Around the NBA 4.0

[HornetJail]

I'll be rooting for Steph Curry all the way. After that, OKC and Dallas

[JDR720]

I wont root for another team ever unless it has an impact on Charlotte, like right now i will root for whoever plays Portland (little hope that pick wont suck)

I don't think i would be able to pick a new favorite team in any sport.... except maybe baseball (ATL) because the only reason i picked them was everyone i know that likes baseball is a Brave fan so i just went with it and also i hate all other ATL teams lol so its kinda weird rooting for one while hating the others

[Eoghan]

love:
charlotte

really really like:
Dallas
Minnesota
Charlotte

would definitely root for:
oklahoma city
san antonio
portland
Charlotte

likely to root for:
memphis
washington
phoenix
Charlotte

mostly indifferent about:
toronto
golden state
atlanta
indiana
chicago
Charlotte

wouldn't root for:
brooklyn
Knicks
Charlotte

please, don't win:
miami
Clippers
Houston
Charlotte

[Elden Payton]

Cavaliers Expected To Shake Up Roster Before Deadline

The turmoil of the Cleveland Cavaliers' season is beginning to get worse, as players are pointing to Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, along with an unhappiness with Mike Brown and his coaching staff.

“He’s acting like he doesn’t care,” said one unnamed player about Irving.

“It’s pretty much a mess,” one source close to the team said.

Brown has seven assistants, which is causing players to become confused when told different things.

“We’re getting too many mixed messages,” one player said. “This isn’t very much fun. We were losing last year with Byron, but at least we were having fun.”

Two sources indicated that the Cavaliers' roster will likely face upheaval if the team doesn't turn around their situation quickly. Waiters is a possible trade candidate, while Irving will likely receive a max contract offer in the offseason.

Per the WT.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... e-Deadline

What the heck is going on there?

Anyone interest us on their roster?

[Diop]

none of their players really excite me (apart from my man crush on Dellavedova) but if Waiters could be had cheap I would give him a shot.

Offensively he would automatically bring more than Hendo.

I wonder if we could sell Hendo as a high character, hard working player who would be good for Cleveland and their roster. (Might even be true)

Waiters and Dellavedova for Hendo works financially.

[Diop]

If I was Cleveland I would be calling Boston and seeing if they were interested in a Kyrie-Rondo swap.

Sounds like Kyrie is a big part of the problem, but Ainge might bite on obtaining a younger "star"
Probably would also believe that they could straighten him out.

[Elden Payton]

none of their players really excite me (apart from my man crush on Dellavedova) but if Waiters could be had cheap I would give him a shot.

Offensively he would automatically bring more than Hendo.

I wonder if we could sell Hendo as a high character, hard working player who would be good for Cleveland and their roster. (Might even be true)

Waiters and Dellavedova for Hendo works financially.

I like it, I'd chuck in the Portland pick even.

Depends on Waiters character, it doesn't sound great but I've read on the Cavs board before that him and Kyrie are the reason for the conflict, many fans don't blame Waiters either.

He's an underrated passer and he's shooting 38 percent from deep, unfortunately his FT percent has regressed though.

I wouldn't mind Thompson either, depending on his price.

Character concerns there too though it seems.

They've gone from being the best rebuilding team to a pile of flaming doo doo.

[Elden Payton]

If I was Cleveland I would be calling Boston and seeing if they were interested in a Kyrie-Rondo swap.

Sounds like Kyrie is a big part of the problem, but Ainge might bite on obtaining a younger "star"
Probably would also believe that they could straighten him out.

Would Cleveland do it though?

Seems like Kyrie IS the problem to be honest, despite that he is clearly their best player.

[Diop]

It's the best way to save face IMO

When your star is causing the problems, it is rare that you get decent value in return.

[LamarMatic7]

The stuff that came out in this article is even worse. You shouldn't supposedly believe everything the site reports though.

It’s been a true culture shock for Luol Deng since he’s been a Cleveland Cavalier over the past 26 days. Not in a good way, either.

Deng has seen how a team mired in losing since LeBron James left town wrongly caters to its young star players, even as they continue to undermine head coach Mike Brown at almost every turn. In Chicago, where Deng broke in and played nine-plus seasons, there is a winning culture where players are expected to act like professionals and understand that they will suffer the consequences if they step out of line.

As Deng recently told one close friend, “the stuff going on in practice would never be tolerated by the coaching staff or the front office back in Chicago. It’s a mess."

Deng was brought in to help clean it up when he arrived in a deal for Andrew Bynum on Jan. 7. But since then, he’s seen players get thrown out of practice, take off their uniform tops at halftime and threaten not to play, mouth off to Brown and generally act like spoiled brats. Entering Saturday’s game at Houston, the Cavs had lost seven of their last 11 games since the Deng trade.

There is no accountability, as Dion Waiters found out when he was kicked out of practice last week but still got his usual minutes against the Knicks. Brown isn’t getting much help from GM Chris Grant, who is expected to be fired at season’s end because of the losing and problems in the locker room.

The Cavs were supposed to challenge for a playoff spot, but not to worry. All the losing isn’t keeping them from having a good time. During their trip to New York, several players enjoyed themselves immensely the night before the game against the Knicks, partying into the wee hours with J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, and other NFL players. Their late-night/early morning carousing played a factor when they didn’t even try in their blow-out loss to the Knicks.

http://m.nydailynews.com/1.1598983

[Diop]

Yeah I read that, it's what prompted me to think of the rondo trade.

Should be noted that none of the quotes are actually from deng.

Just a "source"

[Hugo The Hornet]

Anyone know when Kobe will return?

[LamarMatic7]

Sachmo, how did we forget to make the possible Gana Diop jokes!? I mean, that's what Cleveland deserves after cutting him during training camp.

[Diop]

that's true, its karma, or just suffering from the void left behind by the great man

[MasterIchiro]

Well Deng is not signing there. He should be cheap because he'll be looked at as not-a-difference-maker since they imploded after they acquired him.

Deng would be the guy to pluck off that roster - leave the rest to self destruct.

I love the Hendo as a "character guy" idea. I bet if you surround Waiters with good coaching and a structured system and vet leaders like Big Al and a hard-nosed leader like Kemba and give him minutes and shots he could blossom. I think Hendo + POR is a small price to pay.

I think mainly their married to Kyrie and there might be bad energy between he and Waiters and if someone has to go, it's Waiters obviously. I have to think he's the guy they most want to move and by moving would improve morale most. It's a risky proposition but Hendo is such a bad fit skill-wise, I might be willing to gamble.

Deng I would be interested in using Gordon and that POR pic.

[catch20two]

Well Deng is not signing there. He should be cheap because he'll be looked at as not-a-difference-maker since they imploded after they acquired him.

Deng would be the guy to pluck off that roster - leave the rest to self destruct.

I love the Hendo as a "character guy" idea. I bet if you surround Waiters with good coaching and a structured system and vet leaders like Big Al and a hard-nosed leader like Kemba and give him minutes and shots he could blossom. I think Hendo + POR is a small price to pay.

I think mainly their married to Kyrie and there might be bad energy between he and Waiters and if someone has to go, it's Waiters obviously. I have to think he's the guy they most want to move and by moving would improve morale most. It's a risky proposition but Hendo is such a bad fit skill-wise, I might be willing to gamble.

Deng I would be interested in using Gordon and that POR pic.

Both are viable options but I'd prefer Waiters over Deng. #1 because Deng is overrated and expiring all the while wanting a $13 million payday and #2 because Waiters would be a great 6th man scoring machine for us.

[Elden Payton]

Well Deng is not signing there. He should be cheap because he'll be looked at as not-a-difference-maker since they imploded after they acquired him.

Deng would be the guy to pluck off that roster - leave the rest to self destruct.

I love the Hendo as a "character guy" idea. I bet if you surround Waiters with good coaching and a structured system and vet leaders like Big Al and a hard-nosed leader like Kemba and give him minutes and shots he could blossom. I think Hendo + POR is a small price to pay.

I think mainly their married to Kyrie and there might be bad energy between he and Waiters and if someone has to go, it's Waiters obviously. I have to think he's the guy they most want to move and by moving would improve morale most. It's a risky proposition but Hendo is such a bad fit skill-wise, I might be willing to gamble.

Deng I would be interested in using Gordon and that POR pic.

Both are viable options but I'd prefer Waiters over Deng. #1 because Deng is overrated and expiring all the while wanting a $13 million payday and #2 because Waiters would be a great 6th man scoring machine for us.

If we moved Waiters for Hendo then I'm pretty sure that Waiters would start for us.

Waiters may have been a reach but he does have talent, even if we kept Hendo (somehow) whilst acquiring Waiters, I'm pretty sure that Waiters would start (despite fitting as sixth man)

[catch20two]

Well Deng is not signing there. He should be cheap because he'll be looked at as not-a-difference-maker since they imploded after they acquired him.

Deng would be the guy to pluck off that roster - leave the rest to self destruct.

I love the Hendo as a "character guy" idea. I bet if you surround Waiters with good coaching and a structured system and vet leaders like Big Al and a hard-nosed leader like Kemba and give him minutes and shots he could blossom. I think Hendo + POR is a small price to pay.

I think mainly their married to Kyrie and there might be bad energy between he and Waiters and if someone has to go, it's Waiters obviously. I have to think he's the guy they most want to move and by moving would improve morale most. It's a risky proposition but Hendo is such a bad fit skill-wise, I might be willing to gamble.

Deng I would be interested in using Gordon and that POR pic.

Both are viable options but I'd prefer Waiters over Deng. #1 because Deng is overrated and expiring all the while wanting a $13 million payday and #2 because Waiters would be a great 6th man scoring machine for us.

If we moved Waiters for Hendo then I'm pretty sure that Waiters would start for us.

Waiters may have been a reach but he does have talent, even if we kept Hendo (somehow) whilst acquiring Waiters, I'm pretty sure that Waiters would start (despite fitting as sixth man)

I would hope not. He's a good young player but he's one of those chuckers that you have to keep on a leash or he'll shoot every time he touch the ball. He's like a young Jamal Crawford or something.

[Elden Payton]

I would hope not. He's a good young player but he's one of those chuckers that you have to keep on a leash or he'll shoot every time he touch the ball. He's like a young Jamal Crawford or something.

I've watched a bit of the Cavs over the last few seasons and Waiters didn't come across as a chucker to me.

He's a very good playmaker and an exceptional passer from what I've seen.

He can be streaky and can be a gunner but he is literally his teams second (or third) option on offense despite coming off the bench and designated first offensive option with the bench unit.

He's playing 28.8 minutes and averaging 13.1 shots as a designated offensive option.

It literally boils down to a shot every 2 & a bit minutes which is not chucking at all.

He 'only' averages 2.6 assists but that is not reflective of his passing ability, for reference Hendo averages 2.7 (career high) in 33.1 mpg.

Obviously Hendo is an average passer as we know, though his assists per game don't necessarily reflect that, Waiters is like the opposite.

[catch20two]

I would hope not. He's a good young player but he's one of those chuckers that you have to keep on a leash or he'll shoot every time he touch the ball. He's like a young Jamal Crawford or something.

I've watched a bit of the Cavs over the last few seasons and Waiters didn't come across as a chucker to me.

He's a very good playmaker and an exceptional passer from what I've seen.

He can be streaky and can be a gunner but he is literally his teams second (or third) option on offense despite coming off the bench and designated first offensive option with the bench unit.

He's playing 28.8 minutes and averaging 13.1 shots as a designated offensive option.

It literally boils down to a shot every 2 & a bit minutes which is not chucking at all.

He 'only' averages 2.6 assists but that is not reflective of his passing ability, for reference Hendo averages 2.7 (career high) in 33.1 mpg.

Obviously Hendo is an average passer as we know, though his assists per game don't necessarily reflect that, Waiters is like the opposite.

You're not the only one that watched a bit of the Cavs. I'm sure I've seen more Waiters than you and I've seen enough to know that he's a chucker no matter how you try to flip it. He was a chucker at Life Center Academy in Jersey. He was a chucker at Syracuse. And most Cavs fans will tell you that he's a chucker. That's not to say that I don't want him because I would trade Hendo with the Portland pick for him easily but he's best fit as a 6th man because he's a combo guard, undersized SG with a little bit of passing ability, scorer with questionable defense.