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[Karma]

Cavaliers chat with Vandeweghe

It appears he might be Plan B if Brown says no
By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sports writer


CHICAGO - While they wait on a decision from Larry Brown, the Cavaliers continue to chat.

The team had an informal discussion with Denver Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe at the NBA pre-draft camp on Wednesday, according to two league officials. It was not a formal interview.

Vandeweghe met with Cavaliers minority owners David Katzman and Steve Cicurel, who have been handling most of the front office interviews, after the morning session at Moody Bible Institute. The Beacon Journal reported Wednesday that majority owner Dan Gilbert would attend, but he did not.

``Nothing substantive has happened,'' Vandeweghe said Wednesday night. ``I don't want to deal in rumor and speculation.''

Everything still points to the Cavaliers offering their vacant president position to Brown once the Detroit Pistons' season concludes. Currently the top personnel man in Denver, it is highly doubtful Vandeweghe would consider taking any role under Brown, such as the also vacant general manager/vice president of basketball operations position. So it appears he might be a backup in case Brown doesn't take the job.

Vandeweghe has a year left on his contract with the Nuggets, which pays him a base salary of $800,000. He has tried to enter into extension talks with ownership but hasn't been successful. Initially, the Nuggets denied requests for permission to speak to him but recently reversed their course.

Vandeweghe might be in a box. After getting the Nuggets from a 17-win season in 2002-03 to consecutive playoff berths by wisely using the salary cap, he's looking for a rich extension, perhaps along the lines of what Boston Celtics top decision-maker Danny Ainge just got, a reported three years and $10 million.

But Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke also owns the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. He pays their general manager, Pierre Lacroix, only modestly more than Vandeweghe, and Lacroix has presided over two Stanley Cup championship teams. According to NBA insiders, this is a stumbling block in any major money discussions.

Katzman and Cicurel watched the morning workouts Wednesday. It is extremely rare for owners to attend the pre-draft camp, but Cavaliers officials said they were there just to meet people and learn about the process.

The Cavaliers don't currently have a first- or second-round draft pick, but Gilbert has indicated he would like to make a trade to get back in. The Cavaliers are believed to be checking out the stock of point guards in the draft class.

``You never know what is going to happen over the course of the summer, so we have to do our homework,'' Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. ``We need quality players around LeBron, so we're looking for the best that could be available to us.''

Beacon Journal

I guess it seems everyone here would prefer Kiki to be plan A rather then B. At least we are out there getting amoungst it.

 

[Karma]

Cavs "viable" Option for Kiki

CHICAGO - The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking at Kiki Vandeweghe. His agent calls them a "viable option."

Warren LeGarie reiterated Friday that the general manager's preference is to remain with the Denver Nuggets. But he didn't deny interest his client may have in Cleveland's president's position.

"I would think a lot of teams would see Kiki as a viable option given his success in Denver. So, yeah, I would think Cleveland also is," LeGarie said at the NBA predraft camp. "Cleveland still has to resolve some stuff in regards to Larry Brown."

It's been widely reported the Detroit Pistons coach is Cleveland's top choice and Vande- weghe could be an alternative if Brown, currently involved in the NBA Finals, doesn't take the job. LeGarie didn't dispute that scenario.

"Oh, yeah," he said. "If you didn't (believe that), you can't read. You'd have to be illiterate. It seems to be the case."

Vandeweghe met Wednesday at the predraft camp with Cavaliers minority owners David Katzman and Steve Cicurel. LeGarie called it an "informal" discussion for Vandeweghe to get to know them.

The Nuggets have given Vandeweghe, who has one year left on his contract, permission to speak with other teams. LeGarie is seeking a contract extension for Vandeweghe, but the Nuggets have given no indication they plan to do anything soon.

LeGarie believes Vandeweghe, who has a base salary of $800,000, should be paid in the "upper third" of what NBA general managers make. LeGarie is seeking about $2.5 million a year.

Rocky Mountain News