Hooped Up

After completing a buyout with the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, guard Sasha Pavlovic has agreed in principle on a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Pavlovic, 25, was traded to the Suns with Ben Wallace(notes) in the Shaquille O’Neal(notes) trade in June. He played five seasons with the Cavaliers before the deal. With proceeds from the Suns buyout, Pavlovic will make $2.75 million this season.

Pavlovic’s role with the Cavaliers diminished last season. The Timberwolves’ new coach, Kurt Rambis, was a big proponent of signing Pavlovic, a source said.

The New York Knicks also expressed interest in signing Pavlovic.

Yahoo! Sports

The NBA approved the Suns’ contract buyout of Sasha Pavlovic, clearing the way for Phoenix to waive him today and reap $7.4 million of savings on his contract.

Pavlovic accepted a buyout of $1.25 million, $250,000 less than his guaranteed salary of $1.5 million and $3.7 million less than his full salary of $4.95 for the last year of his contract. Keeping Pavlovic would have cost the Suns double his price because the Suns’ payroll exceeds the luxury tax threshold.

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Shaquille O’Neal, Antawn Jamison and now Vince Carter has popped up in trade rumour talks to Cleveland.

The Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers have discussed Vince Carter again, sources said. As financial losses mount for New Jersey’s ownership, it appears more likely that the Nets will try to move Carter and the two years and $33.6 million left on his deal. The Nets would have to take Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic in return.

If the Cavs and Nets completed this deal, life for LeBron James becomes easier instantly and for Vince Carter and his legacy things could be looking up. Lets see how this one plays out.

Via Yahoo

The Orlando Magic proved that the Cavaliers need a big mobile forward with active legs and Antawn Jamison fits that description perfectly. Now can the Cavs and Wiz make a deal?

While plenty of media outlets are speculating about a potential deal between Cleveland and Phoenix, we’ve heard some talk of a possible trade between Cleveland and Washington actually. The deal would essentially be a cost-cutting move for the Wizards, sending Antawn Jamison and filler (Mike James) to the Cavs for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. Wallace seems likely to retire, and Pavlovic is on a non-guaranteed contract for next season. It’s not clear whether the Wizards would need to surrender the #5 pick.

I have no idea why the Wizards would want to do this trade, but if Cleveland can make this deal happen it would be on par with and maybe even slightly better than landing Shaq.

Via DraftExpress.com

The Phoenix Suns are still interested in solving their payroll problems by shipping Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland.

Whether getting a 37-year-old center would be enough to enlarge LeBron James’ comfort zone with the Cavs and keep him in Cleveland long-term is another conversation.

The same trade was in play in February and now the Arizona Republicsays it remains essentially the same. The Suns, wanting to avoid paying the luxury tax, dump O’Neal’s $20 million salary on the Cavaliers. Phoenix cuts its salary cap number by taking on Ben Wallace — who may be ready for a buyout — and Sasha Pavlovic, who is in the final year of his contract and has only $1.5 million guaranteed.

USA Today

The word ‘’sprain” was used to describe the injury Sasha Pavlovic suffered back in January, but that didn’t mean it was minor.

There was a period when the Cavaliers’ team doctors feared that the mid-foot injury might have wiped out his season. The point being, just having him back on the court is its own success story. Nonetheless, Pavlovic couldn’t have been more aggressive in his desire to get back to the team as fast as possible.

The reason is simple: competition. Pavlovic might not directly admit it, but he and the other guards on the Cavs’ roster know there is probably going to be an odd man out come the playoffs, and none of them want to be that man. Which is why Pavlovic returned ahead of schedule from his foot injury last week and has quickly found a rhythm in the starting lineup.

Akron Beacon Journal