NBADraft.net says Larry Hughes to Cleveland

[Kypus]

Wow, I hope this is true and we see the good sites put it up soon. That's 2 of our trio, I hope this encourages Z to resign with us ASAP! Even if Z doesn't, I think Lebron/Hughes/Snow is a very workable 1/2/3.

 

[Karma]

Hmmm, hard to know what to believe. I am excited to grab Redd even though he is not a perfect fit. I will be ecstatic if we can ink both Ilgauskas and Saruanas as that starts to paint a pretty picture. Hughes helps our perimeter defense and also gives us a much needed player who can creat his own shot. Too often we relied on just Z and James. Hopefully James and Hughes can co-exist, as I see that as our biggest possible problem as well as his health.

I think we can also call this our biggest free agent signing in Cavalier history.

 

[Karma]

Cavs turn focus to Hughes

Agent confirms Redd to re-sign with Bucks for $90 million over six years

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sports writer


LAS VEGAS - By the time Michael Redd made his return to the Milwaukee Bucks official, the Cavaliers had long since moved on.

Redd's agent, Kevin Poston, confirmed Thursday to the Associated Press his client would re-sign with the Bucks for roughly $90 million over the next six years.

The most the Cavaliers could offer under salary-cap rules was around $70 million over five years.

It was a blow to the team, which had made Redd its No. 1 target with a $28 million kitty for free agents. But the Cavaliers can't afford to pout.

According to multiple league sources, the Cavaliers entered into serious contract talks with Washington Wizards unrestricted free-agent shooting guard Larry Hughes Wednesday night.

Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown did not come to the Vegas Summer League for the team's first game Thursday so they could remain in Cleveland to continue talks.

Redd informed the Cavaliers he'd be returning to Milwaukee shortly after his visit Wednesday. The team quickly moved on to Hughes.

An insider close to the Wizards said that the team's initial offer to Hughes was for a contract starting between $6 million to $8 million per season. It apparently upset Hughes.

Hughes was part of a three-headed attack that led the Wizards to the playoffs last season for the first time since 1997.

Gilbert Arenas will make $10.2 million next season, and Antawn Jamison is due $13.8 million. Hughes, who averaged 22 points and led the league in steals, apparently believes he should be equally paid.

It is possible the Cavaliers will do that, offering him as much as $12 million to start.

The danger for the Cavaliers, as it is for all teams with massive cap room, is that they are being used to drive up the price. Hughes has expressed a desire to remain in Washington, and the Wizards have said retaining him is their No. 1 off-season priority.

If the Wizards match the offer, Cavaliers could end up being the bridesmaid again. Both Redd and Ray Allen, who promised to re-sign with the Seattle SuperSonics for five years and $85 million earlier this week, might have used the Cavaliers' interest to get every last dime.

If Hughes falls through, the Cavaliers will likely turn to Los Angeles Clippers guard Bobby Simmons as their next option.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/basketball/nba/cleveland_cavaliers/12082960.htm

Thanks Ben for linking me.

 

[MarkPrice25]

It is now on hoopshype.com. However, it is still the same article from last night.

Hopefully, this is true.

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

Get some sleep you fools!!!!!

What a nice thread to read while sipping the morning coffee. Now I gotta scour the net to find another source. I'm not too happy if its 12 mil - that will really eat up our cap, and with Z at roughly 10 - we only have enough for one more quality guy, or two average, and we have a lot of spots to fill. Sarunas will come at least 5 mil. Same for AD. Hopefully we played the right card. If we could've had Simmons for 8 mil - would have gone that route...

 

[Glen Infante]

Thanks for the article Karma.

It will be hard to see Washington not at least "try" to get their guy back. He played a significant role for them last season.

At least now we know it isn't "official" and we all now have to wait and see what Washington is going to do.

Any word on what Larry Hughes has to say? Is there a verbal agreement here?

 

[KI4MVP]

So now there are 4 "sources"
The nbadraft.net story
RealGM linking the nbadraft.net story without an independent source
hoopshype referencing the nbadraft.net story
this plain dealer blog that talks about realgm linking the nbadraft.net story
http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/lebron/

9 hours later and that's it - no espn mention, no AP story, no newspaper story, nothing that isn't simply repeating nbadraft.net.

It'd be good news if it's true. If the goal is to bring in LeBron's Pippen, Hughes is a heck of a lot closer to Pippen than Redd is. Strong defender, versatile player, can take the primary defensive assignment like Pippen so often did, with LeBron and Hughes, the cavs have the athleticism for a heck of a trap press like the bulls used to do, could share the load in running the offense. I'm not saying Hughes is as good as Pippen, just that he has similar strengths. Bring in PG who can shoot the 3 (Jasikevicius or Damon Jones) and a defensive minded PF and we have a pretty good clone of the bulls in terms of players roles

Lebron - Jordan
Hughes - Pippen
Snow - Harper
Jasikevicius or Jones - Kerr
Jackson/Sasha - Kukoc
PF and AV - Rodman
Z - the three headed center

 

[joma]

I AM so happy right about now

 

[Glen Infante]

Good analogy. But I feel that the LeBron and Hughes duo is going to need at least one entire year to play with eachother to make some noise in the league.

They both need the ball in their hands to be effective. It'll be interesting to see how these two work together.

 

[Dungong]

A deal averaging 12 million a year over 5 years won't start at 12 million, It'll be something like 9-10, then you factor in the raises each year and it averages to 12 mill. Hughes must be seriously pissed at the Wizards to take that from the Cavs, since I think the Wizards could turn around and match that still. Im not sure what they were thinking only offering 6-8 to start though

 

[RichOne]

oh my good to see great news when i turn on my computer this morning.. out of the free agents hughes actually was my second choice behind allen. he is better defender and more versitile player than redd. the thing i wonder about everyone though is why every one is so high on saruanas? i know by inking him it will make z happy but from what i am reading his defense is shaddy. my pick for point is still daniels for his d unless we are wanting arruanas to come off the bench to spark it..?

 

[cdt]

saraunas or even my personal choice Antonio Daniels would work, maybe Damon Jones does make sense he isnt the best pg but he is the best shooter, but will he leave the comfort of Shaq.

 

[Pioneer10]

I'm not getting my hopes up till I see something concrete. I would be surprised if the Wizards even if the Cavs match don't pull a Bucks manuever and give a comparable or bigger offer to Hughes.

 

[Glen Infante]

^Damon Jones has opted out I believe and has made the decision to be an unrestricted FA. So yes, I believe he will leave the comfort of Shaq to play for a team that will give him some dollars.

 

[CBBI]

If this Larry Hughes signing does indeed go through, you have to think that the next order of business will be Saurnas Jasikevicius. We have to get outside shooting from somewhere.

PG: Snow/Jasikevicius/Gilchrist
SG: Hughes/Jackson/Pavlovic
SF: James/Newble/???
PF: Gooden/Anderson/???
C: Z/???/Andriuskevicius