Stith to sign with Cleveland

[Mark Piotrowski <markp@edu15.coe.ufl.edu>]

This is a curious signing -- all i can figure out is that Stith 
really liked John Lucas b/c (a) the Cavs most certainly will be worse 
than the Celtics and (b) according to Bskball.com the contract is in 
the neighborhood of $2.5 million/2 years.  i can't believe we offered 
less.  Maybe but

maybe Stith saw the writing on the wall and knew his playing time 
would be limited this season.  Whatever the reason, i really will 
miss Stith.  I think his maturity and presence on the bench and in 
the locker room will be missed -- and in general has been overlooked 
in evaluating last season.  Yeah he only averaged 10 points but his 
defense and spacing kept us in many a game.  And i think that even 
though he was less talented than Pierce or Antoine, they accepted his 
leadership.

the maturity is something i hope McLeod can bring, which has been not 
discussed in the trade breakdown.  Reading his comments make me 
somewhat hopeful -- "i'm never going to be a star, i just want to do 
my role well" or something to that effect.  We need more role players 
who will accept their role.  He may have sucked as a coach (may have? 
well... DID), but ML Carr was a great role player.  When we fans 
"build" teams i think the intangibles are what we overlook (which 
would make sense since they are intangible).  Its why teams like 
Portland fail, while teams like Orlando 2 years back overacheive.

mark

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Cavs expected to sign Stith

08/08/01
Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter

Cleveland Cavaliers coach John Lucas said that last week's trades 
were only the beginning. He was right.

The Cavs are expected to sign Bryant Stith this week, said a source 
close to the negotiations. Stith is a 6-5 shooting guard who can 
replace Matt Harpring. Harpring, Cedric Henderson and Robert Traylor 
were traded last week to Philadelphia for Jumaine Jones and Tyrone 
Hill.

Stith averaged 9.7 points for Boston last season. He would rejoin 
Lucas, who was an assistant in Denver when Stith was there. Stith was 
selected in the first round (13th overall) by Denver in the 1992 
draft.