Tag Archives: Minnesota Timberwolves

THE CAVS DRAFT AND THEN TRADE TYUS JONES TO MINNESOTA AND THEN SELECT THREE SECOND ROUND PICKS

Posted: Jun 26, 2015 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 99 Comments

Cavs Press Release Logo

CAVALIERS ACQUIRE DRAFT RIGHTS TO CEDI OSMAN AND RAKEEM CHRISTMAS FROM MINNESOTA

CAVS ALSO DRAFT SIR’DOMINIC POINTER WITH THE 53RD PICK

            CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired the draft rights to Cedi Osman, the 31st pick, Rakeem Christmas, the 36th pick, and a 2019 second round pick in exchange for the draft rights to Tyus Jones, the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, to Minnesota. Also tonight, the Cavaliers selected Sir’Dominic Pointer with the 53rd pick of the draft.

Osman (6-8, 210) spent the 2014-15 season playing for Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball League first division. He was selected to the league’s All-Star Game after averaging 8.5 points on .438 shooting from the field, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 20.8 minutes over 25 contests. He also appeared in 27 Euroleague games this past year and averaged 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 19.3 minutes. Osman spent his first two professional seasons with Pertevniyal in the Turkish second division (2011-2013) and moved to Anadolu Efes in 2013-14 in the first division. A member of the Turkish National Team at the 2014 World Cup, Osman holds career averages of 9.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in Junior National Team play and was selected FIBA Europe U20 Championship MVP after leading Turkey to a gold medal.

Christmas (6-9, 250) played in 142 games during his four years at Syracuse. During his senior season, he averaged 17.5 points on .552 shooting from the field, 9.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 34.3 minutes per game. He led the Orange in points, rebounds and blocks, while earning Third Team All-American honors. Christmas was also named ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-ACC. He was one of 15 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award as a senior and ranks sixth all-time in school history in games played and eighth in blocks (247). The forward finished his four-year collegiate career averaging 7.4 points on .560 shooting, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 22.0 minutes.

In 33 games as a senior at St. John’s University, Pointer (6-6, 192) averaged 13.7 points on .524 shooting from the field, 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals and 2.4 blocks in 34.6 minutes. He went on to earn Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player and Second Team All-Big East honors. Pointer spent four years at St. John’s, playing in 130 games and averaging 8.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks in 28.2 minutes. He ranks third in school history in blocks (172) and fifth in steals (200).

OFFICIAL CAVALIERS PRESS RELEASE ON THE KEVIN LOVE TRADE

Posted: Aug 23, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts | 67 Comments

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired forward Kevin Love in a three-team trade that sends guard Andrew Wiggins and forward Anthony Bennett to Minnesota and a protected 2015 first round pick (via Miami) to Philadelphia, General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts. As part of the three-team trade, Minnesota will also acquire forward Thaddeus Young from the 76ers, while Philadelphia receives forward Luc Mbah a Moute and guard Alexey Shved from the Timberwolves.

“Kevin joining the Cavaliers represents a very special and unique opportunity for our team. At only 25, Kevin has already firmly established himself as one the NBA’s elite players and his talent, versatility and fit are major parts of our team’s vision for success,” said Griffin. “We want to also wish Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett the best as they will continue the start of their careers in Minnesota. They are both outstanding young men that have great potential on the court and long, very successful careers ahead of them.”

Voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the 2014 NBA All-Star Game, Love appeared in 77 games (all starts) for Minnesota last season and averaged a career-high 26.1 points on .457 shooting, including .376 from beyond the arc and .821 from the foul line, 12.5 rebounds and a career-high 4.4 assists in 36.3 minutes per game. Among NBA leaders, the 6-10, 243-pound forward ranked first in double-doubles (65), first in defensive rebounds per game (9.6), third in total rebounds per game (12.5), fourth in points per game (26.1), tied for fourth in triple-doubles (3) and tied for eighth in three-pointers made (190). In 2013-14, Love became the first player in NBA history to record 2,000 points, 900 rebounds and 100 three-pointers in a single season, while also setting Minnesota’s franchise record for three-pointers made in a season, points per game, and free throws made (520) and attempted (633).

Love is the first player to average 26/12/4 over a full season since the NBA/ABA merger as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bob McAdoo had most recently accomplished that feat in 1975-76. He also scored in double figures in all 77 games last season, which includes 57 games with at least 20 points, a Wolves’ franchise record 25 30-point games and six 40-point performances. He collected a league-leading 24 contests with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and possessed the third highest PER in the NBA at 26.97, behind only Kevin Durant (29.90) and LeBron James (29.40).

Over his six-year NBA career, Love has played in 364 games (282 starts) for the Timberwolves and owns career averages of 19.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 36.3 minutes per game. He is a three-time NBA All-Star (2011, 2012, 2014), two-time All-NBA Second Team selection (2012, 2014), Olympic gold medalist (2012) and winner of the league’s Most Improved Player award (2011) and Three-Point Shootout (2012). The UCLA product was selected to the All-Rookie Second Team in 2009 after being the 5th overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. He has averaged at least 14 points and 11 rebounds in five of his six NBA seasons and since entering the league, his 12.2 rebounds per game is the second-highest in the NBA (Dwight Howard, 13.3). Since 1980-81, Love is one of only three players to have at least two seasons with 26.0 points and 12.5 rebounds (2011-12, 2013-14), joining Shaquille O’Neal (4) and Moses Malone (2). Love will wear #0 with the Cavs.

Wiggins was the first overall pick by the Cavaliers in this year’s NBA Draft. An early entry candidate from Kansas University, Wiggins, 19, was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-League in his only year at Kansas.  In 35 contests with the Jayhawks last year, the 6-8, 194-pound guard averaged 17.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 block in 32.8 minutes per game. In four games during the 2014 NBA Summer League, Wiggins averaged 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks in 29.9 minutes per game.

Bennett was the Cavs’ No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, appearing in 52 games and averaging 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per game in 2013-14. The 6-8, 243-pound forward out of UNLV also played in four contests for the Cavs’ summer league team with averages of 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game.

The Cavs will send Philadelphia a protected first round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. The pick was originally acquired from the Miami Heat and is pick 1-10 protected in 2015 and 2016. The pick becomes unprotected in 2017.

WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN

Posted: Aug 23, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 4,532 Comments

So what happens when Love comes to town? The Cavaliers are hoping it leads to an NBA championship one day soon.

Kevin Love BR

photo courtesy of bleacher report

U2 and B.B King sang about it years ago. Everybody else has been talking about it recently. And now the biggest trade in the NBA this off season finally happened.  Love is coming to town.

Cleveland has acquired Kevin Love from Minnesota for this year’s first overall pick, Andrew Wiggins, last year’s #1 pick Anthony Bennett and a 2015 first round draft pick they acquired from Miami as part of the LeBron James trade back in 2010.

Per ESPN.com and Yahoo Sports, the Timberwolves also get power forward Thaddeus Young from Philadelphia and a reported $6.3 million trade exception as part of this three team swap, and in turn will send Luc Mbah a Moute and Alexey Shved plus a first-round pick to the 76ers.

Kyrie Uncle Drew and Kevin Wes photo

photo courtesy of thebiglead.com

Love, just 25 years old, comes to Cleveland and gets to reunite with Olympic teammate LeBron James and street ball teammate “Uncle Drew”, Kyrie Irving. It creates a “Big 3” that Cleveland has been looking for since “King James” first tenure with the Cavaliers.

Love averaged over 26 points per game along with 12 rebounds a game last season for the Timberwolves, while also dishing out over 4 assists per contest.

LeBron and Kevin Love Olympics photo

photo courtesy of unz.com

 

 

Love gives Cleveland three different 20 points per game scorers in David Blatt’s starting lineup which right now looks like Irving at the point, Dion Waiters at shooting guard, James at small forward, Love at power forward and Anderson Varejao at center.

 

It’s no secret that LeBron James wanted Love in Cleveland as he spoke highly of his high basketball IQ and what a great teammate he was in the 2012 London Olympics at his recent homecoming party in Akron, Ohio. James and Love helped Team USA win the gold medal in London.

On the flipside, James never spoke to, or about Andrew Wiggins, and didn’t mention him in his Sports Illustrated essay when he announced he was returning home to Cleveland. So the writing was on the wall that James had no problem with the Cavs dealing Wiggins, a possible future All-Star, for Love, already an All-Star 3 times over and a 2-Time All-NBA second teamer.

For Wiggins, a kid with enormous potential, he finally gets to call someplace home as he goes to Minnesota and will be the focal point in their rebuilding process.

Bennett will get a fresh start with the T-Wolves after having a disastrous rookie season a year ago, after he was selected first overall.

Love can opt out of his contract and be a free agent at the end of the 2014-15 season and like LeBron James, will probably do so. It will allow Love and James to take advantage of getting a max deal worth max dollars after a new TV contract is expected to be signed by the NBA, which would then raise the league’s salary cap and max free agents will be able to make more money on those deals.

Kevin Love JerseysLove will wear the number #0 and you can already buy his jersey at the Cavaliers Team Shop at Quicken Loans Arena.

A press conference to introduce Love to the media will be held on Tuesday, August 26th at 3pm at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

KEVIN LOVE’S SECRET ADMIRER, SORT OF

Posted: Aug 7, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 6,327 Comments

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 –

David Griffin, photo - Copy

POTENTIAL FINAL CAVS ROSTER WITH AGES AND LAST YEAR’S STATS

Posted: Aug 7, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 31 Comments

 

Should the trade that everyone believes will happen between the Cavs and Timberwolves involving Kevin Love and Andrew Wiggins go down, here’s a look at what the Cavaliers roster could look like on opening night. I’ve added a pair of free agents who have yet to sign with anybody, but are rumored to be seriously considering the Cavs in Shawn Marion and Ray Allen. LeBron and Kyrie shake hands at Z jersey Ceremony 3-8-14

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

SG – Ray Allen – 39 years old – 9ppg – 37%(3fg)

C – ????? Rim Protector

(Average Age of the 14 Players – 28 years old)

 

CAVS TIP INS

Posted: Jul 31, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 32 Comments

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.

Andrew Wiggins Jersey Photo 6-27-14My 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”.Dion Waiters Interview Photo

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.

Kyrie Irving Bench PhotoIf 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 – – 

 

 

 

YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE

Posted: Jul 25, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 33 Comments

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.2014 NBA Draft

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?

Kevin Love BR

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?

Posted: Jul 24, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 30 Comments

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.

Andrew Wiggins photo Sitting & Smiling

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.

 

PODCAST -THE RODA REPORT ON 92.3 THE FAN 7-23-14

Posted: Jul 23, 2014 by . Filed under Audio, Podcasts | 31 Comments

If you missed the “Roda Report” today on 92.3 The Fan with Andy Baskin and Jeff Phelps you can listen here as we talked Cavs/T-Wolves trade, Coach Luke stopped by and Hoyer vs Manziel in camp.

 Listen here – CBS Cleveland

PODCAST – JOE KOTOCH ON THE CAVS WIGGINS FOR LOVE TRADE TALKS

Posted: Jul 22, 2014 by . Filed under Audio, Feature Articles, Podcasts | 34 Comments

ProBasketballDraft.com’s Joe Kotoch joined me to share his insight on the Kevin Love/Andrew Wiggins trade talks involving the Cavaliers and Timberwolves.

JK