Cleveland Sports Forum

civ ollilavad wrote:He's missed an awful lot of games over the past 2 seasons plus this one. That's got to affect his trade value.

Very few players hustle like Andy and play hard every night. Plus he has a really cheap contract that makes him even more attractive.

Trading AV makes too much sense. It helps the team continue to tank for one more season in order to get the best possible draft position. Plus we could probably get another young asset or 2 in addition to a pick.

Next season will be the first season for the Cavs to get serious about making playoff runs. Next season will be the season to start building with the young core and some key free agent additions.

This season is a throw-away.

INDEPENDENCE: Anderson Varejao returned to practice in a limited role Monday and remains highly questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings with a bruised right knee. He did not have any contact or participate in any 5 on 5 drills and coach Byron Scott said there is still pain in his knee when he jumps.

“He looked decent today. He was moving OK,” Scott said. “He still says when he plants to jump is when he feels pain, but it’s nowhere near as severe as it was four or five days ago. Obviously he’s making progress.”

Varejao said last week he thought the knee needed another week to heal. Given that timeline, he won’t play against the Kings. But the Cavs have another practice today to gauge how he feels.

As soon as he gets back in the lineup and starts a few games I would quickly trade him although I would consider waiting for him to be picked to the All Star team first. But although he is a very good center his propensity to visit the IL more than his age tells me it's time to move him while the market value is still high.

David Thorpe ESPN


The Superstar

1. Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers

There is Irving and there is everyone else. This class didn't look like it would produce many stars when it entered the NBA, and because Irving played only 11 games in college because of injury, there was doubt that even the top pick was going to be special. Pretty quickly, though, Irving proved that he was going to be very good, then he proved to be even better than that.

Recently, we wrote about (and discussed on TrueHoop TV) the different types of elite point guards in this league, and Irving was mentioned as the player with an incredible skills game -- he ranks amongst the league's best as both a ballhandler and shooter, while doing the same as a shotmaker/scorer. He's basically an offensive machine who is matched by few of his peers.

Put it another way: If he had the athleticism of Russell Westbrook or Derek Rose, Irving would be right up there with LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the running for the "World's Best" title. As it is, he's clearly someone who can compete for an MVP award once his franchise catches up to him and surrounds him with better and more experienced talent.


Strong starters or rotation players

2. Kenneth Faried, Nuggets
It's possible that, pound for pound and inch for inch, Faried is the quickest athlete in the NBA without the ball and the player who plays with the most energy. He is relentless when chasing rebounds, either in the air or on the ground, and is the only player among the NBA's top 15 rebounders listed under 6-foot-9. For a long time, I have taught and said that the first guy to the ball wins in the NBA -- as opposed to college and high school, where the stronger player can get the ball from the guy quicker to the ball -- and Faried is that guy almost every chance he gets. He has also become an adept scorer inside because he's finding more creases there, and his mid-range jumper is vastly improved (almost doubling his percentage from 10-15 feet, to 38). Faried still struggles to find stretch-4s behind the 3-point line, especially in transition, because he's so focused on protecting the paint. But that part of his game will com

3. Chandler Parsons, Rockets
Parsons gets the award for the most unlikely guy to appear so high on this list. For three years at Florida, he mostly slept-walked through games relative to his talent. But winning player of the year in the SEC as a senior proved to him that he could excel in a league of athletes, and he has not slowed down since. Parsons had an impressive rookie campaign, and he is better basically everywhere on the floor now for the fast-paced Rockets. Parsons often plays like a shutdown wing defender, but he is not yet strong enough to do it nightly. His ability and size allows him to excel often as a power forward and his improved free throw shooting, willingness to move the ball and good ball-handling for someone so tall makes him a real plus on the offensive end. These skills and physical talents combine into a long-time NBA starter.

4. Kemba Walker, Bobcats
Walker is a great example of how different the pro game is from the college version. He is an excellent mid-range shooter with exceptional dribbling skills and dynamic attack moves. He's also become a steady hand at the point, with few turnovers and a decent feel for when and how to move the ball. But he can't come close to dominating the game the way he did at the college level, one small reason why his team has been so horrific since he's been there. He's proven to be a defensive liability on the worst defensive team in the league, which is also problematic. But there's no getting around the fact that he is surrounded with mostly "not ready for the NBA" teammates who hurt his overall cause, and despite them he is still a better-than-average player. On a better team, his talent would stand out more.

5. Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
If you want to see the opposite of what Kemba Walker is suffering through, I give you Leonard. From Day One, Leonard was given a blueprint for success with immense talent surrounding him. He is almost never on the floor without Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, or Tony Parker, and is frequently playing with at least two of them. But the Spurs need him as much as he needs them. Leonard has become one of the top wing defenders in the league, capable of impacting the game individually with steals, blocks, the way he can bother a team's top scorer and with his efforts at helping the Spurs build a solid defensive wall around the rim and the 3-point line. He is integral to the success of one of the top teams in the NBA.

6. Nikola Vucevic, Magic
The Magic hoped Vucevic could hold down a rotation spot, and he has exceeded anyone's expectations. We must remember Vucevic started well as a rookie in Philadelphia before whispers of "soft" and "hates to go inside" were heard and he fell out of favor with Doug Collins. It's a different story in Orlando -- not a 180-degree change but enough of one where he's now a viable rotation guy. Vucevic is spending a lot more time in the paint on both ends of the court, so he's rebounding much better and he's finishing pick-and-roll cuts well, especially late in possessions.

7. Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers
If you have followed the careers of J.J. Hickson, JaVale McGee and DeAndre Jordan, you can better understand why some people, including myself and the Cavs' brass, are still so high on TT. He is just now learning how to read the game, and he's averaging almost a double-double (9.2 points, 8.5 rebounds a game). Thompson is also a good defender who shows potential to be great. He still struggles with finishing, because he's not taking his time to explode and he's always been weak. But as he gets stronger, he'll be able to muscle his way through contact, and thus be able to slow down and gather sometimes before finishing.


Good-to-great shooters still working on being good players

8. Klay Thompson, Warriors
There were arguments this summer that Thompson and a healthy Steph Curry could form the best shooting backcourt in the NBA. From behind the 3-point line, that may be true, as Thompson has proved to have a quick and accurate trigger on catch-and-shoots from deep. He's not nearly as effective on any other shot, though, and has not done much else beyond the shooting to show he's more than a one-trick pony. But with the Warriors playing well, Thompson will have plenty of chances to show he has more to his game.

9. Brandon Knight, Pistons
Like Thompson, Knight has proven that he has one very special skill: He can really shoot the deep shot. He's up to 41 percent this season after a strong 38 percent from 3 last season, which is impressive. But he has not yet learned how to manage the game and to make easy passes/assists without being somewhat turnover-prone. Knight recently turned 21 and is known for his special work ethic and intelligence, so there is plenty of reason to believe he'll improve a good deal. One side note: I've always thought he was going to be like Chauncey Billups, whose PER at age 21 happens to be the same as Knight's now (12.7).

10. Jimmer Fredette, Kings
Fredette came into the league as a scintillating scorer, but experts thought he'd be more of a shooting specialist rather than a top scorer in this league. This season, with better shot selection and far more balance in his game, Fredette looks like he's going to be one of the top shooters in this league for years. As a backup he has adjusted to his role as a shooting specialist, and perhaps has earned the right to get more minutes and responsibility moving forward. There is not a team in the NBA that does not value, or need, a shooter like Fredette.

11. Marcus Morris, Rockets
At Kansas, where he was one of the top players in America, Morris was among the best low-post scorers. For whatever reason, his coach in Houston, Kevin McHale, had no trust in him as a player and Morris ended up not doing much as a rookie. But he's recently entered the starting lineup and his very good long-range shooting and overall hustle have been a nice part of the Rockets' surge in the standings. He is playing more power forward than small forward, his position of choice, so he needs to rebound better to keep his starting job.


Best of the rest

12. Derrick Williams, Timberwolves
Making incremental improvements from an average rookie year, Williams still does not have a position, though playing both forward spots has value going forward. He needs to find a home before he can excel.

13. Enes Kanter, Jazz
Kanter is scoring more from inside and outside and coming off the best scoring month of his career (7.8 ppg). His rebounding, though, has dropped some, which is concerning considering he looked like he was going to be great at it.

14. Jimmy Butler, Bulls
Butler is becoming a solid "glue guy" who makes good decisions and keeps the ball in the hands of players who can do something with it. There is real value in playing that way since he is also a good defender. He is a consistent deep shot away from being a strong rotation player.

15. Isaiah Thomas, Kings
He can come in and light up the scoreboard as if he's the hardest guy in the league to defend. But Thomas rarely gets those chances because he is a bad defender on a terrible defensive team.

16. Lavoy Allen, 76ers
Philly fans hoped he would build on his surprising rookie run, but he hasn't. Allen is not shooting or defending as well as he did a year ago, probably because Elton Brand is not there anymore.

17. Markieff Morris, Suns
A stretch-4 who has not yet proven to be a consistent deep shooter. And living behind the line takes away offensive rebounding opportunities, which limits his overall game. Lately, he's struggling to make the few free throws he gets.

18. Bismack Biyombo, Bobcats
Biyombo has not yet learned how to do much other than block shots and patrol the paint. He would probably look and play much better if he was on a stronger team that knew how to cater to his limited skill set.

19. Tobias Harris, Bucks
Started the season strongly, scoring well in limited chances, but Harris did not play much in December (elbow injury and DNP-CDs). He has the look of a good scorer and is still just 20 years old.

T-20. Gustavo Ayon, Magic
He's not having the same impact that he did in New Orleans as a rookie. But he's still a serviceable end-of-the-rotation big because he defends well.

T-20. E'Twaun Moore, Magic
Effective combo guard who has answered the call numerous times when he's earned extended minutes. He's shooting the 3 well and playing within himself, which is just what he needs to do.

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Thanks for the interesting article rusty.

That class really did turn out pretty darn well!

Wish the Cavs had gotten Faried or Parsons though.

Would anyone have suggested either at the time ? No friggin way ! I still would not want Parsons if it cost Tristan.

Yeah, I certainly agree no one would have thought that. That's not what I was implying at all.

(Although I am a Gators fan, and I did know he had multiple skills. This is a big kid who can shoot and pass too, sort of a poor man's Bird with less rebounding and skills of course, but that prototype)

I would take Parsons over Thompson at this point after seeing how he took to the pros, although Faried and Thompson are pretty even in terms of future projectability.

In an interview on Sirius XM radio, Royce White admitted there is a chance he may never play in the NBA.
"This is about who — in general — has executive authority in medical situations…" White said during the interview with Justin Termine and former NBA player Mateen Cleaves. "Right now a GM does not have to listen to the medical advice of even his own doctors." Right now, it doesn't look like he'll contribute on the floor this season.

Source: ProBasketballTalk on NBCSports.com Jan 4 - 8:53 AM

What a wasted draft pick ! This guy is a loser.

Fiasco for the Rockets. Bad pick! You can't gamble like that on your first rounder IMO.

Anderson Varejao hasn’t played since Dec. 18 with a knee injury that has been slow to heal, and he’s not expected back now before Jan. 9 at the earliest. Even coach Byron Scott conceded Thursday he is getting concerned with the amount of time Varejao has missed over what was initially perceived as a routine bruised knee when it occurred.

“I think we’re all concerned,” Scott said. “It’s taking longer than everyone expected.”

Scott maintains that the injury is in a delicate spot on the inside half of the knee. Scott last week denied a Brazilian report Varejao was dealing with a torn quadriceps muscle. Asked again Thursday if Varejao is dealing with a tear of any kind, Scott responded: “I don’t know. I know that he has had an MRI and it said that he has a muscle in there that is healing, but it hasn’t fully healed and it’s going to take time. It’s in a bad spot.”

Varejao and Daniel Gibson (concussion) did not travel to Charlotte, N.C., for tonight’s game. Scott’s rule has always been a player must practice first before returning to the lineup. Given the way the schedule falls, the Cavs won’t practice again until Tuesday, meaning Varejao can’t return before Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Cavs have struggled in his absence. Tristan Thompson’s game has flourished, but rookie Tyler Zeller has struggled. Zeller has committed 13 turnovers in his past four games and 16 in his past six. Some of those turnovers have been offensive fouls.

Zeller said the charges are rare for him, but he’s in foreign territory lately. He remained primarily in the post in college and caught the ball with his back to the basket. Now he’s catching passes at the free-throw line facing the basket and sometimes running into trouble quite literally.

“There have been a couple times where I caught the ball and as I turned, the guy is already there, so I can’t do anything,” Zeller said. “Other times I’m trying to make a move and they make a good play. Instead of me changing directions, I run them over.”

The coaches have told Zeller he’s playing at “a million miles an hour” and he needs to slow down.

“I try to make two or three moves at the same time,” he said, “instead of stopping and slowly progressing through the moves.”

He has struggled at times defending some of the league’s better centers, and Scott said he briefly considered pulling Zeller from the starting lineup.

“I thought about it,” Scott said. “Then I thought, ‘Who the hell am I going to put in?’ That thought lasted about two seconds.”

Zeller said after Wednesday’s loss to the Kings all the losing is starting to wear on him. Zeller lost 35 games in four years at North Carolina. The Cavs will likely have that many by the end of the month. Scott said the only way to prevent the losing from wearing down the players is to start winning. He said he isn’t surprised by the Cavs’ record because nothing in the NBA surprises him anymore.

“It’s more disappointing than anything,” he said. “We all feel we’re better than this.”

Leuer sent to Canton

The Cavs reassigned Jon Leuer to the Canton Charge on Thursday. It is Leuer’s second stint in the Development League. He did not appear in a game for the Cavs following his recall and hasn’t appeared in a game for the Cavs since Nov. 27.

Cavs hitting 2/3 of their shots (excluding Irving they've made 75%)and hold early lead over a team of their own quality: Bobcats. Miles tallied 11 in 8 minutes. Now sitting down for Waiters coming off the bench again which 36% shooting can earn a 1st round draft choice or anyone else.

Kidd-Gilchrist hitting 50.6% of his shots for the Bobcats as a pro.

T-squared went off for 19/13. I'll take that _any_ day of the week.

The play of TT is encouraging and increases the likelyhood of an AV trade. Zeller needs to get bigger and better but the back court looks really good!