After the Cleveland Cavaliers' season ended Saturday night in an onslaught of Orlando threes and Dwight Howard dunks, drop-step hooks, and again, dunks, the Cavs all responded in different ways. Mo Williams spoke to reporters, the only effective thing he did in the series. LeBron James walked off the floor without speaking to the Magic and left the arena without speaking to anyone. And Ben Wallace was talking about walking away permanently. Wallace told ESPN that there was a "strong possibility this was (his) last season."
Wallace is owed $14 million next season as part of the monster contract he signed with the Bulls in 2006. If he decides to retire, he'll most likely pursue a buyout. Wallace is likely to be a highly sought-after trade asset this year even if he elects not to retire due to his contract being an expiring one in the year before the Free Agency Summer of Doom, as some are calling it, with major free agents available at the same time.
Wallace has long been known as a defensive specialist, but now can only be used in short stints due to the fact that he's an offensive liability. More than once in a game you'll see defenses retract from Wallace if he gets the ball as if he were contagious with a severe virus. Games begged him to take shots, and often when he obliged them, their dare was not matched with a bucket.
But the Cavs still need interior defenders, especially against top-tier centers like, oh, say, Dwight Howard. Losing Wallace would punish the Cavs' defensive depth further. They would need to turn the money invested in him into an improvement regardless of his decision.
Just weeks ago, a Cavs championship looked well within sight. Now no one knows how the team that won the most games in the league this season will look in a few months. How things can change when Magic happens.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Great career Big BBBBBBBen, but it's over, get out..
Thank GOD. I get so sick of hearing about spoiled King(hahahahaha) Lebron James. I am so glad i get to watch the NBA championship without hearingabout him. Go home James you big cry baby. Its pretty sad that your in the NBA and cant show respect to those who deserveit because you are better then everyone else. Get off your pedistool and be a man.
The Cavs really stunk up the floor last night. They were on borrowed time anyway. Don't get me wrong, I like the Cavs but there wasn't enough clutch for most of this team. One person can't do it alone. To tell you the truth it looked like James allowed his team to be as bad as they could, why go further to meet the same result.
King James , when he's winning, he talks alot, but yesterday's game , he walked off without talking. He could not beat his drum after this game. Poor sportsmenship, and classless . NO EXCUSE.Like he has said all the time, Man Up.You lost to a better team.
Awwww... What's the matter, Ben? Regretting walking away from the Pistons for more money? I'm not a Magic fan, but I was rootin' for them in this series because I wanted Ben to lose, and LeBron too. Sick to death of hearing about how great he is....
Yeah way to show sportmanship Lebron, walk off without congrats to the other team. And this is who the media says is the next MICHAEL JORDAN? PLEEASEEEEEEEEEEEEE
WTF?! Ben Wallace can't shoot in pro basketball and these clowns pay him millions? FYI to those dumbass owners "RECRUIT THE EUROPEAN PLAYERS THERE THE BEST" they know the basics and then some and are cheaper. Gasol turned the laker team into contenders overnight.
King (I DON'T THINK SO!!)James cry me a river you poor loser.You don't deserve nothing.Way to show good sportsmanship.You and the rest of your ego carrying bench got what you deserve for the cockyness you showed during the playoffs.Have a nice summer you LOSERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRs.
YA ON BEN WALLACE, THE PISTONS OFFERED HIM A GOOD CONTRACT AND HE SAID NO AND HELD OUT FOR MORE MONEY ON ANOTHER TEAM BEING THE BULLS HE SUCKED THERE AND HE SUCKS NOW. TOO BAD BEN SEE HOW BEING GREEDY WORKS FOR YA
WHO THE HELL GAVE THE TITLE TO LEBRON OF
"KING JAMES " UNTIL HE WINS A CHAMPIONSHIP I THINK HE SHOULD BE CALLED PRINCE JAMES OR MAYBE EVEN "TOO MUCH HYPE JAMES" WHO EVER KEEPS ON COMPARING LEBRON TO KOBE STOP PLEASE LEBRON IS NOT IN THE SAME CATEGORIE WHAT SO EVER. SO LEBRON ENJOY UR OFF SEASON AND WATCH THE LAKER TAKE WHAT U WONT GET THIS YEAR...
KING JAMES IS MORE LIKE BABY JAMES I NEVER SEEN A PLAYER DO THAT IN MY LIFE WHAT A CRY BABY NO BEATING THE CHEST AFTER THIS GAME JAMES WAS THERE WHO IS THE GREATEST NOW ??? I NEVER SEEN JORDAN DO THAT IN MY LIFE NOW HE WILL LEAVE CLEVELAND FOR NEW YORK AFTER NEXT YEAR SAYING HE WANTS TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WELL I DO NOT THINK NEW YORK WILL BE THE ANSWER EITHER HE IS A BALL HOG AND THINKS HE CAN WIN A GAME ON HIS OWN ANYWAY WELL GUERSS WHAT YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE AND YOU DID NOT GET IT DONE ALSO I THINK YOU LOOKED WAY PAST ORLANDO AND WAS LOOKING TO THE NBA FINALS WELL GUESS WHAT YOU GOT SLAPPED IN THE FACE FOR LOOKING PAST A TEAM
lebron was wrong,but the team did let the city of cleveland down. dwight howard is a monster down low,and the cavs failed to shut down the 3-point shot. mike brown should also recognize that he did not show up as a coach.
the cavs should look into replacing z.you need a physical center in todays game. dwight howard just showed that. i like z but he is simply not the bigman that a team like cleveland needs. if shaq or amare would have come to cleveland this season,the cavs would getting ready to win a title and give their ring sizes. REAL-TALK! FERRY GET IT RIGHT! you have an owner in cleveland who will spend the money. DAVID STERN is money hungry and he wants lebron out of cleveland and his refs will follow orders to make that happen.THIS IS THE WAY PRO SPORTS HAS BECOME. MAJOR CITIES WITH TOURIST ATTRACTIONS WIN TITLES[SAN ANTONIO NOT INCLUDED].