Cavs '05-'06 wrap up

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

7/18/06

LeBron's extension relieves Gilbert

Owner knows team still must improve

By Terry Pluto

<!-- begin body-content -->Owner Dan Gilbert can now talk about the Cavaliers winning an NBA title without anyone laughing.
Having LeBron James under contract for at least four more years does that.
``LeBron signing the extension is a relief,'' Gilbert said Monday. ``There was not a lot of concern (about James not signing a new contract). But let's face it, we all wanted to know LeBron planned to make a commitment.''
Which the 21-year-old James did, signing a three-year deal with his option for a fourth season.
He was offered what is called the NBA's ``maximum contract,'' which is four years plus a player option for a fifth year.
Because James has one more year on his original deal, he's guaranteed to be with the Cavs for at least the next four seasons.
``Some people tried to act like there was something wrong with LeBron not signing the full max contract,'' Gilbert said. ``I call that pessimism in search of an object. We have him for four more years, and we're excited about that. The difference is only one year -- not two, as some people were trying to claim.''
Not only did James pass on the full max contract, but such stars as Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) and Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors) did as well.
They signed deals like James'. Only Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets agreed to the full max contract.
``I understand that people in Northeast Ohio have had other players leave, and then there was the whole (Carlos) Boozer thing,'' Gilbert said. ``There is an insecurity complex because of that. All that does for me is make me want to win more, win faster and break the curse. I want people to know that we can do this. We intend to win a championship here.''
Gilbert is a native of Detroit, and his Quicken Loans company is located in Livonia, Mich. He is opening a branch of that business in Cleveland.
``I really like Cleveland,'' he said. ``I think people underrate the town. I like the downtown. I love the people. There's a lot of potential here.''
Gilbert talked about the frenzy in some parts of the national media to see James reject the contract, become a free agent and leave for a team such as the New York Knicks.
``There's what I call a `coastal bias,' '' he said. ``They don't think anyone would want to live anywhere but the East or West Coast. They can be very narcissistic, and just (dismiss) the middle of the country. Well, I'm from the Midwest, and I love the Midwest.''
Community involvement
That's also true of James, who grew up in Akron and played for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in the heart of the city.
``Look at all the charity things and other commitments LeBron has made to the area,'' Gilbert said. ``He wants to be the key guy here.''
James was given the NBA's Community Assist Award for his Akron bikeathon and other good works from his foundation. He has given away 300 bikes and 1,000 backpacks to needy children, along with helping to refurbish several Akron recreation centers.
July 1 was the first day the Cavaliers could meet with James. While Gilbert won't confirm it, James, his agent and some others from his party met with Gilbert and General Manager Danny Ferry at Ken Stewart's restaurant on West Market Street in Akron.
``Never once did LeBron indicate any unhappiness with playing here,'' Gilbert said. ``He's from the area. He likes it here. He likes being with his family and friends. He also wants to win, and it's up to us to create an environment for that to happen.''
Gilbert bought the Cavs in March 2005 for $375 million, a steep price, with the assumption being he would keep James. The NBA is a star-dominated sport. Most NBA champions have someone like Shaquille O'Neal, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon or Isiah Thomas in control.
James is that type of player, a legitimate most-valuable-player contender at the age of 21. He's listed at 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, but probably is closer to 6-9 and 250 with less than 10 percent body fat.
``We have to position the franchise to get the right people in place,'' Gilbert said. ``It's not just about convincing LeBron to stay here, it's about spending the next four years becoming the undisputed No. 1 place to play in the NBA.''
Cavs making progress
Consider how far the Cavaliers have come in slightly more than a year.
At the end of the 2004-2005 season, they had no general manager or coach. Both had been fired. The team missed the playoffs. Gilbert was flirting with Larry Brown, the soon-to-be fired Detroit Pistons coach.
Gilbert then turned his attention to Mike Brown and Danny Ferry. While he hired Brown as coach first -- not always a wise move -- the decision did have the blessing of Ferry, who was named general manager a few weeks later.
It was a gamble turning the team over to a rookie GM and a rookie head coach in a key season in which James would have his first crack at signing a contract extension.
``Could I have hired some more experienced people? Of course,'' Gilbert said. ``But what good is it to hire someone who is mediocre, just because he has been around for 20 years. I'd rather take my chances with some hungry young guys like Danny and Mike.''
Ferry and Brown combined to assemble a team around James that won 50 games, the most since 1992-1993. The Cavs advanced to the second round of the playoffs, losing to the Pistons in seven games.
``I still think about those rebounds we didn't get at the end of Game 6 (against the Pistons),'' Gilbert said. ``It may be a blessing, not to get too much, too soon. But it bothers me. We were so close... ''
Gilbert said James spoke highly of Brown, and that the 31-point scorer and coach ``have developed a very close relationship. LeBron respects Mike more than perhaps some of the other coaches he's had.''
As the Cavs enter the 2006-07 season, James will be a favorite to win the most-valuable-player award. The Cavs will be predicted to win at least 50 games and battle the Heat for the Eastern Conference title.
``The expectations will be high,'' Gilbert said. ``But we want that. We're in this to win a championship. That's why LeBron signed. We should have high expectations with him, and we need to keep working to build a team around him.''
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

7/20/06

LeBron mum on stay past extension

Thursday, July 20, 2006


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer [/FONT]



LAS VEGAS LeBron James is into only three-year commitments these days.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ All-Star forward reported to the U.S. national team’s training camp on Wednesday with a new NBA contract, signed a day earlier in Las Vegas.
“It feels good,” he said. “I’m happy to be staying with the same team. I’ll try to get better and win a championship. ... For the security of myself, my friends and family, and then for the fans, I think it’s great for them. They should be relieved, I guess.”
Hardly.
The meager three-year length of that deal has caused consternation among fans in Ohio, but James said he’s more focused on the Americans’ three-year drive to put USA Basketball back on top of the world.
James clearly has a burning desire for international superstardom. He’s in position for it with the U.S. squad — and though he wouldn’t talk about it, some believe Nike’s poster boy can’t become a worldwide phenomenon unless he eventually leaves small-market Cleveland for the bright lights of New York or Los Angeles.
James’ decision to sign a three-year deal suggests Team LeBron might feel the same way, and his first extensive public comments weren’t terribly revealing.
James initially planned to sign a five-year contract, but chose the shorter deal days later. That decision made Cleveland fans awfully nervous — and James didn’t exactly calm their fears.
“It was just the way I felt,” James said. “I feel more comfortable signing a three-year deal with a fourth-year option more than signing a five-year deal with a sixth-year option. I feel more comfortable with it, and that’s what I did.”
When asked about his future in Cleveland beyond the deal, James wasn’t taking the bait.
“That’s a while. I can’t think about that right now,” he said with mock exasperation. “I just signed the contract yesterday, and now you want me to be thinking about the next one?”
James seems focused on carving out a large role on Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s U.S. team that’s headed for an Asian tour culminating at the world championships in Japan next month. Far from being soured by his benchwarming experience at the Athens Olympics, where he averaged 5.4 points in limited playing time, James seems determined to showcase his game on a bigger stage.
“I hope my experience is a lot better than 2004, of course,” James said. “I hope I’ve got a bigger role in this year’s world games, and then the next two summers. ... There’s always pride. It’s great to represent your country by doing what you love to do. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Three years into his NBA career, the 21-year-old James still is a basketball prodigy: He has more points, assists and rebounds at a younger age than any player in history.
But Dwyane Wade beat him to the real finish line as the first member of the vaunted 2003 draft class to lead his club to a championship. James’ Cavs reached the second round of the playoffs this season, but couldn’t get past Detroit.
The Cavaliers have made extensive efforts to keep James happy and supported, signing a bumper crop of free agents last summer and making renovations to their arena while building a new training complex. Cleveland now is pushed up against the salary cap, making big additions unlikely.
But nobody who has seen James’ game would be surprised if he led the Cavs to their first championship with largely the same supporting cast — and, if he breaks the title drought that’s plagued Cleveland since the Browns’ 1964 NFL crown, most believe he would be able to leave for bigger things with pride. James feels those matters are best discussed in the fall, when NBA training camp opens. Until then, he’s devoted to his new teammates, starting with two weeks of workouts in Las Vegas leading to the world championships. “It was awesome,” James said after practice Wednesday. “For the first day, all of us came together pretty fast. A lot of guys are friends here, so it’s easy to come together as a team.”


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

7/24/06

Gund admires from distance

Former majority owner enjoys Cavs' success

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->In a stately business suit and familiar old position inside a posh suite with Joe Tait's voice streaming into his ears through a headset, Gordon Gund looked quite at home during a Cavaliers game he attended in February.
Except he was wearing a red curly wig, as was his wife, Lulie, who was sitting next to him as they sipped wine. It was, after all, Anderson Varejao wig night and the Cavs were trying to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for most fans wearing the floppy tops. That effort included billionaires, too.
It was fitting as Gund is letting his hair down a little these days.
A little more than a year after selling his majority ownership of the Cavs, Gund has moved into a new phase of his life. He's pouring his time and resources into charity, especially the Foundation Fighting Blindness, an organization he founded 35 years ago after a rare disease robbed him of his sight.
That's why today is one of his biggest days of the year as he hosts the Cavs Charities Golf Outing at Westfield Country Club.
A large chunk of the proceeds go to the FFB, a provision Gund kept as a part of his deal to sell the team to Dan Gilbert.
That didn't stop him from enjoying his first year as a minority owner of the Cavs -- Gund retained a 15 percent stake in the team for about $50 million -- including watching his long-suffering team get back into the playoffs.
``It was wonderful to be a fan. I seemed to enjoy the games more,'' Gund said from his office in Princeton, N.J. ``But I do, I miss professional sports. You don't do it for 30 years and drop it easily.''
There is no doubt that Gund cashed in on his investment when he decided to sell. Analysts judged the upturn in the franchise with the arrival of LeBron James helping to double the franchise's value from a few years before. It was widely reported that Gund sold the Cavs and operating and naming rights to Quicken Loans Arena for $375 million, though insiders say the actual deal was closer to $420 million.
Perhaps he didn't totally get the best of it. With James poised to become a superstar and $28 million in cap room created by several dreary years of losing and discipline, Gilbert and his new team broke through with a 50-win season. It was success Gund hadn't tasted in more than a decade at the helm.
``There was a lot of pain for a few years there when we had to get worse to get better,'' Gund said. ``We had a plan and we talked about it from back in 2000. We had to re-tool. I'm glad we did it and it was the right thing to do. When you're an owner and you keep feeling responsible and keenly interested, there are times when it is not a lot of fun.''
His major responsibility now is the FFB, where he remains the chairman and a major benefactor. Gund is extremely excited about medical breakthroughs being developed with the resources the foundation is raising. Especially an implant that is inserted in the back of the eye that can reverse cell damage.
``We have a lot of strong science and a lot of clinical trials going,'' Gund said. ``At long last, we're where we can see potential therapies which is a big step.''
Those battles are his greatest now, not chasing Central Division titles. He still listens to most games at home and keeps in touch with players when he can. He's also getting to spend more time with his family, and with some of his hobbies, which include sculpting wood, clay and bronze.
``I can tell he's more relaxed and enjoying life,'' said center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who had dinner with Gund late in the season when the Cavs was in New York. ``But he still cares, even if he isn't the main owner.''
With the way franchises are selling, it is possible Gund's 15 percent stake might prove to be just as valuable as his majority share 10 or 15 years down the line. He's in the investment business, but the Cavs will always remain special to him.
``You know I'm very happy for Dan (Gilbert) and Danny (Ferry), I think very highly of what they're doing,'' Gund said. ``I'm very pleased with the way things are going.''
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

7/30/06

Cavs frustrated by Gooden talks

Lack of much progress has officials looking at other player options

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->CLEVELAND - The Drew Gooden contract stalemate with the Cavaliers now seems to have frustrated both sides.
Following initial contract talks earlier this month that showed a wide gap, Gooden's agents decided to pursue sign-and-trade options for the restricted free agent forward. Nothing has gotten done, and now it's the Cavaliers who might be getting antsy.
According to two league executives, the Cavs are hoping to schedule a meeting with free agent forward Reggie Evans next week and might also look to pursue another free agent big man, Lorenzen Wright.
It seems the team is looking to investigate other options in case the talks with Gooden don't work out, and it might also be trying to put pressure on him to accept the current deal on the table. The Cavs still have their $5.2 million ``midlevel exception,'' as well as the so-called ``biannual exception'' of $1.8 million to work with.
They own the rights to Gooden, so they can match any offers and also can sign him without using the exceptions. And re-signing Gooden still appears to be the Cavs' top priority.
Evans, however, is a player Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry has kept an eye on since last summer.
Known as a solid rebounder, Evans averaged 5.6 points and 7.5 rebounds in 20 minutes per game with the Seattle SuperSonics and Denver Nuggets last season. He's an unrestricted free agent, and league insiders have indicated the Nuggets believe they will be able to re-sign him.
Wright averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Grizzlies last year and, unlike Gooden and Evans, can play both forward and center. But he's coming off a rough season in Memphis after demanding to be traded last summer.
Neither player is on par with Gooden, but they would cost the Cavs less. The team is keeping an eye on its payroll, with LeBron James' $43 million extension and Anderson Varejao's free agency looming next year.
Indications are that the Cavs have offered Gooden a contract starting at about $6.5 million per year, worth around $45-$48 million if the deal goes the maximum six years.
Gooden's agents, Bill Duffy and Calvin Andrews, are looking for something closer to the six-year, $60 million deal the Nuggets gave forward Nene. The Indiana Pacers are reportedly about to give free agent forward Al Harrington roughly the same deal.
Gooden also has the option of playing out a one-year, $5.3 million contract to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. If that happens, the Cavs might lose him for nothing, because, due to NBA rules, he'd have to approve a trade.
There have been some rumors that the Cavs were in talks with the Phoenix Suns for a sign-and-trade involving Gooden and forward Kurt Thomas. According to insiders, that isn't currently a possibility.
The Suns supposedly have been looking to move Thomas, coming off a serious foot injury, in sign-and-trades with the Cavs for Gooden, the Washington Wizards for Jared Jeffries and the Sonics for Chris Wilcox.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

8/1/06

Cavaliers report

Cavs will open season against Wizards

New chapter added to rivalry; schedule will be announced today

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->The Cavaliers will open the new season by refreshing a new rivalry.
The complete NBA schedule will be released today, but a league source has told the Beacon Journal the Cavs will open at home for the second consecutive season and face the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
The game will be on ESPN, the third time in four years the team's opener is on national television.
Back in April, the Cavs and Wizards played an exciting first round playoff series where three games came down to the final seconds. The Cavs ended up winning the series 4-2 on Damon Jones' jumper with four seconds left in Game 6 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
Current Team USA players LeBron James and Gilbert Arenas put on an offensive show in the series. James averaged 35.7 points, had a triple-double in Game 1 and hit game-winning shots in Games 3 and 5. Arenas averaged 34 points and made a nearly 30-foot shot at the buzzer to force overtime in Game 6.
There is a full slate of nationally-televised games lined up again for the Cavs as matchups with the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, and Los Angeles Lakers are featured.
Single-game ticket sales will likely start in September.
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[tsteele316]

Gooden's agents, Bill Duffy and Calvin Andrews, are looking for something closer to the six-year, $60 million deal the Nuggets gave forward Nene. The Indiana Pacers are reportedly about to give free agent forward Al Harrington roughly the same deal.

they can keep looking. they will never get anything close. They might get something slightly higher than the Cavs' MLE, but not much.