Re-Sign or Release: Delonte West
With the NBA season in the rear view mirror, we now turn to a summer full of front office decision-making. As fans, we all have our feelings on what needs to be done to improve our Cavaliers team. Rock has laid the figurative cards on the table, but this is where we turn to you – the readers of WFNY.
The premise is simple. Assume all players are restricted free agents and that they’ll likely need at least a small raise from last year’s salary. Do you re-sign? Or do you release? Of course, we’ll leave LeBron James out of this scenario. And also, a little supporting argument always helps. Do Enjoy.
We’ll start this series off with the backcourt. West seems to have won a few fans over with his play over the final stretch with clutch shots and decent defense, but is it enough to garner him the title of “point guard of the future?”
Thankfully, we don’t have to stray too far from the overall premise of this little off-season exercise as West actually is a restricted free agent.
2007-08 Salary: $1,889,760
2007-08 Stats:
61 G; 25.1 Min; 8.3 Pts; 3.8 Ast; 3.2 Reb; 1.0 Stl; 41.3 FG%; 73.6 FT%
Obviously, his stats from last season are a bit skewed by his play (or lack thereof) in Seattle. Can you stomach the fact that our current starting point guard was the third-string point for one of the worst teams in the league? Unreal.
For the Cavs, West actually averaged 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and actually drained 79 percent of his free throws which is a solid improvement over his numbers out West. As Rock pointed out, the qualifying offer for Delonte’s services would be just under $3 million - for one year.
Given all of this, would you want to re-sign West, or let him play for his fourth team in three seasons? Is he the answer the point? Does he have the shot to be our starting off-guard? One-year shot, or extend him for a few more?
We all like to play GM from time to time, so now’s your chance. Let’s hear it in the comments.
Related Content
Loading ...
Cleveland fans have been waiting since 1964 for the Browns to win a title. Fans have waited since 1948 for the Indians to win a World Series. Fans have never witnessed a Cavaliers Championship. They have come close, but every year they are forced to wait. And wait they will. Because Cleveland sports is a tradition; a rite of passage for millions in Northern Ohio.
This site is the result of three such fans, who wanted to share their opinions, frustrations and hopefully victories with you.
May 21st, 2008 at 8:38 am
I would definitely sign him to his qualifying offer but would like to see West here long term at a mid level contract. I would not pay him starting money because I am not sure he has what it takes to be starting PG in this league
May 21st, 2008 at 9:45 am
Gotta resign him…..I think our offense open up a lot more when he was bringing the ball up the court and LeBron was able to move around and get open (or at least shake 1 of the defenders on him).
May 21st, 2008 at 9:53 am
I voted to re-sign. I think with a whole summer of practice with the team, Deltonte can be a 13-15, 6 and 4 guy with us next season. A lot of this depends on how much Mike Brown (if he’s still with us) is willing to let him run our offense (or lack thereof)
May 21st, 2008 at 9:54 am
I’m 100% with MacNip. I’m not saying he’s the starting PG of the future here, but with the effort he gives and all the little things he does very well at, I’d love to have him be a part of this team for a long time. He could be the first guard to come off the bench, and could substitute in for either the 1 or the 2 guard, so that’s a plus as well.
Honestly, who knows with patience and time in a system how high the ceiling is for Delonte’s potential. He could develop still into a solid starting PG in the league, or maybe this is as good as he’s going to get. Either way, I think there’s a place for him on the team.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:58 am
The question here is who would replace him if you let him walk? I think Delonte can be a good piece, though I wish he would learn how to finish when he gets to the paint a little better. If he could develop that floater it would be a tremendous weapon for him. He plays fantastic help defense, and isn’t afraid to go for a block. His assist numbers are misleading because LeBron handles the ball so much, so to measure his worth purely on stats is a little difficult.
I’d love to see him play the two man game with Z a little more. Who am I kidding, I’d like to see anyone at all get involved in the offense a little more. Overall, I’m not sure that there is an adequate replacement out there for Delonte at a cheaper price.
May 21st, 2008 at 10:13 am
Wow Rock, you and I agreed on something. I’m a little shocked.
Here’s to hoping Delonte doesn’t pull a Sasha/Andy this year
May 21st, 2008 at 10:47 am
Another big plus is that LeBron has so much confidence in Delonte (dishing the ball on break-aways, etc). Anyone who makes LeBron happy makes me happy.
May 21st, 2008 at 10:50 am
Re-sign, the guy is untapped potential I think. When he was in Boston they were horrible, and he got shipped to Seattle in the trade for the ‘above average size’ 3. Cleveland is his first chance to 1) start and 2) play with a good (decent ?) team. Hes young, he busts his tail all over the court (end of game 5 anyone?), and most importantly he seems to work well with Lebron.
Sure he could be a bit more comfortable running the offense, but thats Mike ‘needs to be out of work next year’ Brown’s fault for not setting up any coherent form of offense and rotation.
And as someone pointed out earlier, if we let him go, who replaces him?
May 21st, 2008 at 10:51 am
Actually, MacNip, we’ve always tended to agree until LeBron in Game 7. No big deal, though.
I think Gibson is much more likely to pull an Andy than Delonte is. West knows that this is his best chance for long term security, and holding out is not the way to get it. At least, I would think he knows that.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:59 am
Re-Sign, but I am not sure he’s a starter at PG for a championship team. I wouldn’t mind him being the first guard off the bench if this team ever decides to upgrade the back-court. Either way, this team needs to keep him.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Good point Rock, the Lebron Game 7 discussion was just fresh in my memory. Great job covering the Cavs this year…..really enjoyed those summary articles.
I also see West being the first guy off the bench and Gibson being the one most likely to hold out. I also think Gibson may be the more attractive trade piece of the 2
May 21st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I would resign him if we are unable to work something out for the two guys below:
Jose Calderon - Restricted free agent that doesn’t want to go back to the Raptors unless he can start. With T.J. Ford already there, I think one of them will have to be moved. As a result, you might be able to swing a sign and trade with the Raptors to essentially swap West and Calderon (the Cavs would have to add another player or draft pick). Toronto gets a backup point guard, Calderon/West get multiyear contracts, and Calderon get to start. I have to admit a long shot, but something worth looking into. BTW Calderon’s stats: 11.2pts, 8.3 assts, 2.9 rbs a game in 30.3 minutes. Oh, did I mention he shot 51.9% from the field 42.9% from 3 and 90.8% at the line?
Beno Udrih- Name sound familiar ? It should, Ferry tried to trade for him in the past. He is an unrestricted free agent. I have to admit, I did not follow him while he was playing with the Kings, but here are his stats: 32.0 min 12.8pts, 4.3 assts, 3.3 rbs . He does not shoot as well from the field as Calderon: 46.4% overall, 38.7% from 3, and 82.1% from the free throw line. I was thinking that would could use our mid-level exception to sign him, however, as RockKing pointed out, if we sign Gibson that counts towards the MLE and/or Bi-annual exception, so I’m not sure if signing him is possible.
I see both of these guys as upgrades over West without costing you an arm and a leg…. but it is more than likely that West is the most realistic option at this point.
May 21st, 2008 at 1:07 pm
re-sign re-sign re-sign
May 21st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
@Hoy
He plays like he’s been to jail and isn’t afraid to go back.