Here's an interesting video of ESPN's Chris Broussard talking about some of the moves the Cavs could make to entice LeBron to stay.  July 1st is only one day away, and free agents can sign contracts as early as July 8th.  LeBron wants to see some roster improvements, and Dan Gilbert will oblige. 

If the reports are true that the Cavaliers have chosen Brian Shaw to be their next coach, I'm not exactly thrilled.  Seriously, you bring in a rookie head coach when you're trying to sign the most coveted free agent in the history of sports?  Personally I thought Byron Scott would have been a much better option, as he has the experience necessary to lead a team to the Finals. 

It's all about to unfold, and let's hope the front office does what is necessary to keep LeBron.  The city needs him to stay.  The clock is ticking, and the fate of the franchise is about to be determined. LeBron James is Underrated
                                   

We've arrived at the halfway point of the countdown, and only 10 remain.  It's no surprise that the "Reign Man" makes the list at #10, as Shawn Kemp is one the greatest and most unforgettable Cavaliers of all-time.  Although he had his share of problems, and didn't quite live up to the expectations, like several others he makes the countdown for his sheer dunking ability.
  
The legendary Shawn Kemp was born in Elkhart, Indiana in 1969.  He balled at Concord High School, and after graduating signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Kentucky.  The story of why he didn't end up playing for the Wildcats is priceless.  Allegedly (likely), he was kicked off the team before the start of the season for pawning two gold chains for $800, that belonged to his teammate Sean Sutton.  Have to admire his entrepreneurial mindset.  He transferred to Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, but it was too late in the season for him to play.  After one semester, Shawn Kemp at 19 years of age declared himself for the 1989 NBA Draft. 

At 6 ft. 10" and 280 lbs, the Seattle Supersonics drafted Kemp in the 1st round with the 17th overall pick.  He quickly made an impact in Seattle, and was instantly one of the elite ballers in the Association.  He was one of the NBA's premiere dunkers, and could jump out of the building.  The Reign Man was the youngest player in the league, and arguably the most exciting.  Halfcourt alley-oop connections from Gary Payton to Shawn Kemp became the norm.  GP and Kemp were an unreal duo, and their team was pretty successful. 

Kemp played for the "Dream Team 2" in 1994, when the USA went on to win the Gold at the World Basketball championship.  Some say his career peaked during the 1995-1996 season, when Seattle won a franchise-record 64 games, and made an NBA Finals appearance.  He also led the league in rebounding for the 3rd straight year.  Unfortunately, the NBA championship dreams were dashed due to a matchup with Michael Jordan and the 72 regular-season win Chicago Bulls.  The series did go 6 games, but MJ was not about to be denied. 

After the Finals, Kemp thought he was due for a raise.  For reasons unknown, Seattle instead gave an unknown scrub Jim McIlvaine a 5 year, $35 million contract.  The entire Supersonics fan base was enraged, as was the Reign Man.  The growing tension with management resulted in the blockbuster trade that sent Kemp to the Cleveland Cavaliers.  He promised he would not report to training camp if he was still a Supersonic.  He cut off all communication with the team, and even refused phone calls from Gary Payton. 

The Cavs acquired the 5-time all star from Seattle along with point guard Sherman Douglas from the Milwaukee Bucks.  In turn, the Cavaliers sent All-star PG Terrell Brandon, Tyrone Hill, and our 1998 first-round pick to Milwaukee, who sent their All-Star forward Vin Baker to Seattle.

He became a rich man when he got to Cleveland.  Management made him the 5th member of the NBA's $100 million club when they offered him an extension.  Reports were that the deal was worth around $107 million for 7 years.  He appreciated the gesture of faith.

Shawn Kemp's tenure as a Cleveland Cavalier would only last from 1997 to 2000, and his career was on the downside.  We welcomed him with open arms, and were excited to have a player who was at least once an All-Star.  Wayne Embry after the Cavaliers signed Kemp, "Cavs owner Gordon Gund has made a commitment to get the team back in contention for an NBA championship.  We all look forward to many exciting years of Shawn Kemp leading the Cavaliers."

He battled weight problems, and wasn't exactly the "Reign Man" anymore.  During a preseason exhibition game, he left the bench when he saw teammate Vitaly Potapenko get punched by Minnesota's Clifford Rozier.  He was suspended for the season opener, and was fined $107,000.  Give him credit for sticking up for his teammate.  He appeared in 80 games that season, and led the Cavaliers in scoring with 18 points per game, shooting almost 45% from the field. 

The Cavaliers were ready to relieve themselves of his enormous contract, and traded him to Portland after the 1999-2000 season.  It was all downhill from there; It appeared that his time in Cleveland would be his last mildly-respectable campaign.  His weight became a serious issue, and he struggled with cocaine and alcohol addictions.  His season ended early when he entered drug rehab.  It is also well documented that he fathered 7 children by 6 women.  Kemp was arrested several times for marijuana possession, and his NBA comeback attempt did not look likely. 

He has done some positive things in his life, let's not forget.  In 1989, he dressed up like Santa and gave out food and toys to poor children.  As of late he has turned things around somewhat, and in April of 2008 he donated $70,000 to the YMCA in his hometown of Elkhart.  "My family and I are happy to give back to the Elkhart community and support the YMCA’s campaign to help local kids,” Kemp said in a statement. “The Elkhart YMCA is where it all started for me as a basketball player and Elkhart will always be home to me.”

Shawn Kemp is a Cavalier and NBA great.  The sad story of his decline does not take away from the fact that he is widely considered one one the Association's most electrifying dunkers of all-time.  He is currently playing with Premiata Montegranaro, a team in Italy.  Cleveland got to witness some of the last days of this legend, and we should consider ourselves pretty lucky for his time here.  The Reign Man will not be forgotten.  Shawn Kemp is Underrated

                    

Every year, the NBA Draft boasts a few special players who have the unenviable task of restoring a franchise to glory, or at least providing for a little much needed excitement.  This year's edition was no different.  There are always a few surprises, and sometimes good college players can fall into the 2nd round.  A few picks are always obvious.  Others, not so much.  Let's start with the overall #1 pick, John Wall.

The Washington Wizards were the team lucky enough to land the #1 pick this year.  Everyone automatically predicted they would draft Wall, and they didn't deviate from the assumption.

John Wall played one year at Kentucky under John Calipari, and was the consensus best player in the NCAA.  Wall had an incredible season and brought a level of relevance to Kentucky that had been missing for quite some time.

Although the Wizards already have Gilbert Arenas, not selecting Wall would have been inexcusable.  He reminds many of Derrick Rose, with his quickness and hops.  John Wall will have a great opportunity to turn around a franchise in Washington who struggled desperately last year, missing Arenas due to suspension and then the trade of Jamison to the Cavaliers.  In my opinion, Wall is one of a select few players who have the ability to come directly out of the draft and make a huge impact. 

The 2nd pick belonged to the Philadelphia 76ers, who selected Ohio State's Evan Turner.  Evan has the ability to play point guard, shooting guard, and also small forward.  He was a 1st team All-American, 2010 Player of the Year, and was the leading scorer in the Big 10 for consecutive years.  Turner is 6 feet 7 inches, and weighs in close to 210 lbs.  Basically, he has the body for an NBA player.  Alongside Andre Igoudala, Turner has the capability to Turn-In a big season for the 76ers.  When all is said and done, he might end up being a bigger impact player than Wall.

There were some other players drafted, who have a chance to make big contributions, but none close to Wall or Turner.  Demarcus Cousins was John Wall's teammate at Kentucky, and he has the makings of a solid NBA power forward at some in point in the future.  Sacramento picked him at #5, but there are still some questions about his motivation and his weight problem.  Once he puts his mind to it, he can be a dominant rebounding PF much like Glen Davis.  Derrick Favors and Wesley Johnson will also be solid, but need time to further develop.   

I liked the fact that Gordon Hayward went #9 to the Jazz, although he might not see a ton of playing time with them this year.  He was one of the feel-good stories in this years NCAA March Madness, and his play at Butler was flat-out impressive.  His last-second heave came within inches of beating Duke in the Championship.  Utah always seems to like having at least a few token white players on their roster, so naturally he was a good fit.

Much was made of Chicago's move to send Kirk Hinrich to Washington.  Their obvious move to make salary cap available was a message to LeBron and the other big-name free agents.  They are now in position to bring in two great players, alongside Derrick Rose and an already formidable Bulls squad.  New Jersey is the other team that has a ton of cap-space, but I really don't see LeBron making that move either.  July 1st is only 4 days away.  Of course LeBron would overshadow the draft, I mean he's basically Brett-Favre status right now.  Even so, LeBron James is still Underrated

On the night of the 2010 NBA Draft, I find it fitting to talk about one of my favorite Cavaliers of all-time.  Wish I could have gotten him into the Top 10, but it just didn't work out that way.  Coming in at #11 on the list, is none other than Darius Lavar Miles. 

Darius was born in 1981, in Belleville Illinois.  He attended East St. Louis High School, and led his team to 3rd place in the 2000 Illinois State High School championship.  D-Miles was a high school phenom at 6 ft. 9", but he encountered a bit of an issue when it came to getting into college.  He wanted to play at St. John's, but failed to receive a qualifying SAT score to get into the school.  Apparently those SAT classes didn't do the trick.  Darius wasn't too worried about it, and decided to skip the whole "college" thing and go straight to the Pros, similar to Kobe and later LeBron. 

He entered the 2000 NBA Draft, and was expected to be a first-rounder.  No one saw the Clippers taking him with the 3rd overall pick, but that is exactly what happened.  At the time, he was the highest pick ever taken directly out of high school.  Who said obtaining a college degree was important anyways?

For the next two years, Darius made headlines on a flashy Clippers squad.  Playing alongside high-flying Miles was Quentin Richardson, Lamar Odom, and Elton Brand.  This was unquestionably one of the most exciting teams in NBA history, and become popular with young fans. 

It was in LA where Darius and Quentin trademarked their classic "double-fist head tap" celebration.  Still never really figured out what exactly it meant, but my boy Lechner and I imitated it all the time in middle school.  Those were the days.

Before the 2002-2003 season, the Cavaliers traded one Cavalier legend for another.  Andre Miller was sent to the Clippers for Darius, and I would have been upset if it was for anyone else.  Unfortunately, during Darius' only full year with the Cavaliers, we were the worst team in the league.  Don't put all the blame on Miles though, don't forget the immortal Ricky Davis was on this team as well.  A classic Darius/Ricky story occured before the season, when the team was featured them on the media guide.  Like a true baller, Darius overslept and didn't even make it to Media Day. 

Darius played in 62 games, starting 67, and the team finished 17-65.  I watched every game of this season, on WUAB 43 and FSN.  I still don't get why Dan Gilbert replaced stud announcer Michael Reghi.  Probably the worst move in franchise history.  Regardless, in every defeat, you could at least count on one great dunk from D-Miles.

Darius Miles and the horrendous play of the Cavaliers that season led to the team locking up the #1 overall pick in the 2003 Draft.  The #1 pick turned out to be some player named LeBron James.  He's pretty good from what I hear.  Darius and LeBron were close friends at the time, and the franchise was ready to move in a positive direction.

Midway through the 2003 season, the Cavaliers decided they no longer had a need for Darius.  He and LeBron played the same position, and it just wasn't meant to be.  That's not to say that he and The King didn't hook up on a few sick alley-oops before he departed to Portland.  We shipped him out, and in return received Jeff McInnis.  Not exactly what I had in mind.

While he was in Portland, he showed some of what he was capable of, and the Blazers were impressed.  So impressed, that they offered him a 6 year, $48 million dollar contract.  It was a pretty good deal for Miles, who hadn't exactly earned much of anything yet. 

My favorite story about Darius in Portland came during the 2004-2005 season, when he got into it with then-Coach Maurice Cheeks.  He apparently insulted Cheeks with racial slurs, and was quoted as saying, "I don't care if we lose the next 20 games, since Cheeks is going to be fired anyways."  Talk about sticking it to the man.  No one could doubt what he said was true, as Cheeks was soon fired and the team proceeded to lose most of their games the rest of the season. 

In 2005, he began the season red-hot.  In the first regular season game against Minnesota, he dropped 32 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, along with 5 assists and 5 steals, and 3 blocked shots.  He kept it up until he suffered a knee injury, and when he returned in February he just wasn't the same.  He was a player who relied on his quickness and jumping ability, and his knee just wasn't agreeing with him.  He sat out the entire 2006-2007 season due to microfracture surgery.

Darius is a Cavalier-great, whether you agree or not.  Not only does he play basketball, but he's also an actor.  He starred in the 2004 film The Perfect Score, where ironically, he played a high school basketball player who needed a qualifying SAT score to get into college.  Must have been a tough role for him to get into.  If you haven't seen it, you're missing out.  D-Miles is one of the 5 best dunkers in Cavaliers franchise, up there with the likes of LeBron and Ricky Davis.  Now that I think about it, Miles might be one of the most ferocious dunkers of all-time.  He represented the youth movement of the early 2000's, and was unfairly traded before he and LeBron the chance to mesh.  When he wanted to, he could block shots with the best of 'em.  Darius is currently attempting an NBA comeback with the Charlotte Bobcats, and I wish him the best.  I miss seeing the double-fist head bump, and hope he makes it onto a roster so he can bust it out after a nasty dunk.  It's pretty obvious, Darius Miles is Underrated

                     

You should never judge a book by it's cover.  The 12th greatest Cavalier of all-time is Earl Boykins, the 2nd shortest player in NBA history.  Standing at a towering 5 ft. 5", Boykins is shorter than every other player in the Association, other than Mugsy Bouges.  Earl is a Cleveland native, born and raised.

Earl Boykins went to Cleveland's Central Catholic High School, and made the varsity team his sophmore year.  Shoutouts to his high school coach, James Serluco who was one of my favorite teachers in High School.  Umm..Ya know, Boykins led the state of Ohio in scoring his senior season. 

Earl went on to play for Eastern Michigan University (what up Mt. Pleasant), and became an even better player.  His freshman season, his coach listed him at 5 ft. 7", because he was "ashamed" to have such a small guard on his team.  Earl told his coach, "I will be the best player you ever coach."  Boykins wasn't kidding; He dominated the MAC conference with relative ease. 

At EMU, Boykins was a solid scorer.  His best season was his senior year, where he averaged 25.7 points per game, 5.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds.  He was an honorable mention All-American, was the 2nd leading scorer in the country, and was selected to the 1st team All-Mid American Conference.  He started all 122 games in college, and expected to be drafted in the 1st round of the 1998 NBA Draft.  Surprisingly, no one took a chance on this incredible, vertically-challenged star.  He went undrafted. 

During the 1998-1999 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed Boykins to two 10-day contracts.  He was then signed for the remainder of the season.  He brought a level of excitement to the court, and was instantly a fan-favorite because of his ability to score the basketball.  Unfortunately, the Cavaliers waived him at the end of the 2000 season, for reasons we will never know.

After bouncing around with several other teams in a limited role during his first 5 years, inlcuding the Orlando Magic, LA Clippers, and Orlando, and Golden State Warriors, Boykins finally got a guaranteed contract from the Denver Nuggets.  His role was typically to come off the bench and inject energy in to the team's offense, something he took great pride in and did very well.  His best years definitely came in Denver, where he saw a lot more playing time than he was used to.  He was one of the quickest guards in the league, and his fast shooting motion allowed him to get shots off against much taller defenders.

Earl Boykins' career was improved in recent years when the NBA decided to allow some forms of zone defense.  He was always a legitimate threat to change the game, and often times defenses were perplexed with how he could manipulate their defensive strategy with his quick movement.  In 2004, he was the NBA's leading scorer off the bench.  At one point in the season, he was averaging 10.5 points per game.  In 2007, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, and then signed with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2008. 

I, like most Cavaliers fans, would have loved to see them go after Boykins and bring him back to Cleveland.  He deserved a chance to help the team that first gave him a shot in the league.  Even though he only played a small part and really didn't even play a full season for the Cavaliers, he still makes the list.

Over his career, Earl has consistently proven the doubters wrong and made a name for himself in the Association.  He has shown that through hard work and dedication, you can overcome the obstacles and achieve your dream.  Having Serluco as a high school coach undoubtedly helped.  It's a shame he and LeBron never got to share the court together, they would have been a dynamic duo.  Boykins always had an uncanny ability to get his shot off when it looked impossible.  According to various sources, even though Boykins only weighs around 133 lbs, he can bench press close to 315.  He was also known to throw in a nasty rejection on occasion, on someone he had no business blocking.  I'm not trying to trick ya, Earl Boykins is Underrated

                        

8 down..12 to go, and I feel like it's a good time to talk about the current state of the Cavaliers.  It's been 31 days since I began boycotting the ESPN and LeBron free-agent shenanigans.  There is exactly 10 days left until July 1st, the highly anticipated day where The King can sign with any team he chooses.  I'm basically exhausted from all the LeBron rumors, and I'm having a lot more fun focusing on the countdown. 

No, I won't be talking about Hometown Hero appreciation day in Akron, or the fact that the minor league Lake County Captains are adding the prefix "Le" to the team, and every players name on LeBron James Day.  It does makes sense however, to discuss the team's present and future. 

Tom Izzo was offered the Cavaliers coaching position, and respectfully declined.  Even though the money was there (6 years 30 million), he wasn't sure LeBron was going to be.  The fact that he couldn't even get in touch with James is likely the main reason he chose to stay with Michigan State.  There was a report that LeBron "fully endorsed" the attempt to hire Tom Izzo, but no one can really be sure what that even meant. 

Part of me wanted to see the MSU czar at the helm of the Cavaliers, but the more logical side of me is glad he's not going to be.  Tom Izzo has never coached a single game in the NBA.  He has no track record that you can look to, other than his impressive resume at Michigan State.   

Think about some of the college coaches who have seen little or no success in the Pro's.  Calipari and Pitino are two names that come to mind.  Highly respected coaches, no professional experience.  Both had stints in the NBA, and both are now back in college.  Being considered a good or even great college coach often does not translate into the professional ranks.  Handling grown men who make ridiculous salaries is a far cry from recruiting and managing high school players who essentially play for free.  Dan Gilbert grew up in Michigan and is probably a diehard Izzo supporter.  Considering the fact that he's the one making all the decisions for now, he wanted Tom and wasn't afraid to go after him.  Consider it an epic fail. 

There are plenty of other available coaches qualified to run the Cavaliers ship.  Personally, I don't want to see Kelvin Sampson.  My pick would be Byron Scott, who has championship-level coaching experience.  He also was a solid player, and led the Lakers to an NBA championship in 1988.  He knows what it takes to win in this league.

In 2000, he took over a terrible New Jersey team.  After struggling his first year, he succeeded in building a solid team, and took the Nets on an improbable run to the NBA Finals, eventually losing to the Lakers.  The following year, he took the same team to the Finals again, this time to lose to the San Antonio Spurs.  Byron Scott is well-respected in the league, and has the demeanor and confidence to coach a star-studded Cavaliers team.  If LeBron stays, that is.

The only way that Dan Gilbert can lure some of the other top free agents in this class is if LeBron does stay.  No one is going to want to come to Cleveland if he leaves.  That is why it is vital that he does.  This year's free agent class is pretty impressive.  With the likes of Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Manu Ginobili, Dirk Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer, and Michael Redd, there's a lot of star power that is available this off-season.

There's only a few realistic options for Gilbert to pursue.  The one that makes the most sense is a sign-and-trade for Chris Bosh.  If LeBron re-signs with the Cavs, it is likely that at least one big name will follow him.  Bosh is one of the most solid centers in the league, and would play extremely well alongside LeBron.  A good friend of mine, one with insight and knowledge of The Cavaliers Organization, is fairly confident that this is a likely scenario.  He thinks Bosh will sign with Toronto, and then force a sign-and-trade with the Cavaliers.  The likely pieces to be shipped out are Delonte West, Jawad Williams, possibly Varejao, and Wally Sczerbiak's contract.  The Cavs would in-turn receive Bosh and Jarrett Jack.  Pretty good deal for both teams, except for Cleveland having to include Varejao. 

The best part is, all of this could potentially go down in about 2 weeks.  If Bosh comes to Cleveland, we will already have assembled a team that is capable of winning championships for years to come.  Only, there is one piece missing.  Mo Williams is an exciting player, but he is not the point guard that this team needs to make a run, and win in the playoffs.  Historically, Mo has had solid regular seasons but let the team down in the playoffs, when we need him most.  He's not a good enough defender to handle Rajon Rondo or even Jameer Nelson.

My proposal to this solution is simple.  Get Chris Paul.  Do whatever it takes to bring him to Cleveland.  He and LeBron are best friends, and it just makes sense.  He is a top-5 point guard in the league, and like Bosh, would play extremely well alongside LeBron.  Think about that starting lineup.  Chris Paul, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, JJ Hickson, and Chris Bosh.  Granted, there are salary cap issues, and getting Bosh would essentially mean that Shaq would not be coming back.  He probably isn't anyways.       

The fate and future of the Cleveland Cavaliers will both be decided very soon.  The first piece to the puzzle is obvious.  Keep LeBron James in Cleveland.  All the other pieces will fall in to place.  I can't wait for this to play out, because I'm sick of ESPN and I'm pretty much sick of hearing about it.  LeBron will stay in Cleveland.  Who else will join?  LeBron James is Underrated

The 13th greatest Cavalier of all-time is without a doubt, Daniel “Boobie” Gibson. The epitome of an NBA stud who doesn’t get enough playing time, Daniel has had a huge impact on the Cavaliers organization, and has always been a fan-favorite.

Gibson grew up in Texas, where he excelled at Jones High School. Averaging 25.5 points per game, he led his team to a 31-5 record, and won the Texas 4A State Championships his senior year. Daniel chose to continue his career with the Texas Longhorns, but he wouldn’t be there long. In the two seasons he played, he scored 935 points, and made 175 three pointers. In his sophomore season, he dropped nine 3’s in a game against Baylor, a Texas record.

On June 7th 2006, Boobie decided he would enter the NBA draft, and forgo his two years remaining of college eligibility. 22 days later, the Cavaliers drafted Daniel in the second round with the 42nd overall pick. Following a pre-draft workout with the Cavs in 2006, he cancelled all remaining workouts with any other teams and refused to work out for them prior to the draft. This potentially was the reason he fell to the 2nd round. He joined a Cleveland backcourt that that was dead last in scoring in the NBA.  That was about to change.

Mike Brown gave Gibson his first start in January of 2007 against the Golden State Warriors. Only 20 years old, he would start 15 more games for the Cavaliers that season. He shot 42% from behind the 3 point line, which led all rookies.  LeBron was 31% on the year.. ouch.

Daniel represented the Cavaliers on the Sophmore-squad in the 2008 Rookie vs. Sophmore challenge.  On a team with Rajon Rondo, Rudy Gay, and Brandon Roy, playing against the likes of Kevin Durant and Al Horford.. Gibson was clearly the best player on the court.  Daniel shattered a record  by draining 11 three pointer's.  He scored 33 points, and brought home the MVP trophy.  Boobie and Zydrunas are the only Cavaliers to take home this award in the Rookie/Sophmore challenge.

 In the 2007 playoffs, he made a name for himself vs. the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.  In Game 3 he came up big with 9 points and an important steal from Tayshaun Prince late in the 4th quarter. He followed that up with 21 points in Game 4, which came from only 7 field goal attempts. We all know what LeBron did taking over in Game 5. But Game 6 was Daniel Gibson’s turn to shine. He dropped a career high 31 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter.

He helped the Cavaliers become only the third team in NBA history to win a best-of-seven conference final after losing the first two games of the series. Not to mention, he helped propel the Cavs to their first ever NBA finals.

Daniel Gibson is an important piece to the Cavaliers franchise. Although he has seen a significant decrease in playing time over the last several years, he still remains a fan favorite. Gibson is known for having unique designs cut into his hair, and it does a pretty good job of separating him from the crowd. Oh, and he’s dating Keyshia Cole.

I’m still not sure why Mike Brown basically delegated him to the bench this year. Extremely frustrating. Brown probably viewed Gibson’s size as hindrance to the team’s defense, but that’s just ignorant. Danny Ferry was even quoted as saying, “Daniel Gibson is the best defensive guard on the team.”

Whomever the Cavaliers coach might be next year, he should take advantage of all the things that Gibson brings to the table. (Apparently it won’t be Tom Izzo) Let’s just hope he gets back into the rotation, and knocks down the countless 3’s that we all know he can hit. "Shoot it Boobie, Shoot it". You gotta love this guy.  LeBron certainly does.  Daniel “Boobie” Gibson is Underrated

                    

You better believe he was going to make the list.  At #14, we arrive at legendary Cavalier, Bobby Sura.  One of my favorite Cavaliers of all-time, Bobby picked up the game of basketball at age 4.  His uncle built him a wooden goal to practice on, and he took advantage of it.

Bobby played his high-school b-ball at G.A.R Memorial High in Pennsylvania, where he lead his team to two consecutive state championship games.  He was voted Pennysylvania small-school player of the year in 1991 after he averaged more than 35 points a game.  Bob was pretty much the real deal.  He set the school record for points scored, and in four years his team went a perfect 80-0 in league play.

Somehow, Bob was still not heavily recruited after his domination in high school, but he soon made headlines when he dropped 68 points in a single game.  This convinced Florida State head coach Pat Kennedy to offer him a scholarship, and he took his game to the collegiate ranks.

As a true freshman, Sura was named ACC rookie of the week 3 times.  He also was named ACC rookie of the year, a nice little exclamation point to a great freshman season.  In Bobby's sophmore campaign, he averaged almost 20 points a game.  FSU finished 25-10, and came within one game of making the final four.  He was the face of the team the next two years, and was named to the All-ACC first team.  Additionally, he was the only Seminole ever to finish with 2000 points, 700 rebounds, 400 assists, and 200 steals.  Talk about doing it all.

The Cavaliers were well-aware of Bob Sura's basketball talents, and thus drafted him with the 17th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft.  Wearing the classic jersey #3, he brought a level of excitement to the franchise.  He could play both guard positions, and had great ball-handling skills.  Don't forget about his above-average leaping ability, solid rebounding skills, and ability to defend. 

Bobby Sura took part in All-Star weekend multiple times.  His rookie season he played in the Rookie/Sophmore challenge.  He also was in the 3-point contest and even made an appearance alongisde Kobe Bryant in the 1997 Dunk Contest.  His best season in a Cavaliers uniform was his last, when in 1999-2000 he averaged 13.8 points a game.  The Cavaliers traded him to the Golden State Warriors after that season however.  He also made stints in Atlanta, Detroit, and Houston before he unofficially ended his playing career in 2007.

When he played in Atlanta, he was still a solid scorer.  Bobby made news when he almost recorded a third consecutive triple-double, in true Ricky-Davis fashion.  Already notching two-straight triple-doubles, he intentionally missed a layup to grab that elusive 10th rebound.  The league eventually took the rebound away, but we all credited him for at least "trying".

Bob Sura will always remain in the heart of Cavaliers fans everywhere.  His ability to jump and the excitement he brought to the game was admirable.  On a team with Shawn Kemp and Derek Anderson in 1997, Bob Sura was arguably the best dunker.  He was a legitimate threat as a shooting guard in the Association during his time.  Bobby Sura is Underrated   

                      

Let's be real: I have no grounds for making this pick.  Wesley Person sneaks in at #15 on my list.. and I'm not even really sure why.  It's my 22nd birthday today, so don't ask questions.  Wes was born in Alabama, and attended the University of Auburn.  He was well-regarded for his shooting ability, and was expected to be a 1st round draft pick in the 1994 NBA Draft. 

The Phoenix Suns saw something they liked in Person, and drafted him with the 24th overall pick.  He only played three forgettable seasons in Phoenix before the Cavaliers acquired him in 1997.  The Cavaliers saw a solid player and a great perimeter threat, and he was a key part of the 97-98 season.  That year happened to be his best statistical season, when he averaged 14.7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.53 steals a game.

Speaking of the 1997 season, this was pretty much Wesley's best as a professional basketball player.  He played in all 82 games, shot 43% from the 3 point line, and averaged 39 minutes a game.  His 3 point stroke was nothing to joke about: he led the league in both 3's made and attempted.  Playing alongside Wes Person that year was Brevin Knight, Danny Ferry, Shawn Kemp, Bob Sura, and a rookie named Zydrunas Ilgauskas.  In one of his best games that year, he scored 31 points.. coming off the bench.  When he was on, he was one of the best pure shooters in the Assocation.  Combine Reggie Miller and Michael Jordan, and you get Wesley Person.. sort of.

The Good News: that year we finished 47-35, and made the playoffs.  The Cavaliers were the best defensive team in the league.  The Bad News: the Cavaliers got bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs, losing 3 games to 1 to the Indiana Pacers.  Wesley finished the year second in scoring for Cleveland behind the legendary (I use the term lightly) Shawn Kemp. 

The Cavaliers and Wesley Person parted ways after the 2002 season.  He played with the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, and Denver Nuggets before his playing days were over in 2005.  Clearly his best years were in Cleveland.

Wesley Person represents the good-old-Cavalier-days of the late 90's.  The man was a threat from behind the arc every time he touched the ball.  His career 3 point percentage was almost 42%.  Makes sense that he was selected to compete in multiple All-Star Weekend 3 point shootout contests.  Although he never did win one, his presence in the festivities made me proud to be a Cavaliers fan.  I'm not sure how he made it higher on the list than Terrell Brandon and Bobby Phills, but I think it's because I saw more of him.  He blossomed early and faded quickly, but he is still a Cavalier great.  LeBron never got the chance to dial-up Wesley, but he told me he wishes Wes-P had stuck around for a few more years.  It's true, Wesley Person is Underrated

                    

Danny Ferry made the list of my top 20 Cavaliers at #16, but oddly enough he is no longer with the organization. D-Ferry (or D-fairy depending on who you ask) was born in Maryland in 1966. Danny was a high school phenom, and was easily considered one of the best high school basketball athletes in the country in 1985. Danny gained national recognition when he was selected as Parade Magazine’s Prep Player of the Year. He was one of the most highly recruited seniors at the time, and he eventually committed to the Blue Devils of Duke University.

At Duke, Danny was pretty much a machine. He was renowned for his outside shooting, rebounding, and court-vision. Some even compared him to a young Larry Bird (a little bit of a stretch). He did however set a bunch of records while at Duke, and helped lead them to 3 Final Four appearances. Danny still holds Duke’s all-time single game scoring record, with 58 points in a game against Miami in 1988. Duke is a college powerhouse, and he cemented his legacy there ranking 5th in career points, and 5th in career rebounds.

He was also a consensus All-American, and earned a Naismith College Player of the Year award. You should be getting the picture: Danny was the man. He was one of the country’s most popular players in the country, and he was near the top on most team’s draft boards. Duke even retired his #35 jersey at the end of his senior season.

Danny was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 2nd overall pick in the 1989 draft. Danny knew the history of their terrible franchise, and indicated that he would not play for them. The Clippers sent him overseas to Italy where he played one season averaging 23 points and 6 rebounds. Before he played a game for the Los Angeles, the Cavaliers acquired him along with Reggie Williams in exchange for Ron Harper, and two 1st round draft picks. The Cavs were willing to give up a good deal to get him, but they had faith he would be worth it. 

Danny’s Ferry time in a Cleveland uniform was solid. He spent 10 years as a Cavalier, playing in a franchise-record 723 record games (until Zydrunas broke it), and averaged 7.8 points and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes a game. His best season came playing alongside other top 20 cavaliers Terrell Brandon and Bobby Phills, where he averaged 13 points and 4 rebounds in 32 minutes a game.

At 6 foot 10 inches and 230 pounds, Danny was a legitimate NBA power forward and gave the Cavaliers that token white-guy you could easily root for. Although many would argue he never became the type of star the Cavaliers were hoping for, he was still a solid Cavalier and remained loyal to the franchise.

Danny left Cleveland in 2000 and signed with the San Antonio Spurs. After a few uneventful seasons, he retired and joined their front office from 2003-2005. He directed all basketball operations and was very active in the draft and free agency market.

The Cavaliers offered Danny a chance to return as a GM for the franchise he played 10 seasons for, when he was offered a 5 year contract worth $10 million dollars in 2005. Danny’s management career in Cleveland started off a little shaky, when he constructed the infamous signing of Larry Hughes. He rebounded quickly though, and started building our franchise to what he assumed would be a title contender.

He was the architect of the Shaquille O’ Neal sign-and-trade, the Antawn Jamison acquisition, and also bringing in Mo Williams. Unfortunately, we all know the story of the 2010 Cavaliers collapse. LeBron is on the fence about returning, and Danny turned in his resignation just about a week ago. Apparently he didn’t like the direction Dan Gilbert was taking this team. He also wasn’t in favor of the way the Cavaliers handled themselves during the regular season, and D-Ferry disapproved of the organization basically bending over backwards for every one of LeBron’s requests.

As such, he is no longer part of the franchise. Regardless, Danny is still a good guy.  I was once told, "You should start liking players for things they do off the court, because that means they are good people.." whatever that means.  He is a board member of Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights OH. He’s also a board member of Playing for Peace: a nonprofit organization that uses basketball to unite and educate kids around the world.  Danny, we thank you for your time in Cleveland and we wish you luck in the future.  The Sarah's would agree.. Danny Ferry is Underrated

                      

Editors note:  This guest post was written by Rob Mixer, an Ohio University journalism student.  Rob is an assistant sports-editor for The Post, an Athens newspaper.  This article originally appeared in The Post on Wednesday, June 2nd.  Rob muses on the ESPN LeBron media frenzy. 

ESPN is at it again. Yesterday, we cut into regularly-scheduled programming on the family of networks that is expanding like Kate Gosselin's womb to alert the nation of the breaking news. And in typical flavor-of-the-month fashion, ESPN has latched onto its latest victim: LeBron James.

The impending free agent filmed an interview with veteran journalist Larry King yesterday and the two discussed a variety of topics, but the only one worth noting is James' status come July 1.

On the newly-found "LeBron" tab on the famous Bottom Line, viewers found out that James told King that the Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom James has spent his entire professional career, have "an edge" to sign him once the insanity begins.

This was portrayed as top-of-the-line breaking news that the world should be privileged to discover. The quote was played four times in five minutes on the Bottom Line and it took over ESPNNews.

Congratulations to ESPN for winning the Captain Obvious Chapeau. Wait... LeBron said the Cavaliers have an "edge" ... you mean like, he prefers to stay in Cleveland before committing to New Jersey for six years? No.Way.

Let us completely ignore the fact that James can make the most money over the longest term by re-signing in Cleveland, and one of the teams reportedly interested in his services (Knicks, Nets, and Bulls), the Cavaliers are by and large the most prepared team when it comes to competing for championships.

But clearly that doesn't matter. LeBron told King that the Cavaliers have the edge, and the sporting world is supposed to collectively gasp. Now, everyone act surprised. There we go.

What is increasingly flummoxing to me is how the nation's sports fans are conned into thinking that ESPN does a bevy of actual reporting. You mean to tell me that Ed Werder spends every waking moment around the Cowboys facility, and calls his "sources" repeatedly until they threaten to cut him off? Please. 

Or that the numerous check-ins from Rachel Nichols at the NBA finals aren't just rehashed versions of what most people read in the morning's newspaper or online?

But that is the disturbing trend: ESPN is becoming less of the worldwide leader in sports, and more of the worldwide leader in "no $#!%." What is James supposed to say?

He isn't showing his hand, he's just stating the obvious. Would a poker player with pocket aces doubt for a second that he doesn't have the best hand at the table? Of course not.

James prefers to stay in Cleveland for at least one reason: money. He says that the fans and the city have given him a lot over the last seven years, and that's also true. Without the hundred of consecutive sellouts at Quicken Loans Arena, James' celebrity is not as large. And without thousands of his jerseys splayed across the world, would he be the star he is now?

James' situation is unique because of his stature in sport, but leave it to ESPN to make a mountain out of a molehill when given the opportunity. Besides, it gets awfully lonely around those parts when Brett Favre isn't saying anything.

Written by: Rob Mixer. Check out The Post's website and blog:  The Post Blog

Resuming our countdown, we arrive at #17:  Bobby Phills.  He was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and attended Southern University.  Southern is one of the most well-known historically black colleges and universities.  As a Southern Jaguar, he played alongside Avery Johnson, and he his senior year he established himself as a legitimate college stud, lighting it up from behind the arc.  In the 90-91 season, his senior year, he ranked fourth in scoring with 28.4 a game.  That same year, he led the nation in three-pointers made per game with 4.39.

Bobby Phills was not drafed in the first round of the 1991 NBA Draft, but he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round with the 45th overall pick.  As a rookie, he hadn't even played a single minute before the Bucks cut him in December.  Maybe see how he plays first? 

Determined to make it with another team, he refined his skills with the Sioux Falls Sky Force of the CBA.  That was a great move for him, because he got a chance to play and develop his skills.  He got his game back and averaged 23 points per game.  The Cavaliers took notice and signed him later that same season, and he appeared in 10 games. 

A solid defender and tireless worker, they kept a roster spot for him the next year.  In his second season he appeared in 31 games with the Cavs.  In 1993, he finally emerged as a solid NBA player, playing in 72 games.  That season, he started 53 of those game and average 8 points.  The next year in 1994, he was a regular starter and averaged 11 points per game. 

Bobby kept developing his raw talent and in the 1995-1996 Cavaliers season, one of my first as a true fan, he started drilling 3's with consistency.  On a team with Shawn Kemp, Terrell Brandon, Danny Ferry, and Bob Sura, he scored almost 15 points a game.  He improved his shooting percentage over 50 percent from the year before, and shot 44% from the behind the arc.  That was good enough for 7th in the league, better than Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, and Allan Houston.  He also was named to the NBA all-defensive team. 

Coached by Mike Fratello, The Cavs finished 47-35 and made the playoffs that year, but were knocked out by the Knicks in the first round.  Interesting side-note: that year Shaquille O' Neal was 50% from the 3 point line.  Not sure how that works out.

Phills played one more year as a Cavalier, and then was signed by the Charlotte Hornets as a free-agent.  That year he missed 20 games due to injury, but still averaged 10.4 points a game.  He followed that up with another solid year in 1998, and was averaging 13.6 points per game 28 games into the 1999 season before his life came to a tragic end. 

On January 12, 2000, Bobby Phills died in a car accident in North Carolina on the way home from a morning shoot-around.  He was only 30 years of age.  According to the police report, Bobby and teammate David Wesley were wrecklessly racing their Porsche's over 100 miles an hour when his car spun out of control and he veered into oncoming straffic.

It sent shockwaves throughout the Association.  He was survived by his wife Kendall and two childern.  Later that year, the Hornets retired his #13 jersey during a game against the Cavaliers later that year.  Bobby Phills was a true NBA good-guy, winning the NBA's Sportsmanship Award in 1998.  Bobby helped turn around the Cavaliers franchise, at least temporarily.  His years in Cleveland will always be fondly remembered, and his 1996 season will always be remembered as a piece of Cavaliers history.  I'm guessing he probably ends up blocking Jordan in that picture.  Bobby Phills is underrated