Cleveland Cavaliers Thread

[Bling]

From the few articles I have read, it sounds like the Cavs have high expectations for Sessions. Is he really that good, or were his numbers inflated in Minny?

His numbers actually sucked in Minny because they told to him run the triangle when he likes to get up and down. He was a pretty good player the year before in Milwaukee.

I knew he had a solid season with the Bucks a few years back, but didn't know if this is a guy worth trying to rebuild around.

[paddio]

From the few articles I have read, it sounds like the Cavs have high expectations for Sessions. Is he really that good, or were his numbers inflated in Minny?

His numbers actually sucked in Minny because they told to him run the triangle when he likes to get up and down. He was a pretty good player the year before in Milwaukee.

I knew he had a solid season with the Bucks a few years back, but didn't know if this is a guy worth trying to rebuild around.

On a good team he would be at the back of the bench....on the Cavs he will be playing heavy minutes

[Bling]

Is Mo still going to be there at the start of the season? You have three decent players if he is in Varejao, Williams, and Jamison. I would think you can at least be competitive.

[Sack]

It sounds like he will and that Byron wants Mo to be the team leader that doesn't quit on his teammates. They will definitely be able to score, but they may give up 110+ per game.

[Lester-Worm-Murphy]

I know DW is gone now..but these are still funny...

[paddio]

Cavaliers name four assistant coaches
The Associated Press
Posted Jul 30, 2010 @ 12:34 AM
CLEVELAND —

The Cleveland Cavaliers have named four assistant coaches.

The Cavaliers announced Thursday that Paul Pressey, Chris Jent, Jamahl Mosley and Joe Prunty will be joining the team.

Pressey has 27 seasons of NBA experience and comes to Cleveland from the New Orleans Hornets. Mosley joins the Cavs after five seasons with the Denver Nuggets. He played professionally for in Australia, Spain and Korea.

Prunty comes from the Portland Trail Blazers and brings 14 years of NBA coaching experience to the team.

Jent is returning to the Cavs for his second season as an assistant coach.

[paddio]

Cavs wisely taking time in making next move
Written by Sam Amico



AKRON, Ohio - Losing a superstar like LeBron James is something from which you don’t recover easily. But that doesn’t mean the Cavaliers have mailed it in.

Nor are they panicked.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and new general manager Chris Grant actually seem confident about a few things, including the fact the team didn’t win 61 games last season by accident.

Unlike franchises that once willingly gut themselves after losing stars (read: Minnesota, Sacramento and Memphis), the Cavs are aiming to move forward with what’s left over, casually plugging in a few holes and staying competitive.

The Cavs aimed to land free agent forward Matt Barnes, offering him more money than the team with which he eventually signed (L.A. Lakers). They have also shown interest in former Cavs guard Shannon Brown, a Lakers free agent, and swingman Joey Graham, who last played with Denver.

The Cavs have also worked out other veterans, such as Damien Wilkins and Von Wafer, and are said to be bringing more in soon.

Here’s a list of available unrestricted free agents the Cavs may or may not consider (with position and previous team):

Jason Williams, G, Orlando; Rafer Alston, G, New Jersey; Adam Morrison, G, Lakers; Earl Boykins, G, Washington; Sean May, F, Sacramento; Louis Amundson, F, Phoenix; Kwame Brown, C, Detroit; and Fabricio Oberto, F, Washington.

There are a few former Cavs out there as well. Namely, Larry Hughes, Sasha Pavlovic and Joe Smith -- but it would be a shocker if the team brought any of them back.

Then there are guys like Shaquille O’Neal, Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson, future Hall of Famers who have reached the end of the basketball road. It’s highly unlikely any will be in a Cavs uniform next season, although the team may be able to work out a sign-and-trade involving O’Neal. But before another team gives Shaq a thought, he’ll have to come down in asking price.

Either way, you can’t be devastated by what’s on the roster today.

Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison are All-Star Game veterans who are likely to put up better numbers in new coach Byron Scott’s up-tempo plan. Williams has also emerged as a Cleveland sports favorite, showing support for his city and team via his Twitter account.

Other leftovers include always-hustling Anderson Varejao, high-flying Jamario Moon, sharp-shooting Daniel Gibson and veteran Anthony Parker, a capable defender who clearly understands his role on offense.

Also, let’s not forget J.J. Hickson, who resembled a young Shawn Kemp during summer league play. Hickson would be a senior in college and could be one of the NBA’s most improved during the 2010-11 season.

And who knows what the Cavs might have in second-year man Danny Green or rookie Christian Eyenga? Or Ramon Sessions or Ryan Hollins, recently acquired from Minnesota (for Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair)? As one Western Conference GM said, “Every year in the NBA, one or two guys come out of nowhere and become major factors. That could very well happen in Cleveland.”

That’s just a prediction, but the bottom line is one man doesn’t win 61 games by himself. And despite what national writers predict, the Cavs aren’t suddenly going to become the Timberwolves. Gilbert is a risk-taker, and he is unlikely to allow the franchise to sink to Ted Stepien-like depths.

But Gilbert himself said it’s about taking “calculated risks,” and not just making a move for the sake of making one.

There is no way for the Cavs to patch the hole left by James, no quick-fixes. But there’s also no need to rush into anything. That would be like getting dumped by a significant other then immediately jumping into another relationship. It’s not healthy and rarely does anyone actually benefit.

So the bottom line for Cavs fans: Speculate all you want. It makes for good conversation and keeps you believing. But don’t get overly worked up about what the Cavs haven’t done.

They are going to make moves, but they are taking care to make sure they are smart ones.

[Sack]

I'm glad that Jent is coming back and not going to Miami.

[paddio]

I'm glad that Jent is coming back and not going to Miami.

Agreed

[paddio]

About the Cavaliers ...
By Terry Pluto

1. Most fans know that I really liked the Delonte West deal that brought Ramon Sessions to Cleveland. The 6-3 point guard could start this season. The other player in the trade is 7-foot Ryan Hollins. I have no image of the 26-year-old center as a player, but the stats say he's not much of a rebounder. He started 27 games for Minnesota last season, averaging 9.2 points and shooting 60 percent. But in 23 minutes a game, he was at 3.7 rebounds. He basically averages about two rebounds per 12 minutes for his career, not much for a 7-footer.
andy.jpgJohn Kuntz / The Plain DealerAnderson Varejao averaged 8.8 points and 8.6 rebounds in 64 starts the past three seasons, but the Cavaliers will need him to increase those numbers this year.

2. In the past three seasons, Anderson Varejao has started 64 games -- averaging 8.8 points and 8.6 rebounds. They will need him to rebound even better this season, as Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James are all gone. James led all small forwards in rebounding at 7.8 per game. The only other Cavalier with any history as a consistent rebounder is Antawn Jamison, who averaged 7.7 for the Cavs last season.

3. That's why new coach Byron Scott pushed J.J Hickson so hard in the summer league, and will continue to do so. Last season, Hickson averaged 4.9 rebounds in 21 minutes. Scott wants Hickson to be close to a 10-rebound a night power forward/center, because the 6-foot-9 N.C. State product has the talent to do so.

4. As of now, Jamario Moon appears to be the starting small forward. He played little last season. But in the previous two years with Toronto, he started 135 games -- averaging 8.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and shooting 48 percent in 28 minutes a night. The Cavs are expected to re-sign Jawad Williams, and he'll also be considered at small forward. But the lack of scoring for these players is why Scott will use some three-guard sets with Anthony Parker at small forward.

5. Last week's story about former Cavalier Larry Nance helping an elderly couple at an area Starbucks brought this email from Karen Bain, Director of Cleveland's Alzheimer's Association: "Larry Nance made a personal appearance outdoors in Strongsville to help raise money for our Chapter's annual Memory Walk. For more than three hours, he took photos, shot hoops and took the time to talk with everyone. I can't even begin to count the number of times he picked up little kids to make sure they would make a basket. Larry, his wife Jaynee, and their kids have been supporters of Memory Walk for several years."