June 2004 Cleveland Cavaliers Wiretap

Iverson, James, Stoudemire suspended from US team

Jul 31, 2004 2:02 PM

Allen Iverson, LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire of the U.S. Olympic team were suspended from Saturday's exhibition game against Puerto Rico this afternoon for missing an 11 o'clock team meeting.

Larry Brown made the decision on the suspensions and the decision was announced to the crowd in Jacksonville before the game to a rain of boos.

Associated Press

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia Sixers, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Tractor may hitch his Traylor to Suns or Cavs

Jul 30, 2004 4:12 PM

New Orleans Hornets free agent forward Robert Traylor has been negotiating with representatives from the Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers, agent Andre Colona told the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

The Cavaliers are coached by former Hornets head coach Paul Silas, a onetime NBA big man who has tutored Traylor with his game in the past.

John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Gooden Happy In Cleveland

Jul 29, 2004 1:38 PM

After being acquired last week from the Orlando Magic in a deal involving Tony Battie, the former number 4 pick in the 2002 NBA draft is excited to make a new start for the Cav?s.  Gooden is expected to pick up where Carlos Boozer left off.

?I can honestly say I look forward to playing with this team, from my heart I can say that,'' Gooden said. ``Boozer is a great guy, unfortunately he couldn't be here this year. But it opened a door for me.''

Beacon Journal

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA

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Lebron makes Olympic impressions

Jul 28, 2004 12:47 AM

JACKSONVILLE ? LeBron James may be the youngest player on the U.S. Olympic basketball team, but you can hardly tell by looking at him or by watching him play.

The first thing that hit me about him is the guy is huge," says assistant Olympic coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs. "I was shocked. He's thick and he's tall. He's just so much bigger than I thought he was."

Listed in the USA Basketball media guide at 6-8, 240, James looks about 2 inches taller and 10 pounds heavier and has a nearly perfect basketball build.

After only two days of practice in preparation for next month's Olympics, James has been just as impressive with his knowledge of the game and understanding of what the coaches are trying to teach as he has been with his physical skills. James, who will be 19 years and seven months old when the Games open Aug. 13, is the youngest U.S. male basketball player to participate since Spencer Haywood in 1968 (19 years, five months).

"He really understands the game," Popovich adds. "Some guys get it and some guys don't. This guy knows what's going on ? spatial relationships on the court, where the ball should go, what's going on, what position to be in on the court to make a steal. He really understands how to play the game."

James is so good, in fact, that he doesn't even have a position.

"I just want him to play," says head coach Larry Brown. "He already knows how to run every position."

USA Today

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Wager and Williams to the Nets for Kittles?

Jul 27, 2004 3:01 PM

The very active and very fiscally responsible Nets are reportedly speaking to the Cavs about acquiring Dajuan Wagner and Eric Williams for shooting guard Kerry Kittles.  They are also interested in signing Rodney Buford.  With all the talk surrounding acquiring Shareef Abdur-Rahim dying down, this trade appears to be a likely alternative.

Bergen Record

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets, NBA

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Lebron focused on capturing gold medal

Jul 25, 2004 12:20 AM

...

Instead, James used the ESPY's platform to discuss his favorite topic. Winning.

He looked at Detroit Pistons and Olympic basketball coach Larry Brown and told him to expect nothing less than a gold-medal effort from his American team, which opens camp Monday in Jacksonville, Fla.

``We're gonna get it done, Coach,'' James said.

An Olympic gold medal would be a nice start, but it's not guaranteed.

James won't be the 10th or 11th man on a roster filled with proven players. This is the youngest team the U.S. has sent to the Olympics since it began using pros in 1992.

James will not sit and learn. He will play and likely play often against veteran European opponents who see the U.S. team as vulnerable.

The decision by many standouts to skip the Games has created chances for James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. A new generation of players charged with carrying on a tradition of excellence.

``The world is catching up and that's a good thing for our game,'' Brown said. ``(But) we have a responsibility to show we are the best in the world.''

It's a responsibility James takes seriously. Those closest to him say he's focused on Athens.

The kid is phoning his new coach constantly, picking Brown's brain, enthusiastically volunteering to play any position. Forget any rift with Boozer. James won't allow it to jeopardize the team.

``Everything good about our game LeBron represents,'' Brown said.

Ackron Beacon Journal

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Tale of Two Point Guards: Cavs could run with Snow, McInnis duo

Jul 24, 2004 4:41 PM

Paul Silas has a plan, one that might shock most Cavaliers fans.

Eric Snow and Jeff McInnis starting in the back court.

"I'm thinking about that real hard," said Silas, the Cavaliers' coach. "I view LeBron (James), Z (Zydrunas Ilgauskas), Jeff and Eric as our core players. They are going to be on the court together -- a lot."

The pair of point guards could help relieve the team's glut at the position with former first round draft choice Dajuan Wagner also expected to see time at the position if he isn't traded first.

Silas also was relieved Friday, when general manager Jim Paxson shipped Tony Battie and two future second-round picks to the Orlando Magic for Drew Gooden, Anderson Varejao and Steven Hunter.

"We'll see how well Gooden plays for us, but he's gonna get a chance to show what he can do," he said. "These two trades keep us from falling off the face of the earth."

RealGM.com's Tommie De Riemaecker contributed to this Wiretap report.

Terry Pluto of the Akron Beacon-Journal

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Cavs Move on from Boozer Boo-Boo

Jul 24, 2004 9:17 AM

This trade with Orlando for Drew Gooden and two others seems to have ended any chance that Cleveland would match the offer sheet Carlos Boozer signed with Utah.

"We left the option open initially because we could," Cavaliers' general manager Jim Paxson said.

"Realistically, in the landscape of what happened to the teams that have room, it wasn't worth wasting my time on."

Meanwhile, coach Paul Silas may have come up with a simple solution to his backcourt mess:  He might play point guards Jeff McInnis and Eric Snow together.

"There's a lot of things we could do with them," Silas said. "Certainly, that's one of them. I like ball players. I don't put labels on players. I played David Wesley and Baron Davis together with the Hornets."

The News-Herald

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Paxson Looks to Deal

Jul 24, 2004 9:12 AM

The Cleveland Cavaliers and general manager Jim Paxson are not done dealing.

The market is active and Carlos Boozer's departure is further reason for Paxson to re-shape the roster.

Two holes -- backup point guard and power forward -- have been filled but others remain.  

Specifically, with Tony Battie now out, the Cavs will look to add a solid big man to come off the bench.

``We're going to have to be aggressive in addressing the backup center spot,'' Paxson said. ``If (Zydrunas Ilgauskas) goes down, it's not a pretty sight for us.''

Dajuan Wagner could be the odd man out.

The Sonics may be the logical trading partner.  Vitaly Potapenko, who is in the last year of his contract, or Jerome James, may be good options for the Cavs.

Akron Beacon Journal

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Orlando trades Gooden, Varejao for Tony Battie

Jul 23, 2004 2:33 PM

According to NBA sources, the Cavaliers have traded veteran forward Tony Battie and future draft picks to the Orlando Magic for forwards Drew Gooden, Steven Hunter and Anderson Varejao. The trade is expected to become official later today.

Gooden, who averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds last season, would replace Carlos Boozer as the Cavaliers' starting power forward. Hunter is a backup forward/center and averaged 3.2 points and 2.9 reboubds last season. Varejao was the Magic's second-round draft pick this season and is a forward from Spain.

Battie came to the Cavaliers in the Ricky Davis trade last season and averaged 5.6 points and 4.9 rebounds in 50 games with the Cavs.

Akron Beacon Journal

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, NBA

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Wagner next to go?

The News-Herald

Cavs acquire Eric Snow

NBA.com

Eric Williams back to Boston; Atkins a Cavalier?

Boston Herald

Pistons to take home 3 ESPYs

ESPN

Cavs owner Gordon Gund speaks out about Boozer

Cavs.com

Is Silas partially to blame for Cavs' recent mishap?

Roger Brown of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer

Deal Wheel About to Turn

New York Times

Boozer Fires Back in Phone Interview

Branson Wright- Cleveland Plain Dealer

Boozer All Alone With His $68-Million

The Salt Lake Tribune

One last try, Cavs to offer Boozer a 1 year deal

AP

Boozer's Agent Resigns

ESPN

Knicks Look at Ilgauskas

NY Daily News

Cavs could be fined, forced to give up draft picks because of Boozer

The Plain Dealer

Big Contract Does Not Help Pay Boozer?s Rent

Akron Beacon Journal

Boozer's agent was wrong

Ian Thomsen of CNNSI.com

Boozer signs with Jazz

ESPN

Jazz stop pursuit of Kenyon Martin, now tailing Carlos Boozer

ESPN

Cavs quickly ink No. 1 Luke Jackson

Associated Press

Boozer's option NOT picked up

ESPN

Cavs Keep Boozer at Bargain Price

The Beacon Journal