Boykins Opts Out Of Bucks Contract Exploring Options

I liked NBA guard Earl Boykins, the first time that I met him. Number one factor in his favor, was the fact that I towered over him(I’m 5′10, Boykins is 5′5″, not too often I?am taller than NBA player!) Number?two factor in his favor was the effort and tenacity he showed on the floor, whether it was during his two stints with?the Cleveland Cavaliers?or with the myriad of other NBA franchises he has played with over the years.

The third thing and the factor that gave me the respect that I have for him was a Q&A PostGame interview I had with him during the 1998-1999.The Cavaliers had just lost a heartbreaking game by a very slim margin to a team they really had business even being with the game with! Although my memory banks can not remember the opponent or the?exact score I do recall it was one of the NBA’s Elite franchises. The?mood in the Cleveland locker room, was desolate.? I approached Boykins who was one of the few Cavaliers who really kept Cleveland in the game to interview him. I always when interviewing a player especially after a tough loss, try to begin the interview on a positive note, so the player does not think it will be adversarial session. I threw Boykins a “softball question” to try to make him feel at ease. I asked him that even though the end result was not the way the?team wanted the game to end, he and his teammates had to take solace in standing toe to toe with?an elite team until Cleveland faded down the stretch. Earl looked me right in the eye, and without any rancor or anger matter of factly?said “There are no moral victories in the NBA. We lost, everything else doesn’t matter.”?

My respect quotient for this player went up a thousand fold, unlike many of his fellow players in the league, Boykins would take no comfort or make any excuses. The “Mighty Mite” a Cleveland native had one more stint with the Cavaliers midway through the following year.? When the season ended they inexplicably they allowed him to walk away, even though he was at worst a quality backup guard , and probably could have been a starter?with Cleveland.?

Well Boykins went on to play for an extended period in Denver, before going to the Milwaukee Bucks last season. Wednesday Boykins opted out of the second year of his contract with Milwaukee making him an unrestricted free agent. With veteran Eric Snow going to be out a while with a torn meniscus, acquiring Boykins for Cleveland to me is the ultimate no-brainer. Hopefully for Cavaliers fans, Cleveland General Manger Danny Ferry can rectify the mistake former G.M. Jim Paxson made all those years ago.