The expansion Houston Cavaliers are hardly likely to be contenders any time soon but they were at least not terrible in the 1976 season, going 76-86.
And apparently they at least hope to generate some interest in the fan base even if a winning season might still be a long shot and they went some ways towards that yesterday when they signed the always exciting Lazaro Lowndes to a 7-year deal.
Lowndes, an 11-year WPK veteran at age 29, is a career .320 hitter who is usually among the league leaders in both stolen bases and times caught stealing. He was league MVP in 1972 and has a career WAR of 60. While the only Gold Glove award he has won was nearly a decade ago, he remains an above average fielder in center, has a strong arm, is among the fastest players in the game, and there are few contact hitters of his caliber in the world. He's durable and still fairly young and perhaps before his career is over he can help the Cavaliers to become contenders.
