http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/basketball/nba/cleveland_cavaliers/17490627.htm

Point guard crusade resumes
Mike Bibby target again with Gooden and Jones as potential trade bait
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter

The Cavaliers' pursuit of a point guard has heated up again.

According to multiple league executives, the Cavs and Sacramento Kings have restarted talks to bring Mike Bibby to Cleveland. The two teams nearly completed a deal shortly before February's trading deadline and have been in discussions again over the past several days.

A version of the deal was close to happening Thursday, sources said, in a three-way move with the San Antonio Spurs.

The Cavs were believed to be after the rights to Argentine center Luis Scola as well, which the Spurs own. When the talks broke down, the Spurs dealt Scola and reserve forward Jackie Butler to the Houston Rockets.

In exchange, the Spurs received point guard Vassilis Spanoulis and a future second-round pick.

There are expectations the Kings and Cavs will continue to have discussions directly and with other teams.

The Kings, looking to add more scoring to their front line, have been interested in Drew Gooden. According to a source, Damon Jones also might have been included in the potential deal.

Bibby, who has two years and $28 million left on his contract, averaged 17.1 points and 4.7 assists for the Kings last season. He has an opt-out clause after this season, in which he will make $13.5 million.

Without salary-cap room and with the market being a little bare for point guards, the Cavs have actively been pursuing trades to pick up a playmaker to help their offensive issues.


Cavs would loose Gooden in a trade, but they need a veteran pg to help balance a game for them.

[Edited by - playa2 on 13-07-2007 17:07]

Send them Nate!

Posted by Bonn1997:

This would be a GREAT deal for the Cavs.

It would have been GREAT three seasons ago. I'm not going to put it in that category, especially considering Bibby's contract but, yes, it is a major upgrade for their team and gives the team a proven playoff warrior to play with LeBron James.

Personally, I'd make LeBron the team's PG and go after a SF but apparently that's just me.

The Kings want scoring on their front line and they believe the answer is Drew Gooden? How is Lebron not a MVP. That's truly a one man show.

[Edited by - pharzeone on 14-07-2007 3:13 PM]

shannon brown has looked excellent in summer league and daniel gibson had his big 'welcome to the nba' moments in the playoffs. between those two and larry hughes, why do the cavs want another PG at the expense of one of their only two-way big men?

A clear upgrade for the Cavs, but far from the move that will get them over the hump.

I don't even know if they'll return to the finals next year, I can see Chicago or Detroit beating them...

Cavs had their "shot" against the Spurs this year...

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by SupremeCommander:

Posted by Bonn1997:

This would be a GREAT deal for the Cavs.

It would have been GREAT three seasons ago. I'm not going to put it in that category, especially considering Bibby's contract but, yes, it is a major upgrade for their team and gives the team a proven playoff warrior to play with LeBron James.

Personally, I'd make LeBron the team's PG and go after a SF but apparently that's just me.

Bibby was very good 2 seasons ago too. Didn't he play through a bad hand injury all season (or am I misremembering?)

Maybe you're right... but in my eyes, he's washed up. He seemed to be about %50 of what he once was last season. I could be wrong about his future prospects though.

Anyway, LeBron is an amazing passer and has some great handle. Why not just make him the point and exploit that mismatch and get a SF to run with LeBron? If I'm Cleveland, I'm getting in touch with NJ and trying to trade Gooden and other pieces to NJ for Richard Jefferson.