http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2549112 Scratch one more name off the NBA's ever-shrinking list of quality free agents: Drew Gooden. Gooden's representative, Calvin Andrews, told ESPN.com on Monday that his client has agreed to terms with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a three-year contract worth about $23 million. Re-signing Gooden was the Cavs' other main priority this offseason, after securing LeBron James' signature on a contract extension last month. The lack of further free-agent activity in Cleveland isn't surprising after its spending spree last summer to re-sign Zydrunas Ilgauskas and bring in Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones. "It was a long negotiation, but ultimately Danny Ferry was very fair and professional throughout the process," Andrews said of the Cavaliers' general manager. "At the end of the day, Drew is very excited to re-sign with what he feels is a team on the cusp of a championship. He feels he has found a home with the Cavaliers." Gooden originally sought a deal in the same range as the six-year, $60 million pact Nene received from the Denver Nuggets, or the six-year, $57 million contract Al Harrington is expected to net from the Indiana Pacers in a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks. But Gooden and Seattle SuperSonics forward Chris Wilcox -- another restricted free agent likely to sign a three-year deal worth $20-to-$25 million -- found their options limited. The few teams with salary-cap space either targeted other players or aren't spending their money, and teams interested in offering their mid-level exception to Gooden or Wilcox -- contracts starting at $5.3 million -- feared the Cavs and Sonics would simply match those offers. Gooden, who averaged 10.7 points and 8.4 rebounds in his fourth pro season, also could have elected to sign a one-year deal worth $5.3 million, enabling him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. But Gooden opted for the added security of a three-year deal, setting up Cleveland to bring back the group that surged in the second half of last season to finish 50-32 and stretch Detroit to seven games in the second round of the East playoffs. From here, with a payroll fast approaching luxury-tax territory, Cleveland will likely have to construct trades to make major personnel alterations, as the Cavs rush to establish themselves as unquestioned championship contenders before James has the right to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2010. In the short term, though, Ferry is counting on the continuity of a largely unchanged roster, improved health for Hughes and the natural progression of James and the emerging Anderson Varejao to build on the successes of the spring. James turns just 22 in December. With Gooden returning to Cleveland, Wilcox believed to be staying in Seattle and Harrington still likely to wind up in Indiana, Sacramento's Bonzi Wells and Denver's Reggie Evans are considered the biggest names left on the free-agent market. Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here.
That's a smart deal for the Cavs. While an average of 7 mil year ins't cheap, Gooden is still pretty young and it only goes 3 years. Makes him very tradable if he doesn't work out. Just shows the the big negotiating advantage teams with RFA have, and makes you wonder what the heck Denver was thinking in their 60 mil deal for Nene. Cleveland, and apparently Seattle, played it much smarter.
$10 million for NeNe,now $8 million / year for Gooden.....I don't think it's cheap at all.I Think Cleveland overpaid and needs to be b****slapped for giving 23 over 3 to him.Gooden's pretty soft IMO..don't like his attitude either.I would hope for their sake he's getting S&T outta there.
More important than yearly average salary (Nene for 10, Gooden for 7.7) is years--why one contract is for 60 mil and the other for 22 mil. The Nugs are screwed with Nene if he dissappoints, the Cavs are not. And if Wilcox is around 8 mil year for only 3 years Seattle has done well too.
This shows how ludicrous and idiotic it was for the Nuggets to pay Nene $60MM/6yrs. That will go down as the most ridiculous contract of the summer. Last year, the 76ers royally blew it with Dalembert; this summer the Nuggets followed them off the cliff with Nene (plus he's injured). The Sonics and Cavs exercised some sense when negotiating with Wilcox and Gooden.
what did the rocks play for swift. do you think they over paid, I think gooden is definitely a better player.
also, how much was mo taylor making and he signed that contract in 00? mo is about the equivalent, mo a better scorer at that time, gooden a better rebounder.
Swift signed 5 years at $30 million. That is a lot closer to the 3 year $23 mil deal for Gooden in practical sense than the 6/60 deal Nene had. Again, total contract value is more important, and better shows the risk, than yearly amount, particularly on a guy with injury history like Nene (who could be a zero in 3 years). Also, the Rockets did not overpay for Swift. Remember Memphis wanted a disgruntled Swift back (over Howard or Alston). A part-time starter or quality back-up PF/C who gives you what Swift does in 24MPG, at his salary, is an asset. Just because some wanted/expected him to be an above average starting PF doesn't mean he isn't a value (if he became this player his salary should have been 12 mil a year, not 6). Again Memphis wanted him back for what he does as a player and at his contract, he is an assett.
I totally agree, I don't like swift, but I don't think the rockets overpaid for him, and I think gooden is a better deal for cleveland than swift was for the rockets.
Yes,Nene's contract is on another plane of insanity,but the market for these guys is out of wack.As far as Gooden and Wilcox these contracts are about potential even though they've been in the league awhile.If I'm the Cavs,I want a polished pro like we picked up in Battier next to Lebron....and 8 - 9 million should get you somebody like that...not Gooden.The window for the Cavs is open now and I just don't see Gooden as the starting 4 on a title contender.
