Cavs Working On Roster, Albeit Quietly

[Maximus]

Cavs take good look at Hudson
Ex-Minnesota player is part of a quiet but active summer for brass

By Brian Windhorst Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Saturday, Aug 04, 2007

It might not be popular to fans dying for action in a summer of blockbuster trades, but the Cavaliers are staying the course and taking a conservative approach.

With two months until the start of training camp, the Cavs will continue to be methodical when it comes to making roster moves. That does not mean Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry hasn't been active. The Cavs have explored numerous options, but like most teams that made the playoffs last season, they have been quiet.

Here is an update of the goings-on:

There are no serious discussions with restricted free agents Anderson Varejao or Sasha Pavlovic. The sides have exchanged proposals and are waiting for the unpredictable late-summer market to develop. The Cavs, who control the rights to both players, are not in any hurry to make a deal.

After getting close to a trade with the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs that would've landed Mike Bibby last month, the sides have stopped serious discussions. League sources said the Cavs have made it known that they will not trade Drew Gooden or be involved in a sign-and-trade with Varejao unless they get a quality big man in return. Which is why the rights to Argentine big man Luis Scola were in play in the Bibby talks that involved Gooden.

The Cavs have spoken to a number of free-agent point guards, but have been reluctant to sign any. They are looking for a starter-quality point guard; those players are only available by trade at this point. They also don't want to bring in a player who would stunt the growth of guard Daniel Gibson.

They looked into the availability of Spanish guard Juan Carlos Navarro, whose rights seem close to being traded from the Washington Wizards to the Memphis Grizzlies. The latest free agent whom the Cavs have contacted with some interest is Troy Hudson, whose $12 million buyout of his contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves became official Friday.

Hudson, a 10-year veteran who averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 assists last year, would play for the NBA minimum and is interested in coming to the Cavs.

''Troy would have great interest in the Cavs,'' said Bill Neff, Hudson's agent. ''I hope they kick the tires on him and see if he can help.''

Sources said the Cavs had cursory discussions with Golden State Warriors restricted free-agent wing Mickael Pietrus. The talks never got serious, and the Cavs are not pursuing him at the moment.

The team has been looking to make a deal for a fifth big man; it appears that free agent Scot Pollard will not return.

After conducting numerous interviews, coach Mike Brown is still considering options in adjusting his coaching staff. He has been looking for a replacement for assistant Kenny Natt, who left for the Sacramento Kings last month. noweb


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Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Check out his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.

 

[Wine and Gold]

In my mind, I think Ferry thinks Hudson would be a fit ... in my mind, I can't stand his game. So much better options should exist then THAT.

 

[Splitz]

They want to trade Drew for a starter quality PG and a quality big man? I just don't see it..

 

[Joe Henderson]

They want to trade Drew for a starter quality PG and a quality big man? I just don't see it..

right, too many variables must fit to make it work. it either has to be a complicated multiteam deal, or with a team that has a quality PG, a quality PF and is looking for cap relief and maybe picks. That way, Gooden and expiring contracts could be packaged.

Portland and its oversized roster must still be interesting, by the way. Just sayin'

 

[Pioneer10]

Yummy Troy Hudson, I can see the Larry O' Brien on the shores of the Cuyahoga for sure next year

 

[The Voice]

David Wesley number 2 anyone?

 

[aaronr]

If elephants could fly. I'm about as down as everybody else on all this Hudson chatter, but IF he's back to where he was physically and mentally a few years ago, and IF he could be signed at a minimal salary, he'd be an improvement over some of the flotsom and jetsom we have masquerading as NBA guards. That said, it is pretty dispiriting if this is the kind of transaction Rip is focusing on right now.

 

[Smooth]

Still hoping for a Bibby trade...

Troy Hudson doesn't do anything for this team but I guess he's an upgrade over Wesley... I'd rather Boykins than Hudson if I had to decide between the two... Boykins gives us the quickness and scoring we need off the bench... Hudson can score, but not in the way Boykins can...

I'm hoping that Sasha and/or Varejao don't take the one-year qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next year, that's probably the worst thing that could happen since we'd have a hard time re-signing them... I'm hoping they settle for a median and agree to a 3yr deal worth some reasonable money...

If all it took was a heavily protected first round pick, Ferry should of probably done it.. I know that we can't keep giving up first round picks but Navarro is a pretty good player and would be worth it and probably more valuable then an inevitable late 1st round pick.... Although a Tony Parker or Josh Howard comes along every once in a while, so do Ndudi Ebi's and Joseph Forte's... It's a risk but if calculated correctly, it could be a good reward...

Pietrus is a solid player but for the price he's wanting, the full MLE, it's not worth it... If he lowers it then it's definitely something to look at it... I'd look at getting a veteran big like a Brian Skinner or Calvin Booth and then go after a guy with some potential left like a Mike Sweetney or Melvin Ely...

As far as coaches I think they'll go with Dwayne Casey... It's just a feeling I have, nothing behind it. He seems like the type of coach that Mike Brown and Ferry want on the staff...

I still have hope because of Windhorst's constant comments of "the Cavs will make a major trade this summer" keep coming up... We'll see... We can only hope so.

 

[PIP]

I still have hope because of Windhorst's constant comments of "the Cavs will make a major trade this summer" keep coming up... We'll see... We can only hope so.

Maybe Windhorst should have said "the Cavs will try like to hell to make a major trade"

I just can't see a major trade with the stuff we have on this roster... Much of which totally is non-desirable IMO..

We were a distant 3rd in the KG sweepstakes... And Petrie wants LeBron for Bibby..And according to what I'm reading, the Cavs are a bit hesitant to give LeBron up in any deal...But of course, all is speculation at this point..

 

[NarlCavs]

There's still talk that Hudson will be headed to Boston. I'm not crazy about him either and don't think he'd bring much to the Cavs. Another undersized combo G and he's injury prone and has trouble shooting 40% from the floor.

For the most part all that's left in free agency that is probably realistic would just fill out the bottom of the roster. The Pietrus talk appears that is was more internet speculation than something that will actually happen.

I'm not too high on the odds of a major trade happening. Like Joe Henderson said in his post there are too many variables involved to get a deal to work with all the things Ferry requires to get a trade done.

I agree with Smooth on the assistant coach hire. Casey would be a solid hire and I could see it happening too. I don't understand why a hire hasn't been made yet to fill the opening. What the hell is the delay? Cavs seem to take forever to make a decision to do anything.

 

[aaronr]

Smooth32's latest mentions Sweetney, which reminds me of a game I saw at the Garden a couple years ago. Sweetney came off the bench and completely outclassed every big on the court. He must have weighed 270 or 280 at the time, but he was quicker than anybody else in the post and scored with a variety of spin moves and turnaround jumpers. I know he's had a big problem with weight and couldn't really get off the bench last year, but IF he could get his weight down to manageable proportion he might be a serviceable big--better than Pollard I would think--available at minimal cost Just a procrastinating thought on a sleepy Saturday afternoon as I try to put off grading some mid-term exams.

 

[Brizzle]

I think Malik Allen would be a good fit as 5th big. Good defender, big body 6'10 250, good free throw shooter, nice little jumper. Never got a ton of PT in Chicago but he's 29 and I think he could be very useful here and he won't demand a ton of cash.

 

[CleveRocks]

It does not look like anything important will get done this season. I woudl rather see Hudson than Boykins, but niether is going to take us to a ring. Navarro was a risk, and not worth a first rounder to someone in our own division. Bummed that we missed Pargo. He can shoot from long range, which would make a difference with us.

 

[Rimage]

I don't want this team to include first round draft picks in any of these talks. We have been so insigificant in the draft since Lebron that it is just depressing. After this year, we should not longer feel any of affects of the Paxson/Gund era thank goodness.

 

[The Voice]

Why would the cavs wanna ship out this guy?

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