Drew Gooden has had a decent run thus far as the starting power forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He enters each game as a potential double-double threat. However, he still shows room for growth in his game. He tends to feed off of his offense, which was a successful strategy in college when he was a feature player but is now less effective at the pro level as a secondary option for the Cavaliers. Regardless, he has displayed respectable shooting range and the ability to score in bunches.
Now, with the season opener just a week away, Gooden finds himself in a situation he has not been in since joining the Cavs. That is, the backup situation for him and Zydrunas Ilgauskas is not clear. When Gooden first joined the Cavs, they had Robert "Tractor" Traylor as a reserve big man. Also on the roster was the project known as DeSagana Diop, as well as the hidden gem in the Gooden trade with Orlando three years ago: Anderson Varejao. When Traylor had developed career-threatening heart problems, the team replaced him with versatile forward Donyell Marshall. Alan Henderson and Scot Pollard took Diop's spot on the roster in consecutive years as they each spent a season as a veteran post presence on the bench.
As it stands, Varejao continues to heed the advice of his agent by holding out. Without Varejao, the Cavaliers only have a three-man post rotation set: Gooden, Z, and Marshall. Both Ilgauskas and Marshall are solid veterans, but they are also approaching the ends of their prime years. Meanwhile, neither Dwayne Jones nor Cedric Simmons has had enough opportunities to solidify regular turns in the rotation. With that said, the success of the Cavs' inside game depends on the play of Gooden. Gooden might not have to be as relentless on defense as Varejao, but he needs to prove that he can play consistent, focused defense. He also needs to play more physically in order to slow down featured big men like opening night opponent Dirk Nowitzki. On offense, he needs to find ways to get inside. He needs to utilize his rebounding ability, not just to score second-chance points, but to frustrate and wear out the opposition. In general, he needs to take some pressure off Z this season.
When Carlos Boozer left town, Cleveland quickly found a well-known replacement in Gooden, who was a former lottery draft pick. However, in three years with the team, it has been Varejao that has asserted his status, like Boozer, as a second round draft pick steal. Now, with the "Wild Thing" arguably chasing money like "Booze", Gooden gets another shot to cement his status on this team as a cornerstone.
Now, with the season opener just a week away, Gooden finds himself in a situation he has not been in since joining the Cavs. That is, the backup situation for him and Zydrunas Ilgauskas is not clear. When Gooden first joined the Cavs, they had Robert "Tractor" Traylor as a reserve big man. Also on the roster was the project known as DeSagana Diop, as well as the hidden gem in the Gooden trade with Orlando three years ago: Anderson Varejao. When Traylor had developed career-threatening heart problems, the team replaced him with versatile forward Donyell Marshall. Alan Henderson and Scot Pollard took Diop's spot on the roster in consecutive years as they each spent a season as a veteran post presence on the bench.
As it stands, Varejao continues to heed the advice of his agent by holding out. Without Varejao, the Cavaliers only have a three-man post rotation set: Gooden, Z, and Marshall. Both Ilgauskas and Marshall are solid veterans, but they are also approaching the ends of their prime years. Meanwhile, neither Dwayne Jones nor Cedric Simmons has had enough opportunities to solidify regular turns in the rotation. With that said, the success of the Cavs' inside game depends on the play of Gooden. Gooden might not have to be as relentless on defense as Varejao, but he needs to prove that he can play consistent, focused defense. He also needs to play more physically in order to slow down featured big men like opening night opponent Dirk Nowitzki. On offense, he needs to find ways to get inside. He needs to utilize his rebounding ability, not just to score second-chance points, but to frustrate and wear out the opposition. In general, he needs to take some pressure off Z this season.
When Carlos Boozer left town, Cleveland quickly found a well-known replacement in Gooden, who was a former lottery draft pick. However, in three years with the team, it has been Varejao that has asserted his status, like Boozer, as a second round draft pick steal. Now, with the "Wild Thing" arguably chasing money like "Booze", Gooden gets another shot to cement his status on this team as a cornerstone.