2009 Free Agency

Isn't Zaza Pachulia a free agent this offseason? His minutes in Atlanta will probably be limited and while he probably wouldn't start here he brings toughness and would definately get minutes off the bench.

Let's remember that free agency is no way to build a team but merely accent the team and help offset a team's weaknesses...

Let's also remember, as hard as it may be, to not overspend on FA's because of the season we had... I understand the more willing we are to throw cash and years out there, the more willing we'll be getting better free agents but I'm more than willing to wait until next year to throw out the dough and settle for some decent 1-year deals this year (some ring chasers or some young guns with something to prove)... I'd be willing to throw out multi-year deals but with low level amount of money in the 2010 off-season..

I understand we need to win now but I also think it's crucial for us to keep open the option of us possibly getting a 2nd, legit player in the 2010 free agent class..

Now if we get offered the opportunity to get a real good player now than you do it, but there's not too many players I'd do that for..

We need to find the right balance of 2009 off-season vs. 2010 off-season...

Lee3370 said:

Ofcourse resign Anderson. Wally should be a given since we have his birds rights and i dont think he will cost that much. Joe will take the mle to resign, I would love him here, but not sure if he stays. An interesting aspect of this summer will be the virtuallye xpiring contract of Sasha. If we resing wally, and keep terrence,...sasha is not needed. He can bring back a player making as much as $6.25 million and offer immediate cap and luxury tax relief since his contract is only gurnunteed for a million. Last year, denver got rid of camby to save such money. Not sue who we could get.

As far as Kidd goes, if he wants to come here, he can play for the bi-anual. We need to use our mle to attract a 4 or a 5...preferebly someone that can play 5. Darko might unfortunetely be the most realisic option out there. I also would like to see about drafting a legit center with our first round pick this year.

Sum it up:

Keep wally and Av with birds right

sign Kidd with Bi-anual and Darko with mle (or any modereately talented player that can play center)

Trade pavs for ? and keep TK

Sign center with 1st round pick and any tallent we can find with 2nd.

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Personally, I don't ever want to see Wally around here again. Darko stinks. I don't want him either. The Cavs really need Hickson to develop at the 4 spot. The problem is that Hickson seems to learn at a glacial pace. We don't have time for that.

I wouldn't be opposed to throwing an offer at a cheap RFA big like Othello Hunter.

I always liked Hunter at OSU and he seemed to be holding his own in Atlanta despite being buried on the depth chart.

Smooth said:

Let's remember that free agency is no way to build a team but merely accent the team and help offset a team's weaknesses...

Let's also remember, as hard as it may be, to not overspend on FA's because of the season we had... I understand the more willing we are to throw cash and years out there, the more willing we'll be getting better free agents but I'm more than willing to wait until next year to throw out the dough and settle for some decent 1-year deals this year (some ring chasers or some young guns with something to prove)... I'd be willing to throw out multi-year deals but with low level amount of money in the 2010 off-season..

I understand we need to win now but I also think it's crucial for us to keep open the option of us possibly getting a 2nd, legit player in the 2010 free agent class..

Now if we get offered the opportunity to get a real good player now than you do it, but there's not too many players I'd do that for..

We need to find the right balance of 2009 off-season vs. 2010 off-season...

Click to expand...

We're mostly on the same page, but I'm going to have to reverse your prioritization of this offseason vs the 2010 one...if there's an opportunity to improve the team, and you can afford it...you don't say no to it.

To put off an opportunity to acquire, say for example, David Lee, when a sign and trade opportunity is staring you in the face (i.e. it's already a done deal emotionally, all we have to do is offer it), just for the HOPE of landing one of the Class of 2010, is quite foolhardy if I say so myself..."possibly getting one of the Class of '10" sound awfully unsure of oneself, compared to "I can go out and get David Lee or Tyson Chandler, and I can move into the lottery of the draft...if this doesn't work out, we always have the 2010 offseason"

The former approach is the path the Knicks have chosen...and its exactly the approach that will drive LeBron away from Cleveland if we follow suit, because theoretically if Cleveland and New York each had empty teams, your typical superstar player will opt for New York 9 out of 10 times. If LeBron stays, it'll be as much because Gilbert, Ferry et al struck a delicate balance between maintaining a winning ballclub and improving the team year after year.

It's always been my belief that LeBron will not simply sign his name to a loaded team. He also won't sign his name to a gutted team with nothing more than big-market appeal and potential in the free agent market. He will sign to whichever team has the right balance of current well-being and future opportunities to improve. And, taking all the other well-publicized factors into account, the favorite has been Cleveland thus far. New York has knocked the "opportunities to improve" factor out of the ballpark, but they are nothing short of a bad joke when it comes to the other one. We are in total agreement there.

Now, if we make plays for guys like Lee and Chandler and Co. and come up short, then its another story. But to excuse ourselves altogether from the proceedings, is telling LeBron that we care more about 2 years from now than we do next year. When we should be showing that we care AS MUCH about 2 years from now as we do this year.

Waiting until free agency 2010 is a risk and would require the Cavs to not add any real good sized salary for the next year. It is possible but there's no guarantee that the Cavs could sign a major FA in 2010. Cleveland has never been a prime destination for FA's. Maybe it could be different with LeBron here but that has not been proven yet. The biggest FA the Cavs have ever signed is Larry Hughes.
I've been on the fence about waiting until 2010 or making moves now. I believe there will be some very good opportunities from now until next year's trade deadline to add quality talent and in some cases do it for a very reasonable cost whether it's financially or in what the Cavs would have to give up in a possible trade. I'm just not sure you can wait for 2010 and hope to sign a big time FA. That strategy would also require not resigning Varejao (or having to trade him before next summer's free agency starts) and only adding players on 1 year contracts for next season.

I think you have to try to improve the team now. Of course that requires there to be good deals that make sense long term. The economic situation and the fact that some teams will be looking to either save money or not spend any more to bring in players should open up a lot of possibilities for the Cavs both on the trade market and in free agency. I can see FA's having to accept less than it normally would to sign them meaning there could be some nice bargains out there for the Cavs.

We don't have all the behind the scenes info so we don't know if a Bosh or some other major player is a very real possibility for the Cavs and a move that actually could be somewhat realistic in free agency rather than being more fantasy at this point. Knowing what we know I'd have to favor making moves now rather than taking the chance and waiting.

Wulfgar1224 said:

Personally, I don't ever want to see Wally around here again. Darko stinks. I don't want him either. The Cavs really need Hickson to develop at the 4 spot. The problem is that Hickson seems to learn at a glacial pace. We don't have time for that.

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Really? The guy played sparingly in his rookie season, had some issues with defensive rotations at times and now we're throwing him under the bus and saying he learns 'at a glacial pace'?

Think that might be a bit harsh. Rare is the big man that comes into the NBA and blows up in his first year. Not saying he'll be dominant and ever a HOF or All Star player, but he showed flashes of playing VERY well, particularly on the offensive end in the limited minutes we got to see him in.

Official 2009-2010 Free Agents
Point Guards
Unrestricted Free Agents
Jason Kidd
Mike Bibby
Andre Miller
Stephon Marbury
Jason Hart
Brevin Knight
Smush Parker
Ronald Murray
Marcus Williams
Jacque Vaughn
Lindsey Hunter
Anthony Carter
Kevin Ollie
Quincy Douby
Mike Wilks

Restricted Free Agents
Ramon Sessions
Raymond Felton
Nate Robinson
Luther Head
Jarrett Jack

Early-Termination Options
Eddie House
Tyronn Lue
Anthony Johnson
Travis Diener
Chris Quinn
Bobby Brown

Shooting Guards
Unrestricted Free Agents
Allen Iverson
Wally Szczerbiak
Bobby Jackson
Ben Gordon
Desmond Mason
Anthony Parker
Damon Jones
Keith Bogans
Rodney Carney
Ronnie Price
Morris Almond
Maurice Ager
Gerald Green
James Singleton
Dahntay Jones
Von Wafer
Shannon Brown
Quinton Ross
Kareem Rush
Juan Dixon

Restricted Free Agents
Rashad McCants
Joey Graham
Linas Kleiza
Carlos Delfino (If he returns from overseas)

Early Termination Options
Kobe Bryant
Jamal Crawford
Quentin Richardson
Trenton Hassell
Michael Finley
Ricky Davis
Devin Brown

Small Forwards
Unrestricted Free Agents
Shawn Marion
Lamar Odom
Ron Artest
Trevor Ariza
Walter Herrmann
Grant Hill
Ime Udoka
Stephen Graham
Matt Barnes
Darius Miles
Justin Reed
Adrian Griffin

Restricted Free Agents
Marvin Williams
Ike Diogu
Jamario Moon
Josh Childress (If he returns from Greece)

Early Termination Options
Hidayet Turkoglu
Kyle Korver
Devean George
Yakhouba Diawara

Power Forwards
Unrestricted Free Agents
Rasheed Wallace
Malik Rose
Drew Gooden
Chris Wilcox
Stromile Swift
Joe Smith
Shelden Williams
Maceo Baston
Cedric Simmons
Juwon Howard
Chris Anderson
Steve Novak
Donyell Marshall
Ryan Bowen
Michael Ruffin
Shavlik Randolph

Restricted Free Agents
Charlie Villanueva
Channing Frye
Hakim Warrick
David Lee
Leon Powe
Glen Davis
Aaron Gray
Brandon Bass
Paul Millsap

Ealry Termination Options
Jermaine O'Neal
Al Harrington
Anderson Varejao
Brian Cook
Brian Skinner
Malik Allen
Carlos Boozer

Centers
Unrestricted Free Agents
Raef LaFrentz
Radoslav Nesterovic
Jason Collins
Zaza Pachulia
Robert Swift
Chris Mihm
Saer Sene
Jarron Collins
Didier Ilunga-Mbenga
Calvin Booth
Melvin Ely
Ryan Hollins
Lorenzen Wright
Adonal Foyle
Jamaal Magloire
Sean Marks
Theo Ratliff
Patrick O'Bryant
Jake Voskuhl
Dikembe Mutombo

Restricted Free Agents
Johan Petro

Early Termination Options
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Eddy Curry
Mehmet Okur
Mark Blount
Etan Thomas
Jerome James
Kwame Brown
Steven Hunter
Francisco Elson

LBJAlltheWay said:

Official 2009-2010 Free Agents
Point Guards
Unrestricted Free Agents
Jason Kidd
Mike Bibby
Andre Miller
Stephon Marbury
Jason Hart
Brevin Knight
Smush Parker
Ronald Murray
Marcus Williams
Jacque Vaughn
Lindsey Hunter
Anthony Carter
Kevin Ollie
Quincy Douby
Mike Wilks

Restricted Free Agents
Ramon Sessions
Raymond Felton
Nate Robinson
Luther Head
Jarrett Jack

Early-Termination Options
Eddie House
Tyronn Lue
Anthony Johnson
Travis Diener
Chris Quinn
Bobby Brown

Shooting Guards
Unrestricted Free Agents
Allen Iverson
Wally Szczerbiak
Bobby Jackson
Ben Gordon
Desmond Mason
Anthony Parker
Damon Jones
Keith Bogans
Rodney Carney
Ronnie Price
Morris Almond
Maurice Ager
Gerald Green
James Singleton
Dahntay Jones
Von Wafer
Shannon Brown
Quinton Ross
Kareem Rush
Juan Dixon

Restricted Free Agents
Rashad McCants
Joey Graham
Linas Kleiza
Carlos Delfino (If he returns from overseas)

Early Termination Options
Kobe Bryant
Jamal Crawford
Quentin Richardson
Trenton Hassell
Michael Finley
Ricky Davis
Devin Brown

Small Forwards
Unrestricted Free Agents
Shawn Marion
Lamar Odom
Ron Artest
Trevor Ariza
Walter Herrmann
Grant Hill
Ime Udoka
Stephen Graham
Matt Barnes
Darius Miles
Justin Reed
Adrian Griffin

Restricted Free Agents
Marvin Williams
Ike Diogu
Jamario Moon
Josh Childress (If he returns from Greece)

Early Termination Options
Hidayet Turkoglu
Kyle Korver
Devean George
Yakhouba Diawara

Power Forwards
Unrestricted Free Agents
Rasheed Wallace
Malik Rose
Drew Gooden
Chris Wilcox
Stromile Swift
Joe Smith
Shelden Williams
Maceo Baston
Cedric Simmons
Juwon Howard
Chris Anderson
Steve Novak
Donyell Marshall
Ryan Bowen
Michael Ruffin
Shavlik Randolph

Restricted Free Agents
Charlie Villanueva
Channing Frye
Hakim Warrick
David Lee
Leon Powe
Glen Davis
Aaron Gray
Brandon Bass
Paul Millsap

Ealry Termination Options
Jermaine O'Neal
Al Harrington
Anderson Varejao
Brian Cook
Brian Skinner
Malik Allen

Centers
Unrestricted Free Agents
Raef LaFrentz
Radoslav Nesterovic
Jason Collins
Zaza Pachulia
Robert Swift
Chris Mihm
Saer Sene
Jarron Collins
Didier Ilunga-Mbenga
Calvin Booth
Melvin Ely
Ryan Hollins
Lorenzen Wright
Adonal Foyle
Jamaal Magloire
Sean Marks
Theo Ratliff
Patrick O'Bryant
Jake Voskuhl
Dikembe Mutombo

Restricted Free Agents
Johan Petro

Early Termination Options
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Eddy Curry
Mehmet Okur
Mark Blount
Etan Thomas
Jerome James
Kwame Brown
Steven Hunter
Francisco Elson

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The ones in bold are the ones that I think would look good in a Cavs uniform. Not that we can have them all, but two or three could be had depending on what we do with our current roster.

williemayshayes said:

We're mostly on the same page, but I'm going to have to reverse your prioritization of this offseason vs the 2010 one...if there's an opportunity to improve the team, and you can afford it...you don't say no to it.

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I'm not saying don't improve the team, I'm just saying be careful about the way you do it, with the 2010 off-season in the back of your mind...

williemayshayes said:

To put off an opportunity to acquire, say for example, David Lee, when a sign and trade opportunity is staring you in the face (i.e. it's already a done deal emotionally, all we have to do is offer it), just for the HOPE of landing one of the Class of 2010, is quite foolhardy if I say so myself..."possibly getting one of the Class of '10" sound awfully unsure of oneself, compared to "I can go out and get David Lee or Tyson Chandler, and I can move into the lottery of the draft...if this doesn't work out, we always have the 2010 offseason"

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See I think some forget that the 2010 class is more than just the superstars... Guys like Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, Richard Jefferson, Michael Redd, Tyson Chandler, Shaquille O'Neal, and Manu Ginobli could all be on the market, depending on what happens with some the players' optios and ETOs...

I understand that there may be some good pieces out there for us to grab this year but we have to be smart about who and what those pieces are and for how much and for how long...

I'm not opposed to signing a MLE type guy or a little above past the 2010 season... It's those guys that make upwards of $8 or so million for 2, 3, 4 more years that I'm worried about...

williemayshayes said:

The former approach is the path the Knicks have chosen...and its exactly the approach that will drive LeBron away from Cleveland if we follow suit, because theoretically if Cleveland and New York each had empty teams, your typical superstar player will opt for New York 9 out of 10 times. If LeBron stays, it'll be as much because Gilbert, Ferry et al struck a delicate balance between maintaining a winning ballclub and improving the team year after year.

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I agree to a certain extent but don't you think LeBron would rather have Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, etc., next to him than say (using your example in FA) David Lee and (say we trade for someone like..) Gerald Wallace?

I understand what you're getting at but we're also much, much more talented then the Knicks are and ever will be..

williemayshayes said:

Now, if we make plays for guys like Lee and Chandler and Co. and come up short, then its another story. But to excuse ourselves altogether from the proceedings, is telling LeBron that we care more about 2 years from now than we do next year. When we should be showing that we care AS MUCH about 2 years from now as we do this year.

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I don't see it as much as that as we're more worried about getting the right players in here as fast as possible and then just trying to quick-fix things, so we can try to compete now instead of waiting and possibly getting better players, who would fit here better..

I believe that Delonte's longterm role on this team will eventually be coming off the bench. He would have great value in that capacity in that he his so very versatile, and would be a tough match for any team having to cover for him with their second units on the floor.

So, that is where I see his future in Cleveland. Given that, I truly feel our greatest potential for improvement for the dollar value may best come at the SG position. I'm anxious to see how Tracy McGrady recovers from his surgery, I see that as a potnetial option contingent on his physical.

Other intersting options exist throughout the NBA. I'm curious as to what Detroit's plans are for some of their players. Might some be available ? Should explore.

Chris Wilcox is a guy that intersts me for paint options. ZaZa Pachulia would be an excfellent pickup that would complient out team very very well in my opinion... he just popped out as a great option in my opinion. Matt Barnes stands out right now ....of course Rasheed Wallace has made it known he wants to come here, and he'd love to play here.

Very early in the process and no plans are even close to being solidified.. But his name would fit here depending on what our future player mix is.

But, I would be anticipating a strong roster addtion at the SG position this offseason.

No McGrady. No. Absolutely not.

Wine and Gold said:

I believe that Delonte's longterm role on this team will eventually be coming off the bench. He would have great value in that capacity in that he his so very versatile, and would be a tough match for any team having to cover for him with their second units on the floor.

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Ideally he'd be great to have as a 6th man coming off the bench, because like you said, the versatility he brings would be great to have...

But with all the other needs we need to fill this off-season, I think Delonte may be starting again unless we get lucky and find a good, starting SG for cheap...

Wine and Gold said:

I'm anxious to see how Tracy McGrady recovers from his surgery, I see that as a potnetial option contingent on his physical.

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Really? I'd really depend on what we'd give up for him via trade, considering he's still property of the Rockets..

My problem with T-Mac is all the injuries he's gone through and the fact he needs a lot of shots and doesn't shoot a high %...

The Cavs would have a hard time matching up something salary wise, with T-Mac's salary being close to $23 million but something like Ben Wallace, Sasha, TK, and Jawad might work salary wise...

Wine and Gold said:

Other intersting options exist throughout the NBA. I'm curious as to what Detroit's plans are for some of their players. Might some be available ? Should explore.

Click to expand...

I'd really like to take a look at Amir Johnson... I think the kid can be real good with continued development....

I'd have a hard time seeing them dump a key player like Tayshaun or Rip though to a team like the Cavs though...

Wine and Gold said:

Chris Wilcox is a guy that intersts me for paint options. ZaZa Pachulia would be an excfellent pickup that would complient out team very very well in my opinion... he just popped out as a great option in my opinion. Matt Barnes stands out right now ....of course Rasheed Wallace has made it known he wants to come here, and he'd love to play here.

Click to expand...

I'd take Zaza only if AV doesn't re-sign... They seem to redundant for us to have both of them on our team...

I love Matt Barnes, as he's pretty much what this teams as far as the swing forward role goes... I'm just wondering what his price tag is..

Never had liked Wilcox much because of his inconsistency and inefficiency on the defensive end... Just always reminds of a another Drew Gooden because of all the talent he has, yet he's never really quite put it all together...

I honestly think that Rasheed is exactly what this team needs up front but I worry a lot about his mental state and how he'd play every night... When he wants to be, he can be a real good player and that's been the problem (it seems) the last few years... If he truly wants to come to Cleveland and can really put his mind in the right place then I'd take him... I also wonder how much it'd take to get him considering there was a report that said he wanted $8 million a year or else he'd retire...

Wine and Gold said:

I believe that Delonte's longterm role on this team will eventually be coming off the bench. He would have great value in that capacity in that he his so very versatile, and would be a tough match for any team having to cover for him with their second units on the floor.

So, that is where I see his future in Cleveland. Given that, I truly feel our greatest potential for improvement for the dollar value may best come at the SG position. I'm anxious to see how Tracy McGrady recovers from his surgery, I see that as a potnetial option contingent on his physical.

Other intersting options exist throughout the NBA. I'm curious as to what Detroit's plans are for some of their players. Might some be available ? Should explore.

Chris Wilcox is a guy that intersts me for paint options. ZaZa Pachulia would be an excfellent pickup that would complient out team very very well in my opinion... he just popped out as a great option in my opinion. Matt Barnes stands out right now ....of course Rasheed Wallace has made it known he wants to come here, and he'd love to play here.

Very early in the process and no plans are even close to being solidified.. But his name would fit here depending on what our future player mix is.

But, I would be anticipating a strong roster addtion at the SG position this offseason.

Click to expand...

It's funny I say West is a 6th man because of his size and skill set and eveyone tells me I'm wrong., Wine&GOLD says it and people won't say isht! We need some size at the 2 for versatility.

Smooth said:

Ideally he'd be great to have as a 6th man coming off the bench, because like you said, the versatility he brings would be great to have...

But with all the other needs we need to fill this off-season, I think Delonte may be starting again unless we get lucky and find a good, starting SG for cheap...



Really? I'd really depend on what we'd give up for him via trade, considering he's still property of the Rockets..

My problem with T-Mac is all the injuries he's gone through and the fact he needs a lot of shots and doesn't shoot a high %...

The Cavs would have a hard time matching up something salary wise, with T-Mac's salary being close to $23 million but something like Ben Wallace, Sasha, TK, and Jawad might work salary wise...



I'd really like to take a look at Amir Johnson... I think the kid can be real good with continued development....

I'd have a hard time seeing them dump a key player like Tayshaun or Rip though to a team like the Cavs though...



I'd take Zaza only if AV doesn't re-sign... They seem to redundant for us to have both of them on our team...

I love Matt Barnes, as he's pretty much what this teams as far as the swing forward role goes... I'm just wondering what his price tag is..

Never had liked Wilcox much because of his inconsistency and inefficiency on the defensive end... Just always reminds of a another Drew Gooden because of all the talent he has, yet he's never really quite put it all together...

I honestly think that Rasheed is exactly what this team needs up front but I worry a lot about his mental state and how he'd play every night... When he wants to be, he can be a real good player and that's been the problem (it seems) the last few years... If he truly wants to come to Cleveland and can really put his mind in the right place then I'd take him... I also wonder how much it'd take to get him considering there was a report that said he wanted $8 million a year or else he'd retire...

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Ben Wallace, Gibson, and filler would work as well. I'd rather go hard at Artest first and Ariza 2nd.