Cavs almost got Scola

[GilbertForPres]

Sorry if this was already posted, I thought it was pretty interesting.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/56161/20081224/spurs_nearly_dealt_scola_to_cavs_instead/

Before Luis Scola was traded from the San Antonio Spurs to the Houston Rockets in 2007, there was a done deal which had him on his way to join LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Houston Chronicle is reporting.

The Spurs had the deal done to trade Scola’s rights to the Cavaliers, only to have it fall apart. Two hours later, talks heated up with the Rockets and within two more hours, the Rockets acquired the rights to Scola for Vassilis Spanoulis.

Scola went through ups and downs even more trying than the teams’.

“I think about it occasionally,” Scola, who had 11 points and eight rebounds on Tuesday, said. “I was really, really, really close. Until four hours before I was traded (to Houston) I was 80 percent sure I was coming to Cleveland.

“I was excited. Now, I think the best thing that could happen to me was to go to Houston. I’m really happy with everything, the way it turned out.”

 

[Randolphkeys]

Yeah, the Scola trade hinged upon Sacramento dealing us Bibby for Gooden. In the end, I think we are a better team thanks to the lopsided Chicago deal... we couldn't have gotten Ben Wallace and Delonte West if the Bibby/Scola deal was completed.

 

[Thunder]

Still, Scola is a good talent and would've been nice to have. Oh well, all these things that didn't happen led us to where we are today, 24-4 and 2nd in the league.

 

[Sir Charles Barkley]

shame. He would've been really solid for us

 

[KU_216]

Yeah, the Scola trade hinged upon Sacramento dealing us Bibby for Gooden. In the end, I think we are a better team thanks to the lopsided Chicago deal... we couldn't have gotten Ben Wallace and Delonte West if the Bibby/Scola deal was completed.

Nor would we have gotten Joe Smith, who in turn, got us Mo Williams.

 

[Wine and Gold]

Yeah, the Scola trade hinged upon Sacramento dealing us Bibby for Gooden. In the end, I think we are a better team thanks to the lopsided Chicago deal... we couldn't have gotten Ben Wallace and Delonte West if the Bibby/Scola deal was completed.

Yep, it all ended up working out in the long run I guess, although it was upsetting to us at the time. I think we were the only place on the internet that was on top of that possiblity as it was going down ...it later became public knowledge, but, I would say that Danny really liked Scola, and wanted to get him here badly ...

Another issue that was messed up by Sacramento at that time. I remember Ferry being so pissed with then that he swore he'd never entertain serious talks with them again ... he's cooled down since, but, I think some negative baggage still remains ...in terms of them saying one thing, and thinking and doing another ..

Not a whole lot of trust there, between the two GM 's...

 

[Lee]

Yep, it all ended up working out in the long run I guess, although it was upsetting to us at the time. I think we were the only place on the internet that was on top of that possiblity as it was going down ...it later became public knowledge, but, I would say that Danny really liked Scola, and wanted to get him here badly ...

Another issue that was messed up by Sacramento at that time. I remember Ferry being so pissed with then that he swore he'd never entertain serious talks with them again ... he's cooled down since, but, I think some negative baggage still remains ...in terms of them saying one thing, and thinking and doing another ..

Not a whole lot of trust there, between the two GM 's...

I heard that about Petrie. I hear he is unfair, underhanded and conniving at times. I think Petrie is going to start to see the consequences of how he has dealt with other gm's over the years. He is in full rebuild mode and needs to trade away contracts and get some picks and young talent, but no one hardly wants to deal with him. I have heard allot of people argue that teams wont trade with us because they don’t want to get Lebron that last piece...well that may be true for the handful of contenders (so I guess the KG trade is off, lol) but most teams aren’t concerned since they are not in compitition for the title right now like we are. I think your reputation as a fair trading partner is much more important in getting a deal done. You notice that okc has been in several trades, and Danny’s relationship with SA and their front office almost landed us Scola. Ferry has built a solid reputation in my opinion, and it doesn’t hurt that his dad was a very well respected GM himself. I think we are lucky to have Danny as our GM and it should prove dividends for years to come. On the other hand, Petrie might see himself enter into the gm "doghouse" as other gm's ill only deal with him as a last resort.

 

[Jon]

Heck, two of our biggest deals were with Milwaukee and Chicago who are in our same division.

 

[Joel]

It still absolutely blows my mind that San Antonio was willing to give away Luis Scola for absolutely nothing. He could have been their starting power forward for the next ten years, and would have been an ideal complement to Tim Duncan at the 4-5 spots as Duncan finishes his career.

Instead, they were so focused on avoiding the luxury tax that they were willing to give Scola away, and now they're going to battle with retreads like Matt Bonner and Fabricio Oberto underneath.

It's yet another piece of evidence as to why we're so lucky that Dan Gilbert owns the Cavs, and is willing to spend what it takes to produce a contender.

 

[wuck]

Instead, they were so focused on avoiding the luxury tax that they were willing to give Scola away, and now they're going to battle with retreads like Matt Bonner and Fabricio Oberto underneath.

It's yet another piece of evidence as to why we're so lucky that Dan Gilbert owns the Cavs, and is willing to spend what it takes to produce a contender.

The Spurs have managed to keep their team financially solvent and win 4 titles in recent years. On balance, being willing to give up Scola while deciding to pay for other talented foreign players like Parker and Ginobili doesn't seem like a fatal move. The Knicks managed to spend what seemed like billions to make it to the lottery.

Much of what the Cavs do is based specifically on Spurs principles, and the Cavs haven't spent all the money they have had at their disposal. They haven't used their MLE in all years with Ferry as GM, they didn't sign Posey last year, etc. Both teams have to make decisions based on both basketball and $. I hope they trying to be more like the Spurs to get 4 rings.

 

[glockcoma]

We have Scola v. 2.0. His name is Anderson Varejo.

 

[burt07]

Yeah I'm over it. Who knows how that ends up working in Cleveland? I think Scola would have fit nicely into our system because we have a similar system as the Rockets but you just never know. Like said, we were pretty disappointed at the time but everything seems to have worked out pretty well in the end.

 

[Joe Henderson]

I'd still keep an eye on him. Ferry has proven that he tends to keep after players he likes.

Which, btw, is a very good thing, I think.

 

[jvpertz]

Scola would of been a great add. However, its in the past. We have Ben Wallace for this year and next and he is still a very effective player. We couldnt have drafted a more promising front court player with the number 19 pick if we tried and we are 25-4.

At this point in the season I would be more than content with bringing Joe Smith back into the fold for the rest of the year.