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Free agent says Cleveland in need of power forward
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Tuesday, Jun 30, 2009
CLEVELAND: This lineup would make Cavaliers fans lick their chops and give the team a front line that foes in the Eastern Conference would fear.
On Monday afternoon, the Milwaukee Bucks declined to offer a contract to their starting power forward, Charlie Villa-nueva, a move that went contrary to conventional wisdom.
After the Bucks traded Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs last week, many NBA insiders expected Milwaukee to make offers to Villanueva and guard Ramon Sessions. Sessions got his, but Villanueva received nothing, paving the way to unrestricted free agency. According to reports, his qualifying offer for the season was $4.6 million.
What does it mean for the Cavs? It depends on Villanueva. He said he wouldn't mind playing with LeBron James.
Shaquille O'Neal's addition last week didn't change that.
In an NBA Draft night message on social networking site Twitter, Villanueva posted: ''Well, twitterland like I said there will be more trades to come, very interesting, Shaq to Cleveland, nice, all Cleveland needs is a PF [power forward] now.''
Provided O'Neal passes his physical, the Cavs will have 12 players under contract — assuming that Anderson Varejao doesn't opt for free agency. They have salary-cap space available to sign additional players.
Through a ''midlevel exception,'' the NBA allows a team to sign a free agent to a contract equal to the average salary — even if it is more than the cap. For the 2009-10 season, the midlevel exception is worth $5.8 million. For Villanueva, that would be a 21 percent pay increase.
If that's not enough, perhaps the opportunity to play with James and O'Neal and reunite with Mo Williams for a title would be more of an incentive.
If nothing else, the prospect is intriguing for Villanueva.
''Cleveland fans are showing me mad love on twitter, appreciate the love,'' Villanueva wrote in a Twitter post Sunday.
Some Cavs fans would be head over heels if he returned the sentiments.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj
CLEVELAND: This lineup would make Cavaliers fans lick their chops and give the team a front line that foes in the Eastern Conference would fear.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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stow, ohio
Posted 05:15 AM, 06/30/2009
It looks like Detroit is going to outbid my Cavs....they have more to offer and with Boozer hedging on opting out Detroit appears to moving on CV.
He would be a great fit in Cleveland ...Cavs could use his scoring punch at the 4 but I doubt CV can leave an extra 1-2 M per year on the table with the Pistons. By this time tomorrow we should know something.....hope the Cavs can pull this off.
Posted 07:22 AM, 06/30/2009
fargoz, I hope you are wrong and CV comes here so he doesn't have to play in Detroit.
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:09 AM, 06/30/2009
I hope the alleged franchise across the street has their pad and crayon so they can learn how a team is built to win.
Posted 09:08 AM, 06/30/2009
CV has more of a shot at a championship with the Cavs than with Detroit. For that, he might be willing to leave cash on the table.
stow, ohio
Posted 09:19 AM, 06/30/2009
Been thinking about this all morning...if they do get CV it opens up so may other possibilities. I am am glad is playing his cards now and going all in for this season. It makes no sense to wait til 2010 in hopes of landing another big fish. As Houston found out with Yao...tomorrow many never come.
Tallmadge, Oh
Posted 10:58 AM, 06/30/2009
When you're on a winning team, the team is usually in better financial shape than most others. You can reach your monetary goals in salary, and endorsement opportunities appear.
It would be good for LeBron to somehow include his teammates in the commercials he is involved in. Share the bounty!
Canton, OH
Posted 11:02 AM, 06/30/2009
Sweet. . I don't want Boozer. . He turned his back on us once already. . .He divorced his wife, Cindy. He's an arrogant Duke Alumnus. . C-Ya, Carlos. .
kent, oh
Posted 11:13 AM, 06/30/2009
Villanueva is weak on defense and jacks up way too many threes. He can post up and handle the ball some but his "basketball I.Q." is suspect. We need a wing defender. Artest would be perfect. CV is just too soft.
Posted 11:35 AM, 06/30/2009
Villanueva is a head case, there are other players out there without the baggage than can help the Cavs out more.
MILWAUKEE, WI
Posted 01:02 PM, 06/30/2009
Ok Cleveland fans and none cleveland fans"Let's keep it real. Im not a fan of CV but if you followed his game over the last few years you have to agree the man like LBJ CAN HOLD HIS OWN,(and getting better every year) If we can get him beleave me! THE NBA ballers are going to be LOOKING like DAMMMMMM,.CV is the iceing on the cake,Come to cleveland man..........
Posted 01:59 PM, 06/30/2009
With Villanueva and Shaq teams will pick and roll them to death, even moreso than when Z is in there.
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:54 PM, 06/30/2009
NO BRAINER..I can't imagine the "Bucs" being this stupid but if Clrvrland profits..so be it!
ashtabula, oh
Posted 11:07 PM, 06/30/2009
I think that a great off season is one where the cavs resign varajao and joe smith, then sign villanueva and flip murry and then get rid of wally and emir preldzic and lorenzen wright.
This is what our team would look like:
PG Mo/Gibson/Green
SG West/Murry/Kinsey
SF James/Eyenga/Jackson
PF Villanueva/Varajao/Hickson
C O'Neil/Ilgauskas/ Smith
That looks like a 2010 championship roster!
Akron, OH
Posted 07:48 AM, 07/01/2009
CAVS4LIFE- You have no idea what you are talking about.
1.) Eyenga wont play in the NBA for at least 2 more years, ever.
2.) Varejao is all but gone especially if CV sgins.
3.) Where do you get Murry?
4.) Gibson above Green? Wow!
5.) Kinsey?
6.)Its ONEAL not O'NEIL!
Akron, OH
Posted 08:09 AM, 07/01/2009
"Eyenga wont play in the NBA for at least 2 more years, ever."
@Tom-Which is it, 2 years or never? That didn't make sense
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:45 AM, 07/01/2009
@ Tom
Don't be so sure that Anderson Varejao will go. He wants a ring and all that goes with it. Cavs chances to win the whole thing next year appreciates markedly with the addition of Villanueva and Shaq.
AK, Oh
Posted 11:40 AM, 07/01/2009
Sorry LBJ, but you wont win in cleveland.... NY or Brooklyn... Don't get your hopes up to high LBJ...
AK, Oh
Posted 11:51 AM, 07/01/2009
The only way the Cavs can win is to run a faster offense but no Mike Brown wont listen. Good Coach but hard headed... So this year will result in a first round lost. watch! Good Bye Cleveland, Hello Dream Team... Go Lebron!
Hiram, GA
Posted 06:10 PM, 07/01/2009
Slovensko's right. Boozers wife was the one that told him how beautiful Utah was and that that is where they should go. And now she owns half of him and when he is done will be mopping floors in some school in 2 years. Let's hope they can get CV!
Akron, OH
Posted 10:06 PM, 07/01/2009
CV plays 20 mins a game. is all that money worth it?
Posted 07:38 AM, 07/02/2009
So much for his interest in playing for Cleveland. AP is reporting he signed with Detroit. Next!
