Watching Jeff McInnis give a shot of adrenaline to the Cavaliers offense against the depleted Philadelphia 76ers after just one practice you fully realize that his game has never been a problem in the NBA. 

It's the other stuff.

       McInnis has had problems in almost every stop of his basketball career.  He had problems with Dean Smith at North Carolina which may have led to him falling into the second round of draft to the Denver Nuggets.  There, McInnis was waived during the season after some problems then bounced around various minor leagues including the CBA.  His most two recent stops with the Clippers and Trailblazers have been marred by the same allegations that McInnis is a bad chemistry guy.  That his teammates don't care playing with him and has been branded a locker room lawyer.  Now the Clippers and Trailblazers haven't been the most stable organizations but I am one to believe that where there is smoke there is some fire.  You have to wonder what went on in Portland where a solid point guard like McInnis who is probably the best playmaker on the team fell out favor so quickly with Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks.  McInnis went from a starter to out of the rotation behind Qyntel Woods of all people.  He apparently voiced his displeasure to Cheeks and subsequently hastened his exit out of Portland.  Also coming to light was the fact Portland planned to waive McInnis after the season utilizing a clause in his contract allowing him to be cut before July 1st to avoid paying the last year of his contract which won't be guaranteed until after that date.

Why were two teams so eager to get rid of a player who has worked hard to get back to the NBA from the CBA, plays hard and when gets extended time plays well?  I guess the Cavaliers will find out.

       Conventional wisdom dictates that the Cavaliers wouldn't be interested in someone with McInnis' reputation after dealing with Ricky Davis but the Cavaliers do not seem to be concerned much or at all.  Coach Paul Silas has since said regarding any potential McInnis problems that he will deal with them if when they arise.  It makes sense considering that is all a coach can do with a player once that player is on the team.  The only fair thing to do is to wipe the slate clean for McInnis and put him the best situation they can to help him succeed.  But, I'm sure that the Cavaliers brass politely  reminded McInnis that he is playing for $3.6 million dollars.  The Cavaliers don't have to justify the Miles trade as he had fallen out of favor with the team and the fans.  

       On the floor McInnis can really help the Cavaliers while he is here.  He has good size at 6'4 which would allow him to play next to DaJuan Wagner, moves LeBron James off the ball and takes the pressure off him to run the team and score 25 points which he has had to do since Ricky Davis was traded, can push the ball thereby increasing the Cavaliers tempo and get them more easy baskets and maybe most important bring the most reliable midrange jumpshot amongst the perimeter players making the Cavaliers' pick and roll action much more effective.  McInnis already exhibited much of these elements in just one game with the team.  The Cavaliers first quarter against the Sixers was as good as they have since the early part of the season before teams figured they couldn't shoot.  Even without James passing the ball became contagious the first part of the game.

       There are still a lot of issues surrounding the Cavaliers, McInnis and the future beyond the apparent one or two year stopgap veterans they have acquired but as the second half of the season embarks for the Cavaliers things appear to starting over.

Nothing symbolizes this more than Jeff McInnis' jersey selection upon arriving in Cleveland.  He chose the no. 0.

And you can't start any closer to scratch than that.   

CavsTalk