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Many expect Ferry to select big man
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, May 25, 2008
The Cavaliers are in a bit of a rare position, at least as it applies to them.
Their season is over, but they not only have a first-round NBA Draft pick, but they also have their highest selection spot since 2004. About to enter his fourth season as general manager, Danny Ferry has been able to use just three draft picks, and they all came in the same year, 2006. He's only had one first-rounder, which turned out to be a failure in Shannon Brown, who didn't survive two years with the team and now has a murky NBA future.
The Cavs still don't have their full complement of picks this season. The second-rounder is going to the Phoenix Suns for a 2002 trade to acquire Milt Palacio.
Still, the No. 19 overall selection belongs to them. Because three of the Cavs' last four first-round draft picks have been busts (Dajuan Wagner, Luke Jackson, Brown), using it wisely is vital.
Usually you will not find instant-impact players that low. In fact, just two of the last seven players taken at No. 19 have had significant roles on their teams. One is Zach Randolph, and the other is Sasha Pavlovic. Last year, point guard Javaris Crittenton went to the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 19 and was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies at midseason in the Pau Gasol deal.
Unlike many teams that will announce whom they are working out and when — often followed by a news conference where the player might be critiqued — Ferry lets nothing out when it comes to his draft plans. The Cavs keep their workouts and any comments on the players secret.
So getting a read on their plans is somewhat difficult. However, this draft is deep in big men, and the Cavs have three big men in their 30s in Ben Wallace, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Joe Smith. Anderson Varejao might just be entering his prime, but he's also signed for only one more season, which would make getting another big man prudent with a year to develop, followed by expectations in the 2009-10 season.
That is the way the top mock draft experts are thinking. ESPN's Chad Ford has the Cavs taking former GlenOak star Kosta Koufos of Ohio State with their pick, and Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com is projecting the Cavs to look at
Nevada sophomore JaVale McGee.
Both are 7-footers who need seasoning. Koufos is more of a finesse player who some project could eventually play like Ilgauskas. But Ilgauskas had way more experience and more low-post talent when he was drafted by the Cavs in 1996. McGee is known for his 7-foot-6 wingspan but is even more of a project who is now frantically trying to add weight. He played at just a little more than 220 pounds this season.
If the Cavs are looking for a more-polished player, they might look at Georgetown senior Roy Hibbert. He was projected as a high lottery pick a year ago but has slid recently as some see him as not athletic enough to compete at the highest level. Still, he's a legitimate 7-foot-2, skilled and experienced player. There are plenty of teams, though, who have hinted they might be willing to trade down in this draft. Numerous picks between the mid-lottery and the Cavs' slot could be had for the right package.
The Cavs might test the waters on moving up. There are two point-guard prospects expected to be taken in the lottery that sources say the Cavs have an interest in. One is Texas guard D.J. Augustin, and the other is UCLA guard Russell Westbrook.
There's plenty of time between now and June 26, and individual workouts won't start until after this week's Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando, Fla., so lots of variables could change plans.
Dribbles
• It was a very difficult season for Varejao, who didn't join the team until December due to a contract squabble.
Then he played some of the best basketball of his career before a severe ankle injury at the end of January put him on the bench for a month.
When Varejao came back, Wallace was the starter and was getting more clutch-time minutes. Varejao responded by trying to force his offensive game, which turned into a disaster. His shooting percentage plummeted, and his turnovers increased.
By the end of the season, Varejao was just plain frustrated and not at all happy, and he made it known.
Though he's still valuable, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Cavs test the trade market for Varejao this summer.
• The Cavs are facing the loss of Assistant General Manager Chris Grant, who has emerged as the Atlanta Hawks' top choice to become their new general manager. Though he is very familiar with the Hawks after working there nine years, he hasn't actively been looking to leave the Cavs and will make sure everything is in order before signing.
The Hawks' ownership and top management have been in various stages of chaos for the past three years. Expect Grant to take a page from Ferry's book.
Before he was willing to take the Cavs' job in 2005, Ferry drove a hard bargain to solidify his control and got himself a fully guaranteed five-year deal.
• The Cavs have already started the paperwork with the league office on getting Eric Snow approved for disability retirement. There are lots of hoops to jump through, but Snow says that his left knee is bone-on-bone, and that he's probably done.
If all the proper parties sign off, Snow's $7.3 million could be taken off the Cavs' books for luxury-tax purposes.
It is also possible that the NBA could grant the Cavs an exception of up to half of Snow's salary ($3.7 million) to use to sign another player or to use in a trade.
• Many Cavs fans got upset at ESPN host Stephen A. Smith on Monday for guaranteeing on a broadcast that James would bolt for New York in two years.
In truth, Smith is close to members of James' inner circle.
It's possible that after the way the season ended, some around James would indeed think this way.
Many of them would benefit from James going to New York. But it will be James alone who makes the decision, and he will not make it until 2010. Speculation and conjecture between now and then is just that.
James has said for years that he is ''his own man,'' and this falls squarely in that category.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog athttp://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
The Cavaliers are in a bit of a rare position, at least as it applies to them.
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