Channing Frye‘s impact on the locker room had a lot to do with the Cavaliers’ decision to bring back the veteran forward, according to Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. GM Koby Altman wanted a respected veteran voice to guide the team through tough times with the departure of LeBron James, Pluto continues. Frye is very popular with his teammates and shares a close bond with the team’s remaining star, Kevin Love. Frye was traded to the Lakers last February by Cleveland solely to make the deal work financially and not because the front office had any issues with him, Pluto adds. Frye agreed to a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal.
We have more from around the Central Division:
- The team option on Jabari Parker‘s two-year contract gives the Bulls flexibility during free agency next summer, Kevin Anderson of NBC Sports Chicago notes. With a projected rise in the salary cap, the Bulls could free up enough cap space to sign a top-level free agent even if they decide to keep Parker. That could be accomplished by allowing Bobby Portis and Cameron Payne to become unrestricted free agents if they are not signed to extensions. If they decide to let Parker go next summer, they could have between $35MM-$53MM in cap space during free agency, Anderson adds.
- Cavaliers lottery pick Collin Sexton was a volume scorer during summer-league competition but reinforced the notion that his long-range game needs work, as Andre Snellings of ESPN details. Sexton did most of his damage inside the arc and needs to develop a consistent 3-point shot, Snellings continues. The University of Alabama product also displayed his ability to create for his teammates but he still can become a better passer, Snellings adds.
- The Pistons made arrangements to have Kevin Garnett work with two of their bigs, center Andre Drummond and power forward Henry Ellenson, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets.
- GM Gar Forman’s promise two years ago to make the Bulls younger and more athletic is coming to fruition, Michael Walton of NBC Sports Chicago writes. By drafting Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. in the lottery, trading for Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn and signing Jabari Parker as a free agent, the average age of the projected lineup is 22, Walton points out. The team can now play at a quicker pace and cover more space defensively, Walton adds.
Chicago Tribune said Jerry Reinsdorf wants to speed up the rebuild since LeBron no longer plays in the east.
Reinsdorf is an idiot. Of course he wants to speed it up…he’s a horrible owner.
Makes sense. Either grab Lavine & Parker this year, or pray/hope for Irving & Butler next. I like what they did– Parker is a rising 3pt shooter. We will see about fit & D.
LaVine and Parker are two pretty big defensive liabilities though
Billy Preston is like Mitch Robinson. Preston didn’t get a chance to play at Kansas, and Robinson didn’t play at all. Summer league is the first chance any one got a chance to see them play, and they did ok. The NBA is saying now they won’t go back to the high school to pro format until 2022. There goes Lavars league.
“No team has as yet traded away an unprotected 2022 first rounder”, so that’s a fair date. Miami had traded their 2021 for Goran Dragic.
What Reinsdorf, Gar/Pax, say or want is totally irrelevant, they are not gonna be any close to winning with this team anyway… Dunn, Markkanen & WCJ do help you to win. But ZLV & Jabari are liabilities & don’t help you at all with winning, all the opposite actually.
Collin Sexton looked refreshing to me. Yes he has the usual rookie faults, but those intangibles should allow him to go to the next step.
Chicago used it’s cap room to give a proven player and see what happens. Lavine showed some D signs. Lavine is Chicago only long term commitment. But yes this is a mismanaged organization.
I like jabari because he has a high ceiling. it may not work out next year, we dont pick up the option. if it does work out or shows enough progress to where we could see the second year blossom then why not. We have maintained cap flexibility and got a solid pickup in this second season of the rebuild. good move by garpax for once