Reports Say Cavaliers Are Talking With Oakley, Houston, and Rose

Cleveland Plain Dealer Cavaliers Beat Reporter Branson Wright reported on Sunday, that the Cleveland Cavaliers are exploring some options about bringing some experience onto their roster. The only problem is at least one of the players who would like to join them is closer to getting his AARP card than his NBA prime. 43 year old Charles Oakley, who was one of the toughest men ever to play in the NBA feels that he still can be a big contributor, to a NBA team and feels like the Cavaliers could be the best fit. The Cavaliers have since the days of Mark Price and Brad Daugherty, have always had the reputation of being a soft team. I know that on many occasions after seeing Cleveland burned by an opposing player that showed no fear on the?court, I asked numerous players about possibly committing a hard foul. Nothing dirty?mind you, but hard enough that the player may think twice which could effect his game. The consistent answer I have gotten over the years is “That’s not the way we do it around here.” Oakley would certainly erase that stigma, the question is does he?have anything left in the tank. He last played in the NBA?in the 2003-2004 season for Houston, and that was only for seven games.

Cleveland is also talking with another player who has been out of the league for a while. Allen Houston who was?drafted by Detroit in 1993, played three years for the Pistons and then went to the New York Knicks has not played in the NBA since 2004-2005. The 6′6″ 36 year old guard who played for?12 years in the pros has been saying all summer he wants to mount a comeback.??The third veteran that Cleveland has talked to was in the League last year, but his glory days are far? behind him. Rose played with the Suns last year and is a free agent, apparently Cleveland feels he can possibly be an asset to the team. As far as Cleveland’s two free agents Sasha Pavlovic, and Anderson Vareajo wright believes they will be signed some time in September.

I agree in principal, that the Cavaliers need more toughness and experience, the question is are these veterans capable at this stage to be beneficial to Cleveland. Former Cleveland General Manager when addressing a group of media including myself, once made the following statement; “You guys get on me when I draft College seniors, and you get on me when I draft High School players. I just can’t win.” What Pax failed to understand was the College senior he was talking about was Trajan Langdon, who has been out of the league for years, and the high school player was De’Sagana Diop who could not dominate high school players. Yes you have to fill certain needs, but with the right parts.