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Tag Archives: David Griffin
CAVS TIP INS
As I’ve been saying for a while now, it’s not a matter of if Kevin Love will be traded to the Cavs, it’s a matter of when and for who. It’s funny how when some local media members report this, it doesn’t carry much weight, but when some national media members report it, after being late to the party again, it’s gospel. Just remember a lot of those same national media members with the exception of Chris Sheridan, didn’t think LeBron James was coming back to Cleveland when a number of us local media members had it on good authority that “The King” would return.
My sources tell me that Cavs G.M. David Griffin is still trying to do everything he can to not include Andrew Wiggins in the Kevin Love deal. However, the Cavs understand that it may end up costing them this year’s number #1 overall pick, as well as last year’s first overall choice, Anthony Bennett along with at least one first round pick in 2015 to get Flip Saunders of the T-Wolves to channel his inner Monte Hall and say, “Let’s make that deal!” As I’ve been saying for weeks now, don’t be surprised if the 76ers and the name Thadeus Young surface should the Love trade need to involve a third team.
Saunders, who is Minnesota’s “Mr. Basketball” now – part owner, president of basketball ops and head coach, realizes he must replace a franchise type player in Love with another franchise type player in Wiggins. None of the other deals from Chicago or Golden St. include a player who has the potential to be a franchise caliber player like Wiggins, who they can control for a while with a player friendly contract. Remember the earliest a deal could happen involving Wiggins because of the 30 day NBA rule involving rookie players who have signed their contracts is August 23rd.
The Cavs are trying to convince the Timberwolves that Dion Waiters is also a franchise type player and they’re hoping his play during the Team USA select squad practices will back up their argument. So here’s hoping Waiters is performing well in “Sin City”.
Speaking of Waiters, while I wasn’t a proponent of taking him with the 4th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, I have to give the Cavs shooting guard credit for what I’ve seen and heard from him this off season. Waiters has lost weight and looks ripped. He is part of Team USA’s young select squad that is practicing against Team USA’s varsity squad if you will in Las Vegas, and at least sounds like he understands he’ll have to change and improve his game somewhat in certain areas to become a better player. The latter is based on these comments he made recently in Vegas –
“I have to make adjustments. I like to have the ball, and we have Kyrie, and he likes to have the ball. So I have to find ways to impact the game without having the ball. I’m planning to go watch tape to see what D-Wade did when he played with LeBron. I need to learn how to be effective out there with him.”
This is the same Waiters though who recently told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com that, “I want to start and I believe that I should at the two.” I don’t have a problem with that comment because almost every player in the NBA wants to start and believes they should. Plus if Andrew Wiggins has to be included in the Kevin Love deal, Waiters would be the Cavaliers best option to start at the two, even though I think his best role is coming off the bench as the 6th man.
If Kyrie Irving doesn’t make Team USA’s basketball squad, might that benefit him more in the long run because it should humble him and motivate him to work even harder on his all-around game? Uncle Drew is reportedly in a tough battle with Derrick Rose, John Wall and Damian Lillard for the two pure point guard spots that Team USA director Jerry Colangelo wants to fill on the squad. However, don’t discount the fact that his former college coach Mike Krzyzewski, remains as Team USA’s head coach, and that may carry some serious weight in the decision making process.
New Cavs head coach David Blatt spent some time recently talking about his new job with the gang from NBA-TV in Las Vegas at a Team USA practice. Watch Here – – http://www.nba.com/video/channels/aiming_for_gold/2014/07/29/20140729-usab-camp-blatt.nba/#$/video/channels/aiming_for_gold/2014/07/29/20140729-usab-camp-blatt.nba/index.html …
YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE
Phil Collins said it best in song, “I need love, love, ooh to ease my mind.” And, “ You can’t hurry love. No, you’ll just have to wait. Love don’t come easy, but it’s a game of give and take.”
Isn’t that the truth for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After signing Andrew Wiggins, the number #1 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft yesterday, the Cavs will have to wait until August 23rd at the earliest, in order to add Love, as in Kevin Love, to their roster and maybe ease the mind of LeBron James.
Due to NBA rules, the Cavs cannot trade Wiggins for 30 days after the signing of his rookie contract. So LeBron, Cavs G.M. David Griffin, T-Wolves head honcho Flip Saunders and NBA fans everywhere will have to wait and see if the most talked about trade this off season will come to fruition. If it does happen, will it be with the Cavs and will Wiggins will be in the deal? If not the Cavs, then does Love go to Chicago or Golden State and for whom?
Photo courtesy of Bleacher Report
Let’s say the Cavaliers end up winning the Kevin Love sweepstakes and it costs them Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and at least one first round draft pick along with other players/contracts(that’s the rumored deal that’s out there now). With Love on the roster it would make the Cavaliers starting line-up arguably one of the best, if not the best starting line-up in the NBA. But what would it do to the Cavaliers depth this season and in the future?
Here are the potential Cavs line-ups and depth charts with Love and without Love. You decide which roster you’d prefer to have.
With Kevin Love:
PG- Kyrie Irving, Matthew Dellavedova
SG- Dion Waiters, Joe Harris
SF- LeBron James, Mike Miller, James Jones
PF- Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Dwight Powell,
C- Andy Varejao, Brendan Haywood
Without Kevin Love:
PG- Kyrie Irving, Matthew Dellavedova
SG- Andrew Wiggins, Dion Waiters, Joe Harris
SF- LeBron James, Mike Miller, James Jones
PF- Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett, Dwight Powell
C- Andy Varejao, Brendan Haywood
Take your time in making your decision on which roster you would prefer because David Griffin and the Cavs can’t do anything for another month. As much as they would like to hurry Love to Cleveland, there’s still a lot of give and take that has to happen.
ANDREW WIGGINS SIGNS WITH CAVS, BUT WILL HE STAY WITH CAVS?
The Cleveland Cavaliers made it official today, signing Andrew Wiggins, the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
The 6’8, 200 pound swingman was chosen by Cavs G.M. David Griffin over Jabari Parker and his Jayhawhks teammate Joel Embiid.
Wiggins left after his freshman year at Kansas where he averaged 17.1ppg and 5.9rpg. In 4 games for the Cavs in the Las Vegas Summer League, Wiggins averaged 15.5ppg.
By signing Wiggins today the Cavaliers are unable to trade the talented rookie for 30 days, as they continue to explore the possibility of dealing for Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love.
Minnesota part owner, president and head coach Flip Saunders has made it clear that if the Cavs want Love, Wiggins must be the centerpiece of the deal.
There have been varying reports on whether or not the Cavaliers are willing to part with Wiggins. If they do, his salary of $5.5 million for his rookie season will now count as part of the deal since he has officially signed his contract, but any trade involving Wiggins can’t officially happen now for 30 days. The Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors are also reportedly interested in trading for Kevin Love.
Per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst the Cavs have also signed 2nd round pick, shooting guard Joe Harris out of Virginia to a 3-year, $2.75 million dollar contract.
WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO FOR LOVE?
Guys, at one time or another, most of us have been in this situation before right? What are you willing to give up for love? What will you sacrifice for love?
Are you willing to give up your Monday night golf league with the fellas?
Are you willing to drop out of three of your four fantasy football leagues?
Are you willing to throw away your favorite sweatshirt you’ve had for fifteen years? You know the one, it’s faded, has holes in it, the collar is stretched out and you look like crap in it, but you don’t care because it’s your most comfortable shirt.
Are you willing to take Samba lessons, even though you can’t dance and your favorite band is George Thorogood and the Destroyers?
Love does crazy things to you. How far are you willing to go for love?
Photo courtesy of twincities.com
Well the Cavs are dealing with that kind of love now. G.M. David Griffin is asking himself if he really loves Love and what is his willing to give up for Love? It’s no secret the Cleveland Cavaliers fancy Kevin Love. They’d love to have Love on their team.
LeBron James wants Love. I know he just got married and is in love, and has his third child is on the way, but he wants another kind of love. The Love he had back in London in 2012 at the Olympics.
So will James force the Cavs against their wishes to do whatever it takes to get Love?
Will that pressure force David Griffin and owner Dan Gilbert to give up someone they really love in Andrew Wiggins in order to reunite “King James” with Love?
Or will Griff and @CavsDan explain to LeBron, that while it may be painful, some love is worth waiting for and this is one of those times where Love is going to have to wait. Eventually Love could end up in Cleveland, but only on the Cavs terms, not Minnesota’s because the Cavs are only willing to sacrifice so much for Love.
And if Love is true in his willingness to connect with James once again, then he can make sacrifices too. He can tell the Timberwolves and every other team in the NBA the only place where he would love to play, and the only place he’s willing to make a long term commitment is in Cleveland with LeBron.
So yes love hurts, the waiting can be painful, but when you do eventually find the right formula for love and there’s a compromise, love can be a beautiful thing.
The Cavs and the T-wolves are both hoping for a happy ending. The Timberwolves getting what they want in return for Love, and the Cavaliers getting Love, for what they are willing to sacrifice. But the big question still remains, what are the Cavs willing to give up for Love?
Photo courtesy of datehookup.com
To make that Love connection happen, maybe the Cavs should call in an expert like Chuck Woolery for some help. Stay tuned to see how this Love story ends!
2014 NBA FREE AGENCY WINNERS AND LOSERS
WINNERS:
Cleveland Cavaliers – With LeBron James returning home, the Cavs are by far the biggest winners this off- season. James is the best player in the world and he fills a major void at the small forward spot that’s been vacant since well, when he left four years ago. Forget that he signed a 1 year and an option year contract. James did that so he can cash in on the next TV contract by increasing his max contract dollars. He’s not going anywhere, considering how much money he can make, a young talented roster and he and his family are back home. First year G.M. David Griffin also locked up 2-time All-Star Kyrie Irving to a 5-year max contract and thus has his Batman and Robin for years to come.
San Antonio Spurs – After Tim Duncan exercised his player option for $10.3 million to return for at least one more season with the World Champs, the Spurs then went and resigned two of their own free agents in Boris Diaw and Patty Mills to team friendly contracts thanks to Duncan taking less than market value. Plus San Antonio announced that head coach Gregg Popovich agreed to a multi-year contract extension. All four moves are big wins for the Spurs.
Los Angeles Clippers – Doc Rivers added two players that will help the team’s depth and offense and he did so without overpaying for either one. Getting Spencer Hawes, a stretch-5 for less than $6 million per season for four years and point guard Jordan Farmar to replace Darren Collison who left for the Kings at about $2 million per year are very good gets.
LOSERS:
Miami Heat – Like the Cavs did in 2010, Pat Riley and the Heat felt LeBron’s return was a slam dunk only to be rejected and left shaking their heads. Again no matter what you do, as the Cavaliers found out, there’s no replacing LeBron James. The Heat overpaid Chris Bosh to stay instead of going to Houston. They’re going to overpay an aging Dwyane Wade and two of their other free agent signees are injuries waiting to happen in Danny Granger and Luol Deng.
Los Angeles Lakers – G.M. Mitch Kupchick was shooting for LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. When LeBron went to Cleveland he was hoping to team up Carmelo with Kobe and Pau Gasol. Then Carmelo agreed to stay with the Knicks and Gasol left for the Bulls. Plus the “Lake Show” lost Jodi Meeks to OKC. This off-season has been one of the worst in Lakers history.
Houston Rockets – While they’ll still be a good team, the Rockets were trying to bolster their roster so they would become an elite team. They targeted Carmelo Anthony first and lost out. Then they set their sights on Chris Bosh and lost him too. Adding insult to injury, one of their fine young players, Chandler Parsons accepted an offer sheet from Dallas and Houston decided not to match it. So the high flying, long distance shooter is now a Mav. They replaced Parsons with Trevor Ariza which isn’t terrible and are said to be interested now in trying to land Kevin Love in a trade, but so far this off season Houston has had a problem getting the players they wanted.
CAVS OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE ON SIGNING LEBRON JAMES
CAVALIERS SIGN FREE AGENT FORWARD LEBRON JAMES
4-TIME MVP AND 10-TIME ALL-STAR RETURNS TO CLEVELAND
CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed free agent forward LeBron James, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today. Per league policy, terms of the contract were not released.
“We could not be happier to welcome LeBron James home. Yesterday, LeBron, through his essay, told us he wasn’t going anywhere except Cleveland and that ‘Cleveland is where he always believed he would finish his career.’ These words and commitment put all of us, including LeBron, in the best position to build our franchise the right way and achieve the kind of goals we all know are possible. Expectations will be at the highest levels but no one should expect immediate and automatic success,” said Griffin.
“LeBron’s motivation to return home is clearly fueled by the kind of emotions and ideals that we can and should embrace. The contract and those details are secondary to his commitment to Northeast Ohio and the Cavaliers. It extends well beyond the boundaries of basketball and speak to his love and passion for his family, home, and our fans. He communicated his role and growth as a husband, father, teammate, community leader, andbusiness person. This resonated in a special and personal way for all of us. LeBron put it well when he stated; ‘In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned.’ We can’t wait to get started and look forward to his leadership, on and off the court, for many years to come.”
The Akron, Ohio native returns to the Cavaliers where he remains the franchise’s leader in points scored (15,251), scoring average (27.8 PPG) field goals made (5,415) and attempted (11,403), free throws made (3,650) and attempted (4,917), steals (955) and minutes played (22,119). He also ranks second in team history in three-pointers made (771), second in assists (3,810), third in defensive rebounds (3,183), fourth in blocks (482), fifth in total rebounds (3,861) and is tied for seventh in games played (548).
An advocate for change and community responsibility, James launched the LeBron James Family Foundation in 2004 with a mission to positively affect the lives of children and young adults through education and co-curricular educational initiatives. In 2011, in partnership with the Akron Public Schools, his foundation launched its pillar program, “Wheels for Education”, with its mission to improve graduation rates in Akron. In 2012, James pledged $1 million to renovate his old stomping grounds at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School as the completion of The LeBron James Arena had its ceremonial grand opening on December 14, 2013. He and his foundation also work regularly with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, renovating a local Boys and Girls Club in every All-Star host city each year, an initiative that began in 2008 in New Orleans.
James is a four-time MVP (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013), a two-time NBA champion (2012, 2013) and a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012). The 6-8 forward has also garnered other numerous achievements over his career including: Ten-time NBA All-Star (2005–2014), two-time NBA All-Star Game MVP (2006, 2008), eight-time All-NBA First Team selection (2006, 2008–2014), two-time All-NBA Second Team selection (2005, 2007) and five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection (2009–2013). James was originally drafted by the Cavs with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft and went on to earn the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award in 2003-04.
James has played in 842 games (841 starts) with career averages of 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.7 steals in 39.5 minutes per game with Cleveland and Miami. LeBron has the third highest scoring average in NBA history to go along with 37 career triple-doubles and 267 career double-doubles. He has scored in double figures on 834 occasions, including 701 games with at least 20 points, 339 games with 30-or-more points, 52 40-point performances and 10 50-plus efforts. James will begin the 2014-15 season having scored in double figures a career-high 572 consecutive games, a streak that began on Jan. 6, 2007. He has scored over 2,000 points in nine of the last 10 seasons and has averaged at least 20 points in all 11 of his NBA seasons.
This past year, James was selected to the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive Second Team after averaging 27.1 points (ranked third in NBA) on a career-best .567 shooting from the field (fourth in NBA), 6.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.6 steals in 37.7 minutes over 77 games (all starts). He was the only player in the league to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. The two-time NBA Finals MVP also led Miami to its fourth straight NBA Finals appearance during the 2013-14 season. For his postseason career, he has appeared in 158 playoff contests with averages of 28.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.7 steals in 42.5 minutes per game.