The Cavs are confident LeBron James won’t leave in free agency again, but they understand that at least a slight chance exists that he would if they once more come up short in the postseason, writes Zach Lowe of ESPN.com. James “lashed out” at his teammates during the players-only meeting that followed the firing of David Blatt, sources told Lowe, and many in the Cavs brass have kept a nervous eye on the signs of discontent that James has shown on the court. The four-time MVP has the power to press for changes. Lowe confirms that the Cavs and Celtics spoke about Kevin Love before last month’s trade deadline but hears the Celtics made a lowball offer. The ESPN scribe believes chances are strong that Cleveland will trade Love if the team doesn’t deliver in the playoffs, underscoring the unusual level of concern surrounding a team poised to grab the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
See more from the Central Division:
- It’s a key summer for the development Michael Carter-Williams, Bucks coach Jason Kidd argues, but Kidd maintains his faith in the former Rookie of the Year, as Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel details. Carter-Williams, who’s out for the season with a torn labrum in his left hip, will be eligible to sign a rookie scale extension from July through October. “Michael is able to guard the point,” Kidd said. “Giannis [Antetokounmpo] isn’t going to guard the point. You’ve got to have a small on the floor. With Michael being able to work on his jump shot and become consistent, it only makes us better.”
- Bulls GM Gar Forman and executive VP of basketball operations John Paxson know they need to change the roster this summer, and owner Jerry Reinsdorf seems inclined to empower them to do so, writes Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. Still, Friedell takes Forman and Paxson to task for failing to see the fissures in this group of players last year and for a coaching change that hasn’t panned out. The Bulls, who held a team meeting Sunday, have lost four in a row and are two games in the loss column behind the Pistons for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
- Cavs GM David Griffin is at fault for failing to put someone in the locker room who can hold LeBron accountable, at least to a degree, but the superstar is ultimately worth all the angst, contends TNT’s David Aldridge in his Morning Tip column for NBA.com.
Cavs will not win.. They need someone to butt heads with lebron on the court and run the offense.. There’s only one player in the NBA that will do that and won’t hesitate. Rajon rondo..and bringing in Pau gasol wouldn’t hurt either.. That’s your championship team
Rajon Rondo will not keep LeBron accountable. He simply needs to hold himself accountable.
MCW better tighten it up! I’m losing my patience with him..
It’s a dangerous thing to expect someone who hasn’t been a good shooter to suddenly improve just by working on his shot, as Kidd suggests. If MCW hasn’t developed a consistent jumper by this point, it might never happen, and honestly, the Bucks haven’t been as successful since they traded for him last February. I wouldn’t commit to an extension for him.
love should be the number 2 option not kyrie only reason kyrie is because he has been with the team longer
Not a cab fan so see what the problem I see is Love need to be a Laker. Trade for the 2nd year PF from Kentucky and sign Pau Gasol this summer there your team / but I’m a Bulls fan don’t listen to me hope they lose
They need to shift Kyrie to SG and sign Chris Paul. There’s you guy to keep LBJ accountable. Probably wouldn’t hurt to trade Love for deeper bench pieces or draft picks for after 2020 since that’s when we’re even gonna have some lol
Paul is under contract to the Clippers through next season and has a player option for 2017/18, so he’s only a consideration if the Cavs are willing to wait. I think Paul and Dwyane Wade are probably the only guys who can hold LeBron accountable on the court. If it’s someone from outside of his circle of friends, he’s not going to listen.
For some reason I thought he was a FA this year. I honestly think the problem is the chemistry. Love needs to play in the paint more and move faster. And they need more of an outside shooting presence.
Sign Chris Paul, shift Kyrie to SG and trade Love for bench pieces and draft picks. Problem solved.
Get rid of kyrie for a PG who is willing to move the ball instead of being enamored with his dribbling, can play defense, and can shoot the 3. Then, somehow get a big that can defend the pick and roll, other than LeBron, or use LeBron at the 4. They need another 3 and D wing player. Those things all make Kevin Love movable
He can shoot the 3 but he’s more of a SG in my opinion.