Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Progress In Talks Between Cavaliers, Larry Drew

November 2nd, 2018 at 1:51pm CST by Luke Adams

Cavaliers acting head coach Larry Drew said on Thursday that discussions with the team about restructuring his contract are “moving forward in a positive direction,” writes Tom Withers of The Associated Press. According to Drew, he spoke to agent Andy Miller and feels good about the progress being made in negotiations.

Drew, who appeared poised to take over as the Cavaliers’ interim head coach after Tyronn Lue‘s dismissal, has resisted taking that title to date, pushing for a raise and perhaps an extension from the team. Drew is one of the NBA’s highest-paid assistants, but is still earning less than $1MM, well below the going rate for a head coach.

The fact that Drew is optimistic about the negotiations is an encouraging sign, since it was just three days ago that he said he was “very disappointed” by the lack of progress made in those talks.

As Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com observes, Thursday’s blowout loss to Denver helped illustrate why Drew wants a new deal and possibly a longer-term commitment. If the Cavs go into full-fledged tank mode, that type of loss figures to become more frequent, negatively impacting Drew’s win-loss record and potentially hurting his chances of landing a head coaching job in the future.

“Certainly when you talk about rebuilding, it’s not an easy thing to do,” Drew said recently, per Fedor. “It’s usually something that takes a little time. If it’s going to take some time, I’d like to be part of that. I made the organization pretty aware of that, that this is something that’s not going to happen overnight.”

Asked about the Drew situation on Thursday, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert praised the veteran coach but said he’d be staying out of contract negotiations, letting GM Koby Altman handle those discussions. Fedor has the details in a separate Cleveland.com story.

NBA Unlikely To Fine J.R. Smith For Trade Comments

November 1st, 2018 at 3:20pm CST by Luke Adams

3:20pm: NBA commissioner Adam Silver doesn’t expect the league to fine Smith for today’s comments, tweets Vardon.

2:46pm: The NBA is evaluating whether comments made by Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith during Thursday’s media session warrant a fine, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

As we relayed earlier today, Smith told reporters in Cleveland that he’d like to be traded — specifically, he was asked if he wanted to be dealt, and he replied, “Yeah.” The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement prohibits players from publicly requesting trades, so the league will have to determine whether Smith violated that rule by simply answering a reporter’s question and acknowledging that he’d welcome a trade.

Wojnarowski points out that Eric Bledsoe was fined $10K last fall when the Suns got off to a miserable start and he tweeted, “I don’t wanna be here.” Bledsoe later claimed that he was with at a hair salon when he sent the tweet, but neither the team nor the league bought that explanation. Although he had to pay the $10K fine, Bledsoe eventually got his wish, with Phoenix trading him to the Bucks.

It remains to be seen whether Smith will get similar treatment from the NBA (via a fine) and from the Cavaliers (via a trade). For now though, he finds himself an awkward situation. According to multiple reports, Cavs GM Koby Altman asked Smith if he wanted to take time away from the team, but the veteran guard declined. He’s also not interested in asking for or accepting a buyout, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

Given Smith’s somewhat onerous contract and the fact that it’s still just November 1, the Cavaliers are unlikely to find a trade partner in the near future, so the two sides may be stuck with each other for the time being.

J.R. Smith Would Welcome Trade From Cavs

November 1st, 2018 at 10:47am CST by Luke Adams

J.R. Smith, removed from the Cavaliers‘ rotation for the time being, said today that he’d like to be traded, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic and Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter links).

After starting 61 of the 80 games he appeared in last season and averaging 28.1 minutes per contest for the Cavaliers, Smith has logged just 12.0 MPG in four games this season. The 33-year-old also already has multiple DNPs, including one on Tuesday in the team’s first game under new head coach Larry Drew.

A report this week indicated that Smith is no longer a part of the rotation in Cleveland, with the team focusing on developing some of its younger players. That report also indicated that the veteran guard was “upset” by the news and considered taking some time away from the club. Smith later denied that report, tweeting that the Cavs gave him the option of taking time away and he elected not to.

Still, it appears that Smith would welcome a move to another team, which doesn’t come as a surprise. After four straight trips to the NBA Finals alongside LeBron James, the 15-year veteran finds himself playing a limited role on a 1-6 team likely headed for the lottery.

Smith’s $14.72MM cap hit for 2018/19 won’t make him easy to move, but the structure of his deal could help boost his value. Although he’s under contract for one more season beyond 2018/19, his $15.68MM salary for 2019/20 is only partially guaranteed for $3.87MM. Because that contract was signed under the NBA’s previous Collective Bargaining Agreement, it could become an interesting trade chip next July, as we explained last week.

The Cavaliers are unlikely to embark on a full-fledged fire sale this early in the season, but we heard this week that they’re gauging the trade market for Kyle Korver, so it would make sense to take similar steps with Smith.

Central Notes: A. Johnson, Portis, Harrison, Antetokounmpo

October 31st, 2018 at 8:32pm CST by Arthur Hill

With the Cavaliers‘ coaching situation still uncertain, Alabama coach Avery Johnson could become a candidate, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Johnson has plenty of NBA coaching experience, spending seven seasons with the Mavericks and Nets and taking Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2006.

Johnson also has a strong connection with Cavs’ rookie point guard Collin Sexton, coaching him last year in his lone season of college basketball. Johnson attended Cleveland’s home opener last week as Sexton’s guest. Windhorst notes that owner Dan Gilbert has wanted to hire a college coach before, making offers to Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Kansas’ Bill Self and Kentucky’s John Calipari.

In the wake of Tyronn Lue‘s firing over the weekend, Larry Drew continues to act as interim head coach, but without the title. Drew said Tuesday that he’s “very disappointed” with the pace of negotiations to make his role more permanent.

There’s more from the Central Division:

Bulls forward Bobby Portis is sidelined with a sprained right MCL, but it hasn’t changed his mind about his decision to pass on a contract extension, relays Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Portis, who may be out of action until mid-December, opted to test the market as a restricted free agent next summer rather than accept a deal now. “Can’t second-guess yourself,” he said. “Basketball gods don’t bless people that way. It doesn’t work that way. In life, obviously you have a choice. I made mine, I’m happy with what I did, and I’m just living life one day at a time.”
Bulls point guard Shaquille Harrison didn’t have his confidence shaken after being waived by the Suns, notes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Injuries to Kris Dunn and Denzel Valentine have given Harrison an opportunity, and he has responded with 10 and 13 points in the past two games. “The Bulls brought me here for a reason,” he said. “I don’t need to do more than what’s being displayed. Try to continue to play hard, be a leader and be a playmaker.”
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play tomorrow in Boston, according to Matt Velazquez of The Journal-Sentinel. Antetokounmpo has missed one game so far after being elbowed in the head Saturday. “It’s kind of scary because, you know, you get hit in the head and you feel pain for 10 seconds,” he said. “But it was lingering and I had a headache the next day and it was kind of bad, but at the time, I felt – I’m Giannis – I felt great. I wanted to play. … I think the NBA medical staff did a great job protecting me, keeping me out of the game.”

Cavs Rumors: Korver, Drew, J.R. Smith, Love

October 31st, 2018 at 8:52am CST by Luke Adams

There was good news and bad news in Cleveland on Tuesday. The home crowd finally got to see the Cavaliers pick up their first victory of the season, as they blew out the Hawks by a 22-point margin. Plus, reports earlier in the day indicated that the city would host the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.

However, the team’s coaching situation remains extremely unsettled, with Larry Drew telling reporters before the game that there’s still no deal in place to make him the team’s interim head coach, let alone the permanent coach. Drew, who is seeking a raise and possibly a longer-term commitment, said that he’s “very disappointed” with the lack of progress in negotiations.

As we wait to see what happens with Drew and the Cavs, here are a few more items out of interest from out of Cleveland:

The Cavaliers have begun testing the trade market for Kyle Korver, according to Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com. Korver was mentioned in trade rumors over the summer, with reports suggesting that the Sixers discussed a potential deal for the veteran sharpshooter in July. It’s not clear if Philadelphia is still interested in Korver, but the Cavs are exploring their options.
The Cavs may become more active in looking to trade other veterans in the coming weeks, sources tell Windhorst and Wojnarowksi. Channing Frye, Rodney Hood, and David Nwaba aren’t trade-eligible until December 15 and Kevin Love can’t be traded until January 24, but anyone else on the roster could theoretically be dealt immediately.
J.R. Smith has been informed that he’ll be removed from the rotation and won’t receive guaranteed minutes, according to Windhorst and Wojnarowski. The ESPN duo reports that the veteran guard was “upset” by the news and considered taking some time away from the club, but has decided to stay with the Cavs for the time being. A Cavs front office official denied that report on Smith’s apparent discontent, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
- Update: Smith has since tweeted that the Cavs gave him the option of taking time away, but he chose to stay.
Although Larry Drew suggested on Tuesday that the Cavs may decide to bring in an outside coach to replace him, GM Koby Altman has no interest in going that route, writes Vardon.
Kevin Love confirmed on Tuesday that his toe injury will keep him sidelined for at least the next couple weeks, as Tom Withers of The Associated Press relays. “I would like to get back obviously as soon as possible,” Love said. “I had high hopes for the season, I know it’s been off to a really rocky start, but the more I can be out there and help this team, the better. So I’m hoping to get out there as quickly as possible and hoping that it’s only two or three weeks.”

Fantasy Hoops: Keeping Up With The Cavaliers

October 30th, 2018 at 11:07pm CST by ChrisCrouse

It was all good just a week ago… or maybe it wasn’t. Cleveland’s documented power struggle between the coach and the front office has ended and the results will bring a new leader on the court and the potential for new fantasy options to emerge.

(This is not to be confused with Cleveland’s other power struggle: Hue Jackson Vs. Winning Games. That also ended earlier this week with the Browns firing both Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Be sure to check out our sister site Pro Football Rumors for everything that happened at this year’s NFL trade deadline).

Cavs players were reportedly angry with the decision to fire Tyronn Lue. Kevin Love posted a photo of him and Lue on social media and perhaps coincidentally, on the day after the firing, it was reported that Love could miss up to month with an ailing toe. Cleveland had made a promise to Love that the team would remain competitive this season though it has failed to turn words into actions.

Don’t expect a trade soon, as Love isn’t eligible to be dealt until January. He is a decent bet to be on the block leading up to this season’s trade deadline. Love shouldn’t be dropped in fantasy but if your team begins to struggle, swapping a high-risk, high-reward player in an ever-developing situation for immediate help is likely the right move.

~~Interim coach~~ “Voice of the team” Larry Drew is coaching this squad in a setting which has been likened to a “substitute teacher” entering the classroom. The kids in Cleveland earned an A grade on Tuesday night, beating the Hawks by 22 points in the team’s first win of the season.

Rodney Hood had arguably his best game as a Cavalier, looking like the player the Cavs thought they were trading for when they acquired him from the Jazz last February. He made nine of his 13 looks on Tuesday and registered three steals. Hood is going to be a major part of the Cavaliers’ rotation and deserves to be in fantasy lineups.

Cedi Osman should be owned in all leagues. He started and scored 20 points and will remain in a prominent role until Love returns. Jordan Clarkson, who had an off night, making just 1-of-5 from downtown, deserves attention as well.

J.R. Smith can be dropped. He didn’t play on Tuesday and has been told he’s out of the rotation, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. Kyle Korver shouldn’t be on rosters right now, as the team is currently shopping the sharpshooter. Depending on the landing spot, he may be worth an add but he won’t exactly be a highly coveted fantasy free agent once that happens beyond owners looking to stream a 3-point specialist.

The situation is Cleveland appears fluid. The team may become more active in looking to trade other vets in the next few weeks. Stay tuned to Keeping Up With The Cavaliers within our Fantasy Hoops series to stay ahead of the competition in fantasy basketball and benefit from the unique state of Cleveland’s affairs.

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.

Missed an earlier edition of Fantasy Hoops? Check out the entire series here.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Larry Drew “Very Disappointed” In Negotiations With Cavs

October 30th, 2018 at 9:47pm CST by ChrisCrouse

9:47pm: The Cavaliers have not been aggressive in searching for another coach, sources tell Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com.

Drew, who is earning nearly $1MM this season, is one of the league’s highest-paid assistants. However, he’s looking for a raise on his salary in return for becoming the interim coach. The ESPN duo adds that it’s unclear how long Drew is willing to act as the coach without an agreement.

Windhorst and Wojnarowski also report that the Cavs again talking with teams about Kyle Korver trades, noting that the club could be more active in looking to deal other veterans in the coming weeks.

5:23pm: Larry Drew made it clear he was yet not the Cavaliers interim coach, telling the media earlier this week that he’s simply the “voice” of the team. He had hoped to reach an agreement with the Cavs to become the new floor leader. Prior to tonight’s game with Atlanta, there is still no deal in place and Drew is “very disappointed” in the lack of progress, Joe Varden of The Athletic tweets.

Drew added that he will “never quit” on the team and will “remain professional,” as Sam Amico of Amico Hoops relays via Twitter. Drew has been told the Cavaliers may bring another person in to be the head coach and he may be moved to his previous role.

“I’m fine with [the team bringing in another coach] … my contract is up in July. Maybe Larry Drew isn’t part of the future,” Drew said.

Drew has a career 143-169 record as a head coach. It was previously reported that there was a push within the organization to make Drew a long-term commitment.

Cleveland To Host 2022 NBA All-Star Game

October 30th, 2018 at 2:17pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers will host the 2022 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, league sources tell ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Kevin Kleps of Crain’s Cleveland Business first reported that an upcoming All-Star Game will be played at Quicken Loans Arena, adding that an official NBA announcement could happen as soon as this Thursday.

Cleveland had been a candidate to host the league’s 2021 All-Star weekend, but renovations on Quicken Loans Arena ran into some roadblocks, resulting in a delay. With a deal for those renovations now completed and construction underway, the league appears comfortable committing to the Cavs for the 2022 event. As Kleps notes, the arena renovations are expected to be completed before the start of the 2019/20 season.

The NBA All-Star Game hasn’t taken place in Cleveland since 1997, back when the Cavs’ building was known as the Gund Arena.

The next three NBA All-Star Games are set to take place in Charlotte (2019), Chicago (2020), and Indianapolis (2021).

Cavaliers Notes: Drew, Lue, Love

October 29th, 2018 at 2:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Although the Cavaliers announced on Sunday that Larry Drew had taken over as the team’s interim head coach in the wake of Tyronn Lue‘s dismissal, Drew insists that title isn’t quite accurate. Speaking today to reporters, Drew attempted to clarify his role.

“I’m not the interim coach. I’m the voice right now,” Drew said, per Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net. “As I’m sure you know, there is no agreement right now. Me and my agent have in talks about restructuring my contract. No decision has been made and I’m not sure if one will.”

It’s an odd situation, one that Drew likens to being a “substitute teacher,” as Amico relays. Drew is interested in being the Cavaliers’ coach, but he also wants a restructured contract and a longer-term commitment.

That’s a reasonable stance — if the Cavs go into full-fledged tank mode this season, those wins and losses would go on Drew’s official record and could make it more difficult for him to find another head coaching job in the future. His last head coaching gig was in 2013/14, when he led the Bucks to a 15-67 mark. At the time, it was his fourth consecutive season as an NBA head coach, but he was fired just one year after being hired by Milwaukee and has been back in an assistant role ever since.

Here’s more from out of Cleveland:

There is a push within a faction of the Cavaliers’ organization to make a longer-term commitment to Drew, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today (Twitter link). It remains to be seen if the two sides will work something out.
Explaining his decision to move on from Lue, GM Koby Altman said today that “this is a different group and we feel it needs a different voice.” Altman added that the Cavs had hoped to “overachieve” this season, but that hasn’t happened (Twitter link via Amico).
Altman also said that a timeline for Kevin Love‘s return has yet to be determined (Twitter link via Amico). Altman still believes it could be a “short-term” absence, though a report from earlier today suggested that Love could miss a month.
Firing Lue won’t solve the Cavaliers’ problems, according to Bill Livingston of Cleveland.com. Sean Deveney of The Sporting News agrees, arguing that the team’s real issues lie with its players. Meanwhile, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today writes that the Cavs’ history of burning through coaches and front office executives has prevented the franchise from establishing stability.
Coaches from around the NBA weighed in on Lue’s firing, with Clippers coach Doc Rivers saying it “makes no sense” and Warriors coach Steve Kerr suggesting that if Lue “wants another shot, he’ll get one” (links via Andrew Grief of The Los Angeles Times and Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press).

Cavs Pick Up 2019/20 Option On Ante Zizic

October 29th, 2018 at 11:04am CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers have exercised their third-year option on center Ante Zizic, a source tells Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The team had until October 31 to pick up the option, which guarantees Zizic’s salary for the 2019/20 season.

Zizic, 21, was one of the players acquired by Cleveland in last year’s Kyrie Irving blockbuster. The Croatian big man didn’t see much action in his rookie season, but could be in line for a larger role in 2018/19, particularly if the Cavaliers go into full-fledged rebuild mode. So far this season, Zizic has posted 3.4 PPG and 2.0 RPG in five games (7.2 MPG).

With veteran players occupying many of the roster spots in Cleveland, Zizic’s was the only rookie scale option decision the Cavs had to make by this fall’s deadline. The move will add another $2,281,800 in guaranteed money to the club’s books for next season.

Cleveland will have one more option decision to make on Zizic by October 31, 2019. Assuming the team exercises his fourth-year option for 2020/21 before that deadline, the young center will become extension-eligible during the summer of 2020 and would be on track for restricted free agency in 2021.

We’re keeping tabs on all of the 2019/20 rookie scale option decisions from around the NBA right here.