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.)