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I know there’s a lot of action going on this summer, but if we all take a step back and look at the NBA's offseason with an objective look, it can get very simple.
Quite honestly, only two things mattered from the offseason’s very beginning:
1. The Larry Brown sweepstakes
2. The Sarunas Jasikevicius sweepstakes
And finally, one of the summer’s two biggest mysteries has been stamped with a big, fat, red “Case Closed.”
Fortunately, it’s the mystery with the longer name.
In a move even the most diehard Pacer fan couldn’t predict, Indiana signed Lithuanian point God Sarunas Jasikevicius to a three-year, $12 million deal late Sunday night. “It really came down to who he could win a championship with next year,” agent Doug Neustadt said. “He saw a chance to contribute and win and couldn't pass it up.”
Both Utah and Cleveland – who both allegedly had confidence in their chances of signing the former University of Maryland guard last week – had larger contract offers turned down. By signing with a title contender for less money, Jasikevicius continues to personify the European emphasis on wins rather than the popular “me and my money at all costs” style.
29-year-old Sarunas, who goes by Saras, most likely will back up Jamaal Tinsley in his rookie season which came seven years later than expected. After going undrafted in 1998, Jasikevicius became a superstar on the international level, leading his team to a second consecutive Euroleague title in May.
In the process, Jasikevicius won the Final Four MVP award. And to think his asking price last year was $1.6 million!
The memory most Americans have of Jasikevicius is not good. In the 2004 Olympics, Saras dropped 28 on seven threes, sufficiently embarrassing Team USA in a qualifying round loss.
All I remember about that summer is how much I absolutely hated that Lithuanian whose name I couldn’t remember. I also wondered why the team’s fiery leader wasn’t in the League yet. Now that his contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv is over, dude will finally get his chance.
To complete its offseason, Indiana will focus its attention to twisting its remaining money to resign free agents James Jones and Dale Davis.
However, it is important to point out once again Cleveland’s inability to capitalize in the free agent market and stymieing a LeBron James looming departure. Although the Pacer’s signing of Jasikevicius apparently was based more on NBA ring potential and not necessarily a Cavs’ mistake, Cleveland still fell short in getting its man.
The same occurred earlier this summer when big-name shooters Ray Allen and Michael Redd quickly committed to contracts with their own teams. Cleveland had to settle for a third option in Larry Hughes – who is a great talent but doesn’t fulfill the team’s dire need for a player with three-point range.
Now that they failed with Jasikevicius, the Cavs might have to turn to dealing power forward Drew Gooden for the next best thing. Cleveland allegedly entertained the possibility of dealing Gooden for the Clippers’ Marko Jaric and Chris Wilcox…
…or they might just focus on this offseason's Number One.
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