http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=cavaliersdjones&prov=st&type=lgns Report: Cavaliers sign G Damon Jones to four-year deal CLEVELAND (Ticker) - Point guard Damon Jones apparently has found yet another home. The Cleveland Plain Dealer on Wednesday reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers signed Jones to a four-year contract worth at least $15 million. Considered the last high-profile free agent point guard on the market, Jones averaged a career-high 11.6 points in 82 games - 66 starts - in his first campaign with the Miami Heat last season. He has not spent more than one season with the same team since entering the NBA with New Jersey in 1998-99. Jones ranked fifth in the NBA in 3-point shooting last season with a mark of 43.2 percent (225-of-521) - 10 percent better than the Cavaliers shot from that range in 2004-05. The 29-year-old Jones would be the second free agent guard added by the Cavaliers this offseason to complement superstar forward LeBron James. They also inked Larry Hughes, who scored a career-high 22.0 points on 43 percent shooting and led the NBA with 2.9 steals in 61 games with Washington last season. Both Jones and Hughes helped their respective teams into the Eastern Conference playoffs in 2004-05 while the Cavaliers (42-40) were on the outside looking in despite James ranking third in the league in scoring (27.2 ppg). The Heat were the top seed entering the playoffs and advanced to the conference finals, losing in seven games to Detroit.
it was logical jones would not return to the Heat. To bad though they could use him, he is a more relaxed point guard compaired to williams. Good signing for the cavs. the have a pretty good backcourt now. and he can hit the open three that hughes and James create for him.
Well, Damon finally got that long term contract he's been working for. Good to see a local boy make it... Lebron Gooden Z Huges Jones That's the third best starting lineup in the East right now. If they can get some production out of their bench, I can see them getting to the second round, at least...
Drew Godden is not going start. They have Donyell Marshall now. They didn't pay him all that money to sit.
It has been a real bad week or two for the Heat. No Finley. No Jones. I think their perimeter shooting that allows Shaq and Wade to further thrive is really going to suffer. They should have locked Jones up once Finley fell through, Jones was by the best fitting free agent of the players left. They should be able to pick up someone like Payton or Spree on the cheap to help back-court depth, but neither are above average 3 point shooters. The Heat have been sleeping since the Walker trade.
I don't think it's a given. Gooden, as clueless as he can be, does have a much higher ceiling than Marshall. The guy puts up 25 and 10 when his head's in the game. Unfortunately, that's only been once every 2-3 weeks with the Cavs (25+ points 8 times and 14.5 PPG/9 RPG avg last year). Marshall can't give you that (25+ points 3 times last year and avg under 12 PPG/6.6 RPG), but he's more steady and reliable. If Gooden goes MIA, he'll be yanked. Cavs could be hoping that competition will keep Gooden a little more focused. Another reason I say that is this team, like us, wants to think long-term as far as building around LeBron. Gooden's 23, Marshall's 32. That said, Marshall provides a nice fill-in option if they choose to trade Gooden for someone a little more professional. Evan
Agreed. This lack of 3pt shooting is going to come back and bite them in the butt. Now the blueprint to beat the Heat is pretty simple: 1. Pack the lane on defense, closing off penetration, and surrounding Shaq. Force the "W's" (Walker, Williams, and Wade) to shoot from the perimeter. 2. Run pick and roll on Williams and Shaq all day long. Miami still has enough talent to muster wins against most teams, but I'd expect Detroit and Indiana to square off pretty well against them.
I like Donyell heaps more than Gooden, but I'm guessing Gooden will start the season because they're going to trade him before February. Marshall's game and ego can handle coming off the bench a lot better than Gooden the Geography major.
Very good move for the Cavs. I guess the Heat didn't think Damon was worth enough of their MLE to outbid the Cavs. He will do very well in Cleveland because he now has two great slashing playmakers in LeBron & Hughes instead of just Wade. The Heat needed an outside shooter and Damon fits the bill to a T. At 4yrs/$15MM, it's too bad we couldn't get him. DM is clearly a better player than Gooden. I will be surprised if he doesn't start because the Cavs will be going after a top 4 seed. As far as long term plans, I don't think Gooden is in the Cavs long term plans, so being 23 vs DM's 32 doesn't help him. The reason he's still in there is they couldn't get anything for him this offseason. If Varejao comes back healthy, Gooden could be traded by February. Team chemistry is the key for Cleveland. If they develop it during the season they could be very tough and if LeBron tastes enough success he will re-sign with the Cavs next summer, further crimping the Lakers' 2007/08 FA plans. It's good to see more legitimate contenders being created in the East. They have Miami, Detroit, Indiana & Cleveland with legitimate ideas of going the the Finals. Too bad the Nets missed out on SAR because they would have been a 5th contender.
One has to wonder, given his production, why so many teams give up on Damon Jones and let him walk. I think if I were the Cavs, that fact alone would keep me from signing him to a long deal until I had him on my team for some time and was sure that he wasn't some kind of cancer.
He's not a cancer, he's just easily replaceable. He hits threes, and never turns the ball over. Desireable skills, but nothing worth crying over when you lose them. And teams have always viewed him as closer to a Shawn Respert or Shammond Williams than a Steve Kerr-type, though they're wrong in that regard.
IMO DJ has matured into a + player. He should fit in well in Cleavesburg. This clears the way for Snow to head to Brwonsville (NYKnicks). (Make it a three wya with TThomas landing here, puh-leeze.)
Not signing DJ is a huge loss for the Heat. Shaq is a year older and they have all these new players whose chemistry is in question. They will miss his and Eddie Jones 40%+ perimeter shooting, the Heat will be one of the interesting stories this upcoming season. I'm dying to see if all these changes make them better or worse.
Don't forget they have DMarshall as well, not sure who is going to start, but I thought he was a very good pickup for them. They also have a very solid bench: Snow, Newble, Marshall/Gooden, Verajao (sp?). I think the Cavs will have a really good season next year.
Losing their top two 3pt shooters will force them to retool their offense. If teams pack the middle tight on Shaq and force Wade to shoot more jumpers, their offensive efficiency goes way down. Damon isn't the most gifted player around, but his skills (decent speed, few TOs, 3pt deadeye) fit perfectly with the Heat and they will miss him. The Cavs got him at a great price and can move him to backup any time they get a better player at PG.
