According to EuroHoop.net, Sasha Kaun has reportedly a three-year extension with CSKA Moscow, meaning the odds of the Cavaliers ever seeing their prized stashed Center is looking even worse. I could write more about this heart-breakingly depressing situation, but instead, I'll defer to Captain Kirk to sum up the feelings in the hearts of Cavs fans world-wide:
Khaaan!!! (via IQuip4U)
On Friday, I laid out some stats around Daniel Gibson and asked loyal Fear the Sword readers what they thought about the Cavaliers picking up his partial team option for the 2012-2013 season. Discussion was spirited, but what was the final verdict? Let's find out. Also, a quick thank you to false-cognate for pointing out in the comments my embarrassing mis-interpretation of the defensive rating statistic. That won't happy again. Pinky swear. Anyways, the verdict awaits.
The debate was long and hard fought by both sides, but ultimately, only one side could prevail. When the dust cleared, Fear the Sword readers had voted overwhelmingly in favor of not picking up Daniel Gibson's partially guaranteed team option and instead, investing in the future of the Cavaliers by filling out the SF rotation with free agents and rookies.
Obviously, the results of the draft will obviously shape the path the Cavaliers follow when it comes to filling out their SG rotation. Will the starting job belong to a rookie like Bradley Beal? Do you want the Cavaliers to go all in on Manny Harris? I know there's at least one guy on Twitter who'd be very happy about this. Or is there some other FA out there you want on the team? Feel free to discuss more below.
What's that? What do I think the team should do with him? Well, I guess I should weigh in one way or the other. It'd only be fair.
The Cavaliers have a lot of decisions to make this off-season. Who do they draft? What key free agents do they target? And finally, the point of this series, who from this current squad to they bring back? Today we kick things off with the only player up for a team option next year, Daniel "Boobie" Gibson. Today, I spell out the contract situation, dig into some stats and then open up some discussion for you all below (with a poll!). On Monday, I'll be back to share my opinion.
Before we go any further, I'd like to say that all the contract data from courtesy of HoopsHype, and player statistics are from Basketball-Reference. Graphs are my doing. Now, let's figure this out.
The Money: After six years with the Cavaliers, Boobie is due a pretty massive payday of $4,792,332 next season. That is, if the Cavaliers decide to pick up his contract. Only $2.3M of his contract is guaranteed, so the remaining $2.5 is up in the air. While the salary cap for the 2012-2013 season won't be known until July, we can look at the impact of picking up Gibson's contract using the 2011-2012 salary cap of $58M as an estimate. Right now, the Cavaliers only have six players guaranteed next year, Anderson Varejao, Luke Walton, Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Donald Sloan and Omri Casspi. Those six contracts sum to just slightly more than $22, which would leave an additional $35M to resign guys like Alonzo Gee, Samardo Samuels and Manny Harris and to go after any free agents the Cavaliers may have their eyes on. If the Cavaliers were to resign Gibson, that would drop that amount to around $33M.
Now you might be wondering about the two rookies the Cavaliers will be selecting in the first round. Thanks to the Rookie Exception Clause, the Cavaliers will be able to exceed the salary cap in order to sign them to their rookie contracts, so I'm not counting these two contracts towards that total. That would not be the case with any second round picks they acquire, however.
Now, onto the fun stuff. Let's take a deep look at Boobie Gibson from a statistical standpoint.
With the departure of Lester Hudson, the Cavaliers found themselves with an open roster spot. They filled this roster spot on Saturday by signing small forward D.J. Kennedy out of the D-League. There are only four games left in the season, but with Alonzo Gee hurt, Kennedy could see some time.
The signing was announced by the Cavaliers right after I finished last week's episode of Parks and Recreation.
In 44 regular season games (all starts) with the BayHawks, Kennedy averaged 15.7 points on .447 shooting, 7.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 37.4 minutes per game. He shot .378 (51-135) from three-point range and .816 from the free throw line (168-206). The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder also played in all three of Erie’s postseason games, averaging 14.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 42.0 minutes per game.
Get excited. We need a new name for the mania that will sweep the nation once D.J. starts draining buckets for the Cavaliers. Suggestions are appreciated.
Check out the post that Rumble in the Garden wrote about D.J.
Lights were setting on the Cavaliers season.
Everyone had accepted redemption in the form of ping pong balls. Then, there was you.
Swooping in to save the day, a 27 year old D-Leaguer with the heart of a lion.
Times were tough, but you rose to the occasion, for you were Lester Hudson.
Everyone was mad with Lesteria,
Ranting and raving on how the Cavaliers had found their Jeremy Lin.
Humble, you lifted the team onto your broad shoulders, and breathed life into it's dying body.
Unknown is the reason for your departure at this time.
Doubtless, the future of this team has always been with Kyrie Irving,
So our time together was always meant to be fleeting, like a love that burned too strong, too soon.
Of these few weeks, we shall never forget, nor shall we ever stop missing you.
Never stop being you, Lester. Goodnight sweet prince.
In a stunning happenstance, it was reported that the Cavaliers will not sign Lester Hudson for the rest of the season. There are only five games left, but LESTERIA seems to have come to an end. Tom Reed from the Plain Dealer first reported this and it seems to be confirmed by multiple other reporters, although there has not yet been official word from the Cavaliers.
I'n sure either Angelo or I will write some touching ode to bid Lester farewell. Keep in my that it's possible Lester's camp didn't want the deal. Maybe he wanted to be guaranteed on the roster next year and the Cavs didn't want to do that. We aren't sure why the Cavs aren't bringing him back, but I don't really care either way. Regardless, it's a bit surprising.
Luke Harangody has been called back up to the Cleveland Cavaliers after the Canton Charge's win over Springfield in the D-League playoffs. Here's what the associated press had to say:
Harangody appeared in 15 games for the Cavs before he was assigned to the Charge on March 6. He played in 16 games for Canton, averaging 19.4 points and 12.6 rebounds. He scored 16 points in a playoff win over Springfield on Friday night.
The former Notre Dame star will be available Saturday night in Washington for the Cavs, who are in the midst of playing seven games in nine days.
Luke has averaged just 1.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per game for the year with the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers announced today that they have signed guard Lester Hudson from the D-League. He spent the season in the D-League with the Austin Toros. The announcement came from the Cavaliers' official website.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Lester Hudson from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today. The signing of Hudson marks the 46th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2011-12 season. Hudson will wear No. 14 for the Cavaliers and is available for tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
He's available tonight against the Bucks, but I have to figure that there's a very slim chance he actually plays at all. This kind of came out of nowhere and I know next to nothing about Hudson. I'll give you more information once I talk to some people and learn more about him.
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