Tony Battie, Eric Williams, and MORE!

I got a few questions to ask, and hopefully you guys can address them.

Tony Battie. He's a solid center, a great backup, and Cleveland has him signed for two more seasons. I love Battie, I think he's a great player but with Big Z starting and having Diop on your bench as well why not make a move with Tony Battie? He has market value, I'm sure alot of teams would be interested in a solid center.

Eric Williams. Eric's contract expires this season, meaning Cleveland will have to pick him up, probably at 5 million a year. I defintely think he's worth keeping, but I believe he'd be alot more effective coming off the bench. He's very aggresive defensively, he's an energy player, and he's played in the playoffs before which can help this team expierence wise.

Dajuan Wagner. This guy has potential, It's unfortunate he doesn't see many minutes in Cleveland. Now I say this because now he doesn't have great trade value like he would have during his rookie campaign. If they don't plan to give him quality minutes, starting or off the bench, I'm sure some teams are aware of his ability and would be willing to make a move for him.

Here's what I would like to see done. I would like to see Tony Battie traded along with perhaps a draft selection for a betting scoring small foward. That way Lebron has a second scoring option, asking an 19 year old to score all the points and produce in the clutch is a tough task. Than they could move Eric Williams to the bench where I believe he could produce better. If they decide to keep Wagner I'd like to see him get more minutes and Kedrick Brown more minutes as well. That's of course if these guys aren't traded, if they are infact moved they should attempt to aquire some more veterans because Cleveland lacks in that department. I'd like to see them get a better backup power foward, one who is more defensive oriented too. What's your guy's opinions?

 

I wouldnt be quick to trade Battie at all. He's a golie in the lane, he's tough and physical. One of the best things the Cavs have going for them is we have 3 very solid centers, I would get rid of Williams before Battie IMO.

 

I would say "E-Will" is not going to be brought back. That SF slot will either be filled by someone coming from the draft (Warrick perhaps), LeBron sliding over because Gordon/Wagner/Kedrick is taking over at SG or Newble.

 

We gotta keep Battie man, He is an upside for our team. Diop hasn't fully developed all around to be the full time back up yet. I would let EWill walk, free some cap room and sign an offensive vet that can drain shots. One more rookie wouldn't hurt neither, We don't need to spend the big bucks on old vets just yet, mabey moves will be made during the season for that if something doesn't work well. All I want to see for the Cavs is a fast paced transition team like New Jersey. Cavs seem to keep in a good groove when the break is ran often.

 

I don't see E. Williams being back unless he's willing to sign for cheap and short term. At this point in his career he's more of a good veteran presence and really can't make major contributions on the floor or play major minutes.

Battie is a solid backup, nothing more. His bad knees will always be a problem too and will cause him to either play fewer minutes or go on the IL at some point in the season. I think he's here for the last 2 years of his contract but that's it.

I see the Cavs signing a FA this offseason to play either SF or SG and who can hit the outside shot. I felt all season and still do now that LeBron belongs at SF. His skills, game and body fit that spot much better than SG. He also will be able to defend opposing SF's better than opposing SG's.

I think the Cavs will probably go guard in the draft. Either Gordon or Harris most likely.

I'm still not sold on Wagner long term. It might be best to move him this summer. Some feel he doesn't have value now but I think he still has some value and the Cavs run the risk of waiting too long to trade him and having his value drop like they did with Davis and Miles.

There recently seems to be a lot of optimism on this board about the Cavs future. I still think there a few pieces away and worry that they'll have trouble trying to add those pieces with limited cap space and very little left to offer in trades. I am looking forward to the future but I'm a little less optimistic than others. Of course having LeBron makes everything better.

 

You dont have to worry about dajuan taking up minutes as SG , he's converting to PG this summer so JMac wont have such a load at running the point. Ollie is to expensive way to expensive they should dump him and Battie in a trade for a good SF and LeBron should NEVER go to SF he's a gaurd, at least they shouldnt move him to an SF for more than a few games. Ewilliams shouldnt come back period the cavaliers have Kedrick Brown.

 

Dajuan is going to try to move to PG this summer. There's no guarantee it will work out. he really doesn't have any natural PG skills. I hope it does work but I have some doubts. He's really more of a scorer with a total scorer's mentality.

I still think LeBron would be best at SF. He still would be able to handle the ball and run the offense sometimes even with playing at SF. I haven't seen LeBron be able to do a good job defending guards all season. He has trouble staying with smaller, quicker players. He'd match up much better against other SF's.

 

I'm thinking they're going to sign Eric Williams because doing so will allow them to go over the cap, which they are likely to do if they sign E-Will and Carlos Boozer. If they decide to sign Boozer long term, they'll be right at the salary limit. So letting E-Will go would result in Cleveland losing a quality player and not having the cap to aquire a replacement via free agency. I personally think he's staying...

Wagner reminded me alot of Gilbert Arenas his first season, I'm glad to here Cleveland is going to put some time and effort into him and his transition to the point. If you look at Gilbert and Wagner in their first year, there situation moving from shooting guard to point, and they're statistics closely resemble one another. Perhaps it's just me but I still believe this guy has potential...

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James X3:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm thinking they're going to sign Eric Williams because doing so will allow them to go over the cap, which they are likely to do if they sign E-Will and Carlos Boozer. If they decide to sign Boozer long term, they'll be right at the salary limit. So letting E-Will go would result in Cleveland losing a quality player and not having the cap to aquire a replacement via free agency. I personally think he's staying...

Wagner reminded me alot of Gilbert Arenas his first season, I'm glad to here Cleveland is going to put some time and effort into him and his transition to the point. If you look at Gilbert and Wagner in their first year, there situation moving from shooting guard to point, and they're statistics closely resemble one another. Perhaps it's just me but I still believe this guy has potential...</div>

Where are we at in terms of the salary cap this offseason? Signing boozer is the obvious priority that overrides any other potential signing of a free agent. Im guessing he is going to get at least 8.5 million per year, and the more I watch him, the more i believe he is worth it. 2 years into the league and the guy ALWAYS gives you quality production.

as far as the guys in this thread, the guy id hate to see go is battie. i absolutely love his game, great range for a big guy, he's a good interior presence on defense, heck if he didnt have weak knees teams would be throwin big money at him.

 

I believe they'll be 10 million under the cap limit, but I'm assuming they'll spend at least 8 on Carlos Boozer's new contract this season so that doesn't leave much. However they'll be allowed to go over the cap to resign a player on their team who's contract has expired. That's why I think they should resign E-Will because they don't have the resources to replace him.

 

I wouldn't mind moving Battie, only because of his ailing knees. They are not gonna in an off season miraculously be healed. But if we move him from the front court, he needs to be replaced. We are thin with him, without him its only Diop who is still way too raw to be your relied upon backup. We need to bring in an athletic forward to help ease Booz's work load.

Williams = bye bye. He wont take a small, short term deal, which is all we should offer.
Wagner = see whats out there for him. If theres little, keep him on and work big time on his handles.

 

Just for the record about Booze, we have an option on him through next year, and the Cavs will negotiate with Booze after next season. If he puts up even bigger numbers next year, he's gonna get a pretty huge contract.

 

Tait is great. Sorry not to see him at the Garden tonight. Bad knee. Going home to rest it. Now, as to Battie, Williams and Wagner. I don't see any option other than keeping Battie since Diop, in my opinion, is not going to pan out as a back-up. But Battie is becoming a shadow of his former self because of his knees, which as someone, Karma I think, pointed out, aren't going to get better. I wouldn't resign Williams. Like Battie, or even worse, his legs are shot, which reduces both his shooting ability, never great, and his defensive ability. Trade Wagner if he turns out to have any value left. I'm with Narl. I think this team has a long way to go before it becomes a contender for something other than first round elimination in the playoffs. Lebron, Booze, Z and Jeff are a good nucleus, but the veterans (Williams, Battie, Ollie, Newble) for the most part are aging role players and the youngsters (Wagner, Diop, Brown) no longer can be said to be long on potential. We better hope for a lucky draft again and a good free agent signing because otherwise the rest of the cupboard, beyond our big four, is going to be pretty bare in a couple years. Lebron makes it all interesting right now, but he could well bolt Cleveland if it looks like they're not going to surround him with a solid complement of players.

 

I keep Battie till his contract is up, then let him go (knees)

Williams made me sick the way he played to close the season, as of now I would not care if we let him go elseware.

Wagner may need a trade like Miles did. We all know he can score one on one, but that is his problem, that is all he does. For him to play his best he needs lots of time and lots of shots, he just won't get that here.

 

Maybe Wagner needs an actual offseason to work on his game. I have been a critic of his, like most posters. But we must remember, he has been limited severly as both summers he hasn't been healthy. You never know, with a bit of hard work, there may be role if he could become a combo guard. Thats a big if!

We need to look at getting a backup power forward too. This Diop/Battie combo will stand up to me for another season. Even if we ge some average player on the cheap(Alton Ford), it is better than throwing Newble or and Eric Williams there when there is an injury.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tait_is_Great:</div><div class="quote_post">Just for the record about Booze, we have an option on him through next year, and the Cavs will negotiate with Booze after next season. If he puts up even bigger numbers next year, he's gonna get a pretty huge contract.</div>

The Cavaliers are going to negotiate a new contract for Boozer this summer. After the way he has produced, to exercise their team option for the 3rd year, and force him to play for a measley $695,000, would be like slapping him in the face!.............Just the way I see it...............Tank

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tankster:</div><div class="quote_post">The Cavaliers are going to negotiate a new contract for Boozer this summer. After the way he has produced, to exercise their team option for the 3rd year, and force him to play for a measley $695,000, would be like slapping him in the face!.............Just the way I see it...............Tank</div>
It would be great for Booz to get his well deserved pay day this summer. The only problem for the Cavs is that it will eat into the free agency money we hope to spend on that missing shooting piece. There's always gonna be a problem somewhere.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KarmaCav:</div><div class="quote_post">It would be great for Booz to get his well deserved pay day this summer. The only problem for the Cavs is that it will eat into the free agency money we hope to spend on that missing shooting piece. There's always gonna be a problem somewhere.</div>

Who could realisticly expect Boozer to pay the price for the Cavs' lousy personell decisions in the past which have resulted in squeezed Cap Room. He's not responsible, and my bet is he won't play for peanuts until they find a way to fix the problem...............Tank

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tankster:</div><div class="quote_post">Who could realisticly expect Boozer to pay the price for the Cavs' lousy personell decisions in the past which have resulted in squeezed Cap Room. He's not responsible, and my bet is he won't play for peanuts until they find a way to fix the problem...............Tank</div>
Tank....

I'm all for Booz getting his dosh this offseason. All I was stating is it is a shame that it could cost the Cavaliers that prize free agent. I'm sure we'll get someone in.

Actually to sign Booz, we actually dont pick up his option making him a free agent. So basically we can organise the signing of the free agent shooter (say Jackson) and then go over the cap and resign Booz. Is that the way it could work?

I'm sure Gund can now open his wallet up a little with all the off court success the Cavs have had.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KarmaCav:</div><div class="quote_post">Tank....

I'm all for Booz getting his dosh this offseason. All I was stating is it is a shame that it could cost the Cavaliers that prize free agent. I'm sure we'll get someone in.

Actually to sign Booz, we actually dont pick up his option making him a free agent. So basically we can organise the signing of the free agent shooter (say Jackson) and then go over the cap and resign Booz. Is that the way it could work?

I'm sure Gund can now open his wallet up a little with all the off court success the Cavs have had.</div>

Karma............There's a grave danger in not picking up his option. He then becomes an unrestricted free agent and there are a dozen teams who could pay him more than the Cavs. If he doesn't get to the 3 year point and full Bird Rights, the Cavs don't have the option of matching an offer sheet from another team and could loose him for sure. See the article below...Tank

http://juneauempire.com/stories/030404/spo_boozer.shtml