Cavs '05-'06 wrap up

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

6/29/06

A friendly draft pick for Cavs

Guard Shannon Brown, selected No. 25, to reunite with LeBron

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->CLEVELAND - Back when they were teenagers, LeBron James and Shannon Brown did some of their best work sharing the court together.
Now they'll get to be teammates on the grandest basketball stage.
The Cavaliers selected Brown with their first-round draft pick as the 25th overall choice Wednesday night, three years after he and James became fast friends tearing up the high school senior all-star circuit.
In the draft's second round with the No. 42 pick overall, a selection acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers last season, the Cavs picked Texas point guard Daniel Gibson.
Brown, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound ``combo guard'' from Michigan State, averaged 12.2 points over three seasons with the Spartans.
Gibson, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound pure point guard, averaged 13.4 points in two seasons with the Longhorns.
The picks filled the team's need of getting help in the backcourt behind aging veterans Eric Snow and Damon Jones, who contributed to the lowest scoring backcourt in the NBA last season.
``Whatever they need me to play, I'm willing to do it,'' Brown said. ``I want to bring energy and toughness.''
Brown is a solid mid-range shooter with good strength and defensive skills. He averaged 17.2 points as a junior for the Spartans last season. He isn't considered a pure point guard but can handle the ball and is versatile enough to guard of variety of players.
``He's a great athlete. He works hard. He's a gym rat,'' Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry said. ``I felt like he could fit into (coach) Mike Brown's system really well. He takes pride in what he does defensively.''
Shannon Brown's relationship with James started in 2002, when both took part in the USA Basketball's ``Development Festival'' in Colorado Springs. It expanded a year later in 2003, when they bonded while starring in the McDonald's All-American Game in Cleveland and at the Jordan Capital Classic in Washington, D.C.
A star from Proviso East High School in Maywood, Ill., Brown very nearly upstaged James at the McDonald's Slam Dunk Contest, finishing second behind him. Then he scored 23 points and had three assists opposite James, who was named the game's MVP, the next night.
Several weeks later in Washington, Brown and James shared the Most Valuable Player honors of the Capital Classic. Behind his 27 points, Brown's team beat James' team, despite James' 34 points. After the game, James joked that he might skip going to the NBA so he could go to Michigan State to play with Brown.
Landing Brown didn't just please his old acquaintance, but the Cavs' organization in general. Brown was on the short list of the guards the Cavs were hoping would be available when they picked.
Brown, UCLA's Jordan Farmar and Spanish point guard Sergio Rodriguez were players the Cavs hoped would still be around in the mid-20s.
Because of some unexpected trades and other picks earlier in the draft, especially with big men going earlier than projected, the large group of point guards was pushed back in the pack. The Cavs nearly scored big with Villanova guard Kyle Lowry, a player they had ranked highly who wasn't expected to get into the 20s.
But Memphis snapped up Lowry, a talented defender, just before the Cavs' selection at No. 24. Farmar and Rodriguez went right after the Cavs selected at Nos. 26 and 27.
``We really did not believe Shannon would be available at No. 25,'' said Ferry. ``We thought a lot of teams in front of us would really want to take him.''
Gibson, another former McDonald's All-American from Houston, played one year at point guard and one year at shooting guard at Texas. The Cavs have been eyeing him for some time.
At No. 55, the Cavs took Nigrian forward Ejike Ugboaja, who will likely be left overseas to develop for at least one season.
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ABJ

6/29/06

Backcourt gets boost with GM Ferry's picks

By Terry Pluto

<!-- begin body-content -->CLEVELAND - Understand this much about the 25th pick of the NBA Draft -- you can find a good guard if you do your homework.
In terms of the sheer number of hours of watching film, making calls, studying statistics and checking character, few teams can match the Cavaliers staff assembled by General Manager Danny Ferry.
That's why there is reason to feel good about the selection of Shannon Brown late in the first round. Ferry didn't try to get tricky. A very, very good guard who had started 89 games for Michigan State was available -- and Ferry picked him.
This was smart, obvious and simply makes sense for the Cavs.
Brown is 6-foot-4, a gritty guard who made the All-Big Ten Defensive First Team. He averaged 17 points a game, and had a demanding Spartans coach, Tom Izzo, screaming, pleading and pushing him for three years.
Some scouts have wondered if he'll be a pure point guard, because he shared the ballhandling chores with teammate Maurice Ager (who went No. 28 to Dallas).
He's a ``combo guard,'' meaning he has some point guard skills, some shooting guard skills.
Here's the deal: Brown doesn't have to be the second coming of Mark Price, the best No. 25 pick in Cavs history. He just needs to be a solid guard, fitting in with LeBron James and Larry Hughes.
Odds are that he should he able to do that, and perhaps even more. But he probably won't be another John Morton, another No. 25 pick by the Cavs.
He also was a combo guard, and never had enough skills to play either position.
So let's not compare Brown with Price or Morton.
Let's just say the Cavs got a good guard. They had a viable option in UCLA's Jordan Farmar, more of a classic point guard. But they like Brown's athleticism and defense a little more.
At the end of games, the ball will be in the hands of James and Hughes, so Brown doesn't need to immediately set up the offense. Keep in mind that Cavs fans never saw the real Hughes, because he had a finger injury and played only 45 games. Hughes has excellent ballhandling skills, as he showed at times.
Every basketball fan knows James is a superb passer.
So what does Brown bring?
Start with defense, which is critical to coach Mike Brown's system. He's a sturdy 6-foot-4, 205 pounds with long arms and a knack for making steals. Mike Brown knows that defense begins in the backcourt, where he wants his guards to defend the pick-and-roll and stop the other team from driving to the basket.
Shannon Brown should help in that area.
He also can run on the fast break. He's a leaper who once finished behind James in a slam-dunk contest when both were high school seniors.
While there have been some doubts about his shooting, there are indications Brown can improve in that area. Most good college players improve their jumpers as they mature and play in the league for a few years.
But even more revealing is that Brown was a career 83 percent shooter from the foul line for three college seasons. Some scouts believe a college player who is above 80 percent from the line must have the proper mechanics and release on his shot, and that should transfer to shooting from the field.
It will just take work.
According to Ferry, Brown loves to work. The general manager called Brown ``a gym rat.'' Like most GMs on draft night, Ferry said he didn't expect his selection to be available. But many other NBA scouting services had Brown going higher, in the middle of the first round.
In the second round, the Cavs picked another guard, Daniel Gibson of Texas. He's 6-2 and was more of a shooting guard in college. He needs to develop his ballhandling skills, but he's also a decent pick who shot 39 percent from 3-point range.
The good news for fans is the Cavs knew they needed more than a Band-Aid in the backcourt, and they used their picks to bring in some experienced college guards.
At least one of them should help.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

6/29/06

Cavs ‘lucky’ to get two of draft’s best
Thursday, June 29, 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]
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AP FILE PHOTO CHARLIE NEIBERGALL CLEVELAND IS BROWN’S TOWN Michigan State guard Shannon Brown drives to the basket past Iowa’s Mike Henderson during the first half of a game Feb. 14 in Iowa City, Iowa. The Cavaliers selected Brown with the 25th pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft.
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CLEVELAND - Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry said someone always slips through in the NBA draft. This year, Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson slipped right into Ferry’s team’s hands.
The Cavs selected Brown with the 25th pick in the first round of Wednesday’s draft. The 6-foot-4 guard from Michigan State averaged a career-high 17.2 points as a junior this season.
Gibson is a player the Cavaliers were thinking about taking at No. 25. But when they saw the Texas guard was still available at No. 42 in the second round, they wasted no time in picking him.
“I feel like we were very lucky Shannon Brown was there when we picked, along with Daniel Gibson at 42,” Ferry said.
“Both players have a bright future in the NBA.
“They’re both talented, high-quality people. They’re athletic, they like to defend and they can make a shot. They will bring a lot of energy every day in practice and to the game. We’re very fortunate to have him.”
Brown declared himself an early-entry candidate for the draft after a strong junior year at Michigan State. He shot 46.7 percent (202-of-433) from the field and 39.0 percent (64-of-164) from 3-point range.
At least one mock draft had Brown getting picked as high as No. 17. Going at No. 25 was no letdown, though.
“Man, I couldn’t be happier,” Brown said.
Scouts are impressed with Brown’s athleticism, strength and sense of urgency. He also established himself as one of the Big Ten’s top defensive players.
Brown is more of a combo guard and not the pure point guard some thought the Cavs would target in the first round. Ferry sees him as a shooting guard in the NBA. His selection likely means the end of unrestricted free agent Flip Murray’s stay in Cleveland.
Brown says he patterns his game after Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Washington’s Gilbert Arenas. He seems himself having the same versatility with the Cavaliers as he did at Michigan State.
“Wherever they need me to play, point guard, (shooting) guard, hard work and determination is going to help me,” Brown said.
Ferry feels Brown can fit into Head Coach Mike Brown’s system.
“He will compete and battle,” Ferry said. “He takes pride in what he does defensively and he’s athletic and strong enough to make it happen.”
The end of the first round was backcourt-heavy. Eight of the final 10 selections were guards.
Kentucky’s Rajon Rando was the first true point guard picked. Phoenix selected him at No. 21 and later traded his rights to Boston.
New Jersey grabbed Connecticut point guard Marcus Williams with the 22nd pick and Memphis chose Villanova point guard Kyle Lowry at No. 24. UCLA point guard Jordan Farmar was still available, but the Cavs elected to take Brown.
Gibson is more of a pure point guard. He averaged 13.4 points and helped lead the Longhorns to the Final Four.
The Cavaliers used their second pick in round No. 2 on Nigerian forward Ejike Ugboaja at No. 55. Ugboaja is more of a rebounder and defender, but is starting to develop an offensive game. The Cavs will likely work with him this summer and send him overseas to play next season.
Reach Repository sports writer Mike Popovich at (330) 580-8341 or e-mail: [email protected]



The Shannon Brown file
Position Guard.
College Michigan State.
Height 6-foot-4
Weight 205 pounds
Statistics 17.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.8 apg
Noteworthy Early entry. ... Superior athlete, who plays with energy. ... Plays bigger than his height. ... Excels to the basket. ... Aggressive defender. ... Has to continue to improve as a shooter and playmaker. ... Could have used one more year in college. ... In high school, was consensus pick as the top shooting guard in the Class of 2003



The Daniel Gibson file
Position Point guard.
College Texas.
Height 6-foot-2
Weight 190 pounds
Statistics 13.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.1 apg Noteworthy Left college two years early to enter draft. ... Was projected to be late-first or early-second round pick. ... Considered a point guard with good scoring skills. ... One ESPN.com draftnik called him “a poor man’s Ben Gordon.” ... At Texas, scored 935 points — including 175 3-pointers — in two seasons. Had 103 3-pointers this past season.

 

[Bob Saccamano]

Dispatch

Cavaliers take MSU’s Brown in first round
He fills Cleveland’s need for a guard and scorer; defense also a strength
Thursday, June 29, 2006
James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers did not have to trade up to get a player they coveted last night in the NBA draft. By the time they picked 25 th in the first round, they had their choice of guards and selected Michigan State’s Shannon Brown.
The Cavaliers were in search of a guard and another scorer with their first pick, and Brown could fill both needs. Brown, 6 feet 4, averaged 17.2 points for the Spartans last season but could be asked to play both guard positions for Cleveland.
After a first round with seven trades and a number of surprise picks, Cleveland had its choice of pure point guards such as UCLA’s Jordan Farmar and Spain’s Sergio Rodriguez. But the team couldn’t pass on the versatility of Brown, who was projected by many to be a top-15 pick.
Brown, 20, was one of about 30 players the Cavaliers worked out this summer, and he impressed them with his athleticism. Brown also was a member of the All-Big Ten defensive team last season as a junior.
"We really did not believe that Shannon would be available at 25," Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry said. "We thought a lot of teams in front of us would want to take him, but a couple of picks threw it out of whack as to where Shannon was available and we’re really excited."
Despite being drafted lower than expected, Brown sounded excited to join a playoff contender.
Brown has some familiarity with the Cavs roster. He played against LeBron James in a series of high-school all-star games three years ago. He said he’s looking forward to teaming with James for the first time in Cleveland.
"That’s great. He makes the game easy," Brown said of James. "I’ve watched his games since he was in high school and he’s a competitor and a battler."
With Cleveland holding its lowest draft position since 1989, the team believes the draft played out in its favor. Many of the top point-guard prospects were not taken until late in the first round, which allowed Cleveland to select Texas’ Daniel Gibson in the second round (42 nd overall).
Gibson averaged 13.4 points for the Longhorns last season and is a career .387 percent shooter from three-point range. He needs to work on his ability to run a team as a point guard, but he could immediately help Cleveland improve its 25 th league ranking in three-point shooting.
Ferry said the Cavs attempted to trade up to get Gibson after selecting Brown with their first pick but didn’t need to after Gibson dropped to them in the second round.
"We were very lucky that Shannon Brown was there to be picked, and along with that at No. 42 with Daniel Gibson," Ferry said. "Both players I think have a bright future in the NBA. They’re both talented, high-quality people, athletic, like to defend and can make a shot."
Cleveland’s final pick of the night (No. 55 th overall) was Nigerian Ejike Ugboaja. The 6-9 forward averaged 5.3 points for the Nigerian team in the Under-21 world championships. It’s unlikely he’ll have a chance to make the Cavs’ roster next season.
[email protected]

Loved this pick. All around player. Plays D, hustles, can fly, nice shot. Nice job Ferry!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

6/30/06

GM Ferry getting more for Cavs' money

Past year reveals he's working hard to find players who might not be valued as high as they should be

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->CLEVELAND - Danny Ferry has been on the job with the Cavaliers for one year, and already his personality as general manager has become clear.
Ferry, perhaps following his executive roots developed with the San Antonio Spurs, seeks players he believes to be undervalued on the NBA radar. He has set up his scouting and personnel departments to match those wishes and is always prowling for players who, for various reasons, might have skills or traits that aren't in vogue.
It is not an exact science, and Ferry is not alone. Numerous teams on the underside of the luxury tax seek such talent. The Cavs scramble for an edge with intensive video and in-person scouting. Also, Ferry uses deep statistical analysis to help identify such players. That doesn't mean he wants cheap players; he's just trying to find an overlooked edge. It was the driving force that led him to pursue Donyell Marshall last summer, Flip Murray at the trading deadline last winter, and on Wednesday, guards Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson in the NBA Draft.
Ferry felt that both Brown and Gibson fell below where the Cavs had them projected on the overall draft board.
Ferry won't say so for negotiating purposes, but he probably feels the same way about free agent Drew Gooden, a player he would like to re-sign. Although Gooden, who averaged 10.7 points and 8.4 rebounds last season, was overlooked on numerous nights last season, the Cavs seem to believe he has significant value.
Gooden has the reputation of working every night, puts up excellent per-minute scoring and rebounding averages, and does not complain about playing time or create headaches in the locker room. He is exactly the type of role player Ferry considers valuable despite occasional breakdowns on the court.
``Our focus is going to be our free agents,'' Ferry said. ``We need to take care of our in-house guys.''
That means LeBron James -- who will be offered a five-year, $75 million extension shortly after midnight Friday -- and Gooden.
The Cavs have extended a one-year, $5.3 million qualifying offer to Gooden, which officially makes him a restricted free agent. They will have 10 days to match all offers once the free-agent signing period begins July 12.
Everyone can start talking Saturday, but Gooden's camp hopes there won't be much of a courtship. They are willing to forgo testing the market if the Cavs present what they consider a good deal.
``If they come in with a good deal, we don't feel the need to go shopping,'' Gooden's agent, Calvin Andrews, said Thursday.
``We're not yet sure how we're going to play it, whether they want us to go out and get an offer. We're eager to see how it plays out and will be ready either way.''
Dribbles
• The Cavs probably will sign Brown in the next few days. There isn't much negotiation needed because all rookie deals follow a ``slotted'' procedure based on where the player was drafted. Brown will get a two-year deal worth a little less than $2 million, with team options on the third and fourth years totaling $3 million more. The team might wait until after its summer-league play to make second-round pick Gibson an offer. Ferry indicated Gibson is assured of being on the roster next year, so he'll probably get a deal that guarantees him at least one year at about $400,000, with options for several more years.
• Ferry did not mention Flip Murray as one of the free agents the Cavs hope to re-sign. Because Brown is a combo guard whose talents seem to match Murray's, indications are Murray won't be re-signed.
• There are some across the NBA who feel the Cavs have interest in trading for Boston Celtics point guard Delonte West. The Celtics picked up two point guards Wednesday -- Sebastian Telfair in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, and Rajon Rondo in the draft -- which might make West expendable. The Cavs were also rumored to be involved in three-way trade talks with the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers involving Allen Iverson.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

6/30/06

Nice work, cavs; Now sign LeBron


Friday, June 30, 2006

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]SPORTS SPOTLIGHT TODD PORTER[/FONT]



CLEVELAND - Draft morning turned into draft night rather quickly. In a hallway on the second floor of Quicken Loans Arena, Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry bid farewell to his trusty assistant general manager, Chris Grant. It was after midnight, and a day that started around 8 in the morning Wednesday finally came to an end.
The day, after months of preparation and scouting, fell their way. Much more than can be said for Isiah Thomas picking Renaldo Balkman out of his hat in the first round.
Now, Ferry’s heavy lifting begins.
“We felt like we had a good night, but it’s just a start,” Ferry said. “We have to put these guys in a position to succeed.”
These guys — first-round pick Shannon Brown and second-rounder Daniel Gibson — can be pieces to the puzzle.
But putting them in position to succeed begins Saturday.
Ferry spent Thursday, not on a golf course, not in bed making up for missed sleep, but huddled in his office. Swamped is how one Cavs staffer described Ferry on Thursday.
There is no rest for the weary, nor for those about to embark on free agency.
And there is less rest for those trying to keep the crown jewel happy.
The Cavs will offer LeBron James a contract extension Saturday. They’re probably working the back channels to find out just how King James wants that extension delivered.
“If he wants them to show up (Saturday morning) at 12:01, they’ll do it,” one insider said.
Cleveland will offer James a five-year contract worth upwards of $80 million, or 25 percent of the salary cap a season, the most allowed in the NBA.
The Cavs should make a splash. They should make this a show. Drop “Witness” hats and T-shirts from the sky, send a plane with a banner over James’ home. Hire a rickshaw driver.
OK, maybe that’s a bit over the top.
James has said so many times that he wants to sign that extension. He plans to sign that extension. He will sign that extension. He will be in Cleveland.
Of course, Jim Thome took the money and left. They usually do in Cleveland.
But James is a native son. While he may not feel your pain — How could he with that bank account? — at least he knows where you’re coming from.
It’s tough, if not impossible, to say just how big James is in Cleveland sports history. This isn’t the end, or even the middle. It’s still the beginning of his career. But a good starting point would be Jim Brown.
That’s right. Cleveland hasn’t had someone this big since No. 32.
Ferry gets it. Head Coach Mike Brown gets it. Most importantly, owner Dan Gilbert gets it.
Gilbert and the Cavs have gone out of their way to make James’ family feel important. Have no doubt, Gloria James is. She likes Gilbert. LeBron’s inner circle likes Gilbert.
NBA rules prohibit the team from saying much. At the end of the season, Ferry made it clear: Cleveland needs to keep James happy and get him some help.
“I think LeBron does have a lot on his shoulders,” Ferry said. “As we grow and as the organization grows, we’ll be able to spread that out more. ... No matter what we do, LeBron will be a big part of that. ... He’s exceeded any expectations I had when I got here.”
Keeping James happy isn’t about money. He’s got Nike and a half dozen other endorsements to make sure LBJ Jr. is taken care of. Keeping James happy has everything to do with winning.
There is little doubt the team consulted with him before taking Shannon Brown. James called Brown after the pick was made to welcome him to the team.
While Drew Gooden had spells where he was absent, particularly in the playoffs, Ferry needs to keep him. Gooden said he wanted to stay here because of James. He hinted during the playoffs that a contract was the least of his concerns. Now, he can find out what his market value is. Market value can be a poisonous term in free agency.
If James wants him, Ferry needs to make it happen. The Cavs shouldn’t stop there.
They need to win now. The bar — 50 wins and a game shy of the conference finals — is the standard.
Raising the bar is what happens when elite athletes are part of a team. This is a new time in Cleveland. The only person who could screw this up is say ... Isiah Thomas. Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected]


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[Bob Saccamano]

CPD

Glowing upsides keep growing



MSU coach Izzo excited about Brown's possibilities with Cavaliers

Friday, June 30, 2006 Branson Wright

Plain Dealer Reporter
Two losses early during Shannon Brown's freshman season at Michigan State confirmed what coach Tom Izzo believed he had in a player.
Confirmation came in two games in the 2003-04 season against powerhouses. Michigan State played Kentucky in front of 78,129 fans at Ford Field on Dec. 13, 2003.
If Brown had butterflies, they were in a holding pattern. He was the Spartans' second-leading scorer with 14 points in their 79-74 defeat.

Two games earlier on Dec. 3, the Spartans faced Duke with Luol Deng, Chris Duhon and J.J. Redick. The Blue Devils ran away with a 72-50 rout but there was Brown throughout the beating.
"There we were getting killed at home and Shannon was the only one competing," Izzo said. "He was only a freshman. I knew he was special."
The Cavaliers agree and they selected Brown in the first round (with the 25th overall pick) in Wednesday's NBA Draft. The Cavs will introduce Brown and second-round pick Texas guard Daniel Gibson today at a news conference at The Q.
"I bet General Manager Danny Ferry didn't think Shannon would drop to them," Izzo said. "This kid has a tremendous upside and he has a great work ethic, not like many other kids in the draft. Everyone dreams about the NBA but for some it's an obsession and Brown has been obsessed with it from the start."
Obsession and desire were on display during Brown's sophomore year during the NCAA Tournament. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the Austin Regional as the Spartans advanced to the Final Four. He averaged 13.5 points and 3.3 rebound in the first four games of the tournament.
Brown was most impressive in the regional games. He avenged the previous season's loss against Duke with a 78-68 victory over the Blue Devils. Brown had 11 points in 26 minutes against Duke, but more importantly he played solid defense on Redick, who was held to 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting.
Brown continued to pick up the pace in the Elite Eight matchup against Kentucky. He was able to avenge another loss by leading the Spartans, 94-88, with 24 points, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range.
"That was a great performance by Shannon," Izzo said. "Against Kentucky, he played well on both ends with everything on the line. Those two games put him on a different level."
Now, Brown must raise his game to NBA level. Izzo has confidence Brown can reach more goals because of his willingness to improve his game.
"If you tell Shannon what you want, that's what he'll do," Izzo said. "I told him he had to play defense and he did that. The next year I said, 'Let's improve your shooting range and let's do better with ballhandling' and he did well there."
Once Brown begins the rookie summer league in Las Vegas from July 6-13 and training camp this fall, he'll be one step closer to playing alongside LeBron James. Izzo is excited about the possibilities.
"Shannon's going to get open shots when LeBron is doubled," Izzo said. "Shannon is in great shape and he likes to run and that part will help LeBron. LeBron's an energy guy and Shannon's a high-energy guy. That's a great match."

Great article, a rookie who works hard, ecspecially on the defensive end will please MB very much. Great pick Ferry!

 

[exhawg]

^^^^^^^^^
That gets me pumped up.

 

[Bob Saccamano]

Well this is even better. :)

RealGM (via SI)

CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James surprised his coach, general manager and the Cleveland Cavaliers by showing up unannounced at a press conference on Friday to introduce the club's top two draft picks.

CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James surprised his coach, general manager and the Cleveland Cavaliers by showing up unannounced at a press conference on Friday to introduce the club's top two draft picks.

"It's good to see him -- anytime," coach Mike Brown said.

But especially now.

Because as early as 12:01 a.m. Saturday morning, the Cavaliers can begin negotiations with James and his agent, Leon Rose, on a five-year contract extension worth about $80 million. James, who isn't eligible to become a free agent until after the 2006-07 season, has given every indication that he intends to sign the deal.

Trouble is, he can't officially sign until July 12 when the NBA's free-agent moratorium ends. So for now, Cleveland fans, burned in the past by promises made by the likes of Art Modell, Jim Thome and Carlos Boozer, are doing their best to keep the faith that the Akron-born James stays close to home.

"These are stressful times," Marissa Carcioppolo of Parma said after buying a silver Cavs basketball for her 5-year-old niece's birthday at the club's team shop at Quicken Loans Arena. "Everyone is a little bit stressed out that he's going to leave us, but LeBron has said he wants to stay in Cleveland. He's home grown, and I feel like he wants to be here. His heart is here."

The Cavaliers are counting on his other vital organs staying, too.

For months, James has expressed his happiness with the organization and its direction. The Cavaliers made the playoffs last season for the first time since 1998, and they've spent big money on free agents to help James win.

Taking a low profile near an exit door off the Cavaliers' practice floor, James didn't have much to say about his impending contract situation.

"Talk to them," he said, pointing toward a stage where Brown and Ferry were posing for pictures with draft picks Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson. "They'll let you know."

James planned to stay in town for the extended holiday weekend, but he didn't know if the Cavs would be meeting with Rose soon. James even joked about his high-profile agent, who represents Andrea Bargnani, taken No. 1 overall by Toronto, and Philadelphia's Allen Iverson, rumored to be on the trading block.

"I hope he (Rose) can find some time for me," James said.
Ferry was extremely cautious with his words when discussing James' extension.

"This is one where you don't want to stub your toe on rules," he said.

The league prohibits teams from making any public statements when the free-agent signing period begins on July 1. However, teams can confirm their intent to begin talks, and Ferry said one of club's first moves will be making early morning contact with Rose.

"We'll make a call and allow things to unfold," he said. "Feeling like we have to rush this is a mistake. The earliest he (James) can do anything is the 12th. Rushing it is not a necessity. That process starts tonight and carries on through. We're going to initiate things with them and go from there."

The Cavaliers have exclusive negotiating rights with James this summer. As the team that drafted him, they can offer him a "maximum" contract extension allowed under the league's collective bargaining agreement that would kick in after the 2007-08 season. Under that deal, he would make 25 percent of the 2007-08 salary cap, which will be determined later.

Players have historically taken the extension when it's offered, primarily because of the security.

Last season, Amare Stoudemire signed his five-year, $73 million extension with Phoenix and then suffered a season-ending knee injury one week later. If he had not signed, Stoudemire would have risked never seeing that money from the Suns again.

If James chooses not to sign this summer, he can become a restricted free agent after the 2006-07 season. But the Cavaliers would still be able to match any offer sheet made to James, plus they could give him a six-year deal while other teams could only give him five.

James would not be eligible for unrestricted free agency until after the 2007-08 season.

With a busy summer ahead and his fourth NBA season looming at the other end of it, James may want to get the extension talks over with quickly. He's playing for Team USA in the World Championships and has to report to training camp in Las Vegas on July 19.

He wasn't required to be at Friday's event when the Cavaliers welcomed their draft picks. But James was there, perhaps providing another sign of his commitment to Cleveland.

"He found out and wanted to come, which is great," Ferry said. "He's a big part of this and that has to make both those guys feel really pretty good, that the leader here wants to come and show some support for them."
And how does it make the GM feel?

Ferry smiled.

"Always good to see him," he said.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

7/1/06

Cavs to put LeBron on the clock

Maximum offer expected; decision could take time

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

• Fans' fretting for naught, LeBron will stick around

<!-- begin body-content -->CLEVELAND - The Cavaliers and their fan base are in a hurry, but LeBron James might just take his time.
The NBA free-agent season started at 12:01 this morning, at which time the Cavs were free to make the contract offer.
It needs no other qualifiers, it has been the subject of worry and conjecture for several years by both a self-loathing sports community convinced that stars eventually leave for big money in a bigger city and the big-market media.
The Cavs will likely offer James a five-year maximum contract extension sometime today. The total value won't be known until next year, when the salary cap is set.
It is projected to be worth about $79 million and probably will include a clause that allows James to opt out of the final year of the deal, the 2012-2013 season. That doesn't include the $5.8 million he'll make next season, the final year of his rookie contract.
If James chooses, he can orally agree to the extension whenever he wants and can sign it anytime between July 12 and Oct. 31. For months, James has repeated that he is happy with the Cavs and wants to be around. So he's expected to accept the offer, which would be the second-largest contract awarded in Cavs history.
Yet those close to James and who know him well predict he might take some time and enjoy watching everyone sweat a little.
``I'm not going to talk about it today,'' James said through a smile on Friday at the news conference introducing Cavs draft picks Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson at Quicken Loans Arena. ``You'll have to ask (the Cavs).''
The Cavs are prohibited from discussing it until July 12, and they won't even dance near the rules.
``This is one you don't want to stub your toe on rules,'' General Manager Danny Ferry said. ``We're going to make a call and allow things to unfold from there. Rushing is not a necessity. We have all summer.''
James, though, doesn't have all summer. Starting July 19, he's due in Las Vegas for training with Team USA in preparation for the FIBA World Championships. In early August, he will be off on a monthlong journey in the Far East with exhibitions in China and Korea before the tournament in Japan.
Getting a deal done before that commitment would seem prudent on several fronts. He would protect himself in case he suffers a serious injury while playing for Team USA, and he'll be able to dodge what would seem like endless questions from the international media about his contract situation. Plus, his commitment could help the Cavs in the free-agent season.
Ferry, though, is not focused on outside free agents. A year ago, with $28 million in salary-cap room, Ferry was the most active GM in the NBA. This year, he plans on taking care of James and free-agent forward Drew Gooden first.
``We want to work inside out; our players are most important,'' Ferry said. ``This was a 50-win team that played well in the playoffs.''
The Cavs are still looking for an experienced guard and a versatile big man in free agency. They are over the salary cap, but have two exceptions. The mid-level exception of $5.3 million, which they can use in pieces, and the biannual exception of $1.8 million, which they must use all at once. These exceptions don't apply to Gooden or James.
Here are players the Cavs are believed to be considering:
Speedy Claxton, PG -- A quick point guard who averaged 12.3 points and 4.3 assists backing up Chris Paul with the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets last season.
Marcus Banks, PG -- The Cavs looked into trading for him in February; an undersized but fast ballhandler who played well after being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Bobby Jackson, PG -- He's 33, which isn't attractive for a point guard. But he's playoff tested, and he ranked in the 98th percentile of NBA players in making spot-up jumpers with the Memphis Grizzlies last season, a trait the Cavs could use.
Chucky Atkins, PG -- The Cavs tried to sign him last season, and he played well down the stretch for the Grizzlies.
Nazr Mohammed, F/C -- Ferry knows him well from when both were in San Antonio. A good defender who is versatile, Mohammed might be too expensive for the Cavs.
Reggie Evans, F -- A rugged rebounder who doesn't care about scoring. The Denver Nuggets want to keep him.
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[Bob Saccamano]

CPD

Cavs' top pick earns stripes for work ethic


Sunday, July 02, 2006 Roger Brown
Plain Dealer Columnist
What's most impres sive about Cavs first- round pick Shannon Brown isn't his talent, it's the commitment the guard has shown to improve it, season after season.
That's the view of former longtime UCLA basketball head coach Steve Lavin, who coached Brown on an Under-19 national squad and has spent the past two seasons as an analyst on ESPN's Big Ten telecasts, watching Brown play for Michigan State.
"Each season, he's come back with a new dimension that he's added to his game," Lavin says of Brown, taken 25th overall. "He's shown me he's a guy who's constantly focused on improving. He's not afraid to take a certain aspect of his game and find ways to make it better."
Lavin says when he coached Brown during an international tournament in France, he was a raw player with natural talent. "But between his first and second seasons [at Michigan State], he improved his commitment to defense and his perimeter shot," Lavin says.
"Then, between his second and [last] season, he improved on making better decisions with the ball, moving better without the ball and creating space to get his shot off. That's a pretty impressive work ethic for a young kid."
Word is,
the Cavs are stepping up efforts to trade reserve point guard Damon Jones - just one year after signing him to a four-year, $16.1 million deal.

Good to hear we are trying to trade DJ. Hopefully someone will take his contract.

 

[Bob Saccamano]

Kind of a funny, but reassuring article from the ABJ

Don't worry, LeBron will stick around

By Terry Pluto

<!-- begin body-content -->Repeat after me: LeBron James will sign with the Cavaliers.

Go ahead, say it again...

LeBron James will sign with the Cavaliers.

Really...

He'll sign with the Cavaliers for the same reason Carmelo Anthony will sign with the Denver Nuggets and Dwyane Wade will sign with the Miami Heat. Not only because it makes sense, but it's also the way to make the most dollars.

But the e-mails keep coming in.

One talked about Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez leaving the Indians. And didn't Thome say he loved it here? The Boston Red Sox outbid the Tribe for Ramirez; the Philadelphia Phillies did the same for Thome.

Here's the deal: No one else can bid on James this summer. Not the New York Knicks, not the New Jersey Nets, not the New York Yankees.

R.W. Doan of Madison, Ohio, wrote: ``(What) about the creepy signs pointing to the possibility of LeBron James sneaking out of town. I refer to the affectation of the Yankee cap in his press conferences, the reports that the NIKE contract pays him more in the NY market, his association with NY-area rap artists... and his recent publicity-mill PR-imagery for the housing development in Cleveland and the Akron Bike-athon.''

OK, help me with this...

Because James made a serious investment in Cleveland's inner-city and has a foundation headquartered in Akron and wants good public relations locally, that means he's going to New York?
HE CAN'T GO TO NEW YORK!

Not this year, when no one but the Cavs can offer him a contract.
Not even next year, when he's a restricted free agent and the Cavs can (and will) match any offer he receives to keep him.

``Can we assume the Dolan family (NY Knicks) is prepared to spend wildly to put the Cavs star in NY after years of crying poor mouth over the franchise in Cleveland,'' Doan wrote.

In a word: NO!

This is not to pick on Doan. Lots of fans have the same conspiracy theories, only the rules won't allow it. In the next three years, NO team can offer James more money or more years than the Cavs.

So just say it: LeBron James will sign with the Cavaliers.

LeBron James will sign with the Cavaliers because unlike baseball, the NBA rules are designed to keep free agents with their original teams.

Not only can the Cavs offer what the league calls a ``maximum contract'' of about $79 million for five years, no one else is even allowed to bid on James this summer.

This is why Tim Duncan has stayed in San Antonio, the NBA's second-smallest market. It's why Karl Malone stayed in Utah all those years, which is the smallest market. It's why Kevin Garnett stayed in Minnesota.

The NBA gives the home team a real homecourt advantage. For once, the rules favor a Cleveland team keeping a star.

Then consider that the planets are aligned in the Cavs' direction.

James is from Akron. He likes it here. He has family and friends here. He has a foundation here to spend out goodwill (and real cash) to make this a better place. The team is coming off 50 wins and an exciting run in the playoffs. Owner Dan Gilbert is spending cash on everything from dressing rooms to training facilities to make players comfortable.

Friday, James showed up at Quicken Loans Arena to support new draft choices Shannon Brown (an old friend from summer leagues) and Daniel Gibson. You don't do that if you plan to leave.

Yes, fellow 2003 draft classmates Anthony (Nuggets) and Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors) have already orally committed to signing the extension, which they can't do until July 12 under the rules.

James has been silent since July 1, when contracts first could be offered. That's because he likes a little drama, and they'll turn signing the extension into an event.

So take a deep breath and just say it: LeBron James will sign with the Cavaliers.

That's because he will.

And news on Gooden from the CPD

Gooden plays waiting game

Forward's decision to re-sign with Cavs may hinge on James taking extension
Monday, July 03, 2006 Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter

General Manager Danny Ferry and Cavaliers fans are not alone when it comes to waiting on LeBron James' decision to sign a five-year extension with the Cavs.

James' decision could also determine the future of Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden, a restricted free agent.

"I can't say if LeBron's not going to re-sign that Drew isn't going to re-sign, but one of the main reasons why Drew wanted to go to Cleveland is because of LeBron," said Calvin Andrews, Gooden's agent.

<SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://ads.cleveland.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.cleveland.com/xml/story/s4/s4cav/@StoryAd"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="/cgi-bin/donotcount/formatp.cgi/dhtml/jspop/jspop.ata?NAME=PAIDPOP&EXP=1"><table width=420 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr valign=bottom><td width=383> [COLOR=#436442;][FONT=Arial,sans-serif]Advertisement[/FONT][/color]

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</td></tr></table>http://ads15.udc.advance.net/RealMedia/ads/adstream_lx.ads/www.cleveland.com/xml/story/s4/s4cav/307204533/StoryAd/CLEVELANDLIVE/NextHome01a_CL_RoS_Story/blank.html/34356130646533383434613762373130?_RM_EMPTY_&
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"><!--if (parseFloat(navigator.appVersion) == 0) {document.write('<IFRAME WIDTH=468 HEIGHT=60 MARGINWIDTH=0 MARGINHEIGHT=0 HSPACE=0 VSPACE=0 FRAMEBORDER=0 SCROLLING=no BORDERCOLOR="#000000" SRC="http://ads.cleveland.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_sx.ads/www.cleveland.com/xml/story/s4/s4cav/@StoryAd"></IFRAME>');}--></SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT>[URL="http://ads.cleveland.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_nx.ads/www.cleveland.com/xml/story/s4/s4cav/@StoryAd?x"]http://ads.cleveland.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_nx.ads/www.cleveland.com/xml/story/s4/s4cav/@StoryAd?x[/URL]</NOSCRIPT>"Drew thinks the Cavaliers are a championship-caliber team. If LeBron's not in the mix, that will impact how Drew views the team."

The Cavs offered James a five-year contract extension worth about $80 million on Saturday. That was the first day NBA teams could negotiate contract extensions with free agents.

July 12 is the first day players can sign. So far, there has not been any word from James or from his agent Leon Rose on whether James intends to sign sooner or later.

Andrews, who also represents Carmelo Anthony, said Anthony intends to sign a five-year extension with the Denver Nuggets.

Dwyane Wade, MVP of the NBA Finals, has not made an announcement on his intentions to remain with the Miami Heat. But Wade and James have time.

The league does not allow teams to make any public statements during the free-agent signing period. Organizations can confirm their intent to begin discussions, and the Cavs have made their intention clear for weeks.
If James does not sign, he would become a restricted free agent next summer and an unrestricted free agent in 2008. James has made recent comments about his desire to remain with the Cavs.

Ferry also has made comments about his desire to keep Gooden, but the Cavs did not make Gooden an offer on Saturday.

Because Gooden is a restricted free agent, the Cavs can match any offer made to Gooden.

"We had good conversations with the Cavs on Saturday," Andrews said. "They called shortly after midnight [last Saturday] and expressed an interest. We're working pretty hard, especially this coming week. We know they have to take care of LeBron first."

While the Cavs wait, Andrews will seek a long-term deal for Gooden: six years in Cleveland or five years at another address. A long-term deal could mean $8 million to $10 million a year. If that scares the Cavs, Gooden could receive that money from Phoenix, Atlanta or Chicago - teams in need of a low-post scorer.

However, the waiting game continues until James makes his intentions known.

"We almost have to wait because the Cavaliers want to see if [James will sign], and we understand that," Andrews said. "We're not going to say we're not doing anything until LeBron makes a decision, but we obviously can't wait too long.

"What LeBron does is a key piece."

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

7/4/06

View from Pluto

GUARDED OPTIMISM Draft picks Brown, Gibson give Cavs good shot at having at least one success story in near future

By Terry Pluto

<!-- begin body-content -->By drafting two guards, the Cavaliers will probably find one who helps them in the next few years. That's how it usually works in the NBA Draft, especially when you're talking about the Nos. 25 and 42 selections.
Interviews with a few executives from other teams give General Manager Danny Ferry solid marks for picking Shannon Brown (No. 25) and Daniel Gibson (No. 42).
Here's what I heard about the selections:
About Brown:
• The junior from Michigan State is a ``ridiculous athlete,'' according to one Western Conference executive. He's not quite in the class of Dwyane Wade or LeBron James, but he has some of those same physical gifts. He's a leaper, a sturdy 6-foot-4, 210 pounds and while he's a flashy dunker, he will defend.
• His outside shooting is spotty, but not terrible. He's a career 36 percent shooter on 3-pointers. Like most gifted physical athletes, Brown usually can get to the basket almost at will -- which means he didn't need to develop his outside shot. But he does have a decent shooting technique, or he would not have shot more than 80 percent from the foul line in his college career.
• One executive said some Michigan State products are a little like those from Duke. They are so well coached and pushed so hard, they often are finished products by the time they get to the pros. They don't get that much better. But he thought Brown's sheer athleticism -- he finished second to James in a high school slam dunk contest -- gives him some room to grow.
• ``His father is a policeman, he played for Tom Izzo and you can just look at him and know he's had some discipline in his life,'' said an executive. ``Some teams backed away because they thought he wasn't a true point guard. I think he's more of a shooting guard.''
• The Cavs see him as a shooting guard. Brown will defend, he can be effective running the fast break and he comes from a winning program. As several executives told me, that kind of player usually has a meaningful NBA career.
• Brown's worst moment came in the upset loss to George Mason in the NCAA Tournament when he shot 2-of-11 and fouled out. But in the 2005 NCAA Tournament, Brown was the Most Valuable Player in the Austin, Texas, regional, had 24 points against Kentucky and 15 against North Carolina in the Final Four. He was 10-of-20 from 3-point range in the 2005 tournament.
About Gibson:
• Executives are mixed about the 6-foot-2 guard from Texas. They agree that he can defend point guards because of his quickness, footwork and a desire to do so.
• Gibson played only two years at Texas, and his scoring average, shooting percentage and assists were slightly down as a sophomore compared with the year before when he was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year.
• ``The knock on him was his ballhandling, and that's a legitimate concern,'' said one executive. ``He can be turnover prone. He's 6-2, which makes him more of a point guard, but I don't see him at that position. Texas took him off the ball in some games.''
• Defenders of Gibson mentioned that he replaced T.J. Ford at point guard, and Ford was a classic swift, savvy playmaker who penetrated and set up teammates for shots with his drives to the hoop. Gibson is more of a shooter.
• Like Brown, Gibson has displayed strong character. He has a father who is a coach. At Texas, Gibson was coached by Rick Barnes, another tough guy who makes defensive demands of his players. In high school, Gibson ranked No. 6 academically out of a class of 212.
• The numbers reveal that Gibson shot 41 percent from the field, 39 percent on 3-pointers and 74 percent at the foul line. He has a great-looking shot and appears to have good range. He loves the 3-pointer, as 452-of-716 college field-goal attempts came from behind the line.
• One scout talked of Gibson developing into a Damon Jones-type player, only he can really defend. Gibson is only 20, and the Cavs believe he can help them with his outside shooting and defense. They don't need him to handle the ball a lot because of James and Larry Hughes.
TALKIN' CAVS
Gooden still is a big part of team plans
• The Cavs insist they want to sign Drew Gooden, and they will match any offer he receives as a restricted free agent. That could set up a sign-and-trade move, but they won't allow him to walk away. They know that even if they match a contract richer than their taste, he's 6-foot-10 and athletic -- and there is always a trade market for players of his size.
• You don't hear Flip Murray's name mentioned, because the unrestricted free agent will be gone. He wants to go somewhere he can start. Murray really struggled in the playoffs, averaging 31 minutes a game and scoring 8.1 points. He shot 33 percent. In the seven games against the Detroit Pistons, he scored 5.6 points and shot 22 percent in 32 minutes a game.
• The Cavs are loaded with guards: Eric Snow, Damon Jones, Luke Jackson, Ira Newble, Larry Hughes, Sasha Pavlovic and Steven Graham along with rookies Brown and Gibson. Count 'em up, and you have nine guards. Graham probably won't be back. But all the rest have contracts for next year. Jackson ($2 million) and Pavlovic ($2 million) are the easiest to move because they have only one year left.
• The hardest to trade are Jones (three years, $12 million), Snow (three years, $20 million) and Newble (two years, $6.6 million).
• Pay no attention to rumors about the Cavs being unhappy with Hughes, or Hughes being unhappy with the Cavs. Like some players, Hughes had moments of frustration with the Cavs' sometimes stagnant offense. But this is not a serious concern.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

7/5/06

LeBron to reply shortly

Response to Cavs' offer likely coming this week

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->LeBron James' four-day public silence following the Cavaliers' offer of a maximum contract extension has unnerved some and inspired conspiracy theories already.
All that could come to an end soon. According to several people close to James, an answer to the contract offer should be coming this week, perhaps as early as today.
The Cavs offered the five-year deal worth a projected $79 million starting in 2007 on Saturday.
James' agent, Leon Rose, who has not returned messages, has been dealing with family commitments over the past few days. James has been in town and working out in advance of Team USA's training camp in Las Vegas later this month, but he also had commitments around the Fourth of July holiday.
The agents for Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat have told media outlets their clients intend to sign their maximum extensions after the NBA's moratorium is lifted July 12. The Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh told media outlets last month he intended to sign his offer.
That leaves James as the only member of the 2003 class who got a maximum offer and has not indicated his intention.
While waiting for James, the Cavs have been on the sidelines in the free agent market. They have not gotten serious in talks with their own free agent, Drew Gooden. Also, several players whom the Cavs were interested in signing, including centers Joel Przybilla and Nazr Mohammed, have already orally committed to deals.
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[Bob Saccamano]

DraftExpress gave the Cavs a 'B' on their draft--

DraftExpress.com

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

7/6/06

Several Cavaliers will play in Vegas

Brown, Gibson, Pavlovic put on summer team

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->The Cavaliers will have a good chunk of their roster taking part in the Vegas Summer League, which starts Friday.
Rookie guards Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson, drafted by the Cavs last week, will take part in the five games. Center Martynas Andriuskevicius, last season's second-round pick, will also play. Swing man Sasha Pavlovic, who is entering his fourth and last season under contract, will take part.
After clearing up visa problems in Nigeria, 2006 second-round draft pick Ejike Ugboaja is also on the roster. He isn't expected to be signed this season.
Free-agent guard Stephen Graham, who joined the Cavs last February following Larry Hughes' injury, is also on the summer team. He joins a list of seven other free agents on the roster, including former Ohio University star Brandon Hunter and Ohio State guard Je'Kel Foster.
Paxson to Bulls
Former Cavs General Manager Jim Paxson, who was out of the NBA last season, was named a consultant with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Before his six seasons in Cleveland, the two-time NBA All-Star worked in the Portland Trail Blazers' front office.
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