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Aaron Goodwin has been an agent for 22 years.
He said he reminded Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry recently that he negotiated contracts with his father, Bob, back in the day.
All he wants to do now is sit at the negotiating table opposite Ferry and actually negotiate a contract for point guard Delonte West.
West, a restricted free agent, flew to Cleveland days after the summer league in Las Vegas and met with Ferry and Cavs assistant general manager Chris Grant.Goodwin said West expressed his desire to play for the Cavs.
"He wants to play in the NBA and for the Cleveland Cavaliers," Goodwin said.
When the free-agent period began, Ferry and Goodwin decided that they would let Grant and Noah Croom, who works for Goodwin Sports Management in Seattle,negotiate a new deal. Goodwin and Croom flew to Cleveland early in the process to outline parameters of a contract.
With one month of the free-agent period now in the books, Goodwin said he believes the Cavs are low-balling West.
"They said, 'Take the deal we've offered or we'll go an alternate route,' " Goodwin said. "They won't negotiatefairly."
According to a league source, the Cavs have talked to Philadelphia 76ers guard Louis Williams, another restricted free agent. Williams, 21, is a 6-foot-2,175-pounder who averaged 12 points for the Sixers last season.
He has reportedly turned down a contract starting at $3.9 million from the Sixers.
The Cavs signed fellow restricted free agent Daniel Gibson to a five-year, $21 million contract. The first year of the deal starts at $3.7 million.
Goodwin said the Cavs have offered slightly more to West.
"They made an offer to Delonte for around what they got 'Boobie' to sign for," Goodwin said. "Chris Duhon got $5 million-plus, and hemight not even start (for the New York Knicks). All the comparables that we showed them doesn't matter to Cleveland.
"They keep saying how much players want to play with LeBron (James). That doesn't work with Delonte."
Goodwin said the Cavs told him they have five or six players who are all around the same level playing-wise. So, he said they want to keep all of those playersat the same level contract-wise.
"It doesn't work that way," Goodwin said. "Delonte is their starting point guard. He has to play offense and defense. He has to play defenseagainst guys like (Washington's) Gilbert Arenas.
"I think he's hard-nosed, gritty. He can help that team. It's not apples for apples."
A league source said Boston and Miami have approached the Cavs regarding sign-and-trades. The source said they were turned down by the Cavs.
"To quote another team, 'Why should we negotiate for the Cavs?' " Goodwin said. " 'If we make an offer, all they'll do ismatch.'
"Teams hide behind the first refusal clause - the right to match anything. Other teams see value in West, but Cleveland doesn't."
A source said West wants a five-year contract. The Cavs have offered several options, including a four-year deal with the final year a team option.
One source doesn't think West should get the full mid-level ($5.6 million) in the first year of a possible deal. But the source said he thinks West shouldbe in that range and average $5 million over the course of the deal.
Reportedly, the Cavs are not in that ballpark.
If things break down, Goodwin said his client will play for the qualifying offer of $2.7 million and become an unrestricted free agent after the 2008-09season.
"If he gets a good deal, we'll do it," Goodwin said. "If not, we'll take the qualifying offer."
Goodwin and Croom, the lead negotiator in this ordeal, have spoken to teams from Europe, including Dynamo Moscow in Russia.
Playing overseas, though, doesn't appear to be a viable option. Goodwin said he wants to get a fair deal for his client with the Cavs.
"The ball is in their hands," Goodwin said. "If they go get someone else, the hand is set. If we sit down and work something out, we'll getsomething done. We are not posturing. That's where he wants to be."
"Quit telling us these bluffs. Sit down and negotiate a fair deal. They are making offers not far off the qualifying offer."
Goodwin said he normally doesn't comment on negotiations, but he felt compelled to do so with the way the Cavs are handling negotiations.
"I felt I needed to comment so the Cavs' fans don't think we are being unrealistic and don't know the market," he said. "We want tobe fair."
Ferry said he is not allowed to comment on negotiations as per league rules.
He said he reminded Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry recently that he negotiated contracts with his father, Bob, back in the day.
All he wants to do now is sit at the negotiating table opposite Ferry and actually negotiate a contract for point guard Delonte West.
West, a restricted free agent, flew to Cleveland days after the summer league in Las Vegas and met with Ferry and Cavs assistant general manager Chris Grant.Goodwin said West expressed his desire to play for the Cavs.
"He wants to play in the NBA and for the Cleveland Cavaliers," Goodwin said.
When the free-agent period began, Ferry and Goodwin decided that they would let Grant and Noah Croom, who works for Goodwin Sports Management in Seattle,negotiate a new deal. Goodwin and Croom flew to Cleveland early in the process to outline parameters of a contract.
With one month of the free-agent period now in the books, Goodwin said he believes the Cavs are low-balling West.
"They said, 'Take the deal we've offered or we'll go an alternate route,' " Goodwin said. "They won't negotiatefairly."
According to a league source, the Cavs have talked to Philadelphia 76ers guard Louis Williams, another restricted free agent. Williams, 21, is a 6-foot-2,175-pounder who averaged 12 points for the Sixers last season.
He has reportedly turned down a contract starting at $3.9 million from the Sixers.
The Cavs signed fellow restricted free agent Daniel Gibson to a five-year, $21 million contract. The first year of the deal starts at $3.7 million.
Goodwin said the Cavs have offered slightly more to West.
"They made an offer to Delonte for around what they got 'Boobie' to sign for," Goodwin said. "Chris Duhon got $5 million-plus, and hemight not even start (for the New York Knicks). All the comparables that we showed them doesn't matter to Cleveland.
"They keep saying how much players want to play with LeBron (James). That doesn't work with Delonte."
Goodwin said the Cavs told him they have five or six players who are all around the same level playing-wise. So, he said they want to keep all of those playersat the same level contract-wise.
"It doesn't work that way," Goodwin said. "Delonte is their starting point guard. He has to play offense and defense. He has to play defenseagainst guys like (Washington's) Gilbert Arenas.
"I think he's hard-nosed, gritty. He can help that team. It's not apples for apples."
A league source said Boston and Miami have approached the Cavs regarding sign-and-trades. The source said they were turned down by the Cavs.
"To quote another team, 'Why should we negotiate for the Cavs?' " Goodwin said. " 'If we make an offer, all they'll do ismatch.'
"Teams hide behind the first refusal clause - the right to match anything. Other teams see value in West, but Cleveland doesn't."
A source said West wants a five-year contract. The Cavs have offered several options, including a four-year deal with the final year a team option.
One source doesn't think West should get the full mid-level ($5.6 million) in the first year of a possible deal. But the source said he thinks West shouldbe in that range and average $5 million over the course of the deal.
Reportedly, the Cavs are not in that ballpark.
If things break down, Goodwin said his client will play for the qualifying offer of $2.7 million and become an unrestricted free agent after the 2008-09season.
"If he gets a good deal, we'll do it," Goodwin said. "If not, we'll take the qualifying offer."
Goodwin and Croom, the lead negotiator in this ordeal, have spoken to teams from Europe, including Dynamo Moscow in Russia.
Playing overseas, though, doesn't appear to be a viable option. Goodwin said he wants to get a fair deal for his client with the Cavs.
"The ball is in their hands," Goodwin said. "If they go get someone else, the hand is set. If we sit down and work something out, we'll getsomething done. We are not posturing. That's where he wants to be."
"Quit telling us these bluffs. Sit down and negotiate a fair deal. They are making offers not far off the qualifying offer."
Goodwin said he normally doesn't comment on negotiations, but he felt compelled to do so with the way the Cavs are handling negotiations.
"I felt I needed to comment so the Cavs' fans don't think we are being unrealistic and don't know the market," he said. "We want tobe fair."
Ferry said he is not allowed to comment on negotiations as per league rules.
