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Tag Archives: David Griffin
CAVS 3 BIGGEST CONCERNS HEADING ONTO THIS SEASON
1) DEFENSE – Adding LeBron James and Kevin Love along with shooters Mike Miller and James Jones brings a ton of offense and outside shooting, but three out of those four aren’t known for their defensive prowess. LeBron is the only one of that group that consistently plays defense with grit and determination. Shawn Marion will help as a wing defender, but he’s not a spring chicken any more. The need for a rim protector is REAL. Anderson Varejao, Tristan Thompson, and if he can play at all, Brendan Haywood, aren’t feared shot blockers. Add in that Kyrie Irving has yet to play defense in his three years in the league, and Dion Waiters is a liability as well, the Cavs have some serious issues on the defensive side of the ball. Those deficiencies need to be addressed either by adding an “Eraser at the Rim” or for the current players to show more determination and give more effort. Hopefully LeBron’s leadership and defensive make up will rub off on everyone on the team.
2) TEAM CHEMISTRY – Ego’s will have to be checked at the door the first day of training camp. Shot attempts are going to have to be divided up amongst a number of ball dominate players, and point totals are going to have to be sacrificed for the betterment of the team in order for this mixture of superstars, all-stars and up and coming stars to gel and turn this group into a true championship contending team. That’s not going to be easy when a number of these players are used to being the number one or two option on every team they’ve played for. How soon this happens, if it happens, could determine how far the Cavaliers can go in 2014-15.
3) HEAD COACH – David Blatt was an “Outside the Box Thinking” hire by first year G.M. David Griffin. Blatt has been a successful head coach for many years overseas, but never in the NBA. How will he transition to dealing with the ego’s that we mentioned earlier? With the rule changes that the NBA game brings? And how will he handle coaching against veteran NBA coaches night in and night out? Blatt as the head coach may be the biggest uncertainty facing this team as the season begins and moves forward. “Griff” has surrounded him with former NBA players as well as former NBA head coaches, so that should help, but David Blatt is still the man in charge and he needs to create his own identity, philosophy and style with his team. What is that? What will that be? Can the European game translate from a coaching standpoint to the NBA? We’re going to find out, and when we do, David Griffin will either have made his first mistake as a G.M., or he’ll continue to look like the basketball “Boy Wonder” genius he’s looked like this entire off-season.
CAVS SIGN FORWARD SHAWN MARION – OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed free agent forward Shawn Marion, General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts. Per league policy, terms of the contracts were not released.
“Shawn brings great versatility, talent and championship experience to the team,” said Griffin. “He will impact both ends of the floor and his ability to guard multiple positions will be particularly important for us. Shawn is an accomplished, high-caliber veteran that will help with leadership on and off the court and we’re very happy to welcome him to the Cavaliers family.”
Marion, a 15-year veteran, has played in 1,106 career games (1,038 starts) with averages of 15.8 points on .485 shooting from the field, .811 from the foul line, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks in 35.3 minutes for Phoenix, Miami, Toronto and Dallas. During the 2013-14 regular season, he played in 76 games (all starts) for the Mavericks and averaged 10.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 31.7 minutes per game.
“I’m excited to be a Cavalier,” said Marion. “I can see the hunger and mentality of everyone in the organization and l look forward to being a part of it. The goal is to win a championship and that’s what I want.”
The 6-7, 228-pound forward has made four All-Star appearances (2003, 2005-2007) and was selected to the All-NBA Third Team twice (2005, 2006). Throughout his career, Marion has notched 427 double-doubles, while averaging double figures in scoring in each of his 15 NBA seasons. The former UNLV star is also one of only four players in NBA history to record at least 17,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 1,500 steals and 1,000 blocks, joining Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone and current Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett. Marion was drafted ninth overall in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Suns and was an All-Rookie Second Team selection.
A member of Dallas’ 2011 NBA championship team, Marion has played in 103 career playoff games (all starts) with averages of 14.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in 37.0 minutes per game. He spent the last five seasons with the Mavericks. Marion will wear #31 with the Cavs.
A LOOK AT THE CURRENT CLEVELAND CAVALIERS ROSTER
With the Kevin Love trade finalized, the Cavaliers roster is almost complete. They still are waiting to hear from Ray Allen on whether he’ll retire, or if he’ll return for another year, and if he does, will it be with the Cavs? Sources tell me that “Jesus Shuttlesowrth” will make up his mind after Labor Day and that the Cavaliers are the front runner for his services now that Kevin Love has officially joined LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in Cleveland.
G.M. David Griffin also needs to add a rim protector to his roster via free agency or trade, and again sources tell me Griff is working hard at trying to accomplish that soon.
So here’s what the Cavaliers roster looks like as of today:
PG – Kyrie Irving – 22 years old – 21ppg-6apg-3rg
SG – Dion Waiters – 22 years old – 16ppg-3apg-3rpg
SG – Joe Harris – 22 years old – Rookie
PF – Tristan Thompson – 23 years old – 12ppg-9rpg
PG – Matthew Dellavedova – 23 years old – 5ppg-2apg
PF – Dwight Powell – 23 years old – Rookie
PF – Kevin Love – 25 years old – 26ppg-12rpg-4apg
SF – LeBron James – 29 years old – 27ppg-7rpg-6apg
C – Anderson Varjao – 31 years old – 8ppg-9rpg
SF – James Jones – 33 years old – 5ppg – 50%(3fg)
SF – Mike Miller – 34 years old – 7ppg – 47%(3fg)
C – Brendan Haywood – 34 years old – DNP Hurt
SF – Shawn Marion – 36 years old – 10ppg-6rpg
C – Alex Kirk – 22 years old – Undrafted Rookie
PF – Erik Murphy – 23 years old – 0.3ppg – 0.3rpg
PG – John Lucas III – 31 years old – 3.1ppg – 1.0apg
(Average Age of the 16 Players – 27 years old)
Strong Possibilities To Be Added To The Roster:
SG – Ray Allen – 39 years old – 9ppg – 37%(3fg)
C – ????? Rim Protector
SHAWN MARION TO PLAY FOR THE CAVS
The A-Team’s “Hannibal” Smith loved it when a plan came together. So imagine how Cavaliers G.M. David Griffin must be feeling these days.
photo courtesy of cbssports.com
The first year general manager looks like he just landed another free agent piece to what he hopes is a championship puzzle, as various media outlets are reporting that free agent small forward Shawn Marion will join the Cavs for the $1.4 million veteran minimum.
The lure of playing with LeBron James and potentially for a championship this coming season were reportedly the deciding factors, as Marion selected the Cavaliers over the Pacers even though Indiana could pay “The Matrix” more money.
It also couldn’t hurt that the 15 year NBA veteran and Griffin have a prior relationship, having spent nine years together while Marion played for the Suns and “Griff” worked in the front office in Phoenix.
The 36 year old Marion averaged 10.4 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game last season while playing in Dallas. Even at his age, he is still considered an above average defender which is something the Cavaliers desperately need.
The former first round pick in 1999 by Phoenix, will be looking for his second NBA Title as he was part of the 2010-11 Mavericks team that beat “King” James and the Heat in LeBron’s first year in Miami.
The Cavaliers have yet to officially confirm the signing.
KEVIN LOVE’S SECRET ADMIRER, SORT OF
With Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor coming out and saying it not a matter of “if” but “when” Kevin Love would be traded, it was no surprise that various media outlets today reported that the T-Wolves and Cavs have a handshake deal in place. It can’t officially be announced until August 23rd at the earliest because of NBA rookie contract rules, but the deal centers around sending Love to Cleveland, rookie number #1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins to Minnesota and it also involves Anthony Bennett of the Cavs, maybe some other minor players and a 1st round draft pick, or picks.
Taylor can talk about Love because that’s his player, the Cavaliers however can not mention Love by name because that could be considered tampering and the league could hit them with sanctions. So at yesterday’s press conference introducing the two newest Cavaliers, Mike Miller and James Jones, I asked Cavs G.M. David Griffin about adding Kevin Love with out mentioning Love by name, and here’s how the first year general manager responded –
WIGGINS WAITS AND WONDERS
The countdown continues as to whether or not Andrew Wiggins remains a Cleveland Cavalier. The NBA’s number #1 overall pick has been mentioned in trade rumors involving a potential deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love since he put his autograph on his contract on July 24th.
Per NBA rules, after signing a rookie, a team must wait 30 days before it can trade him to another team. The first day the Cavs could officially deal Wiggins, who they inked to a 4-year contract, is August 23rd.
Per a story today on ESPN.com, Wiggins made his first public comments about being involved in the trade rumors saying, “I just want to play for a team that wants me. So whichever team wants me I’ll play for.” He also told SportsCenter, “At the end of the day you have to remember that the NBA is a business before anything. I’m a rookie. I really don’t have too much say.”
The latest rumor has Wiggins along with Anthony Bennett and other players, plus at least one Cavs future first round draft pick going to Minnesota for Kevin Love.
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor spoke to the St. Paul Pioneer Press and told the newspaper Love is “likely” to be dealt by Aug. 23 or Aug. 24, “I’m saying it’s most likely because Kevin has made it pretty clear that that’s what he wants to do.”
Love who is 25, is a 3-time All-Star and 2-time All-NBA second teamer. He played with LeBron James on Team USA at the 2012 London Olympics where the two won gold. He can be a free agent at the end of the 2014-15 season, so the Cavs would be rolling the dice a little on giving up so much for a player who could walk after one season. However, if Cavs G.M. David Griffin were to pull off such a deal, I’ve got to believe that Griff and the organization feel strongly that they will be able keep Love along with James by signing both to max contracts.
So the wait and rumors continue. August 23rd can’t get here soon enough for all the parties involved.
RIPPLE EFFECT IN THE EAST FROM PAUL GEORGE INJURY
First of all, some good news on Pacers small forward Paul George who was seriously hurt in the Team USA scrimmage on Friday night in Las Vegas. George, who suffered a gruesome right tibia-fibula fracture in the 4th quarter of the scrimmage, had successful surgery and reportedly will remain in the hospital for up to three days. His recovery time is estimated between 9-12 months.
While George was a shoe-in to make Team USA, and as bad as his injury is for him, it doesn’t hurt the chances of Team USA too much. Yes he would have played and contributed to the team, but there’s enough depth on the roster to overcome his injury and Team USA will still be considered the favorites to win the FIBA World Cup in Spain that tips off August 30th.
However the same can’t be said for the Indiana Pacers. This is an insurmountable blow to the Frank Vogel’s squad in the Eastern Conference. Losing your best player, an ALL-NBA 3rd team performer, who impacts the game at both ends of the floor, is a devastating to blow. The Pacers have nowhere near the depth that Team USA has and thus scratch them off the list of teams who had a chance to play for an NBA Championship during the 2014-15 season.
Right now the back-up to Paul George on the Pacers depth chart is a 30 year old, 2 year NBA player by the name of Chris Copeland who averaged 3.7 points per game last year. Add to that the Pacers didn’t resign Lance Stephenson or Evan Turner and Paul George is no longer there, and you can forget about the Pacers as a viable contender to win the East, let alone an NBA Championship.
No true competitor likes to gain an edge this way in sports, but injuries are part of the game and because of this serious leg injury to George and the Pacers, it elevates a number of team’s chances in the Eastern Conference. The two teams who benefit the most are Chicago and Cleveland.
With the Bulls getting back what looks to be a healthy Derrick Rose from what we saw early in that Team USA scrimmage and adding Pau Gasol to a playoff squad from a year ago, to me the Bulls are the favorites right now to win the East.
However, should G.M. David Griffin and the Cavs find a way to pull off a trade for double-double machine and All-Star Kevin Love to team up with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, I believe the Cavaliers become the favorites in the Eastern Conference.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Paul George. Here’s hoping for a complete and speedy recovery so he can be back on the floor playing for the Pacers during the 2015-16 season and for many years after that.
POTENTIAL CAVS HEADLINES THIS YEAR
Here’s my top 5 so far:
5) WIZARDS UNABLE TO DETHRONE KING JAMES
4) LOVE IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS
3) MILLER TIME AND SPECIAL SHOT FUEL CELEBRATION
2) WAITERS TREY SERVING UP WINS
1) DAVID GRIFFIN MAKING LOVE A TOP PRIORITY
Alright let’s see if you can do better than that. Leave me comments at the bottom of this blog with your best potential Cavs Headlines for this upcoming season.