<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Morning Journal)</div><div class='quotemain'>Even though the Cavaliers seem enamored at the thoughts of pairing Mike Bibby with LeBron James, many around the league don't think it will happen. If the Sacramento Kings insist on the Cavs taking back Kenny Thomas' contract, that could be a deal-breaker, several league sources indicate. The 6-foot-7, 245-pound Thomas has two years worth $17.3 million remaining on his contract after this season. Let's face it, the Cavs' salary cap is already screwed up. Taking on Thomas' contract -- in addition to Bibby's $14.5 million next year -- would send it into oblivion. The Kings would also probably like a first-round pick, too, which the Cavs should keep. They need to add a legitimate talent to this roster, even if it is a rookie. Cavs general manager Danny Ferry is stubborn as a mule. He might be willing to settle for the Cavs maybe getting to the second round of the playoffs this year before running into a team like Boston or Detroit. Then Ferry might try to step up to the plate this summer and hit a home run. From an outsider, unless Ferry can get the clear advantage in a deal, Ferry won't make it. That might come from his San Antonio heritage. He might have erred last summer when they could have gotten Bibby for Drew Gooden and Damon Jones. Sources say he balked when he had to take center Jackie Butler's contract ($2.4 million this year, $2.6 million next year). Talented power forward Luis Scola would have also come from the Spurs. Heck, he could have been the Cavs' starting power forward. The Rockets took both players and then waived Butler, who is now a free agent. It would have meant the Cavs had to pay more luxury tax this year, but they would have landed a talented 6-9 forward with a great scoring touch.</div> Morning Journal With the way Varejao has been playing recently, he might just be able to step up to the plate and start for the Cavs at PF. If that's the case, I wouldn't mind trading Gooden too much. If we acquire Thomas, we would have the following expiring contracts in the 2010 offseason: Ilgauskas, Hughes, Thomas, Varejao, Pavlovic, totalling $38.6 million in expiring contracts. We would re-sign Z hopefully for around $7 million and Varejao for possibly $12 million, leaving a further $19 million to play with. If Ferry could keep the salary under control til then, the Cavs could be huge players in the offseason before LeBron's contract expires. If he can put the right players around him in that offseason, LeBron would probably stay. If Gooden stays, his contract will expire after next season, and would probably then demand at least a 3-year contract extension, which would mean he would stay until after LeBron's contract could expire.
Ferry has to learn to take some gambles. He is wasting LeBron's time right now. A GM has to understand that wins and immediate success are worth something when evaluating a trade.
