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Rumors over the past week have whispered Drew Gooden is a serious target for Golden State. Gooden's name has been everywhere all summer, mostly in stop-motionesque attempts to land Mike Bibby. He's very clearly available, especially considering Anderson Varejao is surely remaining in Ohio.Golden State's asset of choice is the trade exception received in the Jason Richardson-to-Charlotte deal. The Warriors could send a portion of that exception equal to Gooden's salary to Cleveland to get a solid, reasonably priced power forward.
But Cleveland has the upper hand. The Cavaliers are within $3 million of the expected luxury tax threshold. Signing Varejao to his qualifying offer would keep the team just under, and a contract for Sasha Pavlovic would place the team just over the threshold. Owner Dan Gilbert is apparently willing to pay a bit of luxury tax while he
And there's the way Golden State can gain leverage.Golden State takes control by offering Varejao its full mid-level. Cleveland would match anything up to the midlevel, surely -- they really like Andy. But he isn't what the Warriors need; they need a four who can score in the post and rebound (e.g. Gooden). But by making the bid for Varejao, you force Cleveland to pay more than the qualifying offer to keep him, and you set the Cavalier salary situation a bit darker... forcing Danny Ferry to cut some salary. How do they cut salary? By sending something like Gooden and Damon Jones to Golden State for the full trade exception and perhaps a nominal rookie contract kid. In theory, Golden State could almost force Cleveland to trade them Gooden by offering Varejao a contract.
(Of course, I'm selfishly most interested in the next step: What does Ferry do with the newfound gap between payroll and the luxury threshold? Send the trade exception, Shannon Brown, and some package of future picks to Sacramento for Bibby, of course. Geoff Petrie doesn't really want to add crappy salary or long-term deals in trading Bibby. For this goal, there's only one thing better than expiring contracts: Trade exceptions. The Kings can then use it if they find a player they like, or they can watch it expire while getting out from under Bibby's contract two years early... all while adding assets for the rebuilding. Tell me who loses here.)
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