Category: Cleveland Cavaliers Blog

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Cavaliers struggling to rebuild as hoped

The Cleveland Cavaliers need talent. They have Kyrie Irving, and if he sticks around long-term is an excellent building block. But the rest of the roster is largely a question mark. Here’s the Boston Globe with more:

With the good luck he has brought the Cleveland Cavaliers at the NBA draft lottery, maybe team owner Dan Gilbert should appoint his son as the team’s next general manager because everything following the lottery has been an abject failure.

The Cavaliers were given a plethora of draft resources, including two No. 1 overall picks with Nick Gilbert present, to rebuild following the departure of LeBron James. But so far the results have been abysmal.

Cleveland was tabbed as a cinch playoff team this season, expected to attract James to perhaps return as a free agent. The Cavaliers were the vogue pick to rise in the Eastern Conference, led by their charismatic star point guard, Kyrie Irving, and a talented and youthful supporting cast.

Yet the product has been painfully disappointing. Irving has taken a step back, apparently caught up with stardom and his next destination, according to those close to the team. Fellow lottery picks Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters have been average at best, while last spring’s No. 1 overall pick, Anthony Bennett, has registered a Ryan Leaf-bust type of first season.

Cavaliers reportedly fire their GM

Here’s a report from Yahoo Sports on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are saying goodbye to their general manager:

Hours after a humiliating loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has fired general manager Chris Grant, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Gilbert had grown increasingly frustrated with the losing and dysfunction within the Cavaliers and the loss to the Lakers – who finished the game with four eligible players – was the breaking point.

Cleveland is 16-33 and losers of six straight games. They’re 5.5 games out of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Gilbert had delivered a mandate of making the playoffs for the Cavaliers this season.

Cavs assign Sergey Karasev to D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned guard/forward Sergey Karasev to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Karasev has appeared in six games for the Charge and is averaging 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 28.8 minutes per game.

Karasev will be available for Friday night’s Charge game against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants at the Canton Memorial Civic Center at 7:00 p.m.

Bulls trade Luol Deng to Cavs for Andrew Bynum and draft picks

Bulls trade Luol Deng to Cavs for Andrew Bynum and draft picks

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired All-Star forward Luol Deng from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for center Andrew Bynum, three future draft picks and the right to swap 2015 first round picks with the Cavs (1-14 protected), Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced tonight from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“We are very excited for Luol to join the Cavaliers organization, ” said Grant. “We have worked to acquire and maintain flexibility in order to capitalize on opportunities such as this. Luol reflects all that we are striving for in building our team. He’s a tremendous defensive player that can impact the game on both ends of the court with a team first mentality and is a high character leader.”

Bulls trade Luol Deng to Cavs for Andrew Bynum and draft picks

In exchange for Deng, the Cavs send Chicago Bynum, Cleveland’s right to the Sacramento King’s first round draft pick conveyed in a June 30, 2011 deal, the right for Chicago to swap its own 2015 first round draft pick with the Cavs own 2015 first round draft pick (only in the case that the Cleveland 2015 first round draft pick is between 15 and 30) and the Portland Trail Blazer’s 2015 and 2016 second round draft picks acquired from the Trail Blazers via 2013 draft night trade.

“We have great respect for Luol Deng, as a player and a person.  He has been an incredible contributor to our team on the court, and he has also done great things in the community,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman.  “On behalf of the entire Bulls organization, I want to thank Luol for his years in Chicago.”

It is extremely likely that the Bulls will waive Bynum. According to ESPN.com, “the deal will save the Bulls more than $15 million in salary and luxury taxes, taking them below the salary-cap threshold.”

Deng has been an NBA All-Star in each of the past two seasons (2012 and 2013) and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2012. He also received the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2007 and All-Rookie First Team honors in 2005.

This season, Deng appeared in 23 games (all starts) for Chicago, averaging a career-best 19.0 points on .452 shooting, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steal in 37.4 minutes per game. The 6-9, 220-pound forward has scored at least 20 points 10 times this season, including a stretch of six straight 20-point games from Nov. 24 to Dec. 5.

Deng was originally drafted by Phoenix in the 2004 NBA Draft as the No. 7 overall selection. He has spent his entire nine-year career with the Bulls and owns career averages of 16.1 points on .460 shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal in 35.9 minutes over 637 games (591 starts). He has also played in 48 playoff games (42 starts) with averages of 16.7 points on .452 shooting, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 40.3 minutes per game.

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Andrew Bynum suspended by Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers suspend Andrew Bynum

Cavaliers center Andrew Bynum has been suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today. Bynum did not travel with the team to Boston last night for the team’s game this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. vs. the Celtics and has been excused from all team activities indefinitely. His status will be updated as appropriate.

According to the Associated Press, “Bynum, who signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Cavs in July, did not travel with the club to Boston for Saturday’s game and it’s likely he has played his final game for Cleveland. The Cavs will try to trade him. The suspension is not a shock considering he has not played consistently and has appeared uninterested while on the floor. Earlier this season, the 7-footer, who did not play a second last season for Philadelphia because of knee injuries, talked openly about retirement and said his medical issues have been a challenge. ”It’s a terrible situation internally with our team,” All-Star guard Kyrie Irving said before the Cavs faced the Celtics. ”It’s something we have to get over.”

Cavaliers assign Sergey Karasev to D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned guard/forward Sergey Karasev to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Karasev has played in 14 games for the Cavs, averaging 2.2 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game and one game for the Charge, finishing with 16 points and three rebounds in 30 minutes against Tulsa on Dec. 11th.

Karasev will be available for tomorrow night’s Charge home game against the Reno Bighorns at the Canton Memorial Civic Center at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday’s game against the Erie BayHawks in Canton at 5:00 p.m.

Cavs recall Carrick Felix and Henry Sims from D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have recalled guard/forward Carrick Felix and center Henry Sims from the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Felix appeared in two games for the Charge this past weekend, averaging 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game. Sims also appeared in two Canton games over the weekend with averages of 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 21.5 minutes.

Cavs assign Henry Sims and Carrick Felix to D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned center Henry Sims and guard/forward Carrick Felix to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Sims has appeared in six games for the Cavs this season, averaging 1.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 5.8 minutes per game and Felix has appeared in three games, averaging 1.3 points in 5.0 minutes per game.

Both players will be available for Saturday night’s game in Erie, PA at the Erie Insurance Arena as the Charge take on the Erie BayHawks at 7:00 p.m.

Should Cavs give Anthony Bennett a spot in starting lineup?

Here’s the Akron Beacon Journal, being interesting and creative about the Cleveland Cavaliers:

The top overall pick in the draft is shooting 22 percent. His 10 turnovers equal his 10 baskets. He has shot as many 3-pointers (17) as Alonzo Gee in less than half as many minutes. He has only made three of them.

The first 16 games have been a disaster for Anthony Bennett. Entering Saturday’s home game against the Chicago Bulls, Bennett played fewer minutes and scored fewer points than undrafted rookie Matthew Dellavedova and equaled C.J. Miles’ turnover total in 80 less minutes. Nothing the Cavs have tried thus far with Bennett has worked.

So here’s an idea…

Start him.

Crazier yet, start him at small forward, a position where he has hardly ever practiced in his life.

At this point, what do the Cavs have to lose? Another game?