Cavaliers Interested in Antonio McDyess
Mon, Nov 10, 2008 By Tariq Ali
A week after Antonio McDyess, Chauncey Billups, were dealt to Denver for Allen Iverson, McDyess is expected to be bought out of the two years remaining on his contract today.
The Cavaliers and Celtics have expressed interest in him. “I saw that Boston and Cleveland were interested,” said Pistons coach Curry before the Celtics beat the Pistons, 88-76, last night at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Pistons are also interested in signing him back. However, they will have to wait 30 days before he can re-sign. Also, the most Detroit can offer him is $1.5 million. Boston and Cleveland who have money left from their mid-level exception or trade exception, can pay him more.
McDyess and Celtics forward Kevin Garnett share the same agent in Miller. Garnett said he would “root for” McDyess becoming a Celtic.
McDyess is a versatile player who can play both power forward and center. He would fill the role vacated by forward Joe Smith after the trade for Mo Williams. Also, he has a good relationship with Ben Wallace.
The Celtics have 15 guaranteed contracts on their roster and have $2.4 million left. The Cavs, have just over $5.1 million which they could use to sign him. However, it will cost the Cavaliers double that amount since they are already above the cap limit.
Tags: Allen Iverson, Antonio McDyess, Boston, Cavaliers, Celtics, Chauncey Billups, Cleveland, Joe Smith, Kevin Garnett
There’s a lot of doubt about McDyess’ intentions and events have to play themselves out.
The Celts are the champs, the Cavs have a lot of money to offer, the Lakers are the West’s leading contender, etc.
But none of them are the Pistons in McDyess’ heart.
Before the trade, McDyess considered the Pistons to be his basketball family. They were the team he wanted to win a championship with and retire with.
Whether that still holds true, only McDyess can say.
Too bad he doesn’t have a blog.
Other players in McDyess’ position who let slip they wanted to get back to their old teams were forbidden by the League to rejoin them, though. Thus far, McDyess and his agent, Andy Miller have been unavailable for comment.
McDyess also lamented the Pistons’ lost championship chances and knew that Joe Dumars was committed to shaking up the Pistons’ core, which had underachieved for the last 4 years. If he is intent on going back to the Pistons, he will take the Iverson trade in stride and see his month in limbo as a necessary sacrifice to help make his basketball family better when and if he returns.
And moneywise, the Pistons will be able to compensate McDyess for the money he lost in the Denver buyout with a new contract next year should they resign him this season.
The surest way of knowing McDyess’ intentions will be seeing whether he is still unsigned by late November/early December.
I don’t have a crystal ball, but I won’t be surprised if McDyess is a Piston again come December 12, 2008.