Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

‘Positive’ Talks With Derrick Rose, Who Might Return Soon

December 2nd, 2017 at 6:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Cavaliers are reporting “positive” communication with Derrick Rose and he may return to the team soon, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.

Coach Tyronn Lue and GM Koby Altman both confirmed there has been recent contact with Rose, but didn’t offer any other information. Lue referred questions on the topic to Altman, who promised more information on Sunday.

Rose, who hasn’t played since November 9 because of an injured ankle, left the team 10 days ago to contemplate his future in the NBA. He is reportedly frustrated over a series of injuries that have plagued him over the last several years.

Rose, who agreed to a veterans’ minimum contract in July, played just seven games before the ankle problem struck. He averaged 14.3 points per night, but Cleveland didn’t start winning consistently until he left the lineup.

There’s no guarantee that Rose will have a spot in the rotation if he does return, especially with Isaiah Thomas expected back from his hip injury later this month. Dwyane Wade had taken over point guard duties with the reserves.

LeBron James said earlier today that he hasn’t been in contact with Rose since he left.

“Whenever he’s ready to tell us or whatever, we’re ready for that,” James said. “You don’t ever fast track someone’s process of what they may be going through. When they’re ready to talk about it or ready to bring it to the forefront, as his teammates we’ll be ready for it.”

Ante Zizic Recalled

December 2nd, 2017 at 3:58pm CST by clarkcrum

According to a team press release, rookie center Ante Zizic has been recalled back to the Cavaliers a day after being assigned to the G League’s Canton Charge. Zizic scored 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds for the Charge in last night’s game against the Long Island Nets.

Some Cavs Initially Concerned About Wade Addition

December 1st, 2017 at 5:51pm CST by Austin Kent

There was apprehension in the Cavaliers‘ locker room that the addition of Dwyane Wade would disrupt team chemistry, Jason Lloyd of The Athletic writes. In his own question-and-answer feature, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com sheds some light on which players, specifically, may have initially resisted the addition.

Cavaliers Send Ante Zizic To G League

December 1st, 2017 at 2:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Rookie center Ante Zizic, acquired by the Cavaliers in the Kyrie Irving blockbuster, has been re-assigned to the G League, according to a press release from the club. Zizic will play in his third game for the Canton Charge tonight after averaging a double-double (14.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG) in his first two.

Iman Shumpert Undergoes Knee Surgery, Expected To Miss Two Months

December 1st, 2017 at 1:59pm CST by Luke Adams

1:59pm: Shumpert underwent surgery today to repair a small meniscus tear in his left knee, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical. According to Charania, Shumpert is expected to be out for two months.

8:44am: Cavaliers swingman Iman Shumpert will be sidelined for the foreseeable future, as he’s set to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Friday, the team announced in a press release. The Cavs have not yet provided a recovery timetable for Shumpert, but league sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN that the veteran could miss the next six to eight weeks.

Shumpert, 27, has been nagged by left knee issues so far this season, putting up numbers across the board that are among his career-worsts. That includes just 4.8 PPG, , a .386 FG%, and a .280 3PT% in 13 games (six starts).

The subject of trade rumors frequently throughout 2017, Shumpert is earning a $10.34MM salary this season, with a player option worth $11MM+ for 2018/19. Even when he was healthy, the former first-round pick wasn’t generating a ton of interest on the trade market, so his knee injury will further reduce the odds of Cleveland finding a suitable deal before February’s trade deadline. If Shumpert were to miss the next eight weeks, that would put him on track to return less than two weeks before this season’s deadline, which wouldn’t give him much time to rebuild his value.

With Shumpert on the shelf, J.R. Smith, Dwyane Wade, Kyle Korver, and Jae Crowder figure to continue carrying the load on the wing for the Cavs, with Cedi Osman perhaps seeing a few more opportunities too.

Bulls Alum Have Faith In Derrick Rose

November 30th, 2017 at 3:13pm CST by Austin Kent

While Derrick Rose‘s fate lies in his own hands, former Bulls counterparts Taj Gibson and Tom Thibodeau have faith in the Cavaliers guard. “Derrick is a good thinker,” Gibson told Nick Friedell of ESPN. “He thinks a lot. He’s a real smart guy, so if he needs to get away, let him get away, let him adjust, and he’ll come back. He’s a tough guy. He’s from Chicago, man.“

Cavaliers Notes: Thompson, Frye, George

November 30th, 2017 at 12:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Thursday marks the four-week point since the Cavaliers announced that Tristan Thompson would be sidelined for three or four weeks with a calf injury. And while Thompson isn’t quite ready to get back on the court yet, he’s getting close.

According to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers are eyeing next week for Thompson’s return. A team source tells Vardon that the Cavs want the veteran center – who last played on November 1 – to get a few more reps at practice before he’s activated.

It will be interesting to see how the Cavs adjust their lineup to accommodate Thompson’s return. After starting all 78 games he played for the team last season, the 26-year-old started just five of eight games early this year, as the club tried to work out whether it made more sense to start him alongside Kevin Love or to start Love at center. If Thompson is re-inserted into the starting lineup, Jae Crowder figures to come off the bench, Vardon notes.

Here’s more out of Cleveland:

With Thompson nearing a return to action, Channing Frye‘s spot in the Cavs’ rotation may be in jeopardy. However, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com argues that Frye has earned consistent minutes with his play over the last couple weeks. The veteran sharpshooter is frequently mentioned as a possible trade chip, given his $7.4MM expiring contract, but he has been a solid role player during Cleveland’s current nine-game winning streak.
The Cavs missed out on Paul George in the offseason, but Cleveland ought to be monitoring the George situation in Oklahoma City with the Thunder still struggling, says Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net.
In an ESPN.com piece examining the early MVP odds, Kevin Pelton writes that this looks like LeBron James‘ best shot at the award since his Heat days, particularly if he can sustain his current level of production.

Wade Content To Be In Cleveland

November 29th, 2017 at 9:45pm CST by Arthur Hill

Business decisions have taken Dwyane Wade to unexpected places over the past two seasons, but he tells Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel that he’s happy to be with the Cavaliers. After 13 years in Miami, Wade signed with the Bulls in 2016, then came to Cleveland this season after to agreeing to a buyout with Chicago just before training camp. “Obviously, you don’t know what’s going to happen from day to day,” Wade said. “This career path we all chose in the NBA, you just don’t know what’s going to happen with it. For me, I’m OK and I’m content with what I’ve done for 13 years. Did I think it was gonna shake out this way? No. But I’m not sitting here crying about it neither.”

NBA Execs Expect Sixers To Pursue LeBron James In Free Agency

November 29th, 2017 at 11:39am CST by Luke Adams

LeBron James is headed for free agency again in the summer of 2018, and executives around the NBA believe that the Sixers and president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo will make a play for the four-time MVP, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.

As Zillgitt lays out, James and young Philadelphia star Ben Simmons share an agent in Rich Paul of Klutch Sports; LeBron has spoken highly of Sixers head coach Brett Brown; and the 76ers figure to be one of the few teams in the NBA that have a clear path to creating a maximum-salary slot. Those factors – along with the presence of standout center Joel Embiid, versatile swingman Robert Covington, and 2017’s first overall pick Markelle Fultz – should allow the Sixers to craft a compelling pitch.

While it’s never too early to start speculating about the next career move for one of the best players in NBA history, James has revealed next to nothing about his 2018 plans so far. The 32-year-old has publicly said he’s happy with the Cavaliers and has talked about finishing his career in Cleveland, but hasn’t committed long-term to the franchise, fueling speculation that he’ll head elsewhere.

The Lakers have been frequently mentioned as a possible landing spot for James, but the team still has work to do if it wants to open up two maximum-salary slots to land LeBron and another star. Other possible suitors like the Rockets and Spurs would face salary-cap roadblocks if they attempt to sign James. That could open the door for a club like the Sixers, since Philadelphia is further along in its rebuild than L.A. and has the kind of cap flexibility that’s rare among contenders.

With more than seven months to go until James can become a free agent, plenty can change between now and then. However, as Zillgitt writes, if the future Hall-of-Famer takes meetings with teams when he reaches free agency next July, it would make sense for him to consider the Sixers.

Grizzlies Rumors: Gasol, Fizdale, Next Steps

November 28th, 2017 at 10:11am CST by Luke Adams

Although Marc Gasol expressed displeasure with his fourth-quarter benching on Sunday, there was no “him-or-me” mandate from Gasol to Grizzlies management that led to David Fizdale‘s ouster on Monday, league sources tell Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link).

The Grizzlies’ decision to fire Fizdale did create the impression that the team was choosing Gasol over its head coach, but it may not be that simple, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Prior to Fizdale’s dismissal, speculation about a possible Gasol trade was beginning to gain steam. If the club had retained Fizdale and Gasol’s frustration led to a trade demand, it would have become more difficult for Memphis to move him. By avoiding that scenario, the Grizzlies can ensure that the veteran’s center trade value remains high, if they decide to consider that possibility.

“I don’t think [the Grizzlies] are done making changes,” one league executive told Deveney on Monday. “They could still move Gasol, they could still go into a rebuilding situation, but it would be harder if Gasol was saying he wants out. They have had plenty of offers for Gasol, and they have a couple of months to sort out whether they pull the trigger. But don’t be surprised if they do, even after this.”

Here’s more on the Grizzlies:

The Celtics and Raptors are among the clubs that could be suitors for Gasol if the Grizzlies entertain offers, according to both Deveney and Forbes’ Mitch Lawrence. Lawrence identifies the Cavaliers and Trail Blazers as other teams that would have interest in the three-time All-Star. It would be tricky for some of those teams to put together viable packages for Gasol and his $22.6MM+ salary.
Fizdale had the support of many of the Grizzlies’ younger players, so his firing may widen a divide between the youngsters and the veterans on Memphis’ roster, says Deveney. The Sporting News scribe also observes that Fizdale is exactly the kind of positive coach and teacher a team would want during a rebuild, meaning the Grizzlies may miss him if they go in that direction.
Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer lays out the case for why a full-fledged rebuild might make the most sense for the Grizzlies at this point.
While much has been made of Gasol’s role in Fizdale’s firing, former NBA swingman and current ESPN analyst Stephen Jackson set his sights on Chandler Parsons. As AJ Neuharth-Keusch of USA Today details, Jackson suggested that the lack of production the Grizzlies have received from a max-salary player like Parsons put Fizdale at a major disadvantage.