The Cleveland Cavaliers recently completed a low-risk, high-reward transaction when they signed Leon Powe to a two-year deal. The contract is for $1.77 million, however more than half of the deal is unguaranteed.
Powe, who played a big role in the Boston Celtics winning the 2008 NBA championship, suffered a severe knee injury in the 2009 postseason. Not only did he require reconstructive ACL surgery, he also had microfracture surgery. On top of that, this is the same knee that has suffered damage prior to him joining the NBA.
Last year with the Celtics, Powe averaged 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 17.5 minutes. In his third season in the NBA, Powe was once again a great per-minute contributor.
If Powe returns to form with the Cavs, it’ll be a great steal for Cleveland. The soonest he could return is the 2010 All-Star break. But considering the small contract, Powe would still be a steal even if he is only able to play in the second half of the season.
Leon Powe - Cleveland Cavaliers (Image: Zuma Press)
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