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August 23, 2015The Cleveland Cavaliers now have 14 feet worth of Russian center.
The team agreed to a two-year deal with 30-year-old Alexander “Sasha” Olegovich Kaun Saturday. Kaun becomes the Cavs’ second Russian seven footer, joining Timofey Mozgov. David Pick of RealGM was first with the news, with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst confirming and adding that the second year is a player option.
Source: Cavaliers, Sasha Kaun to sign two-season agreement.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) August 22, 2015
Cavs have agreed to a 2-year deal with 2008 2nd round pick Sasha Kaun. Second year is player option sources told ESPN.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) August 22, 2015
NEOMG’s Chris Haynes, however, says that neither the Cavs nor Kaun have an option, and that it is a plain old two-year deal.
On Sasha Kaun deal w/ #Cavs, I'm being told it's a straight two-year deal with no player or team option. @WindhorstESPN first on agreement.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 23, 2015
Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed, but WFNY’s resident money man Jacob Rosen speculates that Kaun will receive the remainder of the Cavs’ taxpayer mid-level exception, which the team used part of when it brought back point guard Mo Williams.
Likely for $1.3M left of the taxpayer MLE. https://t.co/Tm0ujnGkO6
— Jacob L. Rosen (@JacobLRosen) August 22, 2015
Kaun, whose NBA rights the Cavs acquired from the then-Seattle SuperSonics on draft night 2008, had long been linked to the Cavs. He was reportedly house hunting in Cleveland last week, and said in July that money would not be a major factor in his decision to come overseas. He made just under $3 million in his last season with CSKA Moscow.
Kaun played for CSKA from 2008 to 2015, and in 30 Euroleague games last season (all starts) averaged 9.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 20 minutes per game. He played under Cavs head coach David Blatt on the Russian national team, which took bronze at the 2012 Olympics at London.
He played four years of college ball at Kansas from 2004 to 2008. He averaged 7.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks on 62 percent shooting in 40 games for the Jayhawks in his senior season.
Kaun joins a Cavalier frontcourt featuring Mozgov, Kevin Love, Anderson Varejao, and presumably/eventually Tristan Thompson. Kaun would seem to fall behind those four in the pecking order, though he could see more playing time pending Varejao’s recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
21 Comments
http://oi52.tinypic.com/3088xhi.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRnSnfiUI54
Does this mean Varejao’s time is numbered?
Numbered in the fact that he will presumably play less time on the floor in hopes to keep healthly longer. Kahn will prob only play about 5-10 min a game but the positive with this is he is not just a seat warmer, he will be able to contribute when he is in.
No but it could be for Thompson who still is unsigned.
Solid, solid move by David Griffin. No one knows what Andy’s game will look like after a torn achilles, this is a hedge against new front court injuries and it also lets them trade Andy if the right offer comes along. If Griffin has had any learning curve to being a GM it sure hasn’t been very obvious. Word is that he’s one of the league’s lowest paid execs.Gilbert would be wise to lock him up before he takes his talents elsewhere.
Love the signing, but since he’s such an unknown quantity I’m keeping my expectations low. Pretty much considering him a significant upgrade from Perk.
“Pretty much considering him a significant upgrade from Perk.”
That’s not too difficult of a task. lol
Moz, Kaun, Anderson, that’s not bad rotation of players suited to play the 5.
I consider Love and Thompson 4s.
Exactly – at worst he’ll be young muscle we can bring in to bang, rebound, give AV a night off, and buy time for the other guys (the less pounding AV takes, the better). I saw the youtube vid of him abusing Moz, and that has me hopeful – but until I see Kaun in an NBA game my expectations are going to remain low. That said, I think bringing him in to bang and rebound for 5 minutes a game could prove to be very valuable all by itself. Anything else is gravy… delicious, properly seasoned, hopefully a little spicy, sausage gravy.
Sasha Kaun Born: May 8, 1985
Kendrick Perkins Born: November 10, 1984
So, yes, he’s a whole 6 months younger.
Yeah, but that’s like 2 years in NBA years. 😀
It’s a sad day when even my intentionally low expectations are unreasonable.
But seriously, how is Perk only 30? Did he cheat in little league and is now living with the consequences?
“But seriously, how is Perk only 30? Did he cheat in little league and is now living with the consequences?”
*Cough cough* Greg Oden *cough cough*
No way this dude was 18…
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/156/785/GregOden_display_image.jpg?1266125425
Oden was the guy in high school with the middle-aged face that everyone sent to buy beer.
C’mon, we’re all thinkin it…
“Chaka Khaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!”
https://youtu.be/RIdxjMhXBLg
C’mon, we’re all thinkin it…
“Chaka Khaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!”
https://youtu.be/RIdxjMhXBLg
I think they will get him signed. Lebron wants him. Lebron always gets what he wants.
Problem is, he can’t stay healthy. Every year he gets injured. We pay him a lot of money to not play. I think it’s time to let him go. The team isn’t getting a return on their investment. Kaun might surprise. It’s been a while since we have had a true big man at center.
It’s not up to the Cavs it’s up to Thompson which is the problem. Personally I don’t care if he resigns because there is enough frontcourt depth on the roster now. Ideally I’d like him back but I don’t blame the Cavs at all for not wanting to overpay. As far as what LBJ wants let him take less and use it towards Thompson if he’s such a “team” guy.
I agree. The Cavs are going to win with him or without him.
And I never agree with spending more than what a player is worth.
Middle aged? You’re being kind.