<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Four to watch With those guidelines, let's consider the four top free-agent guards who will be available to sign. This is my order of preference: 1. JOE JOHNSON: He averaged 17 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Phoenix Suns. He shot 48 percent on 3-pointers and has played all 82 games each of the past three seasons. He's 6-foot-7, won't be 24 until July and is an above-average ball-handler who can play some point guard. He also is a decent defender. OK, want to get a little sick? The Cavaliers passed on Johnson in the 2001 draft to take DeSagana Diop. The Boston Celtics picked him and then gave up on Johnson at midseason, trading him to the Suns for Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk. Johnson is very quiet, likes to play and would have no trouble being the sidekick to James. That's very important, finding guys who want to fit into what the Cavaliers are building. It would probably take a sign-and-trade type of deal to bring him to Cleveland. 2. LARRY HUGHES: Like Johnson, Hughes can play either guard spot. He led the NBA in steals and is a very, very tough defensive player. The Cavaliers are a soft team, and his aggressive attitude can help change that. He's 6-foot-5, and he averaged 6.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He gets to the foul line. Johnson takes only about two free throws a game, but Hughes averages nearly seven. Hughes is only 26. He averaged 22 points in the regular season for the Washington Wizards. He's more of slashing player than an outside scorer, a career 28 percent shooter from 3-point range. Like Phoenix, Washington has big money invested in several players and might not be able to afford to give Hughes close to a maximum contract. That makes him a very good candidate for a sign-and-trade deal. 3. MICHAEL REDD: The Ohio State product is a pure shooter. He averaged 23 points in the regular season, shot 44 percent from the field and 35 percent on 3-pointers. Redd played on a very bad Milwaukee Bucks team and had a lot of pressure on him to score. He was the sometimes seemed a bit selfish, but part of that was he had to carry the scoring burden. At 6-foot-6 and only 25 years old, he fits the profile of a young, big guard which the Cavaliers need. His defense and ballhandling are just so-so, below that of Johnson and Hughes. Milwaukee has the money to spend on Redd and is expected to offer him a maximum contract, more than any other team can give under NBA rules. He certainly would be a terrific addition, but I prefer Johnson or Hughes because of their defense and ballhandling skills. 4. RAY ALLEN: He's a distant fourth on my list. He'll be 30 in July. He's a great scorer and outstanding shooter, but he's also used to being the focal point of the Seattle SuperSonics offense. I sense that the Cavaliers will really be ready to make a major title push in three years. Will Allen still be at his peak, or will he begin to lose his edge in his 30s, as guards often do? It's a major question. He's a below-average defender and ballhandler. He would not be able to help out at the point, nor does he bring a very aggressive attitude. He plays, he shoots, he scores. There's much to be said for that, but the Cavaliers actually need more.</div> Source
