Traylor averaged 5.5 points and a career-high 4.5 rebounds last season in 74 games. He was perhaps the Cavaliers' most consistent reserve despite playing most of the season out of position as the backup center. He showed good leadership, especially during the stretch run in an attempt to make the playoffs.
He signed for the so-called ``million dollar'' salary-cap exception last summer. It paid him $1.6 million last year and included an option worth $1.76 million for next season.
Traylor, in town to help run his weeklong basketball camp in Beachwood, said Monday that he hadn't had contact with team officials about the decision and wasn't sure which way they were leaning.
``I haven't really talked to them. I'll just wait and I guess they'll decide what's best,'' Traylor said. ``It may depend on who is making the decision.''
Who exactly is making the decision isn't clear. Certainly new coach Mike Brown will have input as will interim general manager Mark Warkentien and director of basketball operations Mike Bratz.
The call likely will come down to owner Dan Gilbert because the team president's chair is currently vacant.
``I don't know what's going to happen, especially with the front office,'' Brown said. ``He's a good player, and he's proven he can play (power forward and center).''
At issue is salary-cap flexibility. The Cavaliers have gone to great lengths to guard their cap room for this summer, which might exceed $25 million. Though there seems to be plenty of room for Traylor, having the extra money could make a difference in landing a second or third top free agent. Also, not committing to Traylor would allow the incoming president/general manager more freedom with the roster.
In an effort to save roster space and cap money, the Cavaliers likely will release guard Lucious Harris before June 30. His $2.75 million contract is not guaranteed if he's waived before July 1. Non-guaranteed contracts are valuable in trades so there's a chance Harris could be part of a deal before July, as well.
Team still hasn't decided on forward's $1.76 million option for 2005-06 season
Cavaliers forward/center Robert "Tractor" Traylor provided more bang for his buck than many of his NBA contemporaries.
The Cavaliers must pick up the option on Traylor's 2005-06 contract by today. For $1.76 million, many think picking up the option is a no-brainer. But it's not so cut and dry.
The Cavaliers will try to make a big splash in free agency by possibly re-signing center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, acquiring a major shooting guard and a point guard. That will take a lot of money.
In order to get those things accomplished, they might have to carve out more salary-cap space. The Cavaliers have about $25 million in committed salaries now, and the salary cap could increase to about $48 million or $49 million.
If they can't make a trade to alleviate the glut of swingmen - either Jiri Welsch or Sasha Pavlovic might be dealt for a draft pick - one way to create more space would be to not pick up Traylor's option.
"No decision has been made," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "We're still kicking around some things. We haven't made a decision."
Shooting guard Lucious Harris likely will be waived in the next two weeks. If he's on the roster by July 1, his $2.75 million contract is guaranteed. The Cavaliers likely will try to trade Harris before that date.
The 6-foot-8, 284-pound Traylor became the Cavaliers' most dependable reserve big man last season. He averaged 5.5 points, a career-high 4.5 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game.
If the Cavaliers decide not to pick up the option, Traylor would be an unrestricted free agent. The Cavaliers could sign the 28-year-old as a free agent at a later date.
Brown said he's working on assembling his coaching staff. He said he could add two or possibly three more assistant coaches.
"I have some guys in mind I want to target," he said. "I have Hank Egan on board."
7-footer Francisco Elson's ability to get up and down the floor and defend makes him a perfect fit on Denver, but there's just too many good players ahead of him on the depth chart. A decent offer could rescue him from the Nuggets and land someone a solid backup center on the cheap.
Cavaliers Decline Contract Option on Tractor
CLEVELAND, June 15 – The Cleveland Cavaliers have declined the team’s option on the 2005-06 contract of forward/center Robert Traylor, Cavaliers interim General Manager Mark Warkentien announced today.
Traylor averaged 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.9 minutes in 74 games this season. In his seven-year career, he has averages of 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in 438 games.
“This decision was a difficult one to make. It was made in order for us to gain additional cap flexibility heading into free agency, where we expect to be very active and aggressive,” Warkentien said. “We thank Robert for his professionalism, intensity and effort during the 2004-05 season and wish him well moving forward."