All Star Break Analysis – The Position Players Part I
July 15, 2009Albert Belle Was “Just an Angry Black Man”
July 15, 2009
The search for that stretch-the-floor forward continues on. Charlie Villanueva now calls Detroit home. Channing Frye returned to his roots in Phoenix. So who does this leave for the Cavaliers?
The casual fan may be asking themselves, “Who??”
Similar to the situation with Sean May, Kurz is looking to use his skill set in the Las Vegas summer league with hopes of landing a gig with an NBA franchise for the 2009 season. But not similar to May, Kurz (formerly of Notre Dame fame) is a 6’9″ forward that hit 40 percent of his three-point field goals last season with Golden State.
His per-game numbers will not turn any heads. In fact, some fans may just consider him a younger version of Wally Szczerbiak, as Kurz is currently 24 years of age. But if we want to get crazy and extrapolate his statistics over 36 minutes, you have a guy that puts up 13 points, seven boards, a steal, a block and a three while converting 80 percent of his free throws.
Don Nelson once said that Kurz “shoots, rebounds and is always in the right spot.” Who can argue with strong fundamentals?
And let’s be honest here – the Cavaliers are not exactly in position to spend a ton of money. If the team feels that his sharp-shooting and length can be used at certain points during the season, it may be worth offering him a bargain basement type offer. The team still has some spots left on the roster, so Kurz would not necessarily have to bump one of the current players.
An unrestricted free agent, Kurz is currently playing with the Minnesota Timberwolves summer league team. He is only averaging 7.5 points per game, but continues to show some flashes of potential from downtown.
Would it be a sexy signing? Not a chance. In fact, it may be one that is met with a heavy groan. But if a signing of a guy like Kurz forces some match-up problems for other teams (for a change), it is definitely something I could get behind.
As it stands right now, the Cavaliers have $3.2 million left of their MLE and $2 million thanks to the bi-annual. These figures cannot be combined in a future signing.
22 Comments
i liked him at notre dame
I’d be surprised if Kurz would receive more than the minimum to sign with the Cavs. That should leave both the MLE and the Bi-Annual available.
I also wonder if the Cavs are maybe not as impressed with Danny Green as they thought they would be?
Regarding Green, perhaps. Though they may just want someone with a little more experience.
Eyenga really turned it up against the Wizards yesterday, FWIW.
Seems to me that the Cavs need to really be looking at PG’s and not the 4th PF. If they start Mo and Delonte….who runs the PF off the bench? If it’s Parker than were are limiting what he can and was brought here to do. If it’s Gibson….God help us.
It seems to me the Cavs are looking mask a lack of PF skill with depth and it bothers me. They are probably going to have to start AV because we don’t have another starter. I don’t want to bring him off the bench because I don’t think Z can be relied upon to knock down anything anymore and you don’t want Z and he of the sideways jumpshot to be on the floor together for extended periods. To me, PG is a more pressing need..unless we start Parker at 2 and bring D off the bench. Then this all makes sense.
Word is that they are in fact looking at PGs, but they’ll wait it out in that regard. I’ve even seen (gulp) Kevin Ollie’s name floated around…
I mean PG, not PF in that first paragraph.
Yeah, he put up those #s in a silly Golden State offense. His defense is an unknown and he only shot 38% from the field. He’s also 24, so he’s not getting too much better.
If it’s in any way between Sean May and Rob Kurz, I take Kurz ten times out of ten. May is a marshmallow.
theres nothing wrong with kevin ollie as your backup pg. the problem, however, was kevin ollie signed to a ridiculous 5 year contract and allowed to be the starting pg. thanks again paxson! ugh
Kevin Ollie ain’t comin here, and it’s not likely Kurtz is either. The CAVS are looking at anything and everything in the funnel (as they should be) and seeing what nets out after teams determine the market and spend on the bigger names. Somebody targeted is likely to drop in value simply due to economics and cap issues…………..here’s hoping it’s someone like Linus Kleiza.
THE Rob Kurz?
I’m a junior at ND and saw what Kurz leaving did to the team. He was not flashy at ND, not an amazing player, but he worked his butt off all the time and never gave up on a play. He was a great leader. Look what happened to ND last year, we lose Kurz and return pretty much everyone else, and we stink…I think he would bring a great work ethic and be a good signing for a basement offer.
I think Kurz would be a good end-of-the bench guy. Let’s hope Ferry can get him for the veterans’ minumum…a likely scenario for a guy auditioning in Las Vegas during the Summer League.
Kevin Ollie is not walking through that door.
i heard a rumor that the cavs are going to pull a blockbuster trade in august…anyone else hear anything about this?
“Also according to Terry Pluto on Rhoda last tuesday, he has heard from a reliable source that the Cavs will make a blockbuster trade in August. He also added that the blockbuster involves a huge name. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find the link for that on either Cleveland.com, or ESPN Cleveland.com, so I understand if you don’t believe this part of the post, but if this rumor is true, I could see Delonte being part of it, seeing how we have Anthony Parker, and Danny Green now.”
boozer or bosh maybe?
With all due respect to Mr. Pluto….he’s also the same guy the was convinced the Browns were going to get a 1st round draft pick in exchange for Derek Anderson. Terry’s columns are terrific, but the only rumor guy I trust on that site is Windhorst.
[…] to do, the staff at WFNY got to thinking about some of the free agents that we would rather see brought here than Rob Kurz. Now we’re talking about guys that wouldn’t cost us the rest of the MLE, so that […]
If there were a blockbuster trade, it would have to include Delonte West. But I don’t know why it would have to wait until August, unless there is some trade restriction or something that ends in August
itd have to be pretty good to lose Delonte. I dont really see why we need a backup point guard with Delonte/LeBron.
[…] also touched on Leon Powe, Rob Kurz and even mentioned the sharp shooting Steve Novak. Regardless of who the team lands between now […]
[…] you recall, Kurz is the three-point specialist out of Golden State that has intriguing per-36 minute stats, but has not been given much of an opportunity in terms of playing time. Danny Ferry has been […]