One Man Gathers What Another Man Spills

Brian Windhorst of the Plain Dealer is reporting that the Cavs might be close to making a small trade. The reasoning for this is the Cavs have 4 non-guarenteed contracts on the roster. These 4 players are Coby Karl, Danny Green, Darnell Jackson, and Jawad Williams. According to Windhorst, he believes Jackson and Green are safe. This Wednesday, all contracts in the NBA are guaranteed. 15 teams are in the NBA the luxury tax, which is $69.92 million. For teams that are close to the luxury tax, they could make a trade with the Cavs for these contracts, and they could renounce them. Once the teams renounce these contracts, they will be able to cut payroll and either get under the luxury tax or save some money. A key point in these trades is that the Cavs might look to get a cheap bigman who can play sparingly if Z does get traded and bought out. If he is bought out, Z has to wait 30 days to come back, and someone will have to help fill in his minutes. Leon Powe is a candidate, but he will be coming off surgery and he might not be able to handle that workload. Some people have made the notion that Danny Ferry might ask for a draft pick in a deal as well. Here are some names that could become available.

Kosta Koufos, C, Utah Jazz

-As I have said before, the Jazz have a high payroll of $77 million. They traded PG Eric Maynor along with F Matt Harpring's large contract to the Oklahoma City Thunder for nothing. The team is 18-15, and they won't be contending for a title anytime soon. Koufos hasn't really played much with the Jazz, which is another reason I could see them trading him. He is a 7 footer who enjoys shooting 3 pointers, and he can block some shots from time to time. He sounds a lot like Z to me. This is his 2nd year in the NBA, and he is averaging 9 minutes a game. This year he is averaging only 3.5 minutes, compared to 11.8 last year. With his playing time diminished this year, the Jazz could save themselves about $2.8 million. A trade that works is Coby Karl and Jawad Williams for Koufos. If a team is over the luxury tax, they pay a dollar for dollar penalty for any contract that helps them exceed $69 million. Karl and Williams' contracts add up to about $1.4 million, and the Jazz can just cut them without having to guarantee their contracts. Koufous could serve as someone who could play limited minutes if Z gets traded and has to wait 30 days to come back to the Cavs. Now, will Koufos get traded? Probably not, but he is an interesting name to throw out there. He is in his 2nd year, his minutes have declined, the team has a high payroll, and they traded their first round pick this year to help save money. One last note, according to the Deseret News, Jazz GM Kevin O'Conner said that the team might be making a trade this week.....

Joey Dorsey PF/ Jermaine Taylor G, Houston Rockets

-This is an interesting idea here. The Cavs again could send Karl and Williams for these 2 guys. The Cavs could save the rockets around $2.8 million. The Rockets are above the luxury tax with a payroll of $73 million. While the team is playing above expectations, the team could save a few million dollars. The reason I have these two on here is because Dorsey has played 3 games this year, and Taylor has played 12. The Rockets really don't use these guys, and they have an opportunity to save some money. While Dorsey is 6'8 who is strong, athletic, he has no offensive game to speak of. He is a lot like Ben Wallace. He was a great rebounder and post defender in college. Taylor is an athletic 2 guard who can shoot but is undersized (6'4) and does not share the ball. The Cavs could use a bigman to help share minutes if Z is traded.

Royal Ivey PG/ Primoz Brezec C, Philadelphia 76'ers

-The 76'ers are another team with high payroll with mediocre results. The team has a $62 million payroll, and has a record of 10-23. Their payroll is expected to increase next year as well. Ivey is a 6'4 PG who isn't great on offense but is a solid defender. The Cavs could use a backup ballhandler. Brezec is 7'1, and he can shoot a midrange jumper. He can help play a few minutes if Z is traded and bought out. Karl and Williams will do the trick for Brezec and Ivey, and the 76'ers will save about $1.4 million. Again, since the 76'ers would be saving money, Ferry could ask for a future 2nd round pick in this deal.

Francisco Elson, C, Milwaukee Bucks

-The Bucks are a team who are a team who is doing average with a record of 13-18. The team is under the tax, but they have a high payroll of $67 million. Elson is 7'0 who is mobile and can defend the pick and roll. He could be useful if Z is traded and bought out. Karl and Williams will get the deal done. The Bucks would save about $1.4 million by trading Elson.

Again, these names are pure speculation. I by no means have any inside information. I am just trying to make sense with names that I think of. Koufos would be the name I would like to see the most. He is only 20, and he could become a serviceable bigman down the road. I really feel that Ferry might be trying to either pawn a draft pick by using a couple of the non-guaranteed deals he has or he is trying to get 4th PF/C to split time with Leon Powe while Z is gone if he is indeed traded and bought out. The reason I am writing about this is because Brian Windhorst is probably one of the best beat reporters in the NBA, and he has very reliable sources that are close to the Cavs. To me, where there is smoke, there is fire.....

Thanks and go Cleveland!

-Raz