Mark Stein: Cavs have a plan

[Troy Wingate]

This is probably already on the forum somewhere, if so, just delete this thread.

Cavs to make strong push for Redd, IlgauskasBy Marc Stein
ESPN.com
Archive

Michael Redd, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and one more quality free agent to be named later.

That's how the Cleveland Cavaliers' wish list looked early Friday morning when the NBA's annual free-agent frenzy began at 12:01 a.m.

Michael Redd's strong ties to Ohio could lure him into a Cavaliers' uniform next season. Sources familiar with the Cavaliers' plans told ESPN.com that new general manager Danny Ferry has identified a Redd-Ilgauskas combo as his ideal free-agent haul to flank budding superstar LeBron James, with the pitches to both players starting immediately.

Hopefully we can sign Redd, re-up Ilgauskas, and bring in someone like Antonio Daniels (we are the front runner for his services).

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2098374

 

[Karma]

Cavs waiting on Z, Redd
By Brian Windhorst, Beacon Journal sports writer
July 3, 2005

The Cavaliers can do nothing but wait for Michael Redd and, apparently, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, too.

NBA insiders report the team made a maximum-contract offer to the Milwaukee Bucks' Redd on Friday, worth about $72 million over five years. ESPN.com reported the Bucks made their best offer as well, about $94 million over six years, the most they can under the rules.

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Redd is expected to visit the Cavaliers and perhaps other suitors before making a decision. Redd is also likely interested in whom the Bucks will hire as head coach. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported the finalists are Doug Collins and Flip Saunders.

Then there's the Ilgauskas chase, which appears like it will drag out as well. The offers aren't as clear cut, and Ilgauskas seems prepared to play the field. At least, that's the message his agent is putting out there.

``Lots of teams are interested; we're talking to many of them,'' Ilgauskas' agent, Herb Rudoy, said Saturday. ``I'm talking to Danny Ferry, too, but we have no timetable and Z is interested in listening to offers.''

Friday, Rudoy got client Raja Bell a contract with the Phoenix Suns in about two hours. Ilgauskas' contract, likely the last of his career, will take more time.

Rudoy won't discuss numbers, but it is believed he's looking for a five-year contract with Ilgauskas taking a minimal pay cut from his $14.6 million salary last season.

The Cavaliers' initial contract offers are for three years, averaging about $10 million per year. The team is believed to be willing to go to a fourth year, which can become guaranteed if Ilgauskas meets certain incentives.

Ilgauskas has said he prefers to return to the Cavaliers, but they are facing competition.

According to an Eastern Conference executive, the Atlanta Hawks have been one of the most aggressive teams pursuing Ilgauskas, who is coming off his second All-Star appearance. The Hawks have the second-most salary-cap space after the Cavaliers and need a center.

Whether Ilgauskas would actually consider the lowly Hawks, or some other bottom dwellers with salary-cap space, is all part of the game.

The New York Knicks are interested in Ilgauskas but can only offer their midlevel exception, around $5 million to start. But there are ways to get around it.

``We're looking at sign-and-trade possibilities,'' Rudoy said. ``And those take time.''

Last summer, the Knicks used a sign-and-trade to get Jamal Crawford from the Chicago Bulls. It is unclear whether the Cavaliers have any interest in making a sign-and-trade. The Knicks roster is light on proven talent and practically devoid of reasonable contracts.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=knight-_WWW_12046636&prov=knight&type=lgns

 

[cdt]

looks like its still all up in the air this is so agonizing didnt they say last year they were going to cut down the moratorium period? last year it was july 14th or something, why did they lift it grrrr

 

[Deadlock]

All I can say this is most exciting off season for the Cavs in a Longgg time.

 

[Cleveland56]

Here is another article....

The case for Redd in Cavs' colors

It's understandable for anyone to take $20 million and run -- even if it is to a destiny of lottery picks and first-round exits -- so I won't blame Michael Redd if he accepts the Milwaukee Bucks' maximum contract offer.
But in my humble opinion, Redd should go to Cleveland, pay cut and all. Milwaukee is offering Redd $80 mil to $90 mil over six years, while the Cavaliers can pay him only $60 mil to $70 mil over five. But Cleveland can throw in something Milwaukee can give Redd only on grainy 1970s film strips (highlights of Kareem and the Big O) -- a championship, or at least a championship-contending, future.

If Redd stays in Milwaukee -- even with a good center like Andrew Bogut and maybe a healthy T.J. Ford -- he will average 23 points for years, make an All-Star team or two and go on vacation every year in late April/early May.

If he goes to Cleveland, where he is the perfect complement to LeBron, he will average 22 points and be playing in meaningful playoff games from 2006 on. Redd would be an All-Star every year and go down as Scottie Pippen to LeBron's Jordan. If the duo won championships, which I think they eventually would, he would perhaps even be a Hall of Famer.

We're talking about legacy vs. $20 million. Not an easy choice, I know. But the commercials and endorsements that go along with playing on a perennial contender -- and next to an all-time great -- could perhaps offset the dollar difference.

Plus, why not be a hero in your home state? (Redd hails from Columbus, Ohio.) Talk about raising the profile of Ohio basketball. The Buckeye State, always known for football, is starting to do damage on the hardwood. You could have one of the top perimeter tandems in the league hailing from Akron and Columbus. And wait until Cincinnati native O.J. Mayo comes of age. But I digress.

For Redd, it comes down to this: Does he want to be the next Pippen (the sidekick in a historic duo) or the next Stephon Marbury (numbers, loot and nothing else)?

My advice: Choose Pippen and the Cavs.


CHRIS BROUSSARD

http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/magazine/magBlog?id=2080176

 

[cdt]

who wrote that? writer's name and maybe a link plz?

 

[Deadlock]

Thats a very nice article.

 

[Glen Infante]

Of course, I will be a biased fan and say Redd should choose his home state over 20 million dollars. But 20 million dollars is ALOT of money to turn your back on. This is a very tough decision for Redd. Cleveland's history of bad luck in sports can end this offseason if he decides to be the home town hero.

My 1st choice for SG at the beggining of the offseason was Ray Allen, but with all these recent Michael Redd articles, my interested has shifted 100 percent on Redd's favor.

My fingures will be kept crossed.

 

[Troy Wingate]

Of course, I will be a biased fan and say Redd should choose his home state over 20 million dollars. But 20 million dollars is ALOT of money to turn your back on. This is a very tough decision for Redd. Cleveland's history of bad luck in sports can end this offseason if he decides to be the home town hero.

My 1st choice for SG at the beggining of the offseason was Ray Allen, but with all these recent Michael Redd articles, my interested has shifted 100 percent on Redd's favor.

My fingures will be kept crossed.

If we don't land Redd, Ray Allen is certainly a great Plan B. And if we can't get him, then we can try for Larry Hughes for Plan C. But if we don't get Redd, we'll most likely land Allen. He's more than interested in coming to Cleveland, and it would take the max offer from Seattle plus the re-signing of Nate McMillan (he's leaning towards Portland) for Allen to go back to Seattle.

 

[Dungong]

I like the late signing date, this lets us negotiate with the unrestricted guys and figure out where they are going until July 22. Then at that point we can start worrying about the restricted free agents knowing where the other guys are going. In other words, if Redd, Hughes, and Allen all resign, then at July 22 we can go after Joe Johnson

 

[Danboone2006]

Man, all these articles are starting to look, and sound the same. But everyone I read I get more and more excited that theres a chance that Redd will take the 20 million less to play here. He would be over huge with the fans here for taking less money...after all the times we have been burned by people taking more money, if he was the one to take the less money to play HERE he would challenge Lebron for most popular player among fans IN Cleveland.

 

[Glen Infante]

I agree. Mike Redd will recieve just as much love as LeBron does if he does take the pay cut.

It's a Cinderalla story really. We are all used to bad endings though, so I wouldn't be suprised if we did lose out on him.

 

[Deadlock]

Michael Redd would be loved here just as much as LeBron.. I gurantee his jersey will be a top seller if he does decide to come to Cleveland. Cause every Cavs fan and their moma is going to want to get a Redd Jersey... I know I would.