body-content --><!-- begin body-end --><HR class=tagline color=#cccccc SIZE=1>

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

6/28/06

NBA draft 2006: Value at No. 25?

Wednesday, June 28, 2006


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Mike Popovich REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER [/FONT]


NBA DRAFT
Tonight, 7
TV TNT
CAVALIERS Pick No. 25 overall



CLEVELAND - Lottery picks are not the only ones who hit the NBA running.
Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry saw at least one late first-round pick do it when he played in San Antonio. The Spurs chose an unknown from France with the final selection in the first round of the 2001 draft.
Now, Tony Parker is considered one of the top point guards in the league.
There are other examples. The Spurs struck gold with a late second-round pick in 1999. How many teams are still kicking themselves for passing on Argentinian Manu Ginobili? And Josh Howard, the last player chosen in the first round of the 2003 draft, helped lead Dallas to the finals for the first time this year.
Will the Cavs land a future star with the 25th overall pick in tonight’s draft? Ferry knows it is not impossible.
“There have been good players drafted that late in the draft,” Ferry said. “You look at the Tony Parkers and Josh Howards, those are exceptions.
“We’d like to find one of those exceptions if we can.”
Most mock drafts project the Cavaliers picking a guard at No. 25. Many top point guards may still be available when they are on the clock. They include Temple’s Mardy Collins, UCLA’s Jordan Farmar, Texas’ Daniel Gibson, Villanova’s Kyle Lowry and Spain’s Sergio Rodiguez.
A number of factors will be considered before the selection is made.
“You have to address your needs, and the draft is a great place to do it,” Ferry said. “You also want to take the best player you can. Ideally if that matches up, you’re in great shape.”
Ferry will gladly target low first-round picks who are good fits for the Cavaliers as long as he is GM. This is the latest first-round selection the Cavs have had since 1989, when they chose John Morton at No. 25. The more they win, the later they pick.
It never hurt San Antonio, where Ferry served as director of basketball operations from 2003-05.
“When you’re picking at 25, you have to pick the guy you value the most and think can be the best player,” Ferry said. “I think our process is similar to what we did in San Antonio. The depth to it is very similar. Our scope, looking at colleges and international (players).
“I think we’ve done a good job this year. Overall, I think we’ll have far more success because of it in the draft.”
NOTEBOOK The Cavs will also have two second-round picks at Nos. 42 and 55. The last time they had three picks was in 2001, when they drafted DeSagana Diop and Brendan Haywood in the first round and Jeff Trepagnier in the second round. They later traded Haywood to Orlando for Michael Doleac. ... The Q is not hosting a draft party tonight.
Reach Repository sports writer Mike Popovich at (330) 580-8341 or e-mail: [email protected]



Late first-round gems in NBA draft
A look back at five players taken late in the first round of the NBA draft who have turned out to be much better than their draft position might suggest:
Josh Howard
F, Dallas
No. 29 pick, 2003
Started all but one game he has appeared in the last two seasons. Averaged a career-high 15.6 points this year.
Tayshaun Prince
F, Detroit
No. 23 pick, 2002
Second team All-NBA Defensive Team selection the past two seasons an an NBA champion in 2003-04. Averaged 18.0 points against the Cavaliers in this year’s Eastern Conference semifinals.
Tony Parker
G, San Antonio
No. 28 pick overall, 2001
Appeared in 67 playoff games in his first four seasons, a league record for players younger than 24. Two-time NBA champion.
Andrei Kirilenko
F, Utah
No. 24 pick overall, 1999
One of the NBA’s top shot blockers. Finished second in the league with an average of 3.19 blocks this season.
Sam Cassell
G, Houston
No. 24 pick overall, 1993 Two-time NBA champion during his first two years with the Rockets. Career average of 16.3 points in 13 seasons. Compiled by Mike Popovich


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

6/28/06

NBA

Cavs might make it point to pick guard

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>

</IMG> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


CLEVELAND — With three draft picks at their disposal, the Cavaliers should be one of the most active teams during tonight’s NBA draft. They own the 25 th pick in the first round and Nos. 42 and 55 in the second. One or both of those second-round picks could used as trade bait.
Three rookies, particularly two second-rounders, would be unlikely to make the roster of a veteran team that won 50 games last season and came within a win of the Eastern Conference finals.
Cleveland is exploring trade options, one of which is moving up in the first round for a player who might help right away.
"There’s a game within the game going right now on the phone with us talking to other teams trying to move up, trying to move back, different draft choices, trade stuff, whatever it is," general manager Danny Ferry said. "How things unfold, I’m not sure."
The Cavs could simply take the best available player but point guard makes the most sense because it is the team’s biggest need and arguably the deepest position in the draft.
The team’s two point guards, Eric Snow and Damon Jones, averaged 4.8 and 6.7 points, respectively, last season, and the Cavaliers finished 25 th in the league in three-point shooting.
Cleveland worked out approximately 30 players before the draft. The sessions were closed to the media, but names that have popped up include Sergio Rodriguez of Spain, Mardy Collins of Temple, Daniel Gibson of Texas and Maurice Ager of Michigan State.
"I think there’s a good pool of point guards," Ferry said. "I don’t know if there’s going to be a lot of true point guards picked early in the draft. But I think as it wears on, point guards will start to get picked, and there’s pretty good depth overall."
Perhaps making the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons and getting out of the lottery will be good for Cleveland’s draft.
Cleveland has had a poor track record with first-rounders. With the exception of LeBron James, a no-brainer at No. 1 overall in 2003, the Cavs have selected lottery picks Luke Jackson, Dajuan Wagner, DeSagana Diop and Chris Mihm since 2000.
Now there is no pressure to select a star player. Cleveland already has that in James. Instead, the Cavs can focus on finding a player to fill a role.
The team didn’t have a firstround pick last year and will not have another first-rounder until 2008.
"I believe if we stay at (No.) 25, we’ll get a player that can be a good player in the NBA," Ferry said. "There will be guys that drop, and hopefully we’ll make a decision, right or wrong, on those guys. But at the same time, with the group of guys we’re looking at right now at 25, I think one of them could be a contributor in the NBA."
[email protected]