JonFromVA wrote:toooskies wrote:JonFromVA wrote:
IH's QO was under $2M, if the Cavs tried to hold him hostage with that; he could have easily gotten that much from a Euroleague team. What it likely comes down to is that the Cavs just didn't need an unhappy player at the end of their bench, so took the high road. Maybe it pays off sometime down the line, maybe not.
It's not really "holding hostage" if it was the only guaranteed money on the table (he's non-guaranteed in LA), and I'm not sure IH was upset with the Cavs given they'd just given him the most playing time he's ever had in the NBA.
I think it's much more reasonable to believe the Cavs just didn't want him and thought Kabengele was more interesting at the time, although we don't have evidence either way.
Hartenstein had guaranteed money, it's just that it was across the pond, but clearly what he valued even more than guaranteed money was playing time and exposure which he's getting in LA. At least for now.
I'm not sure how much the Cavs valued IH, probably less than fans did - but I seriously doubt they valued Kabengele more.
IH is going to be the 3rd center in LA when Ibaka comes back, though. Maybe that's better than the 2.5th center in Cleveland? Still think he's not in Cleveland because the Cavs didn't want him back.
