From Brian Windhorst:
• According to several league sources, the Cavs have been calling around to investigate the trade market. They are not directly shopping any players — more getting a sense of who could be available. Most teams are in this mode right now.• The Cavs have been in contact with the Philadelphia 76ers about point guard Andre Miller. Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry and Miller were teammates with the Cavs in the 1999-2000 season and have a good relationship. According to sources, new 76ers General Manager Ed Stefanski has hinted he is willing to trade Miller, perhaps packaged with another player, for expiring contracts and a draft pick. The 76ers are in position to have salary-cap space next summer and may want more. The Cavs have some expiring contracts, but would probably need to put together a multiplayer deal to acquire Miller.
From Branson Wright:
I'll be shocked, shocked, if the Cavs can get anything of value for Hughes. He can't shoot, he can't stay healthy, he has bad attitude and he's extremely overpaid. What GM wants that?Larry Hughes' time with the Cavaliers might be just about over. According to several league sources, the Cavs have contacted several teams about a deal involving the 6-5 guard.
One source said the Washington Wizards are one of those teams and another source said another team is in the Atlantic Division.
Hughes spent three years with the Wizards before signing a free-agent deal with the Cavs in 2005 worth between $65 million and $70 million.
The trade deadline is Feb. 21.
"Hughes will be gone way before then," said one source, who did not want to be identified.
The relationship between the Cavs and Hughes has not gone well. Hughes was GM Danny Ferry's biggest signing, but Hughes' two-plus seasons have been riddled with injuries. When healthy, Hughes has not been comfortable in the Cavs' offense, which takes away from his strength as a slasher. He's instead asked to take outside shots, which is not one of his strengths.
That being said, at this point Hughes needs to be dealt, just so everyone can move on. Fans are booing before he even shoots the ball... and then booing louder once his shot clangs off the rim. I mean, he's bitching about playing time after going 1-8 from the floor.
It's time to move on.
[Update] Joel takes a look at which other Atlantic team could be in the mix:
Boston: already has a great SG in Ray Allen. Not sure where Hughes would fit in there. They already have three massive contracts in Allen, Pierce, and KG.
Toronto: built like a Euro League team and Hughes might be the epitome of an anti-Euro League style. Their GM is too smart to take Hughes.
New Jersey: already has Vince Carter slotted in as the overpaid, under-producing SG. Not sure where Hughes fits in with New Jersey, either.
Philadelphia: might be the destination in a deal that could return Andre Miller, but I have no idea why the 76ers would want to take on a massive contract like Hughes’s. Maybe if King were still the GM.
New York: acquiring terrible contracts and guards seems to be what Isiah Thomas thrives on, so Hughes looks like a natural fit here, and now that Thomas has been (once again) publicly reassured that his job is safe, maybe he can pressure the Knicks brass into one more terrible trade. But probably not.
5 comments:
Yeah, whatever value the Cavs get will not be by addition but by subtraction. You can expect a bad contract(s) in return for Hughes. As you say, he's played horribly.
So, why wouldn't the Cavs try to tailor the offense to Hughes' strengths instead of repeatedly asking him to fill a role for which he is not suited? It's too late now, Hughes is a bust in Cleveland, but for two and a half years, he's been hoisting jumpers and missing most of them.
Windhorst has come right out and said that the Cavs are a chemistry disaster. Hughes wants out. Damon Jones wants out. Andy Varejao is doing his job, but you'd have to think he's not terribly happy at the moment.
Drew Gooden is bitching about the fans, LeBron isn't talking to the media, and nobody sees eye-to-eye with Mike Brown.
Good thing Danny Ferry shaves his head. He's going to lose whatever hair he has left over the remainder of this season. The Cavs are a MESS.
The game Hughes is good at is apparently the running game (which the Cavs have been trying to do all year... poorly).
But he can't finish near the rim... and he doesn't make good decisions with the ball.
I almost want them to just buy out his contract and just end it. Cut loose. I really don't want them to trade him for some guy with a 5 year deal or something.
Agreed, Ben. Hughes isn't a jumpshooter, but he can't drive to the hoop at all any longer (and he knows it, which is why he's shooting jumpers all day. Its not just the offense).
I don't know much about the cap situation, and whether or not the could just cut him, but I'd rather not have Jerome James in return.
I dont think the Cavs need to get another supporting players for the team. For me LeBron is already enough for the team.
LeBron forever
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