The article is from the Beacon Journal. You have to register to view the site, so I will just post the whole article... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">CLEVELAND - Suppose that the Cavaliers had signed Earl Boykins instead of Kevin Ollie. This is a sore spot for Cavaliers management, because Boykins is the local hero from Cleveland Central Catholic, and there was a lot of pressure from some Cavaliers fans to keep him home. The Cavaliers seemed concerned about Boykins being 5-foot-5, and they turned to the 6-foot-1 Ollie. When Jeff McInnis was injured, Ollie didn't step up, and the Cavaliers' playoff dreams fell apart. They were 1-7. Ollie averaged 3.1 points, shot 32 percent and inspired little confidence. There were several other games where McInnis played but still was hurting and Ollie was pressed into meaningful minutes. The Cavaliers didn't need super point play, just decent. For whatever reason, he didn't deliver. Hard to imagine that happening with Boykins here, as he averaged 11.7 points and 5.0 assists in his three games filling in for the injured Andre Miller with the Denver Nuggets. Or how about the 13.4 points and 44 percent he shot in the playoffs? Or the 10.2 points and 3.6 assists while shooting 42 percent as he averaged 22 minutes a night appearing in all 82 regular-season games. This is not a second guess, as the Cavaliers grew tired of me pushing for them to sign Boykins. But when you realize that Boykins received a five-year, $14 million deal from Denver... And Ollie signed a five-year, $15 million contract with the Cavaliers... The Cavaliers have Ollie under contract for four more years, yet they don't believe he is capable of being a solid backup point guard. That's not a healthy situation. General manager Jim Paxson admitted as much at Tuesday's pre-lottery news conference that his team needs a backup point guard and a wing player. So they are exactly where they were a year ago, when they signed small forward Ira Newble and Ollie. Neither was supposed to be a star, but more was expected from both. Like Ollie, Newble signed a five-year, $15 million deal. He had some knee troubles and missed 18 games. Only near the end of the year did he show some ability to defend. But he started 25 games, and averaged 5.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and shot 44 percent in 25 minutes a night. The Cavaliers must get more from their small forward. Eric Williams was supposed to help, but the veteran from the Boston Celtics was hurt and contributed little in the final two months. He is a free agent and probably won't be back. This summer, the Cavaliers want to work Dajuan Wagner at the point. Forget it; Wagner is a scorer. He doesn't think like a point guard and rarely can a player change his mind-set. The Cavaliers would be better off trying to see if Wagner can finally stay healthy and develop into a Vinnie Johnson/Tony Delk type instant-offense player coming off the bench. Don't be shocked if Wagner ends up with the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. Not because he will be exposed in the expansion draft but in some type of trade. It could be something like, ``If you want Wagner, then you have to take Ollie. And give us a future No. 1.'' Other names you hear are Brent Barry, Stephon Jackson and Andrei Kirilenko. All are supposed to be in demand, and Barry is probably at the top of the Cavaliers' list. The Cavaliers will sign someone this summer. They have LeBron James, Paul Silas, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Carlos Boozer as magnets. Now, they just have to make sure they get the right guy, or they will pay for it later.</div> http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/local/ask_expert_front.htm
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't be shocked if Wagner ends up with the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. Not because he will be exposed in the expansion draft but in some type of trade. It could be something like, ``If you want Wagner, then you have to take Ollie. And give us a future No. 1.''</div> Sounds real good for him. He would get a chance to shine, because I definately think he has the talent to be a very good player, but the situation in Cleveland isn't great for him.
Doesn't surprise me in the least to see Bones' name at the top of the list. A veteran combo guard who is a pass-first player, and will knock down any look you give him. Fits the Cavaliers to a T, and his leader's mentality would only be beneficial to a young Cavaliers team.
