June 20, 2013

NBA Free Agency: Leon Powe to Visit Cleveland

August 11, 2009 by 22 Comments

leon-powe-kgWell, this is a nice surprise.  It was not that long ago when contract talks between the Cavaliers and forward Leon Powe were being categorized as slowing down, we get news late last night that Powe is in fact traveling to Cleveland today to meet with team doctors.

Brian Windhorst reports that, assuming things go well with the doctors, the Cavaliers and Powe could finalize what would be a two-year deal.  Yahoo! believes that the deal would be for the veteran minimum with a team option for 2010-11.

This is not only a deal that is right up the alley of Danny Ferry (see Varejao, Anderson), but also one that appears to have featured more compromise from Powe who was reportedly hoping for a player option for that second year.

Another variable that may have led Powe to the Cavaliers for this contract is the facility in which he will get to rehabilitate.  Cleveland Clinic Courts remain a top-flight practice facility with state of the art training areas as well as weight rooms.

If finalized, this deal is low-risk based on the salary alone, but also one that could provide a ton of reward in the front court.  There were some talks that Powe is ahead of schedule in terms of rehabilitation, and there is no denying the Cavaliers’ need for frontcourt player that can score.

We have seen players like Charlie Villanueva and Hakim Warrick consider Cleveland before signing elsewhere.  Veteran big man Joe Smith is still available if things do not go as planned, but for now the Leon Powe watch is back on.  Will he be our “Agent Zero?”  I’m sure Wizards fans would love it…

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(photo via Jim Davis/Boston Globe)

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  • Oppie

    Great pickup. Low risk, high reward. Should help add some depth and experience to our front-court once he returns.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Denny

    I almost did a cartwheel when I saw the Yahoo Sports tweet break this news last night.

    The contract details are magnificent, and when healthy Powe is a heck of a player. First line Shaq + AV. Second line Z + Powe. Magnificent.

  • ben

    Danny Ferry for Tribe GM!!!

  • WTPFO

    this gives JJ half a season to mature and improve, and frankly, to prove himself – and if he isn’t up to where he needs to be, Powe to the rescue. this is a great move.

  • AMC

    Fantastic move if all the details being reported are true. Signing him to the minimum with a team option for the second year means virtually ZERO risk, while maintaining the bi-annual exception if we need it to either sign someone else this summer or if we need some salary flexibility at the deadline. Now JJ and D-Block can develop during the first half of the season with Powe hopefully healthy and ready to bang in the playoffs.

  • Eli

    Helluva deal.

  • http://www.60bpm.com Robbie

    Things are changing if a perk for a free-agent involves both “rehabilitation” and “Cleveland Clinic” in the same sentence, don’t you think? Seriously, though, I like the pick-up.

  • Derwood

    Why the hell is Garnet biting Powe’s ear off?…Silly Celtics.

  • Kevin Hignett

    @Denny – Me too! This is a great deal and offers yet more potential flexibility with this Cavs lineup. Not to mention depth. Let’s just assume that Jackson and Hickson come along some in the first half of the year. Powe would still be ahead of them in the rotation come February, right? So you would then have 3-4 good options at PF, not to mention possibly playing LBJ at PF in a small lineup.

    I’m giddy!

  • Tron

    It’s no wonder Powe wanted out of Boston, with Garnett clearly violating people’s personal space. I wonder if Powe just wants to stick it to Boston by coming to Cleveland? Also I saw the Celtics resigned Big Baby, how many games do you think he’s going to be crying at the end of the bench this year with Garnett back AND Sheed yelling at him? Should be great.

  • Isis

    This is just tremendous news if it’s finalized. It’s an absolute win win, with zero risk since the contract is so favorable. This guy is just an extremely tough, physical relenting front court presence. Can’t have enough guys with that type of grit and determination. If indeed he is ready to play for the second half, he’ll have time to get his feet wet for the playoff run. This guy is productive whether playing five minutes, major backup minutes, or even starting. And……it’s gotta both give him motivation and cut into the Celtics that he’s gonna be a Cav.

    GO CAVS!

  • archangel

    very excited about this. its nice to have a cleveland team that is so stacked that we can get experimental with players like this. yeah, it could work out that he never gets back to form, but he could come back to form and then some. I honestly think if he stays healthy, powe could develop into a starting power forward. maybe not star quality, but i could see him averaging around a double double with some more minutes. so if things work out for the better, once shaq and z retire, and once andy moves to center, Powe could be great starting PF for us. as for this year in the second half, with him, shaq, z, andy, and lebron, there’s no way the other team is getting rebounds. also i’d expect to see powe’s ppg go up with z spreading the floor on the second team.

  • Creative

    is this a POSITIVE isis post?

    the world stopped spinning, if only for a moment.

  • archangel

    I also really like that the guy is only 25. he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet and if he can stay healthy, he could peak in a cavs uniform.

  • MacNip

    @ Creative – Of course it is a positive post from Isis. we are talking about the Cavs and the Cavs are good right now. Isis, being the model fair weather fan that he is, loves the Cavs right now. He will be right off of this bandwagon if the Cavs become mediocre. We will then be subject to reading things like ‘viva la Browbert’ or something ridiculous like that

  • TampaBrett

    I’m just happy to not have Joe Smiff back…hopefully

  • Isis

    MacNip…..grow up, when you hit 25 years of age you’ll understand what the sporting world is all about.

    I’m far from a fair weather fan…….was an Indians fan through thick and thin, and a diehard Browns since before you were born. Browns season ticketholder, former Indians season ticket holder (until Dolan’s model struck lightening in 2002), and a CAVS season ticket holder since 1996. It’s about committment and competency from ownership/management-not even about wins and losses. Both are lacking in spades from the Indians and Browns organizations; and since I choose to attempt to point out the reality of what’s going on and you’re oblivious to it-enjoy. To begin to call me a fair weather fan is well…………..naive and ignorant.

    I’d hazzard a guess that the combined age of both MacNip and Creative doesn’t hit close the half century mark, it’s that obvious.

  • MacNip

    Isis….you can try and call me out for my age (you’re wrong by the way) or justify the fact that you aren’t a fair weather fan by the fact that you own season tickets, but the fact is that you are as fair weather as they come. Spending money does not mean you are a good fan. Using the fact that you have liked the team longer than me does not make you a better fan.

    Should I be impressed that you bought Cavs season tickets when Gund Arena opened? Why? Because you bought tickets when the shiny new arena came out? I am sure you were griping and moaning the whole time through the Fratello years and trying to dump your tickets.

    Everyone at this site knows full well that you jump ship as soon as things head south and hop right back on once they turn back around. You even changed your screen name probably so you can jump back on the Browns bandwagon if need be. You tell people on this site that they know nothing about business, which is humorous since your business model includes ‘pull more money from the money tree and get better free agents.’

    Your posturing on this board is tiring. There’s plenty of hot air around here due to the weather, I can’t figure out why you think we need more of it

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/ Rick

    Back to the topic-

    The thing that makes this a steal is the second year. Locking him in for next year at minimum?? Wow. That is fantastic. Well played Danny…

  • macnip

    Completely agree Rick. There is pretty much zero risk in this

  • David

    Leon signed!!!

  • Pingback: ESPN: Powe, Cavaliers Agree to Two-Year Deal | WaitingForNextYear

  • http://www.pickingpros.com NFL Picks

    This is a huge sign for the cavs, and the celtics needed him. Powe will provide valuable minutes for shaq and varejao.