Better you've never heard this one: Cleveland wants Mike Bibby. Since last December, the Cavaliers have been rumored to be after the point guard on their dreams. A deal almost got done on Trade Deadline Eve last year, and another one fell apart just as San Antonio dealt Luis Scola to Houston over the summer. The hold-ups have been varying -- Sacramento's reportedly looking for cap relief, which could either come in the form of either expiring contracts or the assumption of the Kings' own ornery deals. Cleveland's stipulation over the summer was the added acquisition of a scoring power forward (hence Scola) and now Danny Ferry would like to shed some payroll of his own.Despite the obvious problems, media reports insisted with renewed vigor the deal will get revisited in the next month. Brian Windhorst of the Akron Beacon Journal reports the sides tried to get something going as recently as November, a deal involving a sign-and-trade for Anderson Varejao. Windhorst adds that signs indicate Ferry is making another attempt.
Chris McCosky of the Detroit News thinks it'd be a coup for Ferry to get Bibby. (The Zenmaster says, "We'll see.") It'll be interesting to see whether Geoff Petrie bites on a package of deals expiring in 2009 while shedding at least one longer-term deal. (Kenny Thomas expires in 2010.) You wouldn't think one season of $8 million of cap salvation would be worth it (especially considering Bibby's deal expires in 2009 as well), but after watching John Salmons impersonate Dwyane Wade for two months, I've learned (again) not to question Petrie's procedures.
By the way, Bibby is planning a January 16 return date as his thumb heals.
