Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Isaiah Thomas shared his two cents on a handful of topics, suggesting that he has received a disproportionate amount of blame for a struggling defense that has been ranked in the bottom five all season, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Thomas also bristled at the idea that anyone with the Cavs would be questioning his shot selection, and said that he hasn’t been approached about coming off the bench, calling the idea “disrespectful.”
While Thomas remains in the starting lineup, head coach Tyronn Lue has experimented with a new rotation in an effort to stagger the minutes that Thomas and LeBron James play. As McMenamin details in a separate story, the former Celtic has no issues with that strategy.
“We talked about it, so I think that needs to happen,” Thomas said. “My minutes just can’t be with LeBron at all times. We got to play to our strengths. Just like Chris Paul and James Harden, they don’t play together at all times.”
Here’s more on the Cavs:
- In an in-depth piece for Bleacher Report, Ken Berger passes along several interesting tidbits on the Cavs. Among those details: The Cavs didn’t initially communicate to their players why Kevin Love left last week’s loss to Oklahoma City or why he was absent from practice the next day; Thomas and owner Dan Gilbert are said to be close, and frequently exchange calls and texts; Gilbert appears to be playing a much larger role in roster decisions than he was when David Griffin was the team’s GM. “The word is out that Dan is running things,” one rival executive told Berger. “Frankly, that’s where he’s happiest and the role he’s most comfortable in.”
- Channing Frye‘s expiring contract and his modest role in the Cavs’ rotation make him a prime trade candidate as the deadline nears. However, Lue was against including him in a near-trade for George Hill, league sources tell McMenamin. As long as he remains in Cleveland, Frye will do all he can to help the Cavs win, but he knows there’s still a chance he’s sent to the Kings or another team, joking that his pay checks will “transfer to Sacramento” if it comes to that. “If they feel like George Hill or if they feel like Anthony Davis or whoever else is out there they’re trying to get is going to upgrade them? Do it. I understand,” Frye said. “So there’s no personal or hurt feelings.”
- Dwyane Wade has rejoined the Cavaliers after taking time off to mourn the death of his friend and agent Henry Thomas, per Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Wade won’t be at 100% though, as he’s dealing with a previously undisclosed left shoulder injury, Vardon writes.
- Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com identifies 10 trade candidates who could make sense for the Cavaliers.
IT should demand a trade, the whole team should, who the heck wants to play with that self-absorbed loser Lebron. He makes everyone worse on the court.
I would love it if IT demanded a trade. He is poison to the Cavs, and has the boss’s ear.
HaHa! LBJ Stay away from LA! You’re to old !
IT is like the new Rondo. And as with the old Rondo we are still in stage 1 where everyone thinks he’s elite when he’s really not.
Eventually though the truth will come out and everyone will realize he’s an overrated douche.
Got IT has become so cringeworthy. From the back up the brinks truck comment to now thinking it’s “disrespectful” to come off the bench? Gtfo dude. I was a big fan of his in Boston, he carried the team and meant a lot to he City after the Pierce years. But now he’s becoming just another diva. Do what’s best for the team, if it means coming off the bench then do it. Chase championships, not individual goals.