Cavaliers' summertime deal most likely a steal
by Terry Pluto
Saturday August 16, 2008, 6:45 PM
Talking to myself about the Cavaliers trade ...
Question: How do you like the Cavs deal?
Answer: They traded a guard who never plays (Damon Jones) and a backup forward (Joe Smith) who is a nice veteran to have for a player in Mo Williams who actually can create his own shot! I've been begging them to get a guy like this for two years.
Q: So you like the deal?
A: Williams is not the perfect player, but he averaged 17 points in each of the last two seasons. I'm not very worried about his defensive problems. I value finding a guy who can take some of the scoring load off LeBron James over a player who can defend. And let's be honest, how good a defender was Larry Hughes here? Or Sasha Pavlovic?
Q: So why would Milwaukee trade him, especially since the Bucks traded for Richard Jefferson and kept Michael Redd supposedly to make the playoffs?
A: Follow the money. The Bucks signed Andrew Bogut to a 5-year, $60 million extension starting in 2009. Next season, they would have had Redd ($17 million), Jefferson ($14 million), Bogut ($10 million), Williams ($8.3 million) and Dan Gadzuric ($6.7 million) on the payroll. They don't want to pay the luxury tax for excessive spending, so someone had to go. Milwaukee also picked up point guard Luke Ridnour ($13 million over two years), whom they see a cheaper alternative to Williams.
Q: What about the Cavs' budget?
A: Last season, they paid $14 million in luxury tax. Only Dallas and New York ($19 million) paid more. Right now, the Cavs have the second highest payroll in the league at over $80 million. Teams over $68 million had to pay the luxury tax, and Milwaukee is not willing to go there. Dan Gilbert just keeps writing checks.
Q: I thought the mortgage business was in trouble?
A: I repeat, Gilbert keeps writing checks. Danny Ferry and Mike Brown have told me that never once has Gilbert said, "We can't afford that." He doesn't want to throw money in a sewer, but he wants to win, and win big. He knows what is at stake when it comes to making this a team where James will want to play when his contract expires in 2010.
Q: Isn't Williams overpaid?
A: That's some question in a league where the average salary is over $5 million. He has five years and $44 million left on the deal. He makes $8.3 million this season. After that, it's $8.8, $9.3, $8.5 and a player option for $8.5 million. He averaged 17 points, 6.0 assists and shot 48 percent. He's not a great outside shooter, but he puts the ball in the basket -- and his contract is worth much less than the Larry Hughes deal.
Q: Wait a minute, Williams is not a true point guard. He sounds a little like Hughes, and what makes you think he will be any better?
A: The pressure is on Mike Brown -- and a lesser extent, James -- to make sure it works. Brown has to design an offense to help Williams. James has to sometimes share the ball and trust his new teammate. It can't be all LeBron, all the time, especially at the end of every quarter and every game.
Q: But Hughes said he couldn't fit with the offense...
A: He averaged the same 12 points and shot the same miserable 37 percent after being traded to Chicago as he did with the Cavs. It wasn't all Mike Brown. If one move doesn't work, should you just quit? Don't try to get someone else? I give Gilbert/Ferry credit for staying aggressive.
Q: What does is the mean to Delonte West?
A: More importantly, the Cavs just got a point guard better than West. I expect West to sign a one-year qualifying offer ($2.7 million) and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. I like what the deal does for Daniel Gibson and Wally Szczerbiak, two stand-still shooters who can benefit from James and Williams drawing defensive attention -- allowing them to be open.
Q: Who would you start in the backcourt?
A: I've heard whispers about Williams and West. I'd start Williams and Szczerbiak, with Gibson as my third guard. Then Mike Brown can pick from Sasha Pavlovic or West to come off the bench. If the Williams/Wally backcourt is weak defensively, you can change and play West or someone else.
Q: Will they miss Joe Smith?
A: Yes, and that means Ben Wallace and have to play more and play better. There's reason for optimism about power forward J.J. Hickson, but he's still a rookie. Supposedly, Anderson Varejao was happy about the deal because it means more minutes for him. But trading Smith and Jones for Williams? It just made the summer so much better for Cavs fans.
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2008/08/cavaliers_summertime_deal_most.html