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Do IT this week: Layering
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 07:06 p.m. EDT, Aug 13, 2009
CLEVELAND: Free-agent power forward Leon Powe got a firsthand look at the ugly part of the sports business — the business part — on his way to signing with the Cavaliers this week.
That's the part where there's no such thing as loyalty, and it's more of a case of what have you done for me lately. For Powe, who is recovering from a third injury to his left knee, that meant the Boston Celtics had no more use for him despite his role in helping win the 2008 NBA title.
There was no qualifying offer from the Celtics after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the second game of the Celtics' playoff series against the Chicago Bulls.
Considering that he was in a contract year, the timing couldn't have been worse for Powe.
''I talked about it with them a little bit and they told me they weren't going to give me nothing and they said they couldn't do nothing for me and I didn't understand that,'' Powe said during a conference on Thursday. ''From my standpoint, the way I was looking at it is I'm a loyal type of person. But I thought they would give me that offer or a little one-year deal to see if I make it back on my feet.''
Powe said that he understood it was a business before his latest injury, but his experience with the Celtics reinforced that. Before the mishap, Powe, who has never made more than $1 million in a season, was in line for a fairly substantial contract. During the 2008-09 regular season, he averaged 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds coming off the bench for the Celtics.
Powe said that is all in the past, but he wouldn't be human if the way things ended in Boston provided no incentive for him.
''I'm naturally just a hard worker and I always have a chip on my shoulder regardless of what happens in the past,'' he said. ''Yeah, I want to get back. I want to prove to everybody I work extremely hard and I want to work just as hard on my knee and try to get back out there on the court.''
According to reports, Powe signed with the Cavs for the league minimum for a player of his experience, about $1.77 million for two seasons. Money, he said, isn't a motivating factor.
''I want to get my knee back healthy and just go out there and play basketball because the money's going to come,'' he said.
After leaving Boston, Powe moved to Los Angeles where he's been rehabbing his knee since the surgery. He's working out five days a week with a trainer, primarily on returning strength to the knee. He said that his flexibility has returned, and he expects to be doing some jogging in six to eight weeks.
He said he will move to the Cleveland area to finish off the rehabilitation efforts. Although he said on a number of occasions he's not rushing things, he expects to be able to play by the NBA's All-Star break.
That's a good thing for the Cavs, because someone with a presence such as his will come in handy during the second half of the season, when the team is in the hunt for one of the Eastern Conference's top seeds.
Powe is a physical player in the post and a player unafraid to mix it up. He's solid defensively, scores inside and rebounds.
Should the Cavs meet the Celtics in the playoffs, that would be fine with Powe.
''If that happens, that's going to be fun for me; it's going to be fun for the whole Cavaliers organization,'' he said.
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: Free-agent power forward Leon Powe got a firsthand look at the ugly part of the sports business — the business part — on his way to signing with the Cavaliers this week.
That's the part where there's no such thing as loyalty, and it's more of a case of what have you done for me lately. For Powe, who is recovering from a third injury to his left knee, that meant the Boston Celtics had no more use for him despite his role in helping win the 2008 NBA title.
There was no qualifying offer from the Celtics after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the second game of the Celtics' playoff series against the Chicago Bulls.
Considering that he was in a contract year, the timing couldn't have been worse for Powe.
''I talked about it with them a little bit and they told me they weren't going to give me nothing and they said they couldn't do nothing for me and I didn't understand that,'' Powe said during a conference on Thursday. ''From my standpoint, the way I was looking at it is I'm a loyal type of person. But I thought they would give me that offer or a little one-year deal to see if I make it back on my feet.''
Powe said that he understood it was a business before his latest injury, but his experience with the Celtics reinforced that. Before the mishap, Powe, who has never made more than $1 million in a season, was in line for a fairly substantial contract. During the 2008-09 regular season, he averaged 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds coming off the bench for the Celtics.
Powe said that is all in the past, but he wouldn't be human if the way things ended in Boston provided no incentive for him.
''I'm naturally just a hard worker and I always have a chip on my shoulder regardless of what happens in the past,'' he said. ''Yeah, I want to get back. I want to prove to everybody I work extremely hard and I want to work just as hard on my knee and try to get back out there on the court.''
According to reports, Powe signed with the Cavs for the league minimum for a player of his experience, about $1.77 million for two seasons. Money, he said, isn't a motivating factor.
''I want to get my knee back healthy and just go out there and play basketball because the money's going to come,'' he said.
After leaving Boston, Powe moved to Los Angeles where he's been rehabbing his knee since the surgery. He's working out five days a week with a trainer, primarily on returning strength to the knee. He said that his flexibility has returned, and he expects to be doing some jogging in six to eight weeks.
He said he will move to the Cleveland area to finish off the rehabilitation efforts. Although he said on a number of occasions he's not rushing things, he expects to be able to play by the NBA's All-Star break.
That's a good thing for the Cavs, because someone with a presence such as his will come in handy during the second half of the season, when the team is in the hunt for one of the Eastern Conference's top seeds.
Powe is a physical player in the post and a player unafraid to mix it up. He's solid defensively, scores inside and rebounds.
Should the Cavs meet the Celtics in the playoffs, that would be fine with Powe.
''If that happens, that's going to be fun for me; it's going to be fun for the whole Cavaliers organization,'' he said.
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
Comments
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Mobile, AL
Posted 10:56 PM, 08/13/2009
I am excited to have Powe with the Cavaliers. He gives them another big who can play. I'm concerned about his knees but if they come around they got a steal. He is young and athletic, just the kind of player the Cavs need.
independence, MO
Posted 08:55 AM, 08/14/2009
Exactly. And with the second year being optional, the Cavs are out less than a mil worst case scenario. A steal!! Put Powe on Gasol in the Lakers series and he can neutralize the taller guy with physical play. Power and Varjao on Gasol; Shaq and Ilgauskas on Bynum.
Posted 06:45 PM, 08/18/2009
Powe is just a great character guy all around. The kind of guy you want in the trenches with you. He adds to the Cavaliers toughness which they need. Just a terrific signing.
