Semih says “no” to Cavs, “yes” to Turkey (via ABJ)

via Jason Lloyd (JasonLloydABJ) of the Akron Beacon Journal

Semih ErdenSemih Erden is returning to Turkey to play with Anadolu Efes of the Euroleague, the team’s website reported Tuesday. The Cavs did not confirm the report.

Erden, 25, signed a two-year deal with a team option for a third year. He spent two injury-plagued seasons in Cleveland, averaging 3.5 points and 2.6 rebounds in 28 games (nine starts) last season. Coach Byron Scott had high hopes for Erden, but they went relatively unmet.

Scott criticized Erden multiple times last season for not playing hard enough and not giving a strong enough effort. When he was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Cavs two years ago, Erden emphatically denied rumors that he was homesick and wanted to return to Turkey.

Then reports swirled for the past couple of weeks that Erden was returning home to play, reports that his agent denied. Yet that’s where he is going.

The Cavs extended Erden a qualifying offer of about $1 million hours before the midnight deadline Sunday, making him a restricted free agent. The Cavs had the right to match any offer he received, but that obviously only applies to other teams in the NBA. The team would retain his rights should he return to the NBA in the future.

 

You know what this means… this post gets the “Alumni” tag

Cavs Extend offers to Gee, Erden and Harangody

via cavs.com

The Cleveland Cavaliers have extended qualifying offers to center Semih Erden, guard/forward Alonzo Gee and forward Luke Harangody, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts. Per league and team policy, terms of the offers were not announced.

By extending qualifying offers to each player prior to June 30, Cleveland owns the right to match any offer sheet they may sign with another team.

Erden, 25, averaged 3.5 points on .527 shooting and 2.6 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game in 28 games (nine starts) during the 2011-12 season.

Gee, 25, averaged career highs in points (10.6), rebounds (5.1), assists (1.8) and steals (1.3) in 29.0 minutes per game in 63 games (31 starts) this season.

Harangody, 24, averaged 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game in 21 games (one start).