Cleveland Cavaliers, Joe Smith reunion still possible: Cavaliers Insider
by Brian Windhorst/Plain Dealer Reporter
Friday February 27, 2009, 11:10 PM
SAN ANTONIO -- As they search everywhere possible, there is a stark reality the Cavaliers have to deal with as they look for some way to plug the hole left by Ben Wallace's broken leg.
The list of realistic options is short.
In fact, there appears to be just one player who could really help the Cavs in a rotation role and that is Joe Smith. The Joe Smith who is still a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Several league sources said Friday that Smith and his agent, Dan Fegan, have been talking to the Thunder about securing a buyout. The Cavs have expressed interest, setting up what could be intensifying negotiations ahead of Sunday's midnight deadline for players to be released and still be eligible to join playoff rosters.
But with many factors at play, including the public positions on the matter of Smith and Thunder coach Scott Brooks, it is far from a sure thing.
There are other players available who the Cavs could add to their roster, but at the moment none seem to be more than third-string players or emergency reserves. Lorenzen Wright has already secured that role for the Cavs.
The Cavs had some interest earlier in the season in veteran Austin Croshere, but he has been cut three times this season. Earl Barron, who played for the Miami Heat last season and played in Europe earlier this season, is also an option but would be a question mark.
There have been some rumors than Rasho Nesterovic would seek a buyout from the Pacers but a league source said that is not going to happen.
So unless there is a surprise release in the league elsewhere, the Cavs are pretty much banking on Smith to get free.
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf ... smith.html
I've spent the last day talking to people and really scanning rosters. Unless there is a shocking move, Joe Smith looks like the only guy out there who could come in and truly contribute. Everyone else to me would look be a third stringer in reality. There is no information coming from anywhere right now. Not from the Thunder, not from the Cavs, not from Smith or his people. Which leads me to believe there is a lot of serious talking going on. I suspect one of two things will happen in the next 24 hours. Either Smith is bought out or someone is going to start complaining about it in some form.
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf ... at_sp.html
COME HOME JOE, WE NEED YOU.
