Cleveland Cavaliers Blog – Page 72 – NBA Blog

Cavs rookie Kyrie Irving out with concussion

Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving has his first NBA injury — a concussion.

The star guard, who has lived up to being the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, was kept out of Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a head injury. The team did not disclose Irving’s concussion until moments before tip-off. There is no immediate timetable for his return.

The Cavaliers said in a release that Irving was kneed in the head during the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s game at Miami. He complained of a headache after the game and that it worsened overnight and while he warmed up on the floor Wednesday.

Irving was evaluated by Cleveland’s medical staff, and team physician A.J. Cianflocco diagnosed the 19-year-old with a concussion shortly before the game.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Cavaliers waive guard Mychel Thompson

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived guard Mychel Thompson, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.

Thompson played in five games (three starts) this season, averaging 3.6 points on .292 shooting, 1.0 rebound and 1.4 assists in 19.0 minutes per game.

The 9-13 Cavaliers now have 14 players on the roster. The team currently has the 9th best record in the Eastern conference, one spot behind the Milwaukee Bucks.

Cavaliers recall Luke Harangody from D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have recalled forward Luke Harangody from the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.

Harangody was assigned to Canton on Jan. 26th and played in three games (three starts) with the Charge, averaging 13.3 points on .400 shooting and 8.7 rebounds in 34.7 minutes per game. The 6-foot-8 forward recorded two double-doubles in his three games with the Charge, including a 21-point, 11-rebound effort in 39 minutes versus the Los Angeles Defenders on Jan. 28. Harangody has appeared in five games with the Cavaliers this season, posting averages of 2.6 points on .455 shooting and 1.2 rebounds in 7.6 minutes per game.

Lakers may have interest in Ramon Sessions

Ramon Sessions has been traded once in his career and, to hear him tell it, he’s been linked to one rumor or another for the past three years.

So, the Cavaliers point guard was hardly shocked to learn of a Yahoo Sports report that states his club has discussed dealing him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Since the Cavaliers used the first overall pick to draft Kyrie Irving last June, there’s been speculation concerning Sessions’ future in Cleveland.

“It’s been like that for me for a few years now,” said Sessions, 25, who was dealt to the Cavs from Minnesota in the summer of 2010. “There’s always something with that. [I] haven’t been traded yet. Cleveland now, Cleveland later. I’m not really into all of that.

“I try to block it out. It’s tough at times, but you have to be mentally prepared to play basketball.”

— Reported by Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

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LeBron says Kyrie Irving reminds him of the young Chris Paul

Don’t call Kyrie Irving another LeBron James just because he’s also a Cleveland No. 1 pick. But if you want to call him another Chris Paul, that might be OK.

In fact, James said he sees plenty of similarities between the Cavaliers rookie point guard and Paul, the Clippers star point.

“He reminds me of CP early in his days as well,” said James, the Miami forward who will go against Irving on Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena for the first time in his NBA career. “They definitely remind me of each other. Just how in control, and how they think the game. They show that you’re not in like a rookie mindset. You’re trying to put guys in a position to succeed. I’ve been looking forward to going against him …. He’s definitely beyond his years as a rookie point guard.”

James won’t be guarding Irving, but they will be the focal points for their teams. James leads the Heat in scoring with a 29.7 average and in assists at 7.3, and Irving tops the Cavaliers with 17.4 points and 4.9 assists.

— Reported by Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida

Former NBA player Wesley Person arrested

The Coffee County Jail had a former NBA player as a resident for several hours Monday morning after Elba police arrested him on six misdemeanor charges.

Wesley L. Person, 40, of Hicks Drive in Luverne, was arrested late Sunday on six charges of failure to appear for court. According to District Judge Paul Sherling’s office, all the charges stemmed from not appearing for traffic violations — two charges each of driving with suspended license, speeding and failure to display insurance.

Person paid a $1,500 bond and paid all of the traffic tickets after a Monday hearing in front of Circuit Judge Jeff Kelley.

— Reported by Jeremy Wise of the Dothan Eagle

Cavs recall Christian Eyenga from D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have recalled guard/forward Christian Eyenga from the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.

Eyenga was assigned to Canton on Jan. 4th and played in nine games (eight starts) with the Charge, averaging 8.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.6 minutes per game. Eyenga has appeared in one game with the Cavaliers during the regular season, playing one minute against Charlotte on January 3.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas joins Cleveland Cavaliers front office

The Cleveland Cavaliers today announced that Zydrunas Ilgauskas is joining the team’s front office as Special Assistant to the General Manager. The announcement was made today by Cavs General Manager Chris Grant. In his role as Special Assistant to the General Manager, Ilgauskas will be involved with front office responsibilities, including evaluation of amateur and professional prospects.

“We are very pleased to have Z begin the next phase of his basketball career with the Cavaliers and I am looking forward to working closely with him. Z has always had a great desire to learn and succeed and he already has a deep understanding and appreciation of the game and the NBA. We are extremely happy to welcome him back as part of our franchise,” said Grant.

Ilgauskas was originally drafted by the Cavaliers with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft. The Lithuanian made his home in Cleveland, playing the first 12 years of his 13-season career with the Cavaliers. The Cavs all-time leader in games played (771), Z also tops the Cavaliers record books in offensive rebounds (2,336), total rebounds (5,904) and blocks (1,269) while ranking second in points (10,616).

“I am really excited to come back to the Cavaliers, a team that I have so much history with and contributing to our future success,” said Ilgauskas. “I’m also looking forward to learning more about this game that I love so much and working with Chris Grant and the rest of the organization in every way that I can.”

A two-time all-star (2003, 2005), Ilgauskas finished his career with averages of 13.0 points on .476 shooting, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 27.2 minutes in 843 games (724 starts). The 7-foot-3 center played in six postseasons with the Cavaliers, including playing a major role on the Cavaliers teams that reached at least the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs in five consecutive seasons (2006-2010) and made the franchise’s first appearance in the NBA Finals in 2007.

Cavs owner buys Cleveland Gladiators arena football team

Dan Gilbert’s Cavaliers group has purchased ownership stake in the Arena Football League’s Cleveland Gladiators. An official announcement will be made at a news conference Tuesday that is scheduled to include Cavaliers President Len Komoroski, Gladiators special adviser Bernie Kosar and the Gladiators’ most recent owner, Jim Ferraro.

Pending league approval, the Cavaliers almost certainly will become majority owner of the Gladiators, and possibly sole owner. The presence of Ferraro on Tuesday indicates he might retain a small percentage.

Two weeks ago, the Cavaliers group confirmed interest in acquiring the AFL franchise. Last Monday, Ferraro said that he was in “serious” negotiations to sell to Gilbert. Ferraro said that, if an agreement were to be reached, it likely would happen by early this week.

The Gladiators will begin training camp in February; the first practice is Feb. 20. They open the season March 12 at Georgia and at home March 26 against Kansas City.

— Reported by Dennis Manoloff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Alonzo Gee steadily improving for Cavs

In the NBA, a player rarely comes back from the offseason with a completely new look.

In Alonzo Gee’s case, he has returned with a completely new game.

The Cavaliers small forward could be the team’s most improved player from last season. Heading into the Phoenix Suns game at 9 p.m. Thursday at U.S. Airways Center, he’s averaging 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals.

The 6-foot-6, 219-pound Gee started his transformation last year when he started 29 games with the Cavs (4-5). Now coming off the bench behind starter Omri Casspi at small forward, he makes things happen when he’s on the court.

“I’m going to keep getting better,” Gee said. “Hopefully, I can be consistent on my shot if I continue to shoot.”

— Reported by Bob Finnan of the News Herald