Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Isaiah Thomas Targets Early January Return Date

December 17th, 2017 at 7:27pm CST by Austin Kent

The Cavaliers could see Isaiah Thomas make his team debut in the first week of January, Shams Charania of The Vertical tweets. The point guard hasn’t yet played for his new club after coming over from the Celtics in an offseason trade, but is targeting the first week of the new year.

Charania adds that Thomas apparently feels well enough to play now, but the plan has been set to ensure that he doesn’t re-injure himself.

In the first week of January, Cleveland faces the Trail Blazers, Celtics and Magic. That January 3 game in Boston, in particular, will be a highly-anticipated tilt. Thomas seemed to take his trade out of the New England personally.

It’s unclear what the Cavs can seriously expect out of their new addition, but the 28-year-old made waves in 2016/17 when he averaged 28.9 points per contest. He was traded to Cleveland this offseason, along with Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, Brookyln’s 2018 first-round pick and a 2020 second-rounder, for Kyrie Irving.

LeBron Looking To "Break The Mold"

December 17th, 2017 at 4:35pm CST by clarkcrum

LeBron James is well on his way to another First Team All-NBA selection and perhaps a fifth MVP Award. And while the Cavaliers star will be the first to tell you that that he plays for team accomplishments, even he was able to admit how sweet it would be to add more personal hardware to his trophy case, reports Nick Friedell of ESPN. James also elaborated on what his continued excellence over time could mean for future NBA generations.

In a piece for the The Plain Dealer, Terry Pluto opines that this season’s Cavaliers team has so far had a much more encouraging regular season than last year’s team. Among other topics, Pluto analyzes the surprising fit of Jose Calderon and general manager Koby Altman’s decision to give him a fully-guaranteed contract, head coach Tyronn Lue’s relationship with newcomer Jeff Green, and how potential All-Star Kevin Love seems to be thriving in an environment without Kyrie Irving.
After being traded to Cleveland from Minnesota on draft night in 2015, Cavaliers swingman Cedi Osman had spent the last two seasons playing overseas in Turkey, waiting for his NBA break to come. And now that he’s in the NBA, Osman is looking to make the most of his opportunity, writes Chris Fedor of cleveland.com. In last night’s win against Utah, Osman scored a career high 10 points in 23 minutes (also a career high), with Lue opting to keep Osman in during crunch time in the fourth quarter.

Cavaliers Notes: Calderon, George, Holland

December 16th, 2017 at 9:23am CST by marksuleymanov

Derrick Rose, Iman Shumpert, and others have tried to hold down the Cavaliers‘ point guard vacancy while Isaiah Thomas recovers from a hip injury. Veteran Jose Calderon, however, has stepped into a prominent role and provided stability, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes.

Through 20 games (14 starts), Calderon is averaging 4.3 PPG, 1.9 APG, and 1.3 RPG. Those numbers are hardly eye-catching, but they have been consistent; several members of the roster appreciate the impact that the 13-year NBA veteran has had.

“He’s an oldie but goodie,” Cavaliers forward Kevin Love said. “Whether he’s playing five minutes or 35 minutes, he’s going to be Jose and go out there and knock down shots, play with a lot of poise. He’s been great for us.”

As Fedor writes, Calderon maintains a stellar assist-to-turnover ration in addition to his shooting and defensive skills. That makes him a threat on both ends of the court, which has allowed the Cavaliers to win 12 of 13 games since Calderon was named the starter.

“He settles things down. He’s always been a safety valve for a team,” Dwyane Wade said. “I used to hate when we played against him because he never turned the ball over, he never made risky passes and obviously as he’s been showing lately he can knock open shots down. It’s been good for us. He’s been stable for that position, for that group and for the team.”

Check out other news from the Cavaliers organization below:

As the Thunder struggle to find consistency, Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon addressed the possibility of the Cavaliers pursuing Paul George as a trade target. Vardon notes that the Cavaliers would be following the Warriors’ model of utilizing four superstar caliber players to win — if they acquired George. The former Pacers All-Star was a Cleveland target this past offseason but ultimately went to Oklahoma City.
Cavaliers guard/forward John Holland, currently signed to a two-way deal, suffered a left shoulder subluxation on Wednesday while playing for the team’s G League affiliate, the Canton Charge, the team announced. Holland will miss 4 to 6 weeks and his status will be updated as appropriate.

Cavaliers Reluctant To Discuss Nets’ Pick

December 15th, 2017 at 11:01am CST by Luke Adams

Shortly after acquiring the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick from the Celtics in the summer, Cavaliers GM Koby Altman acknowledged that he had an obligation to listen to inquiries on that pick, but suggested that the Cavs had “every intention of keeping it and using it.” A few months later, it doesn’t appear that stance has changed. League executives tell Sean Deveney of The Sporting News that Cleveland has been very reluctant to include that first-rounder in trade talks to date.

“They would be open to a deal by all indications,” one general manager told Deveney. “But they’re not talking about that pick. That’s the Plan B for the LeBron [James] stuff and from what I know, they don’t want to budge on it.”

[RELATED: Latest on LeBron James]

The “LeBron stuff,” of course, is the possibility that James will leave Cleveland as a free agent in 2018 — the club wants to be in position to replenish its roster with young talent in that scenario, and the Brooklyn pick, which figures to be a lottery selection, would be a great start. Still, one league executive suggested that the Cavs’ apparent unwillingness to discuss the pick may be a smokescreen. If the Cavs consider dealing the Nets’ pick, another executive said, it would have to be in a deal for a star.

“The only way they trade that would be a transformational player, someone who can help them win a championship,” the exec told Deveney. “I don’t think there is necessarily a player like that out there, at least not what’s been talked about so far. But you’re not going to deal away your chance at a top player in this draft for the right to lose to the Warriors again.”

The Cavs have been linked to multiple veteran centers on struggling teams, including DeAndre Jordan and Marc Gasol. However, a source tells Deveney that no serious discussions about a deal like that are happening at this point. If Cleveland engages the Clippers or Grizzlies about such a trade, I imagine the Nets’ pick would be the first asset either of those teams asks about.

Latest On LeBron James

December 14th, 2017 at 10:42pm CST by Luke Adams

For much of 2017, there have been rumblings about the possibility of LeBron James leaving the Cavaliers in the summer of 2018 to head west to Los Angeles. With the Cavs hosting the Lakers on Thursday night, it was as good a time as any for Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst of ESPN to check in on James’ upcoming free agency, passing along a few notes and tidbits they’ve picked up from various sources. Here are some highlights from their piece:

Despite the constant speculation and L.A.’s efforts to create massive cap room for 2018, the Lakers look a “long shot” to sign James for now, league sources tell Shelburne and Windhorst.
According to ESPN’s report, when James reached free agency in 2014, his reps told contending teams to be prepared to offer a maximum salary contract, and not a penny less. It’s too early to lock anything in for 2018, but don’t expect James to take a Kevin Durant-esque discount on his next contract, per Shelburne and Windhorst. Sources tell the duo that James’ stance on max contracts hasn’t changed, meaning potential suitors will need to be able to offer a projected starting salary of approximately $35MM.
A recent report cited the Rockets as a threat for James, and LeBron’s longtime friendship with Chris Paul is a reason to take Houston seriously, according to Shelburne and Windhorst. Still, league sources tell ESPN that the idea that James and Paul badly want to end up on the same team is an “overstated assumption.”
While we’ll certainly hear plenty more about James’ free agency in the coming months, it’s unlikely that we’ll hear much from the man himself — or agent Rich Paul. “LeBron is focused on this season and winning a championship,” Paul told ESPN. “At the appropriate time, we will explore all the options. Now is not the time.”

Ante Zizic Recalled After Solid G League Showing

December 14th, 2017 at 8:50pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers have recalled center Ante Zizic to the NBA, according to a press release issued by the club. Zizic poured in 16 points in 16 minutes for the Canton Charge on Wednesday night, helping to lead Cleveland’s G League affiliate to a victory over the Grand Rapids Drive.

Cleveland Has Been Promised Future All-Star Game

December 13th, 2017 at 10:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

Quicken Loans Arena is going through a $140MM renovation, and the Cavs were hoping to be named All-Star hosts in 2020 or 2021. David Gilbert, chief executive officer for the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, said up to 14 cities were competing for the 2021 game.

After today’s announcement that the Pacers will host the 2021 All-Star Game, the Cavaliers have been assured that they will be an all-star host soon afterward, reports Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. “Cleveland is a great basketball city with some of the NBA’s most passionate fans and we look forward to holding our week of NBA All-Star events in Cleveland in the near future,” read a statement from NBA Deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, who promised that the game will be coming to Cleveland “in the near future.”

Cavaliers center/forward Channing Frye is making changes to his game to earn more playing time, relays Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Known primarily as a long-distance shooter, Frye has taken the ball to the basket more often this season. “I said, ‘Well, two Finals and I haven’t played a whole lot so I have to evolve something,'” Frye commented. With free agency approaching next summer, Frye is averaging 4.5 points in 13 minutes per game.

Cavs Assign Ante Zizic To G League

December 13th, 2017 at 2:16pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers have assigned rookie center Ante Zizic to the G League, the team announced today in a press release. Zizic, who has averaged a double-double (15.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG) in three G League games so far this season, will suit up for the Canton Charge on Wednesday night against Grand Rapids.

Cavaliers Notes: Thompson, James, Wade, Korver

December 11th, 2017 at 8:05pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson could return to action as soon as Tuesday but he’s lost his starting job, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Joe Vardon. Thompson has missed 19 games with a strained left calf. Kevin Love was moved to center in his absence and coach Tyronn Lue wants Love to remain there. Lue also told reporters that Channing Frye would stay in the rotation, which could also cut into Thompson’s playing time, Vardon notes. Lue said that the staff needs to “figure out how we got to use him,” referring to Thompson. At least publicly, Thompson doesn’t want to make waves about his role. “If I don’t play, that’s fine,” Thompson told Vardon and other media members. “As long as we’re winning I’m going to cheer my teammates on. If I play two minutes, three minutes, 20 minutes, it don’t matter to me. As long as we win.”

In other news regarding the Cavs:

LeBron James‘ ability to defy the aging curve has been a rare and remarkable feat, as ESPN.com’s Kevin Pelton details. His true shooting percentage of 65.8% this season is a career high, boosted by another career-best, his 3-point shooting (41.7%). That’s likely to decline as the season continues but he’s also taking more shots within three feet of the basket and converting a career-best 5.3 layups per game, Pelton continues. Additionally, he’s posting a career best in defensive block rate, something else that normally declines with age, Pelton notes. However, his overall defensive value has declined and his athleticism will also start to dip in his mid-30s, which could eventually become an issue for James, Pelton adds.
Combo guard Dwyane Wade knew from the beginning of the season he was more suited to a sixth man role with the club, USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt writes. Wade is averaging 12.3 PPG, 4.0 APG and 3.8 RPG when he comes off the bench this season and Zillgitt points out that the Cavs have a net efficiency rating of plus-10.8 with Wade on the court as a reserve. “I knew for me to be successful and for me to come to this team and bring what I can to this team, the starting unit just wasn’t a unit for me,” he told Zillgitt. “So, I decided to go to the unit that was for me.”
Handing shooting guard Kyle Korver a contract extension over the summer drew criticism but now seems like a wise investment, Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer opines. Korver, 36, signed a three-year, $22MM contract. He’s shooting 43.3% from long range and leads the team in plus-minus rating.

Jae Crowder Hopes Big Game Will End Slump

December 10th, 2017 at 8:16pm CST by Austin Kent

A big three on Saturday night could help Jae Crowder bust out of his shooting slump, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. The Cavaliers forward has struggled from long-range, particularly in the fourth quarter, and has ceded some minutes to reserve Jeff Green. “Y’all know I’ve been struggling. It feels good to finally see one go down, especially late in the game,” Crowder said. “I’ve made quite a few of those in my career, but I haven’t made them like I wanted to here. I just want to build off this win.”