Category: Cleveland Cavaliers Blog

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard D’Aundray Brown to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Brown, 24, played in 115 games (91 starts) at Cleveland State University, averaging 7.8 points on .487 shooting, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 28.4 minutes per game.

As a senior in 2011-12, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound native of Youngstown, OH, played in 26 games (25 starts) and averaged 10.8 points on .457 shooting to go along with 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.5 steals in 29.7 minutes per game.

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving underwent successful oral surgery to remove his wisdom teeth (four) Wednesday. He will be re-evaluated daily and will return to court activity and play when cleared to do so in relation to his continued recovery process. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson was cleared to resume practice today. Gibson was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol process on Monday when he reported systems.

Cavaliers forward Luke Harangody continues to progress in the recovery process from his right knee sprain and participated in a partial practice today, while also continuing treatment. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving underwent successful oral surgery to remove his wisdom teeth (four) Wednesday. He will be re-evaluated daily and will return to court activity and play when cleared to do so in relation to his continued recovery process. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson was cleared to resume practice today. Gibson was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol process on Monday when he reported systems.

Cavaliers forward Luke Harangody continues to progress in the recovery process from his right knee sprain and participated in a partial practice today, while also continuing treatment. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Rookies Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller moved into the Cavaliers starting lineup on Tuesday night against Indiana at The Q, joining Kyrie Irving, Alonzo Gee and Anderson Varejao, who moves to power forward.

Cavs coach Byron Scott is still searching for a starting lineup and opted to take a look at this bigger group against the big Pacers. The move leaves rookie center Zeller paired up against All-Star Roy Hibbert.

Scott said regardless of Tuesday’s outcome, he still is undecided on his starters.

— Reported by Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson is listed as OUT with a mild concussion for tonight’s preseason game at The Q vs. the Indiana Pacers.

Gibson reported symptoms on Monday and was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol process at that point. His status will be updated as appropriate and he will be cleared to resume contact and game action once he is symptom free and successfully completes the concussion protocol process.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have exercised the third-year contract options on guard Kyrie Irving and forward/center Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“Kyrie and Tristan exemplify what we want to be as a team and franchise, both as players and as people,” said Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant. “They are dedicated, hard-working, talented individuals and we’re looking forward to their continued growth and success here in Cleveland as Cavaliers.”

The reigning Rookie of the Year, Irving, appeared in 51 games (all starts) in 2011-12, averaging 18.5 points on .469 shooting, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.5 minutes per game.

Thompson played in 60 games (25 starts) and averaged 8.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 block in 23.7 minutes per game on his way to being named to the All-Rookie Second Team.

In fact, Irving keeps telling Scott and reporters he wants to play inside more and post up other point guards. He did it, at times, last season with varying degrees of success but wants to do it more often this season.

It’s part of the reason he added a little muscle in the offseason. It wasn’t much — he says it was about five pounds — but it will give him a little more meat to withstand the punishment of a full season. It also gives him a few more pounds to bump around inside when necessary.

“I feel like I added another piece to my game,” Irving said. “Just adding that [weight] and being able to withstand a whole entire game without getting knocked down. Players are more physical in the NBA and I wanted to be more prepared this season.”

— Reported by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived guard Kelenna Azubuike, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Azubuike appeared in one preseason game, scoring six points and adding three rebounds in 14 minutes.

The Cavaliers roster now stands at 17.

It’s NBA preseason, and lots of players around the league who were signed to “training camp” contracts will be let go between now and the start of the regular season.

After two years of wallowing as one of the league’s worst teams, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott is putting everyone on alert. This season, he is expecting more.

That was evident Tuesday when Scott benched — and then ripped — rookie Dion Waiters for not running the right play in a preseason loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Scott typically has been patient before publicly ripping players in the past. He gave J.J. Hickson all of training camp two years ago before blasting him before the start of the regular season for not knowing the playbook. He gave Omri Casspi nearly all of last season before ripping him for the same thing.

Waiters, however, lasted one week before catching Scott’s wrath.

— Reported by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal