Cavs are on fire!!! Sarunas Jasekevicius had landed in c-town

update, Jasikevicius not yet a Cavs

http://www.news-herald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14880697&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21848&rfi=6

Cavs have shopping left to do
Bob Finnan, BFinnan@News-Herald.com

This is commonly known as the dead period in the free-agent process, but the Cavaliers still have some work to do.
They are in the market for a starting point guard, they want to upgrade the power forward position, and they still need overall depth. The problem is, after officially signing center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and guard Larry Hughes on Friday, they'll only have between $6 million and $8 million (depending on where the salary cap falls) to get all of that accomplished.
They seemed to be far down the path of signing Maccabi Tel Aviv point guard Sarunas Jasikevicius. The San Antonio Express-News went so far as to say they have agreed on a contract. A source close to the Jasikevicius said he wasn't aware of any such news. His agent, Doug Neustadt of Octogon Sports in Washington, was out of the office on Monday.
The 6-foot-3 guard wants a three-year, $10 million pact. The 29-year-old appears to be the kind of 3-point shooter the Cavaliers desperately need.
Free agents can sign with their new teams starting at 6 p.m. Friday.
The Cavaliers are also apparently interested in Seattle's Antonio Daniels, Los Angeles Clippers' Marko Jaric and Portland's Damon Stoudamire. Daniels is said to be close to signing with the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota is trying to work out a sign-and-trade to add Jaric.
All three players reportedly want the full mid-level exception (the Cavaliers don't have either of their exceptions this season, but they have available cap space).
Aaron Goodwin, the agent for Stoudamire, said rumors of Cleveland's interest might just be that - a rumor.
"Right now, it just seems to be talk," Goodwin said.
Power forwards available that the Cavaliers might covet include Seattle's Reggie Evans and Vladimir Radmanovic, Boston's Antoine Walker, Indiana's Dale Davis and Cleveland's Robert "Tractor" Traylor.
One option is for the Cavaliers to sign a power forward and then trade Drew Gooden for a starting point guard.
Radmanovic, perhaps the top shooter remaining in free agency, would command the rest of the Cavaliers' money under the cap. Despite being 6-foot-10, he's not a classic power forward. However, he is a dangerous 3-point threat.
The Cavaliers have not been rumored to have any interest in Shareef Abdur-Rahim or Donyell Marshall, even though they tried to pry the latter loose from Toronto at the trade deadline last February.
They have inquired about 36-year-old Dale Davis, who played for almost $10 million last year. He is probably a $3 million-a-year player at this stage of his career.
The Cavaliers voided the 2005-06 contract of Traylor worth $1.7 million, but might want to bring him back at the right price.

 

Can someone explain why any team can just sign this guy? Was he not eligible for the draft or passed over for economic reasons?

 

I'm pretty sure that if you're undrafted and hit a certain age (22, 24, something like that), you're no longer eligible to be drafted, and become a free agent. Whatever that eligibility age is, 29 is certainly well past it.

 

I believe you, but source? link?

 

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/11218522547150.xml&coll=2

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/11218519007150.xml&coll=2

 

37.9% three point percentage does not look that impressive.

His other stats are not that outsanding either. What he has going for him is his blue colar work ethic on the floor and his clutchness (percieved or otherwise).

 

NBA Finals 2006:

Houston vs. Cleveland

 

So...... the Rockets still have a better team then the Cavs.

 

I hate the j*zz
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_2878431

 

Just to add 2 cents to what has already been said.

This guy hasn't played one minute in the NBA. The speed & strength of the players may totally frustrate him. He will be analyzed and tested day in day out and over the 82 game schedule, his weaknesses will be scouted, exposed and exploited. I'm not certain Jasekvicius will have success in the NBA. I see him getting 10-15 minutes a game at best. To me, he is equal to an early 2nd round draft pick.

 

Nothing personal with this guy but he`s being crowned as the best point guard available; I think he is just another Euro with a little success over there and wont have much over here with the speed and strength of the players here.

 

http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_2881606



Jazz: Jasikevicius close to decision on his future
By Steve Luhm
The Salt Lake Tribune

The Jazz continue to play the waiting game.
Former EuroLeague MVP Sarunas Jasikevicius is close deciding where he plans to play next season, according to agent Doug Neustadt. Cleveland, Utah and Indiana remain the most likely destinations.
On Wednesday night, Neustadt told The Salt Lake Tribune that Jasikevicius' decision was imminent. But nothing was decided by Thursday night, apparently.
Asked what he knew about Jasikevicius' situation, Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor said, "No comment."
Neustadt did not return phone calls.
This much is certain: Jasikevicius plans to leave his current team - Maccabi Tel Aviv - and sign with an NBA team this summer.
Cleveland has been considered the frontrunner for his services, and at least one newspaper has reported the deal as being done.
But Neustadt denied that Wednesday night, saying Jasikevicius was "very interested" in Utah and the Jazz were "definitely being considered."
One factor in Utah's favor?
Cleveland has used most of its salary cap space this summer while agreeing to big-money contracts with free agents Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Donyell Marshall.
The Cavs might not have enough space left under the salary cap to satisfy the contract demands of Jasikevicius, who is seeking a three-year deal worth more than $10 million.
With a $5 million mid-level exception still available, the Jazz would be able to afford the 29-year-old Jasikevicius, who can swing between point guard and shooting guard.
Just what the Jazz need.
At this point, first-round draft pick Deron Williams is Utah's only point guard under contract. The Jazz's three shooting guards are Gordan Giricek, second-year man Kirk Snyder and this year's second-round draft pick, high-schooler C.J. Miles.
The Jazz have tendered a $937,500 qualifying offer to restricted free agent Keith McLeod, meaning they have the right to match any offer he receives.
McLeod was the Jazz's starter at point guard most of last year, when Carlos Arroyo was traded to Detroit and Raul Lopez struggled though another injury-plagued season. But it is not clear how high the Jazz would go if McLeod receives a substantial offer from another team.





Interestingly enough, a cursory look around the net today hasn't showed any Cleveland Newspaper giving any sort of update on Jasikevicius' availablity... but there are plenty of reports about the possibility of the Cavs signing Jaric (though I doubt they'll have cap space for that). It looks more and more like the Jazz have a good chance at getting this guy.

Lastly, here's a short video of Jasikevicius in action:

http://coachbob.free.fr/Videos/sarunas jasikevicius.mpg

 

I like this guy a lot, I wish the Rockets would have pursued him.

DD

 

Cavs have a major leg up: he was the best man at Z's wedding.

Evan

 

Jasekevicius isn't new to American style basketball. He played college at Maryland. He won't be stunned by the athleticism or speed of the game here. Those throwing around the Euro-bum type labels should realize he's not a typical foreign player coming over for the first time.

He won't have to be a playmaker with LeBron and Hughes playing with him either. He will drain a lot of threes and fire up his team. He's going to get torched some defensively and I'd bet he gets thrown out of a couple games, but it isn't like he's getting 10 million a season. He'll be worth what they're paying him at least.