SB Nation Cleveland - Cleveland Cavaliers Offseason: Cavs Enter Talks With Kyrylo Fesenko, Host Workout For Other Free-Agent Centers

Cavaliers Officially Ink Jawad Williams To One-Year Deal

2010-09-23T02:20:50Z

Earlier we noted that the Cleveland Cavaliers had agreed to terms with free agent forward Jawad Williams.

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Cavaliers have now officially signed forward Jawad Williams to a one-year contract.

The Cavaliers officially announced the signing of forward Jawad Williams on Wednesday.

The Cleveland native, who decided to take the team’s one-year, $1 million qualifying offer last week, will begin his third season with the team when training camp opens next week.

Windhorst also notes that Williams is expected to compete for a starting position with fellow Cavaliers forwards Joey Graham and Jamario Moon.

Cavaliers Testing Free-Agent Center Market

2010-09-21T17:43:26Z

Brian Windhorst reports that the Cavaliers are in the market for another center, just a week before the start of training camp. In addition to discussing contract parameters with restricted-free agent Kyrylo Fesenko, the team hosted a workout for Earl Barron, Chris Hunter, and Greg Stiemsma.

The 7-foot-1 Fesenko won’t turn 24 until Christmas Eve, but has already played three NBA seasons, all with the Utah Jazz, who have the right to match any offer Fesenko receives from another team. He has per-game averages of 2.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks, playing about 8 minutes per contest. Given a larger role in last year’s playoffs—the Jazz’s starting center, Mehmet Okur, was injured—his minutes more than doubled to 18 per game, yet he still only averaged 3.3 points and 3.9 boards. His biggest problem is staying on the court, as on average he fouls once per every 4.8 minutes he plays. But as a project big man, the Cavaliers could certainly do worse.

Barron, a 29-year-old veteran of two teams in four seasons, broke out for the New York Knicks after signing with them last April. In seven appearances—with six starts—Barron averaged an 11.7-point, 11-rebound double-double in 33.1 minutes per game, by far the best productivity of his career. Of concern for the Cavaliers, however, is his poor shooting percentage, as he converted a mere 44.1 percent of his shots last season, and posts a career mark of 38.7 percent.

Hunter made his NBA debut last season for the injury-stricken Golden State Warriors, averaging 4.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game in 60 appearances.

Stiemsma has yet to play at the NBA level, though he did join the Minnesota Timberwolves’ roster for the final two games of last season. Prior to signing there, he had a stellar season for the Sioux Fall Skyforce, leading the NBA D-League in shot-blocking at 3.5 per game en route to winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Though he likely won’t ever develop into an offensive force, his D-League performance suggests he could become an above-average defensive center at the NBA level. In a competitive Eastern Conference which includes the likes of Andrew Bogut, Al Horford, Dwight Howard, and Brook Lopez looking to score from the low block, such a defensive commodity could prove valuable.

Jawad Williams Accepts Cavaliers' One-Year Offer

2010-09-20T16:49:37Z

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that free-agent small forward Jawad Williams has agreed to return to the Cavaliers by accepting their one-year qualifying offer. Negotiations wore on, Windhorst says, because Williams and his agent were “hoping to secure a multi-year deal.”

Williams’ new deal is worth $1.02 million, but is not fully guaranteed. In his two-year career, he has averaged 3.7 points and 1.3 rebounds. Windhorst expects him to battle Jamario Moon and Joey Graham for the starting small forward job.

Cavs Still Waiting On Jawad Williams

2010-09-03T16:46:58Z

Bob Finnan of the News Herald reports the Cavaliers would like to re-sign forward Jawad Williams, but that Williams is still waiting to see if he can find a better offer elsewhere. Finnan says Williams could have an opportunity to start at small forward were he to remain in Cleveland.

Because Williams is a restricted free agent, the Cavaliers reserve the right to match any offer he receives from an opposing team. If no such offer materializes, Williams could simply take Cleveland’s $1.03 million qualifying offer to stay with the team.

For Now, Cavaliers Player Movement Calms

2010-08-31T16:34:08Z

We’ve reached the low point in the NBA offseason news cycle, but there are a few tidbits about the Cavaliers that merit our attention.

First, Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer notes in this news roundup that the Cavs simply don’t know what Jawad Williams’ plans are; there’s “no news” on that front, she says. Because Cleveland extended him a qualifying offer, he is a restricted free agent, and it can match any offer another team makes to him. Williams has spent his entire two-year career with the Cavs and owns averages of 3.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per game on 39.3 percent shooting. He spent last season as LeBron James’ backup at small forward.

Also on the free-agent front, guard Quincy Douby is at least interested in joining the Cavs, as he told Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld that his agent is in touch with Cleveland’s management. Douby spent last season overseas. In three NBA seasons split between Sacramento and Toronto, Douby has averaged 4.1 points on 39.3 percent shooting. In the interview with Kennedy, the 6-foot-3 Rutgers product says he’s working to improve his passing skills so he can play more at point guard.

With regard to trades, Boyer’s colleague Brian Windhorst passes this scoop along via Twitter, saying that the Cavs aren’t working on anything at the moment. But he believes Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, Anthony Parker, and Jamario Moon to all be available at the February trade deadline if the Cavs are already out of the playoff picture; in other words, Cleveland may soon enter a rather drastic rebuilding project, which can’t be too surprising considering James’ departure via free agency. And Windhorst pegs the odds that the Cavs trade Jamison at 60 percent, in response to a reader question.

Shaquille O'Neal Signs With The Boston Celtics

2010-08-05T01:52:31Z

Shaquille O’Neal, brought in before last season to try to bring Cleveland its first NBA championship, has left the Cavaliers and has signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics for a reported $3 million.

Shaq, who averaged 12 points and 6.7 rebounds a game in 53 appearances for the Cavaliers, becomes the fifth player over 30 on the Celtics, as Boston tries to fill the void left by the injury to center Kendrick Perkins that will keep Perkins out until February.

All the best to you, Shaq.

Report: Cavs Will Open 2010-2011 Season Hosting The Boston Celtics

2010-08-03T03:11:49Z

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports on Twitter that the Cleveland Cavaliers will open the 2010-2011 NBA season at home on October 27th against the Boston Celtics.

The NBA is set to officially announce the rest of the year’s schedule later this week.

Cavs Sign Veteran Forward Joey Graham To Two-Year Deal

2010-07-30T16:40:44Z

Marc J. Spears reports, via Twitter, that the Cavaliers have added to their frontcourt rotation by signing combo forward Joey Graham to a two-year deal of undisclosed terms.

A five-year veteran, Graham has career averages of 6.0 points and 2.9 rebounds. He played the first four years of his career with the Raptors before signing with Denver last summer.

As Rob Mahoney notes at ProBasketballTalk, Graham can help the Cavs, but he’s already 27, and thus not a great fit: "He’s not getting any better, he won’t be around for the long haul, and frankly, it seems like he’d be a more intriguing piece for a veteran team."