Written by Erik Cassano

---

Pending a clean physical, the Cavaliers are on the verge of signing veteran combo guard David Wesley to a two year deal, with the first year money guaranteed. Papa Cass is here with the update and analysis, as well as the potential roster ramifications of Wesley being added to the Cavalier bench. Visit the Papa Cass weblog at http://papacass.blogspot.com/

The Plain Dealer's Branson Wright reports Saturday morning that the Cavaliers are close to signing undersized shooting guard David Wesley to a two-year deal with the first year guaranteed.

It's Branson Wright, so take it with a large grain of salt until you see the news attached to an Associated Press report or the byline of Brian Windhorst. But it appears Wesley took a physical for the Cavs Friday, and if he is given a clean bill of health, he reportedly will sign the deal.

The name of Wesley, 35, has been attached to the Cavs all summer. He is a veteran known for hard-nosed play and perimeter shooting, two things the Cavs need.

Wesley has a career average of 12.9 points per game, and is a career 37 percent three-point shooter. Last year with the Rockets, he averaged 9.9 points and shot .365 from beyond the arc. As with the signing of Scot Pollard two weeks ago, this possible signing is more evidence that the Cavs are starting to be viewed as a contender by veteran players. Pollard has played on contenders for most of his career, and Wesley is nearing the end of his playing days, so neither would have bothered looking at the Cavs if they didn't think they'd have a chance to win a title.

If Wesley is signed, it's a sure signal that the Cavs will move one or two of their guards before the season starts. The Cavs are already overcrowded at the two-guard spot with Larry Hughes, Shannon Brown, Damon Jones, Sasha Pavlovic, Luke Jackson, Stephen Graham and Eddie Basden.

Graham and Basden might be cut at the end of training camp, but the acquisition of Wesley would give the Cavs six shooting guards with guaranteed money for next season.

In terms of the payroll and roster, trading away Jones would make the most sense. He's owed three more years on a four-year, $16 million contract he signed last summer, and he is broadly the same type of player as Brown and Wesley.

But at this late date, finding a team willing to take Jones might prove difficult. An easier way out would be to pawn Pavlovic or Jackson off for draft picks. Pavlovic, entering the final year of his contract, is likely the most tradeable Cavs shooting guard.