On the eve of the season opener, the Cavs finally signed Sasha Pavlovic. It’s about time. I don’t understand why this deal couldn’t have got done a month ago. There’s nothing, according to reports, out of the ordinary about the deal. Three years at $4-5 million a year. Sounds pretty standard for a guy like Sasha. Why couldn’t Danny Ferry make this offer sooner? What was he offering all summer? Was it the offer or was it Sasha and his agent finally giving into this after holding out for more?
It’s great to have Sasha back with the team but why was he in Serbia during all this? Didn’t he think he was going to sign with the Cavs? Shouldn’t he have been here working out, waiting, hoping for the moment the deal was finalized and be ready to join the team? What kind of shape is he in? Sasha won’t be playing tonight in the home opener and who knows how long it will take him to be in basketball shape. (I hope it’s not as long as me since I’m trying to get back in basketball shape for my league starting in two weeks and day one of conditioning left me winded and hurting.)
In addition, the Cavs put in a new offense that Sasha will be behind on learning. Oh wait, it shouldn’t be too hard to learn it. Let me help you, Sasha. A point guard brings the ball up court, passes to LeBron coming off a screen, then everyone just stands there and watchers. If you feel like it, crash the boards to rebound or stand outside the three-point line ready to shoot. There. He’s caught up.
As good as it is to have Sasha back with the team, I would have rather signed Anderson (if we had to pick just one). However, I think Andy will sign by Friday now. I think he was willing to holdout as long as Sasha was holding out too, but now that Sasha is back, Andy will want to start playing as soon as possible. He’ll settle for less than his $10 million a year. It might be a Drew Gooden type deal in the 3-year, $6-7 million range or it could be a one-year deal around $8 million. Either way, he’ll be back by Friday. If he isn’t, then he’ll sign somewhere overseas for a one-year deal. The thing about that is, even if he does it, when he comes back to the NBA he will still be a restricted free agent of the Cavs.
I’m trying to stay optimistic for the Cavs season but with a brutal west coast road trip (at Phoenix, Golden State, Utah, Sacramento, LA Clippers and Denver) after tonight’s game against Dallas and Friday’s verse New York, a 2-9, 3-8 record is very realistic. At that point, LeBron will be tested on how great of a leader and player he really is. Not saying the season will be lost by then, but it could be the difference in a Conference Finals appearance or a first-round exit due to home court advantage. I’m hoping for a 5-6 record after the trip.
In non-NBA, non-Cavs news, is there a more annoying show on TV than SportsCenter this week. In case you didn’t know, the Yankees have a new manager, Joe Torre may or may not be the new manager of the Dodgers, A-Rod opted out of his contract and the Patriots and Colts play this weekend and both are undefeated.
The only thing more annoying than those four stories taking up 52 minutes in a one-hour SC, is any image of Jonathan Papelbon doing his fruity little dance. How in the world can anyone, even Red Sox fans, be amused by this? I want to either shoot him in the head or cut his legs off every time I see him. How can any of his teams not take him aside and say “Jonny boy, you are making an ass of yourself. If you don’t stop this, we all are going to make you stop it.”
I have cautious optimism toward the team this year. I’m excited that Sasha is back and his agent has said that he is in the best shape of his life and has been working twice a day with a guy in Serbia so hopefully, he’s ready to go. That being said, we need AV in the mix…now. I’m not nearly as sold on the chances of signing him as you are.
If Andy does sign and comes back within the next week or two, I think you have to automatically put the Cavs right back in the mix for the East. It’s the same team, but deeper now with Brown and Simmons in and Wesley and Pollard out.
I didn’t realize how rough that west coast trip is. Jesus. But that could be a good thing. Get Sasha and hopefully Anderson back into the mix on the road against the good teams and then they’ll be ready to go against the bad teams that they should beat.
I almost for got to say HAPPY HALLOWEEN and HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY to Girlfriend’s Brother’s little daughter. At least there won’t be any beer spilled on your couch on any celebrations today.
Thanks for the birthday wishes. For some reason I don’t think she realized it was her birthday. She woke up, got her diaper changed, ate some breakfast and will probably go about her day of playing and taking naps like anyother day. What someone wouldn’t do to have that life everyday. Thanks again.