Cleveland Sports Forum

Same with Hood. And Hill. LOL, pattern there.

Cavs really checked all the boxes with all those moves.

LeBron James to Produce 'House Party' Reboot for New Line

6:00 AM PST 2/13/2018 by Tatiana Siegel

'Atlanta' writers Stephen Glover and Jamal Olori are penning the screenplay.

As Los Angeles hosts its first NBA All-Star shindig in seven years, LeBron James is prepping a Hollywood bash of his own.

The megastar and his SpringHill Entertainment partner, Maverick Carter, are producing a new House Party, which will revive the Kid ’n Play-fronted New Line comedy franchise that started in 1990 and was followed by sequels in 1991 and 1994. Atlanta’s Stephen Glover and Jamal Olori will pen the screenplay.

“This is definitely not a reboot. It’s an entirely new look for a classic movie,” James tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Everyone I grew up with loved House Party. To partner with this creative team to bring a new House Party to a new generation is unbelievable.”

Fans can expect a star-studded soundtrack, perhaps even James’ good pal Drake, with whom SpringHill is collaborating on Netflix’s crime drama Top Boy and Vince Carter doc The Carter Effect.

“We’re trying out some ideas for musicians to be cast in and to be a part of the project,” says Maverick Carter, who adds that a cameo by James, in high demand since his well-received performance in Universal’s Trainwreck, also remains a possibility. “There’s no plan for it now, but he’s a fantastic actor, and if he wants a role, Stephen will find a great role to put him in,” adds Carter.

Warner Bros.-based SpringHill is eyeing House Party as the Survivor’s Remorse banner’s first narrative feature, with its Space Jam remake “a ways off,” says Carter. The films join a SpringHill slate that also includes Netflix’s limited series about entrepreneur and activist Madam C.J. Walker, starring and executive produced by Octavia Spencer; Starz’s docuseries Warriors of Liberty City, about a Florida youth football team that has produced more than 40 NFL players; and NBC game show The Wall, which just wrapped its second season.

James, 33, is leading the pack among a group of hoops stars leveraging their appeal in Hollywood. Kobe Bryant is an Oscar nominee for doc short Dear Basketball, while Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi and Jason Samuels are producing an authorized doc about Stephon Marbury’s surprising second act as a basketball god in China (Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah are directing). Even less expected: Steve Nash is producing an untitled feature about the rise of ecstasy and the rave culture in Reagan-era Texas. Says the film’s producer Braxton Pope: "Steve has great taste and is serious in a sustained way about film and creative content. He's been an ideal partner.”

Impressed that the new young guys are fearless taking shots.... Seems like they are playing with a lot of confidence and enthusiasm.

2 games in 2 great road wins vs very tough competition Just keep it up!

Amen Rusty! Was just a couple weeks ago the Thunder blew us out on our own court, as did Boston not long ago. So early returns for trades are A+

Report out today that we had a deal for DeAndre Jordan but fell apart because they refused to take Shumpert in trade. So far looks like we did OK. But a game last night does show that a great big man would help. Adams just manhandled our bigs in both games this month. But hopefully we can continue to play around TT, who at times is looking like a shell of his former self.

I wonder Jordan would get bought out....that could be a game changer for anyone who got him

Inside the 24 hours that changed the Cavaliers' season
play
LeBron James has some new teammates and the Cavs are 2-0 with the additions after a win in OKC. (0:59)

8:32 AM ET
Adrian Wojnarowski
ESPN

In the 24 hours before Koby Altman pushed to complete the three deals that resurrected a season and reshaped a franchise, the Cleveland Cavaliers general manager sought a most elusive engagement: a sit-down with LeBron James.

Before he shared the framework of possible trades for Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood, George Hill and DeAndre Jordan last Wednesday, Altman prefaced his visit with the unmistakable truth that nothing the front office could do mattered much until James had re-engaged on the court. James had been angry, brooding and playing with an indifference that Altman hadn't witnessed in their three-plus years together in Cleveland.

Most of all, Altman wanted the best player on the planet to know that he understood his frustrations with the Cavaliers' mismatched assemblage of talent and crumbling culture. Altman assured James that management was determined to uproot the roster and fight to restore order.

For the Cavaliers' front office, an audience with James had been a rare occurrence. James had largely left his agent, Rich Paul, to communicate with the team on roster issues. Owner Dan Gilbert had spoken directly to James only once since conversations about a Paul George trade on June 30. Back then, Gilbert required James' commitment of an additional season beyond 2017-18 for George to consider a comparable pledge. In the end, Indiana made the George deal with Oklahoma City -- not Cleveland.



Gilbert and James didn't meet again until opening night against Boston, hours prior to tipoff inside Quicken Loans Arena. James has declined to commit to Cleveland beyond this season, which is part of the reason Altman had come to James with trades that didn't include the Brooklyn Nets lottery pick acquired in the Kyrie Irving deal with Boston.

Six months after his promotion to GM, Altman's marching orders were these: Bring on younger, athletic players under contract or control beyond the 2017-18 season and work to soothe a splintered locker room.

In ESPN's conversations with those involved in the final hours of completing the three trades, a common theme emerged: One way or another, Altman planned to make dramatic changes to the roster. Whatever incarnations of deals emerged and re-emerged, the Cavaliers organization was sure of this: Isaiah Thomas had to go, Dwyane Wade deserved to make a decision on his own and, ultimately, Cleveland couldn't give LeBron James reason to leave so easily in July.

When Altman visited with James in the Cavaliers' practice facility a week ago, he let him know that there were still talks alive with the LA Clippers on a Jordan deal. What's more, there was significant progress: Altman had ownership approval to send the Clippers Jae Crowder, Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert and the Cavs' 2018 first-round pick for Jordan. The Clippers were willing to accept the trade, but on one significant condition.



Clippers general manager Michael Winger explained to Altman that LA didn't want another shooting guard. He hoped to find a third team that would take Shumpert and his $21 million with draft compensation, and have the Clippers get a center back. Altman and Winger agreed to make more calls to try to find a third team to make the deal work. Winger wondered whether Altman would let him talk to Shumpert's agent about a possible contract buyout, but Altman wanted trade talks to be further along before granting that permission.

Clippers president Lawrence Frank, Winger and Altman had talked for weeks on a trade, but they got nowhere. The Clippers wouldn't take Tristan Thompson, JR Smith or Shumpert in a deal, and that never changed. As Wednesday wore on, Altman became more convinced that a deal with Los Angeles was within reach -- only not with the Clippers.

Altman and the Lakers' front office had discussed the possibility that they were clearing the way for the Lakers to create space to sign James as a free agent this summer. Altman had been the assistant GM under David Griffin in 2014, when the mere opportunity to bring back James pushed them to unload contracts in advance of his July free agency decision, dumping Jarrett Jack and Tyler Zeller. Altman watched Miami's flurry to clear space for James and Chris Bosh in 2010 and Golden State's efforts to land Kevin Durant in 2016. He knows that superstar partnerships in big markets are tough to combat.

If the Lakers and James wanted to be together, the Cavaliers couldn't stop it. Altman and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka had expanded conversations beyond Clarkson to include Nance. There came a crystallization that the Cavs were taking a far bigger risk passing on players who fit Cleveland's profile than rejecting a trade based on the possibility of bad optics in July.


With Jordan Clarkson aboard, LeBron James and the Cavs hope to turn their season around. Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports
Late Wednesday night, Pelinka called Altman and told him that Lakers ownership had approved a trade unloading Clarkson and Nance for Thomas, Frye and the Cavaliers' 2018 first-round pick. Now Altman knew he'd go to bed with a deal in his pocket -- and the ability to do more before Thursday afternoon's deadline.

After talking separately to Utah on Hood and Sacramento on Hill, Altman broached the idea of a three-way trade that would land the Cavaliers both players. Utah was willing to do the deal for Crowder and a minimum expiring contract. Cleveland could choose -- Derrick Rose or Wade. The Jazz planned to waive either player. Altman told the Jazz he'd let them know which player he'd be sending them on Thursday morning.

Altman had negotiated the trade with Kings assistant general manager Brandon Williams, who works under GM Vlade Divac. The management structure in Sacramento can make deals dicey, because Divac seldom gets on the phone for the trade-building parts -- and yet he ultimately has decision-making power with owner Vivek Ranadive.

That's why a 3 a.m. ET deal memo sent from Sacramento to Cleveland left Altman at first incredulous -- and then angry. Suddenly, Kings center Georgios Papagiannis had been included as part of the three-way trade. Cleveland and Utah were adamant that Papagiannis' name had never been discussed. Williams would later say that Papagiannis or Malachi Richardson were set to be included in the deals and insisted his notes confirmed that.

Because Sacramento had the makings for a trade with Toronto for Richardson, rival executives say that the Kings pushed to spare themselves the embarrassment of waiving the No. 13 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft -- and let someone else do it. In the middle of the night, Altman and Williams vocally disagreed over the insertion of Papagiannis into the trade. Cleveland couldn't take him into its roster because the NBA's repeater tax would turn the balance of his $2.3 million contract this year and $2.4 million next year into three times that with the luxury-tax bill.

In the morning, Altman let the Jazz know about Sacramento's inclusion of Papagiannis. Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey was livid. To him, this was a deal-breaker. He hadn't dealt directly with Sacramento, because there had been no need: The deal went through Cleveland, and Altman had never suggested to Lindsey that Utah would have to take a 7-foot draft bust onto his roster.

Altman stayed on the phone with Winger on Thursday morning, keeping the DeAndre Jordan deal within reach. The Clippers were closing on a third team to take on Shumpert, and Altman had to determine whether he could create a pathway to a deal with that first-round pick still on its way to the Lakers. What's more, he had to decide: Were the Cavaliers motivated to extend Jordan's contract at over $100 million? The answer to both questions was no, and that's why Altman turned his attention back to selling the Jazz on a $1.1 million payment to the Kings.

In Lindsey's mind, the Jazz were out. Cleveland could do the deal without them. Altman offered him a solution: Cleveland was willing to finance the balance of Papagiannis' $3.2 salary, but NBA rules allow a team to send out a maximum of $5.1 million in trades a year. Cleveland had $2.1 million remaining on that budget and could send no more than that to the Kings. Cleveland needed Utah to supplement $1.1 million into the trade, or the Kings wouldn't agree to the deal.

Because Utah was working directly through Altman on the trade, he felt the brunt of the Jazz front office's frustration. He understood it. His relationship with Utah assistant GM Justin Zanik played a part in soothing the frayed feelings and advancing toward a reshaped deal. Lindsey wasn't happy, but ultimately agreed with a text Altman sent: This deal isn't worth losing over $1.1 million.

It would cost the Cavaliers, though. Utah wanted a swap of 2024 second-round picks. Gilbert agreed. Now, Altman wanted a promise from the Kings that the deal was done, that he wouldn't get embarrassed returning to the Jazz with assurances that he couldn't keep.

He also knew that he needed to circle back and connect with James again. The Cavaliers' charter flight would be leaving soon for Atlanta, and he wanted one more face-to-face meeting. This time, he told James of the trades they were completing -- and asked for his blessing to offer Wade the chance to return to Miami. Wade's role would be minimized in Cleveland, and Altman wanted to afford him the respect of letting him return to his old team. Altman had called Heat GM Andy Elisburg with the Wade idea. He ran it past president Pat Riley. Sure, they told him. We'll bring him home. Let us know.

Once Altman raised the idea with Wade and his agent, Leon Rose, there was no hesitation. Soon, all of the deals were done. Thomas, Frye and Shumpert were headed West, Wade had gone home and now everything had changed in Cleveland.

Finally, Altman and his staff stood to let out a yell, hug and high-five. Whatever happens, they knew this: In one of the most impactful trade deadline days ever, Koby Altman and the Cleveland Cavaliers weren't prepared to extinguish an era. Twenty-four hours had changed everything.

rusty2 wrote:Impressed that the new young guys are fearless taking shots.... Seems like they are playing with a lot of confidence and enthusiasm.

rusty - right??

Starting with Clarkson - this guy has a scorer mentality. In some ways he reminds me of Kyrie in that way - of course a poor man's Kyrie. In addition he is a very good ballhandler and totally capable of playing point on the 2nd unit and even as a starter since Lebron is really the PG.

As for Hood I warned you guys this guy has no conscience. LOL! But deservedly so, the guy is a talented shooter and scorer.

Hill knows his role and stays in his lane. And the lane fits what the team needs. The other 3 are still growing into their potentials - Nance included.

All the energy these guys are bringing is welcome. In retrospect there were too many veterans on this team. The youth brings energy and some sort of urgency to regular season games for once. Altman has admitted the mistake in the Kyrie trade but situation fixed. If you have a team with Lebron on it you might want to surround him with young guys. Not to mention they might accept mentoring a lot better as well.

Cavaliers Rumors: Isaiah Thomas Has No Love for LeBron James After Lakers Trade
TIM DANIELS
FEBRUARY 13, 2018


Los Angeles Lakers point guard Isaiah Thomas reportedly felt LeBron James "talked down to him" during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Chris Broussard of Fox Sports 1 discussed the situation Tuesday during an appearance on Undisputed:

UNDISPUTED
✔
@undisputed
"I was talking to somebody yesterday close to Isaiah, and they said, 'Isaiah Thomas has absolutely no love at all for LeBron... He felt like LeBron talked down to him when he was there." — @Chris_Broussard


The Cavs dealt Thomas to the Lakers as part of Cleveland's massive roster shake-up ahead of last Thursday's NBA trade deadline. He ended up playing just 15 games with the organization after arriving as part of the offseason's blockbuster Kyrie Irving swap with the Boston Celtics.

The 29-year-old Washington native missed a couple of months with a hip injury, which he suffered during the 2016-17 playoffs. He threw shade toward the Cavaliers when discussing the recovery Monday, per Ryan Ward of Clutch Points.

"I mean, this is the first real practice I had all year," Thomas said. "Let's see how my hip responds tomorrow with the soreness and things like that, but I'm here. I'm here and I'm happy. Got my joy back and I'm ready to put on a show for the Lakers."


Meanwhile, James has sounded an optimistic tone about the Cavs' moves following a prolonged slump, but he insisted last week that wasn't a slight to his former teammates.

How many rings does Isaiah have?

Really, what a younger player might consider advice, he probably considers "talking down to him".

Clash of pack leaders mentalities. Lesson learned again for Altman.

Surround LBJ with young bodies and young minds.

If there would have been a Jordan trade then there would not have been a Lakers trade. I would rather have Nance and Clarkson.

rusty2 wrote:If there would have been a Jordan trade then there would not have been a Lakers trade. I would rather have Nance and Clarkson.

For sure, and there is no way he'll be bought out.

Steven Adams did quite the bully job on them last night though so another big guy to deal with physical beasts like Adams might be on the buyout shopping list?

rusty - with the new 4 guys added to stud athletes like Lebron and Jeff Green this team rockets up and down the court.

In the long run I still wonder how Kevin Love will ever fit at the 4 OR the 5 with any kind of large role like he used to have.

And, by the way, I do think Love being out only helped the new guys. They didn't have to tip toe around another veteran and Lebron just wants to feed them or have them go it on their own.

Last night, one play Lebron got ball off the glass and outed it up to Clarkson. Clarkson just turned on the jets and Lebron could just trot and watch him convert the fast break.

I agree about Love's role. Still think I would try to get a top pick off of the Celtics if they get Lakers pick.

He has to play power forward in this league to have a future. And he is slow. Slow is being phased out of the NBA right now.

So the Cavs would have to find a team that has a fit. Not easy, but some teams are still around that use 2 bigs at the same time.