Possible Power Forwards

[Karma]

Top 40 Free Agent Power Forwards

1. Shareef Abdur-Rahim
2. Antoine Walker
3. Tyson Chandler (Restricted)
4. Stromile Swift
5. Keith Van Horn (Player Option)
6. Udonis Haslem (Restricted/Early Bird Rights)
7. Donyell Marshall
8. Reggie Evans (Restricted)
9. Danny Fortson (Player Option)
10. Kwame Brown (Restricted)

Notes: Despite averaging 19.8 points per game over nine seasons, Shareef Abdur-Rahim STILL has not made the Playoffs. Will that scare off some GMs? Given the way big men who can score and rebound are valued in this league, we doubt it. ... A seemingly hot commodity last season, Stromile Swift settled for a one-year tender contract from Memphis and did nothing to raise his value over the course of another disappointing season.

So who's going to spend millions of dollars on a guy whose development has been completely arrested? A team that's swung and missed on several more attractive free agents and will settle for Swift late in the offseason.

11. Darius Songaila (Player Option)
12. Brian Grant (Player Option)
13. Chris Andersen (Player Option)
14. Othella Harrington
15. Austin Croshere (Player Option)
16. Tony Battie (Player Option)
17. Mark Madsen
18. Robert Horry (Player Option)
19. Alan Henderson
20. Christian Laettner

Notes: Is Darius Songaila simply a product of the prolific Kings offense? The 27-year-old forward has impressed whenever given significant minutes (10.5 points, 6.0 boards in 21 starts) but given the track record of ex-Kings Chris Webber, Doug Christie, Vlade Divac and Scot Pollard upon leaving Sacramento, Songaila may not want to mess with a good thing and pick up his own option. ... Robert Horry will turn 35 by the start of the 2005-06 season, but he may be worth one last multi-year contract. Horry did an admirable job filling in for Tim Duncan, showing he's not just a late-game spot-up shooter. He can hit the glass ... and of course, fill it up from outside.

21. Malik Allen
22. Michael Ruffin
23. Sean Marks
24. Aaron Williams (Player Option)
25. Tony Massenburg
26. Bo Outlaw
27. Jahidi White
28. Lawrence Funderbukre
29. Jackson Vroman (Team Option)
30. Marcus Fizer
31. Brandon Hunter (Restricted)
32. Jabari Smith
33. Samaki Walker
34. Tom Gugliotta
35. Zendon Hamilton
36. James Thomas
37. Jackie Butler (Team Option)
38. Jerome Moiso
39. Ben Handlogten
40. John Thomas

Notes: Just how bad did things get in Toronto this year? Whether or not Aaron Williams opts out of his contract will speak volumes. Williams, one of the tougher guys in the league, saw his minutes evaporate last season down to 7.2 per game in Toronto. Certainly someone could use the blue-collar Williams, but he won't get the $3.4 million deal he has waiting for him with Toronto. Playing time or money? What would you do? ... Rookie James Thomas is certainly in Williams' mode ... a rough-and-tumble rebounder with no offensive skills. Thomas was a rebounding machine at Texas and showed he can get after it in a brief stint with Portland. Worth a Training Camp invite at the least.

LINK

 

[Glen Infante]

Re: Possible Power Forwwards

If the Cavaliers trade Drew Gooden for a 1st rounder, we have some options out there at PF.

I'd take a look at Shareef Abdur Rahim. He is definatly an upgrade over Drew. He can score the ball better, has a better mid range game, and he can scrape 9 board a night.

I like Keith Van Horn as well, but I see him more as a SF. LeBron clogs minutes at that spot so KVH will be useless, but we can sure use his shooting.

I don't want any part of Stromile Swift. Overrated. He has no offensive game and really looks like a one dimensional player.

I like Reggie Evens though. He is a scrapper. Not much of an offensive game to him, but he does play some good defense. I wouldn't mind him as an energy guy off the bench if Tractor isn't resigned.

 

[CleveRocks]

This is a future building club, and niether Rahim nor Van Horn will be part of it. I think we keep Gooden, which means if we get another forward he should be big/strong. Chandler (like we could get him) and Fortson fit that description. Brian Skinner (also of the kings) might be a Traylor upgrade and can play center.

 

[West Remy]

Re: Possible Power Forwwards

I'd take a look at Shareef Abdur Rahim. He is definatly an upgrade over Drew. He can score the ball better, has a better mid range game, and he can scrape 9 board a night.

From a physical sense, SAR seems smaller than Drew and makes Cleveland even smaller at the position. A smarter player, no doubt but you lose some athleticism along the way.

 

[King]

I would look at Donny Marshall. He is a good rebounder and he could also help us solve our shooting problems.

 

[The Disector]

I think we should go after Songaila. He's a very very underrated player in Sacto.
He's tough and has ability both facing the basket and posting up.
Every time I've seen him he's been a very nice player who helps a team on both ends of the floor and he wont cost as much as some of the others.

I also love Abdur-Rahim. He is an All-star caliber player especially in the Eastern Conference.
If we got Rahim we would have to trade Drew for a point guard which could be a good thing or a bad thing.

 

[Karma]

Songaila is a nice player. He is only an option if we let go of either Gooden or Varejao. It would be silly to have Drew, Anderson and Songaila. Better off putting our resources elsewhere. Still not a fan of Rahim. He is a good player, but i dont see him being a difference maker. I wont be disappointed if he comes here, but extremely surprised.

 

[aaronr]

Pretty thin gruel at power forward. I admit we could use some toughness that neither Gooden nor Varejao provides, but one suggestion, Fortson, doesn't appeal to me. He really has been a total head case for the Sonics the second half of the season. Of the others in the top ten, my favorite is Chandler but he won't be leaving Chicago for Cleveland, and my second-favorite is Donyell Marshall. He's a better defender than SAR, and he can stick the three. We have bigger needs than power forward, particularly in the backcourt. Let's get us a point guard and shooting guard before we worry about upgrading the four spot.

 

[AustinCarr]

In a perfect world, with a Star SG signed, and Z resigned....if the cavs were to address the PF position, of the available guys Haslem and Chandler would top my chart. With Z, a star scoring guard, and LeBron you can get away with a starting PF only scores 8-10ppg, as long as they can rebound, block shots and play real defense.

as neither of those guys are likely to be going anywhere, given the other options available, i just as soon stick it out with gooden or look to upgrade via trade.

van horn would be a fool to get out of his current situation (good team, giant contract), SAR isnt THAT much of an upgrade from gooden and the difference in talent is simply not worth the difference in contract. Walker, though talented, would not be a great fit, and he would charge a pretty penny for his services.

Marshall would have been a nice rent-a-player this year, but he isnt a starter, nor is he a tough guy or even a servicable defender. Great 6th man, but if you dont have a starter, whats the point in that.

Kwame...well who knows. He has failed to develope. Failed to stay healthy. About the only thing he has succeded with in the NBA is pissing off his team enough to get him suspended for the playoffs.

The rest of the class are backups at best.

The cavs are in an odd position with their PFs. They are not bad off...but they could clearly use an upgrade. There is only so much money they can spend...and there are just too many other area's of need. although, I wouldnt be shocked by a move with gooden involved...who knows. there are just too many questions marks right now to accurately speculate on the direction this team might go.

 

[Glen Infante]

Welcome back Austin!

I'm not sure if everyone is sold on Drew Gooden being our PF for the future. He is definatly replaceable, but with that list up there, I would keep him until a big timer wants to play in Cleveland.

With the franchise on a rise, there will be many players that would want to play for Cleveland. It may not happen now, but it will happen in the future. Everyone on the team except LeBron can be replaced with a better player.

 

[Pioneer10]

Let's say we resign Z, pick up Redd of FA. Now C and SG are set. Who would be willing to trade Gooden/Sasha for a lottery pick to select Deron Williams or Felton?

That's the only way I see Gooden/Av not being the PF combination for the next few years. I would do that trade pretty quickly especially since AV should be able to be a starter in this league. We might regress next year as Av learns to play more minutes but for the future of this team, I would do it. At that point it would be awesome if we can pick up someone like SAR or Brown

 

[Heppy Lotmore]

Why does everyone want to trade Gooden? I think he performed well this year and should stay on for a while yet, as he can score and rebound. Trade Z if he wants it, but keep Gooden and probably Pavlovic

 

[aaronr]

I respect Pioneer 10's position--resign Z, sign Redd, then trade Gooden and Sasha for a draft pick, Williams or Felton, who bolsters us at point guard. I'm just not sure we come off better talent-wise with this move. I like Gooden and Varejao at power forward better than Varejao and Traylor, and beyond that Traylor would have to play a lot of back-up minutes at power forward that, with his conditioning problem, would reduce the time he could back up Z at center. So I worry that such a trade would weaken the front court, which would be ok if Felton or Williams strengthened the back court. Are Felton and Williams "can't-miss" guys, or do we run the risk that we have to play Snow too many minutes at point next year? I'm not arguing, just asking.

 

[6ft7 and bald]

I also love Abdur-Rahim. He is an All-star caliber player especially in the Eastern Conference.

Rahim always puts up good numbers on a bad team. I don't think even once he has played in the postseason, that should say enough.
He's not worth the $ 14 m he got this season, I would give him the midlevel, but not much more.

On the other hand, he's more experienced than Drew. I kinda like Drew, but he looks so much lost on D, I'm not sure his BB IQ is very high.

 

[NarlCavs]

The reason I'd be in favor of trading Gooden for a draft pick that could get a PG like Felton or Williams is that PG is a much tougher position to fill than PF. The Cavs have a huge hole at PG and if they can get a top prospect who has the makings of a quality NBA point than they should do it.

I do like Gooden despite his dumb mistakes but he has the biggest value of any player the Cavs can afford to give up in a trade. He also will be due a contract extension after next season and will probably be looking for big bucks.

The Varejao/Traylor combo might not be perfect but it should get the Cavs by for a season until a better PF can be found. There are also some servicable PF's that could be signed for cheap to add depth.