Pollard fills gap for Cavs

KG-MVP21 · 08-19-2006, 10:34 PM

Scot Pollard knows his role.

"I'm a piece," Pollard said Friday after signing a one-year contract with the Cavaliers that is believed to be worth about $2.2 million. "I'm not a guy you build your team around. I'm a piece to a championship puzzle.

"I'm not a pretty player. I do the dirty work. I dive on the floor. I take charges and set screens. I do the things a lot of other guys don't like to do in this league, and I'm pretty sure that's why I'm still in this league. I relish that role."

The veteran power forward, who was attracted by the chance to play with LeBron James and the up-and-coming Cavs, said he'd known since his freshman year at Kansas that he was not going to become an NBA star.

"I was the fifth option from my freshman year on," said Pollard, who played with Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, Jacque Vaughn and Greg Ostertag. "I was happy to do that . . . It's like a point guard getting an assist. That's how I feel when I set a screen or box out."

Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry has a star in James. He needs more complementary players around him.

"Adding Scot Pollard to our roster gives us more depth, size, toughness and experience," Ferry said.

Pollard, 31, a 6-11, 265-pound swingman from Kansas, was a first-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1997. He has played nine seasons with Detroit, Sacramento and Indiana, with career averages of 4.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 17.6 minutes a game. He averaged 3.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 17.1 minutes in 49 games with Indiana last season.

Often known as much for his wacky hairdos and blue nail polish as his tough, physical play inside, Pollard told reporters in a conference call on Friday that he had cut off his hair and was sporting a crew cut this summer.

In another move that may have more salary-cap implications than roster impact, the Cavs traded little-used center Martynas Andriuskevicius to the Chicago Bulls for guard Eddie Basden. Andriuskevicius had a guaranteed contract. Basden, who averaged 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 19 games with Chicago last season, does not.

Back to school:

James will donate backpacks full of school supplies to 2,500 area youngsters in Akron, Cleveland and Columbus through his nonprofit James Family Foundation and in partnership with Sam's Club, Target and the Universal Nursing Services.

Sham · 08-22-2006, 06:40 PM

This was a very smart move since the Cavs don't have any backup C's, and because Pollard is a decent rebounder, and an occasionally decent jump shooter.

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08-19-2006, 10:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
KG-MVP21 All Star Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Catalonia Posts: 2,503	Scot Pollard knows his role. "I'm a piece," Pollard said Friday after signing a one-year contract with the Cavaliers that is believed to be worth about $2.2 million. "I'm not a guy you build your team around. I'm a piece to a championship puzzle. "I'm not a pretty player. I do the dirty work. I dive on the floor. I take charges and set screens. I do the things a lot of other guys don't like to do in this league, and I'm pretty sure that's why I'm still in this league. I relish that role." The veteran power forward, who was attracted by the chance to play with LeBron James and the up-and-coming Cavs, said he'd known since his freshman year at Kansas that he was not going to become an NBA star. "I was the fifth option from my freshman year on," said Pollard, who played with Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, Jacque Vaughn and Greg Ostertag. "I was happy to do that . . . It's like a point guard getting an assist. That's how I feel when I set a screen or box out." Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry has a star in James. He needs more complementary players around him. "Adding Scot Pollard to our roster gives us more depth, size, toughness and experience," Ferry said. Pollard, 31, a 6-11, 265-pound swingman from Kansas, was a first-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1997. He has played nine seasons with Detroit, Sacramento and Indiana, with career averages of 4.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 17.6 minutes a game. He averaged 3.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 17.1 minutes in 49 games with Indiana last season. Often known as much for his wacky hairdos and blue nail polish as his tough, physical play inside, Pollard told reporters in a conference call on Friday that he had cut off his hair and was sporting a crew cut this summer. In another move that may have more salary-cap implications than roster impact, the Cavs traded little-used center Martynas Andriuskevicius to the Chicago Bulls for guard Eddie Basden. Andriuskevicius had a guaranteed contract. Basden, who averaged 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 19 games with Chicago last season, does not. Back to school: James will donate backpacks full of school supplies to 2,500 area youngsters in Akron, Cleveland and Columbus through his nonprofit James Family Foundation and in partnership with Sam's Club, Target and the Universal Nursing Services.

08-22-2006, 06:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sham Rookie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Orange County, Southern California Posts: 369	This was a very smart move since the Cavs don't have any backup C's, and because Pollard is a decent rebounder, and an occasionally decent jump shooter.