Rumors commentary: Hughes May Stay

Losing Chris Mihm for a few weeks hurts the Lakers frontcourt depth a tiny but but it won’t make a huge difference. The 7-0, 265-pound player gets 13.3 minutes per game but contributes just 4.1 points and 3.7 rebounds on awful 36.9% shooting. Though, still, you never want to lose anyone to injury… I agree with the league for suspending Lamar Odom for one game. I hope that Dikembe Mutombo, now age 62, keeps playing and doesn’t retire at season’s end, though he’s said for a while now that he will. The 74-year old center is playing just 8.5 minutes per game this season, putting up a whopping 0.5 points and 2.5 rebounds on awesome 16.7% shooting. Clearly, the 83-year-old has some game left in the tank… Larry Hughes is shooting 33.5% from the field and 27.3% from three-point range. He does make his free throws, though, nailing 86.5% of them. He’s scoring just 9.7 pppg, the lowest average since his rookie season. His career FG% is 41.1%… I think the Hornets and Bobcats should combine into one team, and move to Oklahoma City… New Orleans clearly can’t support an NBA team right now. Me, my friend Mike, you, and a random hot chick chosen from the background of an MTV music video could stand centercourt, do the “Crank Dat Superman” Soulja Boy dance, and draw the same number of fans that have been going to home Hornets games.

This light, unedited editorial is a response to today’s NBA rumors stories. You absolutely need to hit the insidehoops rumors page every single day — with one main morning update, and more stories later in the day as they develop. Also hit that page to see the photo caption that accompanies the commentary. And of course, read the read of insidehoops.com as well.

Cavs assign Cedric Simmons to D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned forward Cedric Simmons to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today.

“We are happy to have the ability to put Cedric in game situations like this. This gives Cedric a great opportunity to finish the last step of his rehab from his ankle sprain,” Ferry said.

Simmons has played in four games for the Cavaliers this season and has grabbed 11 rebounds in 43 minutes. He was acquired by the Cavaliers on September 29, 2007 from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for David Wesley.

The Vipers are the D-League Affiliate for the Cavaliers, Houston Rockets and New Orleans Hornets.

Cedric Simmons now a dad

The Cleveland Cavaliers are happy to announce that Cedric Simmons and Sabrina Acevedo welcomed their first child, a son, on December 12 at 12:07 am at the Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, OH.  All are doing well.

Simmons this season is averaging 0.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.8 minutes in the four games he’s played.

Cavs waive Demetris Nichols

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived guard/forward Demetris Nichols.  He played in three games for Cleveland and scored two points and grabbed one rebound in 14 minutes.

The main reason the team did this is because they’re matching the Charlotte Bobcats offer sheet to Anderson Varejao, meaning they will retain the player. Varejao becomes a Cavs player again today.

Cavs match Bobcats offer, keep Anderson Varejao

The Cleveland Cavaliers have matched the Charlotte Bobcats’ contract offer sheet signed by Anderson Varejao, General Manager Danny Ferry announced this morning.  By matching the Bobcats’ contract offer sheet, Varejao will now be under contract with the Cavaliers. Per the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

During the 2006-07 season, Varejao, 25, played in 81 games (six starts) averaging 6.8 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game and 23.9 minutes per game.  During the 2007 NBA Playoffs, he played in all 20 games and averaged 6.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game. Varejao has played in 183 career games (10 starts) and has averaged 5.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game.  He has played in 33 career playoff games and has averaged 6.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

The Cavaliers roster now stands at 15 players.

Varjeo signs Bobcats offer sheet

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has extended an offer sheet to restricted free agent Anderson Varejao.

In accordance with the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, Varejao’s former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, will have seven days to decide whether to match the offer.

“Anderson has established himself as a very good young player in this league,” said Higgins.  “We look forward to the opportunity to add him to the core of our franchise as we continue to grow and improve.”

LeBron left finger sprain update

Cavaliers forward LeBron James left tonight’s game versus the Detroit Pistons at halftime with a left index finger sprain and did not return to the game. The injury occurred with 4:41 remaining in the second quarter. X-rays taken at the arena were negative. He will travel with the team to Toronto tonight and be re-evaluated Thursday. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Players of week are L.James, T.Parker

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 19 through Sunday, Nov. 25.

James led the Cavaliers to a 3-1 week averaging 36.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists. He became the first player since Bob Sura (April 9-10, 2004) to post triple-doubles on consecutive nights when he recorded 37 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a win over Toronto on Nov. 24, and 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a win at Indiana on Nov. 25. In each of the team’s four games this week, James scored 30-plus points, including a season-high-tying 45 points on Nov. 21 at Minnesota.

Parker led San Antonio to a 4-0 week by averaging 26.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 8.3 assists. He set his season high with 32 points on Nov. 21 in a win over Orlando and twice tied his season high in assists after tallying nine on Nov. 20 at Atlanta and against Orlando on Nov 21.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Dallas’ Devin Harris, Golden State’s Baron Davis, Indiana’s Jamaal Tinsley, Milwaukee’s Michael Redd, New Jersey’s Richard Jefferson, Orlando’s Dwight Howard, Phoenix’s Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, Toronto’s Chris Bosh, and Washington’s Antawn Jamison.

LeBron James unleashes insane 45-point game on Wolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers by the score of 97-86 Wednesday night in front of 15,524 fans at the Target Center. Cavaliers forward Lebron James stole the show, scoring a game-high 45 points on a ridiculous 17-26 from the field. Of those 17 baskets, six of them were of the three-point variety. In addition to Lebron’s tremendous night from the floor, he also chipped in with eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. Minnesota forward Al Jefferson did his best to keep Minnesota within reach, scoring a season-high 30 points to go along with eight rebounds. The Wolves had three other players finish in double figures, Walker (13), Green (13) and McCants (11). Minnesota heads to Denver next for a contest against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at 8 pm. Minnesota heads into the game with a record of 1-8, Denver stands at 8-3, good for first place in the Midwest Division.