Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Cavaliers Rumors: McGee, Prince, Drummond

March 23rd, 2021 at 8:29am CST by Luke Adams

A report on Monday suggested that a buyout is becoming more likely than a trade for Cavaliers center JaVale McGee, but Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com disputes that notion.

While McGee could be on the move in a trade, it also wouldn’t be a surprise if he remains in Cleveland beyond Thursday’s deadline, according to Fedor. And in that scenario, the Cavaliers wouldn’t be interested in a buyout, multiple sources tell Fedor, who says the team’s plan is to either trade or keep McGee.

If potential suitors believe McGee could get bought out, it would significantly impact the Cavs’ leverage in trade talks, so it’s fair to be skeptical of this report. On the other hand though, Cleveland hasn’t given up on pushing for a postseason play-in spot and McGee is the team’s primary backup center, so the team won’t be eager to hand him to a contender just to save a small amount of money.

We also saw last year with Tristan Thompson that the Cavs are willing to play out the string with a veteran buyout candidate, even if he ends up eventually walking in unrestricted free agency.

Here’s more on the Cavs:

Taurean Prince, who has appeared in just two games since February 15, is dealing with what’s been diagnosed as a left shoulder sprain. He’s attempting to rehab the injury, but may ultimately require surgery, sources tell Joe Vardon of The Athletic. That will complicate any efforts the Cavs make to trade him before this week’s deadline.
Besides Andre Drummond‘s pricey salary, there may be some “reputational concerns” hindering the Cavs’ ability to trade him, according to Vardon. Before the Cavs benched Drummond for good, they asked him multiple times to accept a role reduction and/or to come off the bench, and he refused, Vardon continues. Teams will still be interested in the veteran center if he reaches the buyout market, so it’s not as if his attitude is a deal-breaker, per Vardon, but it’s another obstacle in Cleveland’s attempts to make a trade.
Be sure to check out our Cavs team page for all the latest updates on the club, including Quinn Cook signing a second 10-day contract and the Warriors reportedly inquiring on Cedi Osman.

Cavaliers Sign Quinn Cook To Second 10-Day Contract

March 22nd, 2021 at 1:18pm CST by JD Shaw

MARCH 22: The Cavs have officially re-signed Cook to his second 10-day deal, the team announced in a press release.

MARCH 21: The Cavaliers are signing point guard Quinn Cook to a second 10-day contract, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).

Cook appeared in four games during his first 10-day deal with the team, which expires tonight, averaging five points, 1.5 assists and 12.8 minutes over that stretch. He holds past experience with the Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors and Lakers.

Once his second 10-day deal expires, the Cavaliers can sign Cook for the rest of the season or opt to let him go at the end of this contract, something the Lakers did with center Damian Jones over the weekend.

Cleveland currently owns the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 15-26. The team has upcoming games scheduled against the Raptors on Sunday, Kings on Monday and Bulls on Wednesday.

Haynes’ Latest: Bagley, Pistons, Bey, Gordon, Collins, Cavs

March 22nd, 2021 at 12:59pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pistons recently turned down an offer from the Kings that would have sent rookie forward Saddiq Bey to Sacramento in a deal involving Marvin Bagley III, league sources tell Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

After Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report suggested earlier today that Bagley would welcome a change of scenery, Haynes reiterates that point in his latest report, writing that the Kings and the third-year big man are “keen on discovering a corridor toward separation.”

A deal for Bey would be a long shot though, as the Pistons have shown little to no interest in parting with any members of their rookie class, according to James Edwards III of The Athletic, who says all four of those rookies (Bey, Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, and Saben Lee) are considered building blocks for the team’s rebuild.

Here’s more from Haynes:

Rockets players thought the team was on the verge of acquiring Magic forward Aaron Gordon a few days ago, but at least one source with knowledge of trade talks disputed that a deal was at the finish line, writes Haynes. Sources tell Yahoo Sports that Gordon doesn’t want to go to a rebuilding team, preferring to join a club with the potential to make a playoff run. While Gordon doesn’t have the ability to dictate his landing spot, he’ll be a free agent in 2022, so any team giving up assets to acquire him would want to be relatively confident it could sign him beyond then, Haynes observes.
As other reports have suggested, the odds of a John Collins trade this week appear to be declining. Haynes says the Hawks haven’t been overly impressed by the offers, including a Mavericks package featuring Maxi Kleber.
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen isn’t going anywhere before the trade deadline, but Cleveland is expected to have plenty of competition for him on the restricted free agent market this summer. Haynes reports that the Pistons, Raptors, Spurs, and Wizards are expected to be among the teams with interest in Allen, who turned down a four-year, $48MM extension offer from the Nets before the season.
A buyout is becoming a more likely outcome than a trade for Cavaliers center JaVale McGee, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. A buyout would be a bit of a surprise if there’s any interest in McGee, since he’s on a very movable $4.2MM expiring contract.

Latest On Norman Powell

March 22nd, 2021 at 10:47am CST by Luke Adams

Many front offices around the NBA are skeptical that the Raptors will ultimately part ways with point guard Kyle Lowry due to a variety of factors, including his $30.5MM salary, but swingman Norman Powell is a “far different story,” writes Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

As Fischer notes, Powell is expected to decline his $11.6MM player option this offseason to reach unrestricted free agency. Executives around the league anticipate an annual salary of at least $20MM for Powell, says ESPN’s Zach Lowe, so if the Raptors are at all uncertain about giving him a substantial raise this summer, they’ll likely gauge his trade market this week.

One team capologist who spoke to Fischer said he believes there’s a 75% chance Powell will be dealt this week.

According to Fischer, sources have linked the Mavericks, Celtics, Timberwolves, Pistons, and Hawks to discussions for Powell, and the Cavaliers are believed to have asked for him in their Andre Drummond trade talks with Toronto, though there’s no indication those negotiations gained momentum.

The Knicks are also considered a possible suitor for Powell, with one team official referring to the high-scoring wing as a “perfect Tom Thibodeau player,” Fischer writes. New York still has over $15MM in cap room and could theoretically acquire Powell without including any outgoing salary.

Powell, 27, is in the midst of a career year, having averaged 19.6 points per game on .496/.444/.872 shooting in 40 contests (30.4 MPG). As Eric Koreen of The Athletic writes, only one other player – Zach LaVine – has both attempted more shots and has a higher true shooting percentage than Powell this season.

Noting that retaining Powell through the deadline and re-signing him would essentially lock the Raptors into a core of Powell, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby, Koreen contends that the time may be right to consider moving the 27-year-old to gain added financial flexibility, draft picks, and/or younger players.

Charania’s Latest: LeBron, Fournier, Raptors, Holmes, More

March 22nd, 2021 at 9:22am CST by Luke Adams

There’s an initial expectation that the high ankle sprain LeBron James suffered over the weekend will sideline the Lakers star for multiple weeks, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

As Charania explains, James has been incredibly durable throughout his career and has a high pain tolerance, but high ankle sprains are generally multi-week injuries and the Lakers will want to play it safe with the superstar forward to ensure he’s back to 100% by the time the playoffs begin in May. The team has a 28-15 record and isn’t in any danger of losing a playoff spot, so James won’t be rushed back.

Here’s more from Charania:

The Celtics are eyeing Magic guard Evan Fournier, sources tell The Athletic. Fournier’s $17MM expiring contract could be absorbed using Boston’s $28.5MM trade exception.
Charania adds the Raptors to the list of teams showing interest in Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie. Toronto is also – along with the Hornets – among the clubs interested in Kings center Richaun Holmes, according to Charania.
Although the Mavericks have discussed a possible Andre Drummond trade with the Cavaliers, Dallas is more likely to pursue the veteran center if he’s bought out, says Charania.
Teams around the NBA are monitoring Raptors swingman Norman Powell and Lakers wing Talen Horton-Tucker, per Charania. Both players are eligible for free agency in 2021 — Powell will be unrestricted, while Horton-Tucker will be restricted.

Cavaliers Discussed Andre Drummond Trade With Mavericks

March 21st, 2021 at 6:47pm CST by JD Shaw

The Mavericks are among the teams who’ve held trade discussions with the Cavaliers on center Andre Drummond. Cleveland is hoping to move Drummond ahead of the deadline, though a buyout is likely if a trade doesn’t materialize in time.
The Warriors recently inquired on Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman, O’Connor reports, though talks stalled. Osman is shooting just 36% from the field and 32% from deep in his 40 games this season.

Cavaliers Notes: Drummond, Allen, Love, Cook

March 21st, 2021 at 11:57am CST by Arthur Hill

The Cavaliers are still optimistic about an Andre Drummond trade before Thursday’s deadline, although they don’t expect much in return, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Drummond hasn’t played since February 12 while the Cavs searched for a trading partner, and he will be a strong buyout candidate if Cleveland can’t work out a deal.

The interest level in Drummond has always been high, Fedor adds, but his $28.7MM contract makes any deal complicated. Many teams would like to add the veteran center for a playoff run, but the players they would have to give up to match salaries are too good to part with.

Fedor states that general manager Koby Altman will need to be creative and suggests a multi-team deal is the only realistic way for Drummond to be traded. Cedi Osman or Taurean Prince could be offered to motivate other teams to get involved, according to Fedor.

Rival teams are becoming skeptical that Drummond will be traded, Fedor adds, but he says the idea that only a few teams will have a chance to sign him after a buyout works in Cleveland’s favor. The Knicks, Raptors, Bulls, Heat and Celtics probably couldn’t compete with the Lakers or Nets if Drummond becomes a free agent, so they may be willing to make modest trade offers. Fedor points to New York as the most likely team to trade for Drummond.

There’s more from Cleveland:

The Cavaliers should expect an offseason extension for Jarrett Allen to cost about $100MM, Fedor notes in the same story. Even though he will be a restricted free agent, Allen is expected to be one of the top players on the market this summer. Cleveland is committed to keeping him, Fedor adds, but will have to start his new contract at around $20MM per year.
Kevin Love has been offered up in trades for several months, but the Cavs haven’t found any takers, writes Brian Windhorst of ESPN. A calf injury that has sidelined Love for most of the season and a pricey contract that pays him more than $60MM over the next two years have limited the market for the veteran forward.
The Cavaliers are facing a decision on Quinn Cook, whose 10-day contract expires today. Cook has appeared in four games since signing with Cleveland, averaging 5.0 PPG in 12.8 minutes per night. He is eligible to sign another 10-day deal with the team.

Knicks Notes: Thibodeau, Drummond, Robinson, Ntilikina

March 20th, 2021 at 10:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has a reputation for preferring veterans over young players and other future assets, but he indicated the organization might not take that approach this year, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. The Knicks have exceeded expectations so far, holding a 21-21 record that has them tied for sixth place in the East. Although there’s temptation to add talent to end a long playoff drought, Thibodeau suggested the team is willing to take a long-term approach.

“It’s important for us to go step-by-step and not skip over things,’’ he said. “The whole goal this year is to build a foundation and the right type of habits. Wherever that leads us, it leads us. Our players have responded. In this league, you’re always looking for player development first, then look at the draft and free agency, then trades. You never stop working in all four areas. Every day it’s how can we make the team better. That’s where our focus lies with coaches, front office and players. We’re all tied together. We’re going to do what’s best for the Knicks.’’

Berman notes that two of the most prominent names the Knicks have been tied to — Rockets guard Victor Oladipo and Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball — will be free agents this summer and may be obtainable without breaking up the young core.

There’s more from New York:

Andre Drummond could be worth watching if he reaches a buyout with the Cavaliers, Berman adds in the same story, but there’s “mutual disinterest” between the Knicks and Spurs big man LaMarcus Aldridge, who plays the same position as Julius Randle.
Center Mitchell Robinson could be back Sunday after missing 15 games with a broken hand, but he may not rejoin the starting lineup right away, Berman states in a separate story. Nerlens Noel has been effective in his place, and Robinson may return on a minutes restriction. “I want to see how that goes,” Thibodeau said. “There’s great versatility there. Eventually, he’ll get back to starting. Whether that happens right away or down the road … I’m comfortable with both guys in that role. And I’m really comfortable with Taj (Gibson) as well. That gives us great depth at that position.”
Frank Ntilikina, who’s on the final year of his rookie contract and will have a $15.6MM cap hold if he receives a qualifying offer, seems to be the most likely Knicks player to be traded, according to Steve Popper of Newsday. Alec Burks, Reggie Bullock and Elfrid Payton all have expiring contracts, but an Eastern Conference scout told Popper their trade value is limited to a second-round pick apiece.

Central Notes: Dellavedova, Markkanen, Tucker, Kurucs

March 20th, 2021 at 9:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Matthew Dellavedova hasn’t played yet this season, but the Cavaliers are hoping he can be ready during the team’s upcoming road trip, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The 30-year-old guard went through a 45-minute shooting workout before Friday’s game and was scheduled to join the team for practice today.

Dellavedova, who hasn’t played a regular season game in more than a year, suffered a concussion in the preseason opener that sidelined him for two months. That was followed by an emergency appendectomy in February, which further delayed his return.

“Obviously we know how long he’s been out and what he had to deal with with the concussion and then as he started to work his way back the appendectomy happens you’re off two to three weeks,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He’s making progress and I would expect him back sooner rather than later.”

There’s more from the Central Division:

Lauri Markkanen‘s long-term future with the Bulls may appear uncertain, but he believes he could get an explanation any time from executive vice president Artūras Karnišovas, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports. A source tells Johnson that a rumored deal involving Markkanen and Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball stems mostly from the fact that both are headed for restricted free agency. “ I have a good relationship with AK and same thing with (coach Billy Donovan),” Markkanen said. “If that wasn’t the case, they would tell me. I’m happy. Obviously, we’ve gotta win more games and there’s things we can get better at. And that’s what we’re trying to focus on right now.’’
This week’s trade for P.J. Tucker will give Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer more flexibility with the lineups he uses to close out games, notes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Milwaukee may use small-ball lineups in crunch time with Tucker on the court instead of Brook Lopez, unless the team is facing a legitimate center like the Sixers’ Joel Embiid.
With D.J. Augustin gone, Donte DiVincenzo will take over as the backup point guard, but the Bucks will continue to look for help, Nehm adds. A report this week listed Milwaukee as a possible destination if Isaiah Thomas returns to the NBA.
New Bucks forward Rodions Kurucs, who was also acquired in the Tucker deal, has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, Nehm tweets.

Multiple Playoff Teams Interested In JaVale McGee

March 19th, 2021 at 12:40pm CST by Luke Adams

According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, a number of strong playoff teams are interested in Cavaliers center JaVale McGee. However, those clubs are gauging the likelihood of a possible buyout for McGee before committing to giving up an asset for him.