Cavs lost the glue guy
It’s a testament to the ruthless side of the National Basketball Association that the Cavaliers’ move has been hailed as an outstanding one. True, they save a whopping $12.8 million in penalties. On the other hand, they lost a glue guy, perhaps THE glue g
Ask those who toil for contending teams, and they’d readily tell you they’ve got glue guys to get them through any given season. These guys are crucial to success — having the disposition to perk up a locker room down from a disappointing loss, or stunt a potential conflict threatening to disrupt chemistry, or highlight positive developments while going through the inevitable slog of the campaign. And, make no mistake, these guys can ball, underscoring the importance of work ethic while promoting the interests of the collective above all else.
For the Cavaliers, Richard Jefferson was one such player. An offseason pickup in 2015, he quickly became part of the regular rotation in light of his capacity to contribute in both ends of the court. He had the touch to puncture the hoop, the initiative to stay in front of his man, and the athleticism to keep pace on both ends of the court. Most importantly, he had the smarts to contribute exactly what the wine and gold needed, and when and where they needed it. And considering his accomplishments, it’s fair to argue that, without them, downtown Cleveland would not have been able to host a million-string championship parade last year.
Through the 2016- 2017 season, Jefferson found himself seeing less action, and if he ruled his decision to return for another tour of duty instead of retiring as he initially planned, he didn’t show it. On the contrary, he remained active in the sidelines regardless of how much or how little he burned rubber. He voice commanded no less respect; his podcast with fellow glue guy Channing Frye gained popularity precisely because he possessed both the credibility and the candor to say what he meant and mean what he said, and make sense.
Over the weekend, Jefferson saw his time with the Cavaliers end following a cash-saving trade to the Hawks. He knew it was coming; the arrival of Jae Crowder and Dwyane Wade sent him to the pine, making his $2.5-million salary untenable in the context of an aggregate $40-million luxury tax bill. And yet he was a glue guy through and through; he noted in his podcast prior to the formal announcement of the deal that “I’m sacrificing my way out of here,” and kept at his role in his immediate past team’s preseason finale, as if nothing changed.
It’s a testament to the ruthless side of the National Basketball Association that the Cavaliers’ move has been hailed as an outstanding one. True, they save a whopping $12.8 million in penalties. On the other hand, they lost a glue guy, perhaps THE glue guy, and how much of an impact the turn of events will have on their quest for a title is anybody’s guess. His podcast will be missed, and for those who knew him well, so will everything else he brought to the table.