Akron Beacon-Journal - The Drew Gooden contract stalemate with the Cavaliers now seems to have frustrated both sides, the Akron Beacon-Journal is reporting. Following initial contract talks earlier this month that showed a wide gap, Gooden's agents decided to pursue sign-and-trade options for the restricted free agent forward. Nothing has gotten done, and now it's the Cavaliers who might be getting antsy. According to two league executives, the Cavs are hoping to schedule a meeting with free agent forward Reggie Evans next week and might also look to pursue another free agent big man, Lorenzen Wright. It seems the team is looking to investigate other options in case the talks with Gooden don't work out, and it might also be trying to put pressure on him to accept the current deal on the table. The Cavs still have their $5.2 million midlevel exception, as well as the biannual exception to work with. They own the rights to Gooden, so they can match any offers and also can sign him without using the exceptions. And re-signing Gooden still appears to be the Cavs' top priority. Evans, however, is a player Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry has kept an eye on since last summer.
I've never liked Drew Gooden's game that much, he always shows a lot of potential but doesn't do any one thing good enough to be worthy of any kind of big money IMO. He's good all around but doesn't seem to have 'it'.However, Reggie Evans can't be considered a good replacement for Gooden. Matter of fact, who the fudge is Reggie Evans?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nazr McWallace @ Jul 30 2006, 01:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>However, Reggie Evans can't be considered a good replacement for Gooden. Matter of fact, who the fudge is Reggie Evans?</div>He grabbed Kaman's balls.
Evans and Wright without a doubt are downgrades to Drew Gooden, but hey if he's asking too much you have to do what you have to do.
Gooden is a great offensive rebounder and crashes the boards every night. I'd love to have him on the Wizards but the amount of money he's asking is just ridiculous.
