Would McDyess sign with Cleveland instead

[campybatman]

Would Cleveland be fine having yet another aging 4/5 player on their payroll. Ben Wallace is due $14M next season which is his final year. He and McDyess both are thirty-four. I say McDyess' addition is good for the short term. The Cavaliers' thinking here must be no more than one or two years tops. I would sign him now and for next season so he'll be an expiring contract with Wallace. Makes sense if you consider that James can opt out after next season which would add him to a list of high profiled free agents heading into the 2010-2011 season.

The Cavaliers can make the case that landing McDyess would elevate their second unit while wounding their chief divisional rival, the Pistons. That relative improvement, in combination with the need to build a championship contender before LeBron James becomes a free agent in 2010, has driven up McDyess' value in Cleveland. (It doesn't hurt either that the Cavaliers owners have Michigan ties and no doubt would enjoy luring an asset away from the Pistons.) These contenders are taking a run at McDyess because he sacrificed close to $9 million in his buyout with the Nuggets, after they acquired him in the Nov. 3 trade that also sent Chauncey Billups and Cheikh Samb to Denver for Allen Iverson.

No NBA player has ever left so much money on the table in a contract buyout. The question is whether McDyess is looking to recoup that loss immediately.

Is McDyess better served by signing an extended contract now? "Or is the transition going into [free agency] in '09 going to be smoother and better for him in Detroit?'' asks Miller. "If we're going to bypass [free agency in] '09, then we're considering these other options.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/w ... 8/mcdyess/

[Celtsfan1980]

Why would he want to sign with the Cavs and not Boston? Has any reason been given? I'd be worried about the Cavs if he did sign.

[sully00]

How about the fact that the Cavs can give him the full MLE?

On top of that he could be the missing piece instead of tagging along for a championship and he has enough game left that he could even force his way into CLE's starting line up.

[threrf23]

I don't think the Cavs have need for him. Big Z is one of the league's most consistent (and arguably underrated) players, Ben Wallace is closer to resembling his old self thus far into the season, and Varejao has been playing well. Even in the event of an injury they have rookie JJ Hickson on the sidelines alongside a guy named Jawad Williams who might or might not suck, and they have more depth now at other positions and could probably play Lebron @ PF at times.

[Celtsfan1980]

How about the fact that the Cavs can give him the full MLE?

That makes sense. Wouldn't that cost them double since they're already over the cap by a large margin? Ilgauskas has given Boston a lot of problems so I'm not sure how it would impact a series. I hope PJ comes back for one last season.

[Dave_From_NB]

I think Cleveland management are thinking they better field a great team immediately, otherwise Lebron will be leaving. Money be damned, salary cap tax be damned.

Pretty mixed messages by Lebron these days on whether he will stay or go, but it's clear he wants to win a championship.

[threrf23]

Cleveland currently is set to have a respectable team this season and the next, and in the big offseason of 2010 they are set to be probably 30 mil under the cap with Hickson/Lebron/Delonte/Mo Williams/Gibson under contract. They could hypothetically sign Chris Bosh or Amare or Wade or even Kobe, while resigning Varejao and picking up another solid role player. And in that event I would be surprised if Big Z wasn't willing to give a home team discount and sign for the MLE.

I think Lebron realizes that, and I don't really think his messages are mixed so much as simply honest and taken out of context by media looking for a story

[MVP16]

I highly doubt it. I think it's just posturing by him and his agent to make it seem like he's considering other teams and that there wasn't an agreement prior to the trade that he would return to Detroit. If money was an important factor in his decision, then why did he give up so much of it to leave Denver? It's not like Denver is some sucky team, with Billups and him staying, they could have made some noise in the playoffs IMO (they're 6-1 with Billups).

[campybatman]

I think two key points stood out for me. The first, Cleveland would see this as a move to trump their division rival, Detroit. There's no secrete that the Pistons miss him.

If Cleveland believes that the addition of McDyess strengthens their bench regardless if he doesn't fit a position of need. Why not?

Antonio McDyess is still deciding which team he'll join after being bought out by the Nuggets (he was part of the Iverson-Chauncey Billups trade), but Curry hopes McDyess rejoins the Pistons. McDyess represented a scoring big man off the bench the Pistons currently lack. Curry was able to play McDyess and Stuckey together and limit starters' minutes, too. "We miss Antonio McDyess more than anything," Curry said. "He changed the makeup of our team." With McDyess unavailable, Rasheed Wallace and Prince have seen their minutes go up. Detroit News

Secondly, McDyess' agent made a valid point: Is it better for his client to sign an extended contract now or settle for a remaining year contract with Detroit and trust that he'll be taken care of in the off season as another article I'd read had suggested. If it's true that Cleveland still has their full MLE (Boston doesn't...), then McDyess could be convinced to sign with Cleveland if the decision is solely based on his effort to recoup loss salary due to the buyout.

My feeling is that his decision not to remain in Denver after the trade has to be a domino rather than a rash decision. Detroit had to have promised him something. Evidently, Dumars hasn't let the head coach in on it as he reads like he genuinely believes that McDyess could end up playing with another team. Why think that if it's all in the bag? Perhaps, McDyess is playing them. I don't know... I think it's as I'd said before: McDyess is watching himself to not do as Stackhouse did last season in letting the cat out of the bag. Hence, Detroit is playing along. No sense in the league suspecting anything, right?

[Hydroponic3385]

I highly doubt it. I think it's just posturing by him and his agent to make it seem like he's considering other teams and that there wasn't an agreement prior to the trade that he would return to Detroit. If money was an important factor in his decision, then why did he give up so much of it to leave Denver? It's not like Denver is some sucky team, with Billups and him staying, they could have made some noise in the playoffs IMO (they're 6-1 with Billups).

As a Cavs fan, I definitely think it's possible that all this talk is nothing but BS from McDyess' agent so that all of this doesn't look like a pre-planned deal. That could definitely be the case, but I'll still hold out hope that there's at least a chance he'd sign with the Cavs.

McDyess gave up all that money in Denver because he has very bad feelings towards that organization (they traded him away). He just plain wanted out (plus they're obviously not any sort of title contender, no way they beat LA, New Orleans, or likely Utah, Phoenix, or Houston in a series).

And in regards to other people asking "why would McDyess consider Cleveland?", it makes sense on many levels. They can offer over $5 million (much more than Detroit or Boston), they're a contender as well (can you really deny that? they were impressive in the playoffs last season, and added a piece they totally lacked in Mo. this is by far the best Cavs team in the Lebron era), and Cleveland makes sense if he actually is considering places other than Detroit - Cleveland is a similar size city in the midwest, it wouldn't be far of a move for his family if they'd even have to move at all, Dan Gilbert (Cavs owner) has major ties in Michigan/Detroit, and Big Ben is a friend or former teammate of McDyess. And don't doubt for a second that the Cavs couldn't use McDyess, because Z and/or Big Ben may very well come down with injuries at some point in this season, and JJ may not be ready for big minutes for a while. Plus we've been using small ball a lot more recently, and seeing Wally try to guard PF's is just plain ugly.

Having said all that, I'm still 95% sure McDyess will resign with Detroit. But if he were to sign with the Cavs, I can understand why.

[MyInsatiableOne]

I highly doubt it. I think it's just posturing by him and his agent to make it seem like he's considering other teams and that there wasn't an agreement prior to the trade that he would return to Detroit. If money was an important factor in his decision, then why did he give up so much of it to leave Denver? It's not like Denver is some sucky team, with Billups and him staying, they could have made some noise in the playoffs IMO (they're 6-1 with Billups).

This is exactly what I was thinking when I heard it.

He'll go back to DET and finish his career ringless on a bad team...and that's fine, it's his choice...

[Rocky5000]

Cleveland currently is set to have a respectable team this season and the next, and in the big offseason of 2010 they are set to be probably 30 mil under the cap with Hickson/Lebron/Delonte/Mo Williams/Gibson under contract. They could hypothetically sign Chris Bosh or Amare or Wade or even Kobe, while resigning Varejao and picking up another solid role player. And in that event I would be surprised if Big Z wasn't willing to give a home team discount and sign for the MLE.

I think Lebron realizes that, and I don't really think his messages are mixed so much as simply honest and taken out of context by media looking for a story

I thought Lebron is also a free agent in 2010, which is why all those teams are setting themselves up for making a play that offseason, including the Cavs. Are you saying they can sign Lebron to the max and still have 30 million in cap space?

[campybatman]

LeBron has a player's option for 2010-2011. I think they refer to it as an early termination clause now.

[threrf23]

Well, per Hooopshype's info, if they don't add any new contracts next season, the could pay Lebron 17 mil in '10/11 and have a total of 35 mil in salaries (I guess that doesn't count Hickson's salary). I would guess that by then the cap is around 65 mil.

[aboubata]

1. They take him away from detroit or boston.
2. he is a good locker room and rotation guy. and a winner

[MyInsatiableOne]

1. They take him away from detroit or boston.
2. he is a good locker room and rotation guy. and a winner

What has McDyess EVER won in the NBA?

[aboubata]

1. They take him away from detroit or boston.
2. he is a good locker room and rotation guy. and a winner

What has McDyess EVER won in the NBA?

The same thing that PJ won before coming over.

[Hemingway]

Cleveland currently is set to have a respectable team this season and the next, and in the big offseason of 2010 they are set to be probably 30 mil under the cap with Hickson/Lebron/Delonte/Mo Williams/Gibson under contract. They could hypothetically sign Chris Bosh or Amare or Wade or even Kobe, while resigning Varejao and picking up another solid role player. And in that event I would be surprised if Big Z wasn't willing to give a home team discount and sign for the MLE.

I think Lebron realizes that, and I don't really think his messages are mixed so much as simply honest and taken out of context by media looking for a story

But if your under the cap than you don't get an MLE

[MyInsatiableOne]

Now the rumor is he's gonna sign with Charlotte...guess he really *ISN'T* serious about winning!!

[nadiroo13]

I highly doubt it. I think it's just posturing by him and his agent to make it seem like he's considering other teams and that there wasn't an agreement prior to the trade that he would return to Detroit. If money was an important factor in his decision, then why did he give up so much of it to leave Denver? It's not like Denver is some sucky team, with Billups and him staying, they could have made some noise in the playoffs IMO (they're 6-1 with Billups).

This is exactly what I was thinking when I heard it.

He'll go back to DET and finish his career ringless on a bad team...and that's fine, it's his choice...

Pistons fan lookin in on the celtic page, but what the hell is this supposed to mean? im not instigating, im justsaying, that statement is a complete joke...the celtics may be better than the pistons on some nights, but the pistons are better than them on days too. calling detroit a "bad team" sounds like a joke...and when we do get dyess back, i cannot wait until the conference finals when we see you guys. whoever comes out of the east is gonna win the championship, and i would looove to see the pistons win it and then i wouldnt mind coming back and diggin this thread from the grave to point it out to this guy....but you guys have jsut as good, or a better chance at champs, so i guess i cant say much. no hate to celt's fans, i just didnt like this guys post.....at all...