In the hard-nosed Central Division, a player like Pollard is just what the Cavaliers needed. Otto Gruehle NBAE/Getty Images

That’s because this past Friday afternoon, the Cavaliers inked free agent big man, Scot Pollard – a player whose low-post prowess over his productive career has been overshadowed by his change of hairstyles from any given game to the next.

From the Elvis Presley mutton-chops to the skinny samurai, Pollard has been known to de- and re-coiffe more frequently than Cher. He is euphemistically known in the professional basketball world as a “free spirit.” But that reputation – although probably well-earned – belies the fact that Pollard can, and will, bang with the bigs all night in the low post.

The Cavaliers won 50 games last year, but there were still holes that needed to be filled in the off-season. And as he did in his first summer as general manager of the Wine and Gold, Danny Ferry has once again worked hard to fill them. Cleveland needed some athleticism at point guard and Ferry tabbed the two men he wanted on Draft Night without making a single trade. He inked his two prized forwards – LeBron James and Drew Gooden. And on Friday, Ferry infused some much-needed mettle into the frontcourt with the addition of Pollard.

"In my opinion, (the Cavaliers) head into this season as one of the two or three top teams in the East," said Pollard, when asked why he chose Cleveland. "They've got a legitimate chance to get out of the East in the playoffs."

The former Jayhawk has put up modest numbers in stints with Detroit, Sacramento and Indiana – five boards and just under five points per contest over the course of his nine-year career. It ain’t always pretty. But the fact is that the Cavaliers have enough players who make it look pretty. What Cleveland needed was someone to look to when things get ugly. And in the rough-and-tumble Central Division, things can get ugly on a regular basis.

"Well I’m not a pretty player when it comes to basketball," quipped Pollard. "I do the dirty work. I dive on the floor, I take charges, I set screens. I do a lot of things players don’t want to do and I’m pretty sure that’s one of the reasons I’m in this league.

Pollard also brings a little style to the Wine and Gold. Ron Hoskins NBAE/Getty Images

"I relish that role. As an NBA player, I’ve found my niche and I’m sticking with it."

But Pollard brings more than muscle. For a big man – 6-11, 265 – he is as good in the open court as he is in closed-quarters combat. Pollard was an integral part of the run-and-gun Sacramento Kings of the late-90s, but also ran with some thoroughbreds in college at Kansas.

"My whole career, I’ve played for running basketball programs," said the veteran pivotman. "I know that sounds strange to people when they look at my size and speed – or lack thereof. But I’ve always flourished as an NBA player when I’ve been able to get out and run."

Indiana, where he spent the last three seasons, featured more of a half-court philosophy, and that – along with his admiration for Mike Brown that dates back to their days in San Diego – precipitated his arrival on the North Coast.

"It’s a winning program that’s on the upswing," said Pollard. "I feel comfortable going up to Cleveland. I’m not a guy you build your team around, but I think I can be a piece of a championship puzzle."

The addition of Pollard gives the Cavaliers a talented and diverse front line that heads into the 2006-07 season as one of the league’s best. The starting three – James, Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas – were second in the NBA in group scoring – averaging 57.7 points per game. Out of a possible 246 combined games, the trio started 234 of them and led the league with 62 double-doubles.

With Pollard, the rapidly improving Anderson Varejao and savvy veteran Donyell Marshall, the Cavaliers should present matchup problems to opponents’ second units around the league. And aside from that, our reserve frontcourt will have much cooler hair.