Cleveland Sports Forum

TFIR ... Fizdale coached LeBron in Miami and they have remained close since. He's going to be positive no matter what. But really, Clarkson is no give-me. Lakers were always ticked at him cause they felt like he didn't put forth enough effort on defense. He's OK, but they always felt he could be elite if he gave better effort..

Nance, I love him, I'm a homer for the local guys, but he doesn't add much offensively. A big dunk once in a while. He's no shooter.

All in all we added better defense in both of them though, cause Thomas and Frye are just that bad.

Hill will start. He's a good defender and shooter. Clarkson will add scoring off the bench. And decent D. Maybe even better, if LeBron can get him to give more. Nance will add better defense and rim protection off the bench. But we lose the long range of Frye.

Hood can be a spark offensively too. And will help defense. He intrigues me as much as anybody in these trades. 6'8" shooting guard, good athleticism. 39% from 3 pt this year. Only 25. Has room to get better.

Larry Nance Jr. was 'in borderline tears' of joy after learning of trade to Cavaliers
Updated Feb 8, 11:23 PM; Posted Feb 8, 11:15 PM

By Chris Fedor, cleveland.com cfedor@cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Every player has a different reaction when learning of a trade.

For Larry Nance Jr., an Akron native, that career-changing phone call with Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman on Thursday afternoon led to an outpouring of emotions.

"How cool is it for him to come home? The kid was in borderline tears when I called him today," Altman said during a conference call to recap his watershed moment as GM. "He's ecstatic to be a part of it."

Nance Jr. was one of four players acquired by the Cavaliers, a roster overhaul that led to six players leaving the organization.

The trade with Los Angeles -- bringing in Nance Jr. and guard Jordan Clarkson for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and a protected 2018 first round pick that will be used by the Lakers this off-season provided it doesn't land in the Top 3 -- was just the start of a wild day.

Nance Jr. was an obvious target and when the Lakers made him available, adding a sweetener for some team to take Clarkson and his lucrative contract, Altman and his staff couldn't pass.

"He's going to be a core piece for us moving forward," Altman said. "Basketball IQ, athleticism, work ethic, a cultural piece we're excited about."

A desire to change the culture drove Cleveland's overall deadline approach. The Cavs, possessing the league's oldest roster heading into Thursday's trade deadline, were also looking tor ways to inject youth into the roster, perhaps re-energizing the three-time Eastern Conference champions after fighting through a season-long malaise.


Nance Jr., the son of Cavaliers legend Larry Nance Sr., is 25 years old and will be participating in the 2018 Slam Dunk Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend.

Clarkson is also 25, in his fourth NBA season. Rodney Hood -- part of a three-team deal between Cleveland, Sacramento and Utah -- is a 25-year-old shooting guard with rare size (6-foot-8) for the position. George Hill, the other piece of that deal, is the oldest of the new quartet, a battle-tested veteran that should help balance the roster.

The Cavs also sent Iman Shumpert to Sacramento, Dwyane Wade back to Miami and Jae Crowder as well as Derrick Rose to the Utah Jazz.

"We decided to shuffle the deck and get younger and get some youthful talent with energy and enthusiasm," Altman said. "I'm really excited about what they are going to bring to the table. I think we're going to be energetic and we're just going to be fun again, and fun to watch and fun to be around."

Nance Jr., who starred at Revere High School, will not be able to wear his father's No. 22 jersey with the Cavs, as it's already hanging from the rafters. Instead, Nance Jr. will wear the No. 24. He shared his thoughts on social media, with an Instagram message capped with the hashtag, "JustAKidFromAkron."


"I'll be forever grateful for everything that the Lakers organization, the fans, and my teammates have done for me," he wrote. "It's been an unbelievable experience and I couldn't be happier with where I started this journey! Thank you guys for the past 2 1/2 years! On to THE LAND I go."

Love those stories.

BTW, just an FYI, they offered him up his dads number even though it's in the rafters and Junior declined and chose 24 instead.

2 hours ago – via Twitter Krisplashed
Kristian Winfield: Brian Windhorst is dropping gems on ESPN’s The Jump, says the Cavaliers could have had DeAndre Jordan yesterday but elected to go the route they went. Can’t blame them.
Top Rumors, Trade, DeAndre Jordan, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers

2 hours ago – via NetsDaily
In a post-deadline podcast between Zach Lowe and Brian Windhorst about the Cavaliers big moves Thursday, Lowe said Cleveland had offered their first round pick, which would be a late pick, to the Nets for Spencer Dinwiddie, but the Nets said no. Here’s the exchange about Dinwiddie and Jeremy Lin’s decision to opt in so far ahead of the deadline for player options.
Top Rumors, Jeremy Lin, Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavali

Brandan Wright and Memphis Grizzlies are working toward a buyout, league sources tell ESPN. He'll be coveted by contending teams.


Chris Haynes, ESPN Staff Writer

Team had pep in their step again tonight. I think they are rejuvenated by the deals. Korver has found his stroke again. Just missed his career high.

By the way, during broadcast they had a short little story by Damon Jones. It reminded me, the other day I said Potapenko and Boobie Gibson were asst. coaches. It's not Boobie, it's Damon Jones.

ESPN Stats & Info‏ @ESPNStatsInfo
Kyle Korver had his first 30-point game since Feb. 21, 2007 tonight
Korver went 794 games between 30-point games, by far the longest stretch between 30-point games in NBA history
The previous record was 646 games by Rory Sparrow from Dec. 1982 to March 1991

Agree they had pep in their step. Seems without the unhappy guys on the team, they can actually try hard again.

DeAndre's contract is up this summer and I assume they wanted the Nets' pick. No way.

As rusty said, pick up a Brandan Wright type guy on the cheap and move on with the haul we got. He can be a situational matchup guy with certain centers.

According to Windhorst LeBron and IT initially got along but once IT started playing they did not at all. Biggest issue was over who should have the ball. Seems like Crowder had issues with Love. JR had issues with Wade. Shumpert was pissed that he had been shopped all off season. Thompson was pissed about the same.

Windhorst said that he attended the Rockets national game with the Cavs and during the shoot around IT and Crowder were on one end and the rest of the Cavs on the other.

rusty2 wrote:According to Windhorst LeBron and IT initially got along but once IT started playing they did not at all. Biggest issue was over who should have the ball. Seems like Crowder had issues with Love. JR had issues with Wade. Shumpert was pissed that he had been shopped all off season. Thompson was pissed about the same.

Windhorst said that he attended the Rockets national game with the Cavs and during the shoot around IT and Crowder were on one end and the rest of the Cavs on the other.

Good scoop rusty. All makes sense too.

Look Kyrie is ball dominant too but he learned (shit, remember the first year with Lebron??? It was not pretty those first couple months) to play more off the ball and also to pick up the slack on nights that Lebron didn't have it. Kyrie did an amazing job blending his talents.

That said, Kyrie IS BALL DOMINANT too and that has to be part of the reason he wanted his "own" situation. Look at him on Boston and he is ball dominant again. But that's what they needed in Boston so it works! I want to add that he is also really growing in dishing the ball - his court vision getting better and better. That's part of his role now and Brad Stevens of course is a genius in getting the best out of his players. Best coach in the game?? (POP not included?)

IT is ball dominant but not the player Kyrie is. And doubtful he could ever learn to defer - not to mention his defense made Kyrie's look like a superstar. And attitude? That guy just cost himself lots of dollars this summer.

And look - if Crowder helped us get Rodney Hood then it is all good there.

From the Kyrie trade we still have the Nets pick. IT helped us get the Lakers pieces (of course the 1st rounder didn't hurt) and Crowder helps get Rodney Hood. Koby Altman is the MAN!

I'm sure you guys heard the lengthy talk with Altman on the Cavs broadcast so I'll just point out a couple things.

1. He is quite the fan boy. Wow, sounded just like a kid loving where he was.
2. He talked about liking Osman and wanting to free up time for him. (Wade move) Last night's game showed that is legit. So add Osman to the youth movement.
3. He talked a lot about working with Dan Gilbert. About how Gilbert IS involved in every step right alongside Altman. He said he'd rather that than coming to Gilbert "at the 11th" hour. Said Gilbert was there just for support - hey I don't expect him to diss Gilbert but at the same time if it's true that's how it works then fine!

Also - NBA TV just showed the average age on the team went down 4 years when all was finished!

The lost guy in all this is Jeff Green. Great pickup in the offseason. When we talk about the non athletes on the team, do NOT include this guy. Great, great athlete almost in the Lebron mode. I said almost but you guys see.

And Korver now gets freed up more as well. Seems ageless so needs to be kept on minutes restrictions for sure but what a weapon on a Lebron team.

JR Smith - agree with rusty he has to go but they are stuck with him for now.

I still am flabbergasted at how Altman was able to basically get so much younger while still crafting a team that fits Lebron now like a glove. Not just on the court but by getting coach-able pieces off the court.

Say what you will but I saw passes last night from Lebron that my jaw dropped. I am pretty sure I NEVER saw a no look (all the way) crosscourt pass before. You have to be so strong with amazing vision to do that.

It is must view tv now to see how this turns out HB - they do sell half season packages....

Steve Smith on NBATV just talked about how Rodney Hood can get his own shot. Watched him a lot and he can do that for sure. Lefty Jamal Crawford but bigger. Yes, sometimes he does get shot happy.

Smitty also talked about how Clarkson swung off the ball this year when Lonzo Ball came on board and when Ball is off the court he goes back to point guard. Hmmm, nice.

And George Hill - won big in San Antonio. Championships. Defends point guards and is a catch and shoot guy not a pure dishing point guard. Hmmm sounds like a point guard on a Lebron team.

Smitty said Lebron had been rebounding and pushing the ball up court with 4 guys BEHIND him. Last night had 4 guys right with him. And the new guys can do the same.

D Wade - on NBATV he said that the Cavs told him "they didn't want to see him on the bench after all these moves" and he was grateful to be back in Miami (see the video of his wife dancing when he got off the plane??). Hey, this guy can still play don't forget he averaged 18 points per game last season in Chicago.

HB - i am with you now. IF nothing had changed then it was time for Lebron to move on. With the total makeover of the team now I am hoping he stays for another couple years of relevance for the Cavs. And maybe this time they can make the team over to be competitive when he eventually retires/leaves. (Granted last time they were blindsided.)

Sources: Brandan Wright to Rockets after reaching Grizzlies buyout deal

7:28 AM ET

Chris HaynesTim MacMahon

Brandan Wright will sign with the Houston Rockets after the coveted big man reached a buyout agreement with the Memphis Grizzlies, league sources tell ESPN.

Wright, 30, was in the final year of a three-year, $18 million deal with the Grizzlies.

Wright will become another lob target for Rockets duo James Harden and Chris Paul, providing depth behind starting center Clint Capela along with Nene and Tarik Black. His ability to finish above the rim fits well with a Houston team that features two of the NBA's premier playmakers.

Wright fell out of the Memphis rotation after being sidelined for close to a month by a groin injury, as the Grizzlies began to focus on developing young talent. He has a clean bill of health as he prepares to head to Houston.

A 6-foot-10 shot-blocker, Wright is averaging 5.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 27 games this season for Memphis.

The Rockets won 130-104 over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night to improve to 41-13, a half-game behind the Golden State Warriors for the NBA's best record.

Once again, LeBron has decided to play again. Anyone that has kids recognizes this childish behavior !

I really want to see a buyout candidate that can block shots. Someone like Noel would be fun to watch. Not sure that LeBron has ever played with an athletic big man. Shaq was not mobile enough....