LeBron Vocal About Missing Cavs

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>It's never a good sign when the talk at training camp focuses on guys who are not there. That's sort of like being out after midnight - when nothing good happens - or seeing a TV news crew (as opposed to a sports crew) show up at practice.</p>

But that is what is going on as the defending Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers work out at their splendid new facility in Independence, Ohio, just south of Cleveland. LeBron James is there. Boobie Gibson is there. Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden are there. But two critical regulars from last year, Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao, are not. Neither man is believed to even be in the United States. They can't practice because they have no contracts.</p>

James has been outspoken about the missing duo. He wants them in camp. And James tends to get what he wants. Coach Mike Brown would also like them there but acknowledges, "I can only coach the players I have." Guard Larry Hughes said the team will likely take a few steps backward until the two return because of all the time lost.</p>

Pavlovic and Varejao are caught in the web of restricted free agency, where you're essentially damned if you do and damned if you don't. The club holds all the cards. Cleveland made qualifying offers to both players, which expired when training camp opened. The offers ($2.8 million for Pavlovic and $1.18 million for Varejao) constitute raises of 42.6 percent and 25 percent, respectively, as stipulated by the collective bargaining agreement. Pavlovic's increase is larger because he was a first-round pick, 19th overall, in 2003. Varejao was a second-round pick in 2004.</p>

But even though the offers have expired, the Cavaliers still have the right of first refusal should any other club come forward.</div></p>

Source: The Boston Globe</p>