Big Ticket Item

Normally, we’re not in the business of talking about other team’s trades on this site, but the Kevin Garnett-to-Boston deal is one that will have a profound effect on the Eastern Conference and, of course, the reigning Champions of said Conference.

Six weeks ago, the Celtics were a talented young team whose GM and Head Coach were hanging tenuously to their jobs as the once-proud franchise was teetering on the verge of irrelevance. They were one of the weaker teams in a weaker conference.

Everyone knew that Kevin Garnett was going to play the 2007-08 season in a uniform other than Minnesota’s.

Phoenix emerged early, but it was unlikely that Kevin McHale would send his superstar somewhere where he could return to thump the Wolves four times per year. Chicago was a team with enough parts to get the deal done, but the Bulls reportedly were hesitant to add Luol Deng to the mix.

So the Celtics – another team loaded with young talent – stepped up to the plate, and a slightly nepotistic deal was struck between former C’s, McHale and Danny Ainge, to bring Garnett over to the Eastern Conference. The Big Ticket will join recently-acquired Ray Allen and the incumbent Paul Pierce to form one of the most deadly trios in the NBA. On paper, anyway.

Celtic fans were crestfallen after losing the Greg Oden-Kevin Durant Lottery, but they’ve got a lot to smile about now after landing the 10-time All-Star who averaged 20.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 38.3 minutes per game in 12 seasons for the Wolves. Garnett – drafted fifth overall by Minnesota in 1995 – was the league’s MVP in 2003-04.

The Timberwolves have to be pretty happy, themselves. Despite what ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons feels, there are some talented young pieces moving West in the trade. Al Jefferson is a stud-in-waiting and the inconsistent Gerald Green has a high ceiling. Sebastian Telfair and Ryan Gomes are nice pieces and Theo Ratliffe is cap relief. Two first-rounders are … well … two first rounders. Randy Foye had a solid rookie season and Corey Brewer is a versatile player who excels on both ends of the court.

In other words, both teams should go home happy when the smoke settles on the deal.

So how does this affect the Cavaliers?

First and most obviously, it shakes up the power of the entire Conference. Before the deal, you could argue that every single team that reached the postseason last year would do so again and no team was poised to move into the Elite Eight.

But Boston – (and again, on paper) – has to be considered among the top four in the East at this point. They have three of the league’s top 17 scorers and its rebounding leader. They're strong on the perimeter and in the paint. Now they just need to find some bodies to fill out the roster.

It’s not a stretch to say that Cavaliers personnel and fans were just a little relieved that Garnett went to the Titanic Division rather than the Central. The Celitcs immediately move past each team in their division. His addition would have had the same effect on, say, the Bulls.

The Cavaliers have stood pat all summer and still have to ink their two young guns – Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic – before moving forward. Danny Ferry has exercised patience; not making a move just to make one.

But the deal that brings the Big Ticket to Beantown is a reminder that the Eastern Conference won’t remain weak forever. Even if the Celtics currently have a problem filling out a roster, they’re just one more team that is in it to win it – and have their eyes fixed squarely on what the Wine and Gold won just two months ago.

Who's the Man?

The NBA off-season – especially for the Cavaliers – has reached its true dog days. With the Anderson Varejao-Sasha Pavlovic situations still in relative limbo, there isn’t the usual amount of Cavs chatter and debate going on.

But two discussions – both surrounding LeBron James – have emerged around our Cavaliers offices and we’ve been wondering how to settle the issues. Then I remembered that I have a blog on cavs.com.

On the first one, I’m simply going to offer my opinion. On the second, I’m going to ask for yours.

By all accounts, LeBron did a fantastic job in his first hosting job at the ESPY Awards. For the most part, he looked cool and comfortable and his “My Prerogative” number was outstanding.

But one bit has received some bad pub, including a semi-scathing piece in Wednesday’s Plain Dealer by columnist Bill Livingston.

This, of course, was LeBron’s “dunking baby” bit in which he faked slamming his newborn son, Bryce Maximus, and made a quip about Angelina Jolie adopting it. Some viewers – like Livvy – were incensed. Others wrote it off as just another failed joke. The debate continued in Thursday’s PD.

I personally feel that it wasn’t a great choice by LeBron, but it was more a case of bad humor than bad taste. It was a poorly written, poorly conceived sketch. But that’s why ESPN is known for sports and not comedy. The ESPY’s have always been hit-or-miss.

Jimmy Kimmel in the showers – for example – with Danica Patrick and a racehorse: not funny. Jimmy Kimmel in the showers trying to wipe off Mike Tyson’s facial tattoo with soap: funny. LeBron dunking an infant: not funny. LeBron in Hammer pants: funny.

It’s not that the young King doesn’t know from comedy. Each of the commercials with Kimmel and his writing staff were great. His “LeBrons” Nike ads are priceless. His SportsCenter commercials are stellar – most notably when Scott Van Pelt steals his throne. He’s as deft in each comedic role as he is in his dramatic role on the court for the Cavaliers. LeBron is genuinely, naturally funny.

In September, LeBron will host the season premiere of Saturday Night Live – something reserved for only sports’ heaviest hitters like Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Wayne Gretzky and, yes, O.J. Simpson. If his sketches are well-written and well-conceived, LeBron’s appearance will be a hit. If they’re not, it won’t.

So his ESPY dunk was an airball. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to bring the funny in the future. I have complete faith that he’ll do so with honors.

Now, it’s time for a little audience participation …

With soccer icon David Beckham about to make his Stateside debut for the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday night, Cavaliers Public Relations’ managers a/k/a “The Defiant Ones” – Garin Narain and John Manuszak – have had an on-going argument about which athlete is bigger worldwide: Beckham or LeBron James.

(I won’t say which one feels which way.)

Soccer is obviously the biggest sport in the world, but basketball has caught fire around the globe and the 2008 Olympics – along with David Stern’s determination – should assure its exponential growth in China.

Other athletes – like Derek Jeter or Tiger Woods or Payton Manning – are huge in their respective sports and are known almost worldwide. But James and Beckham have similar appeal, plus rock star status. Each wear No. 23 in honor of the original king of sport: Michael Jordan.

In the first two days of sales, the Galaxy sold 250,000 Beckham jerseys at $80 apiece. And Beckham, of course, enhances his rock star status with a Spice Girl spouse.

But James recently hosted the ESPYs, will play with Team USA in August and helm SNL in September. He’ll return to China with the Cavaliers in October and watch the Eastern Conference Championship banner raised at The Q in November. He is 22 years old and by every account one of the top 5 players in his sport. Beckham is 30 years old and probably no longer in the top 15 in his.

You’ve heard the argument. Try to remove your subjectivity as a Cavaliers fan and tell me: who is the top athlete in the world – LeBron or Beckham? Maybe it’s someone else. Here’s your chance to weigh in.

Just CLICK HERE and tell me who and why. I’ll print the best responses on Monday.

Free Agent Frenzy Begins

Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry hasn’t had much of an off-season. The Cavaliers were eliminated from the Finals on June 14 and exactly two weeks later, Ferry was dealing with a Draft, despite the fact that Cleveland didn’t have a selection in either round.

The Wine and Gold stood pat on Draft Night, but over the weekend the 2007 free agent frenzy began – with Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao whetting teams’ appetite, and the Cavaliers’ backs against the cap.

LeBron James decided to play for Team USA and the 2007 Vegas Summer League tips off in under a week.

Suffice to say: When Ferry finally finds time for some fun and sun this summer, the man will have earned it.

It’s already been an interesting off-season, and we’re not even three weeks in. The coming two weeks of the free agent frenzy promise to make things even more compelling.

Who would have thought that the first free agent to reportedly agree to jump ship would be former Cavalier, Jason Kapono?

According to ESPN.com, the league’s three-point shooting leader tipped off the annual moratorium period by agreeing to a reported 4-year $24 million deal with the Toronto Raptors after the best season of his career last year in South Beach.

Kapono – one of the league’s coolest characters and the man Cleveland drafted in the second round of the “LeBron James Draft” – shot 51 percent from beyond the arc in 2006-07, netting a career-best 10.9 ppg. He won the FootLocker Three-Point Shoot-Out at All-Star Weekend in Vegas to cement his status as the league’s best bomber.

By itself, the Kapono signing isn’t huge news. But taken in the context of how it will affect other free agent’s price tags – see: Sasha Pavlovic – the signing could be big when the smoke clears and the ink flows on July 11. If a relatively one-dimensional player like Kapono is perceived as a six million dollar man, what kind of money will be required to retain a skilled 23-year-old swingman with a high-ceiling?

Pavlovic averaged just over nine points per contest in the regular season and Playoffs, but it might have been his postseason defense that opened numerous teams’ eyes enough that they’ll open their pocketbooks.

Anderson Varejao will draw as much (or more) interest than Pavlovic, and the rumors are already flying. The Cavaliers are back in a luxury tax corner and the Wild Thing is a lucrative target for quite a few teams. Anderson might never average 20 ppg, but he’s a young, marketable, high-energy big man who’s about to get a very large raise. The only question now is which team is going to give it to him.

The Cavaliers have the mid-level exception (approximately $5.5 million) to offer, so they’ll be playing their cards a little more close to the vest than some of this summer’s free-wheeling clubs like Memphis, Atlanta or Orlando.

With this in mind – please, please, please don’t write in to suggest that the Cavaliers should go after Chauncey Billups.

If I need a new car, I’m not going to shop for a Mercedes. Do I want a Mercedes? Yes. But in my current financial state, I am unable to afford one. Do the Cavaliers want Chauncey Billups? Yes. But in their current state, they are unable to afford him. Let’s not get into the absurdities of a sign-and-trade.

Either way, the complexion of the league – and possibly the Cavaliers – will be completely different two weeks from today. Last year, Ben Wallace got the big bread from Chicago. Whether it’s Rashard Lewis or Billups or Kobe or KG, this promises to be a very interesting off-season.

LeBron James shocked some people when he said he would fulfill his commitment to Team USA this summer as they attempt to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

James welcomed Bryce Maximus to the family before the final game of the Finals and it seemed like he would forgo this year’s 10-team tournament that begins on August 22. But last week, James ended the speculation, saying, “It was a long and tough year. But for me, if I make a commitment, I want to keep it. I'm a loyal guy. I committed to three years and I'm going to hold up my end of the bargain.''

The Cavaliers backed their young superstar. “We certainly support LeBron's decision and respect his desire to uphold his commitment to Team USA,” said Ferry. "As he said he knows his body and feels he will have time to rest and recuperate from the season. We will always take into consideration where he is going into our season next year with extra rest if necessary."

Team USA hasn’t lived up to its expectations in the two tournaments since LeBron has joined the team and perhaps the continuity of players showing up from year-to-year will make a difference. Of course, the addition of Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd can’t hurt.

[Editor’s note, Part II]: Last week, I wrote – (then retracted) – that Bulls first round pick, Joakim Noah, might have been the first player ever to wear a bowtie to an NBA Draft, but was quickly corrected by Basketball Operations Coordinator, Matt Yatsko – who said that Karl Malone was the first to rock the bowtie.

I should have known better than to take a Steelers fan at his word.

Thankfully, a diligent reader wrote in to correct that it was NOT the Mailman, but Hakeem Olajuwon who donned the Draft Night tuxedo. Yatsko backtracked, saying Chuck Person was the one who wore the really bad tuxedo. He was correct, but by then the damage was done.

On behalf of myself, Matt Yatsko and the entire Cavaliers organization, I would like to apologize for this egregious oversight.)