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Off-Season at a Glance: Cleveland Cavaliers

By SheedsWeed, Rashod. / Bballcentral.com Writing Staff
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Cleveland Cavaliers

After the Cavaliers near upset of the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the playoffs, the Cleveland didn't really need any help via draft, trade or free agency. The only thing concerning the Cavs this off-season was locking LeBron James up long term. The off-season began with LeBron's quiet behavior when talks about a contract extension arose. Cavs fans seemed casual at the time, almost content that the most valuable player candidate and Akron native would certainly sign a contract extension to stay with the team he lead to the playoffs for the first time since 1998. But as time went on, and other '03 draft class studs such as finals MVP Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony signed their contract extensions with their clubs, Cleveland fans started to sweat bullets.

Had LeBron read into the Kevin Garnett situation with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where KG had signed a long contract thinking he was on a team that would contend every single year, when actually, they contended for only one? What was LeBron thinking anyway? Cleveland Cavaliers fans breathed a huge sign of relief when LeBron autographed a contract that locked him up three more years, while dishing out $60 million. It was money well spent, because without LeBron, what kind of team are you? As the draft approached, Cleveland was a little thin at the shooting position. At pick 25, the Cavaliers drafted Michigan State stand out Shannon Brown. Then, at pick number 42, Daniel Gibson, an early entry candidate from Texas, was drafted. With their last pick in the draft, pick number 55, the Cavs looked for a little more size and drafted Nigerian forward Ejike Ugboaja.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have some key free agents however, and it may be tough re-signing them after all the money that was shelled out to LeBron James. Flip Murray was the first player who departed, after signing with Detroit. Losing Murray was a bad loss for the Cavs, who signed him earlier in the season to help the team with their shooting, and a big reason why the Cavs got as far as they did in the playoffs. Drew Gooden, who was the Cavs starting power forward last season, is a restricted free agent this off-season, along with backup Alan Henderson. What the Cavs need to do this off-season is make sure they get some shooters and a power forward if Drew Gooden is not re-signed. Expect Cleveland to stay on top and make a run in the playoffs.

Players Added
Draft - Shannon Brown (draft pick number twenty-five), Daniel Gibson (draft pick number forty-two), Ejike Ugboaja (draft pick number fifty-five)
Free Agency - None.
Trades - None.
Free Agents - Drew Gooden (restricted), Alan Henderson
Players Lost - Flip Murray (to Detroit, via free agency)

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