Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Family found dead in Ohio home
Man gets 3 years in prison for having sex with horse
Robbers order bar patrons to empty pockets
Sex-toy study at Duke University raises some eyebrows
Akron man turns himself in after authorities turn up heat
Man appears alive at own funeral
Take comfort in knowing Browns could be bigger losers
Blogs:
Pets:
Not 101 Dalmations…but close!
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your perusal
Akron Zips:
No. 1 UA soccer remains perfect, Zips football defeats rival Flashes
Tribe Matters:
Tribe makes roster moves
Cleveland Browns:
Lewis doesn't like boycott
Kent State Sports:
Kent State falls to Akron, 20-28
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Knicks
Buckeye Blogging:
Weekly ‘B’ Deck Report – New Mexico St.
Varsity Letters:
Wrestling, bowling teams prepare for season
All Da King's Men:
If It Looks Like Islamic Terrorism…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Dems Message To Women: Don't Enjoy The Sex
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (62) The Stupak Amendment
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Perfect Weather for an Autumn Drive
Let's Talk Real Estate:
RUMORS: Downtown Restaurant Explosion
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
The Black Keys to perform benefit concert at Musica on November 27
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
New 'Call of Duty' could set entertainment record
New contract said to be for three years
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007
CLEVELAND: There was tough talk and unorthodox methods, but on the eve of the start of the regular season, the Cavaliers have Sasha Pavlovic back with the team.
After a monthlong stalemate, the Cavs reached an agreement with the Serbian swingman Tuesday afternoon, said Pavlovic's agent, Marc Cornstein.
Cornstein declined to give the contract figures, but league sources said the deal is for three years and averages between $4 million and $5 million per season. Pavlovic was in his native Serbia when the deal was struck and is not expected to arrive in Cleveland until tonight, when the team opens the season without him in a home game against the Dallas Mavericks.
The accord was the product of intense talks over the weekend as the Cavs pressed to get a deal done. The team is also believed to have intensified talks with their remaining restricted free agent, Anderson Varejao.
''It was a long negotiating process, but I think it worked out well in the end,'' Cornstein said. ''Sasha has always embraced Cleveland, and that's where he wanted to be.''
Citing league policy, Cavs General Manager Dan ny Ferry would not comment because the contract is not signed.
The Cavs took steps to never count out having Varejao or Pavlovic, keeping a locker for both at Quicken Loans Arena and their new practice facility. The team's media guide, which was published this week, had full bios of both in the players' section.
According to insiders, the Cavs were willing to increase what they were offering Pavlovic in the first two years of the deal, but the third year of the pact is not fully guaranteed, which gave the Cavs the flexibility they were seeking in the talks with both Pavlovic and Varejao. Because of those terms, both sides were able to claim a victory after they'd been entrenched.
In retrospect, Cornstein said the rules concerning restricted free agents were to blame for the holdout.
The Cavs had the right to match any offers received by Pavlovic, who averaged nine points and 2.4 rebounds in a breakout season last season.
The stalemate ''was more of a product of the restricted free-agency system, and I think both sides got caught up in it,'' Cornstein said.
''The rules we have in place leads to situations like this and will continue to lead to situations like this until it can be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement.''
There was speculation that Pavlovic and Varejao although they were using different agents and holing up in their home countries an ocean apart were working together by holding out. It was an unprecedented situation for one restricted free agent to hold out, much less two on the same team. Cornstein contended that was not the case.
''Because of their personal situations, both Anderson and Sasha ended up in the same position with the same team,'' Cornstein said. ''But from July 1, we wanted to strike a deal. . . . I wasn't representing anyone but my client.''
The Cavs set their opening day roster Monday, but will probably waive rookie forward Anthony Tolliver to make room on the roster for Pavlovic if he passes his physical Thursday.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
CLEVELAND: There was tough talk and unorthodox methods, but on the eve of the start of the regular season, the Cavaliers have Sasha Pavlovic back with the team.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
