Drew Gooden returns to Cavs, signs 3-year, $23 million contract
It appears the Cavs of the future are the Cavs of the present. After securing LeBron James, Cleveland’s next biggest off-season priority signed a three-year, $23 million contract as the Cavaliers management continues to find ways to surround James with a cast capable of lifting the franchise to a NBA title. Gooden, considered one of the better free agent forward available, joins a Cavaliers team that looks a lot like the one from last season that pushed Detroit to seven games in second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Cavs GM Danny Ferry continues to make solid moves this offseason. After drafting Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson, the former Cavaliers forward moved on signing James to a max contract and then immediately jumped into a potentially problematic negotiation. Given Denver forked over $60 million for the oft-injured Nene, Ferry and Gooden could have haggled over millions. Instead, the two found common ground and got a deal done.
While many Cavs fans would love to have seen Cleveland upgrade at the power forward position, the development of Anderson Varejao and Gooden’s continuing maturation in a stable coaching environment will pay dividends in 2006-2007.
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