LAS VEGAS -- Once again, the Cavaliers find themselves in moving-on mode.
A little over 12 hours after they signed restricted free agent guard Kyle Lowry to an offer sheet, the Houston Rockets matched the four-year, $24 million offer on Wednesday. Houston was permitted seven days to decide but apparently didn't have to do much thinking.
It was not a surprise to the Cavs, who had attempted to work a sign-and-trade deal with the Rockets prior to having Lowry sign the offer sheet. The Rockets refused, confident they'd match the offer, which they did.
So the Cavs went to the next course of action, league sources said, and began stepping up their efforts to trade for a guard with the same traits as Lowry. It is possible the team could make such a move by the end of the week.
After years of desiring taller guards who were good shooters to pair with LeBron James, the team is undergoing a philosophy change with new coach Byron Scott. Desiring guards who can run and create offense with drives, the Cavs are looking at a new group of candidates.
"It is important to have a guy to keep the tempo up on the floor most of the time," Scott said Wednesday before the Cavs took on the Phoenix Suns in a summer league game.
"That's the way we want to play. With the two-guard front I run offensively, it gives two guys ample time to push the ball."
So while the Cavs have a quality point guard in Mo Williams, they obviously intend to acquire another one. Two players believed to be on the radar are former Ohio State star Mike Conley and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ramon Sessions.
Joshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer
Byron Scott's desire for a point guard with the quickness to drive and create shots may give new NBA life to the Cavaliers' Sebastian Telfair, who saw little time after arriving with Antawn Jamison at the 2010 trade deadline.
Conley is coming off the best season of his career for the Grizzlies, averaging 12 points, 5.3 assists and shooting 45 percent. Memphis might be interested in reducing salary and are trying to have O.J. Mayo play more point guard next season.
Sessions, who is a close friend of Williams, is on the trade block after the Wolves signed free agent guard Luke Ridnour on Wednesday. After having a breakout year with the Bucks in 2008-09, Sessions didn't get as much playing time in his first year in Minnesota and averaged just 8.2 points and 3.1 assists coming off the bench.
The Cavs may be looking at some other options as well. Already on the roster is Sebastian Telfair, who has some of the qualities Scott prefers. Telfair may have an expanded role with the team next season and currently is in Las Vegas working out with a private trainer.
There were also various reports Wednesday that the Cavs were talking to the Atlanta Hawks about trading for small forward Marvin Williams. According to league sources, the Hawks are motivated to trade Williams and have been looking for takers and also have some interest in Shaquille O'Neal.
Cavs General Manager Chris Grant has a relationship with Williams from when he was in the Hawks' front office. But Williams had a poor 2009-10 season, averaging just 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds. He also has four years and $30 million left on his contract.
A league source said that while O'Neal's representatives have been pushing the Cavs to look for a sign-and-trade with the Hawks, the Cavs are only mildly interested. It is believed O'Neal is looking for a two-year contract worth more than the $5.7 million mid-level exception and also plenty of playing time. Without cooperation from the Cavs, his options will likely be quite limited.
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