Cavaliers 2004-2005 Report Card
Bob Finnan 05/08/2005
The following is a final report card for the 2004-05 Cavaliers by NBA beat writer Bob Finnan:
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Starting lineup
n Jeff McInnis, point guard, 6-foot-4, 179 pounds, 8th year: He was one of the team's biggest disappointments. Some of his teammates think he quit on the team in the next-to-last game against Boston. Averaged 12.8 points and 5.1 assists. His defense deteriorated as the season wore on. Some think he'll get slightly over the minimum next year.
Grade: C-.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent who won't be back.
n Ira Newble, shooting guard, 6-7, 220, 5th: He started 69 games and averaged 5.9 points and 3.0 rebounds. Became a better 3-point shooter as the season progressed. A tough defender, but not a stopper like he was billed. Should be an eighth or ninth man on a good team.
Grade: C.
Contract status: $3 million in 2005-06; $3.2 million in 2006-07; $3.4 in 2007-08.
n Zydrunas Ilgauskas, center, 7-3, 260, 8th: A dislocated right ring finger bothered him in the last two weeks of the season. Started 78 games. Averaged 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and was eighth in the league in blocks at 2.1. He led the league with 299 offensive rebounds. Had trouble defending the pick-and-roll all season. Made the All-Star team for the second time in his career.
Grade: B.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent who probably won't be back.
n Drew Gooden, power forward, 6-10, 242, 3rd: Spent the entire season being compared to Carlos Boozer. Had career-best numbers with 14.4 points and 9.2 rebounds (13th in NBA). Lacks some basketball IQ. He was the only player to compete in all 82 games. Had 37 double-doubles. No one is sure if he's a player to build around in Cleveland. The front office will likely try to find a replacement.
Grade: B-.
Contract status: $4.1 million in 2005-06.
n LeBron James, small forward, 6-8, 240, 2nd: He's among the top five players in the game. An MVP candidate and All-NBA player in his second year in the league. Was third in the league in scoring at 27.2 points per game - the highest in team history. Played more minutes than any player in the league - 42.4 per game. Never left the floor in seven of the last 15 games. That will have to be reduced next year. All-Star was only the fifth player in NBA history to average 27 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists in a season. The others were Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, John Havlicek and Oscar Robertson.
Grade: A+.
Contract status: $4.6 million in 2005-06; $5.8 million in 2006-07; $7.6 million in 2007-08.
