The Cavs need a point guard who can set the table and a reliable No. 2 scorer. Williams is a good shooter who averaged 17.2 points and 6.3 assists last year, and he can hit free throws. His breakneck pacing will lead to turnovers, but it also will help the Cavs push the tempo, something we've wanted to do for awhile. Williams isn't a great defender, but players have a habit of becoming better defenders under Mike Brown.
This deal makes a lot of sense. We get an athletic 25-year-old who fills several needs and has tons of starting experience in the Central Divison. All we're giving up is Smith, who admittedly proved valuable in the postseason but has his best years behind him.
So why isn't Williams wearing wine and gold at this very moment?
No, Williams isn't demanding more of it. No, Milwaukee and Oklahoma City aren't worried about it. In fact, they're both ready to pull the trigger.
The team holding up this excellent deal for the Cavs...is the CAVS.
General Manager Danny Ferry and co. reportedly don't want to take on Williams' contract, which has five years and $43 million remaining on it. If you think about it, Ferry's opposition makes perfect sense. He's not known for overpaying players.
Except this one.
And this one.
I think that's everybody.
Whoops, maybe not.
Surely that must be it.
Guess not.
The Cavs are due to have the second-highest payroll in the league this year, about $8 million short of the Knicks (I'll take "Embarrassing Facts" for 200, Alex!). However, we'd already be trading Smith's $4.8 million salary, and we're shopping the $2.7 million potentially owed to restricted free agent Delonte West.
If Ferry's worried about pushing the payroll too high, he must be really short-sighted, because if we don't dump all the awful-but-expiring contracts we have at the trade deadline this year, we might as well kiss LeBron goodbye. Team owner and billionaire Dan Gilbert has already said he'll pay whatever luxury tax penalties we incur. We still need to add pieces to the team, and Williams would be a big one.
I know that's a lot of financial mumbo-jumbo, so let me put it simply: There's NO REASON to NOT do this deal PRONTO.
Or, let me put it in timely terms:
LeBron James is in China working his ass off to help the United States Olympic team, just like he does for the Cavaliers. It would be a shame if he comes back and finds the team didn't do the same for him.
Your move, Ferry.
No comments:
Post a Comment