Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Comment

November 19

Akron Beacon Journal

"Last season, Cavaliers star LeBron James played out his football fantasies in an insurance commercial that had him clad in a No. 23 Browns jersey. Members of the struggling Browns are now willing to make that a reality. ''I think he should come on down,'' Browns coach Eric Mangini said Wednesday. ''I know he's pretty busy right now, but if he wants to give it a shot . . . the guy's gifted, gifted athletically, he's competitive, he's tough. I'm sure whatever he applied himself to, he'd probably be good in baseball, or soccer or or swimming. The guy's a freak athletically.'' After watching the Browns fall 16-0 to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, James suggested he could help ..."

Wizard beat Cavs, James injures wrist on dunk

Comment

November 19

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"It is rare for anyone to straight up outplay LeBron James and it is simply unheard of to see anyone get inside his head. But no matter what the stats say, that certainly appears to have been the case Wednesday night. There's been so much trash talk and hard fouls -- and even venomous rap songs -- between James and the Washington Wizards' DeShawn Stevenson. The scoreboard is overwhelming in James' favor, from playoff victories to flagrant fouls to Jay-Z in the studio having his back. This time, though, the worm turned, and in a most bizarre and unexpected way. All on Stevenson's "bobble hand" night. That's right, the sellout got tattoo-free figurines with the Stevenson's hand wagging in ..."

Browns coach Eric Mangini to LeBron James: Come on down

Comment

November 18

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Browns coach Eric Mangini was delighted to hear that Cavs superstar LeBron James thinks he could help the Browns' woeful offense. "I think he should come on down,'' said Mangini with a smile. "I know he's pretty busy right now, but if he wants to give it a shot, the guy's gifted, gifted athletically. He's competitive. He's tough. I'm sure whatever he applied himself to, he'd probably be good in baseball, or soccer or swimming. The guy's a freak athletically.'' Responding to a question about the Monday Night Football crew saying he'd be a great NFL tight end and has the "best offense in the city of Cleveland,'' James said, "If I put all my time and commitment into it, if I dedicated myself ..."

Stephen Jackson with the Cleveland Cavaliers? It's a matter of debate

Comment

November 15

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"This week, Stephen Jackson will be in town with the Golden State Warriors for his one scheduled visit this season. The question that many fans seem to want to know is whether he will be back on a permanent basis. The answer is definitely maybe. It is understandable why the Cavs are so often attached to Jackson. For one, General Manager Danny Ferry has made big trades in each of the last three years. There's the uncertainty around Delonte West, who happens to play the same position as Jackson. Then there's Jackson's declaration that he wants to come to Cleveland to play, which frankly isn't something you hear every day from NBA players. For those reasons, yes indeed, according to multiple ..."

James planning to give up No. 23 out of respect for Michael Jordan

Comment

November 13

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Basking in the glow of a victory over the Heat, Cavs superstar LeBron James looked over at his idol sitting in the stands at AmericanAirlines Arena on Thursday night and made a command decision. Out of respect to Michael Jordan, who sat courtside and watched James score 34 points, James said he is planning on switching his number after this season from No. 23 to No. 6. It just sort of came out, but it was obvious he's been thinking about it for a while. And James wants to lead a movement to get every player who wears No. 23 in the league to give it up as a tribute to Jordan. "I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon," James said. "There ..."

Cavaliers seem to be preparing for life without Delonte West

Comment

November 13

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Both consciously and subconsciously, the Cavaliers seem to be preparing themselves for life without Delonte West. Out of respect to his problems, both mental and legal, the team continues to be vague and clipped whenever addressing his status. But the more he's not around, the more the Cavs players and coaches are showing signs they're just moving on. West did not play Thursday against the Miami Heat and was not at AmericanAirlines Arena after he was with them the night before in Orlando but not on the bench. He was simply placed on the inactive list again. It didn't even seem to make a blip in the locker room or in coach Mike Brown's plans for the game. "My comfort level isn't ..."

If LeBron James, Dwyane Wade stay put, New York Knicks may target Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson

Comment

November 12

New York Daily News

"If the Knicks find themselves struggling to woo LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, who can become free agents next summer, they'll likely turn their attention to the players such as Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson, who are expected to headline the next tier of potential free agents at season's end. Regardless of how much money the Knicks will have to spend, there's no guarantee of landing a superstar given the state of the franchise, and because James grew up in Ohio and Wade appears to be staying put in Miami - on Tuesday Heat owner Micky Arison said he had "every indication" that Wade wants to finish his career where it started. And while Bosh isn't the same caliber of player, he has already and ..."

LeBron to stay silent on free agency

Comment

November 12

Akron Beacon Journal

"To some it might sound like noise, but to Cavaliers fans, it will be music to their ears. LeBron James put a moratorium on talk of his impending free agency in the summer of 2010. ''I think, honestly, this free-agent talk is getting old,'' James said prior to Wednesday's game against the Orlando Magic. ''It's getting old and I think it's probably the last time I answer anymore free-agent questions until the offseason.'' James' future has been the object of speculation for more than two years. In New York, fans at Madison Square Garden encouraged him to make the leap to the Knicks. The media asked the question - and rightly so - in multiple ways hoping to get some feel for what James will ..."

Dwyane Wade: LeBron James as teammate improbable, not impossible

Comment

November 12

Miami Herald

"The thought is tantalizing: The Heat's Dwyane Wade and Cleveland's LeBron James playing alongside each other as teammates. Wade said Wednesday ``it really could'' happen, though he cautioned the odds are against it even though both can be unrestricted free agents next summer. If it did, it would be more likely to happen in Miami than in Cleveland -- because the Heat has the cap space to sign two maximum-salary free agents (Wade and another player) in 2010, and Cleveland could sign only one maximum-salary player unless it can dump multiyear contracts. ``It's something we've talked about, of course,'' Wade said of playing together. ``No question, it's a long shot. He's put in position in ..."

LeBron says free agency 'is all about winning' -- does that open new 2010 options?

Comment

November 10

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"LeBron James will be asked about his potential free agency hundreds of times between now and next summer. By and large, his answers have remained consistently vague. But every once in a while, he throws in a new wrinkle, like he did Friday night in New York. After the Cavs beat the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, he was asked -- again -- about next year. He admitted he visualized playing with a lot of different players and contending for an NBA title. Then he said, "At the end of the day, a max deal or anything like that doesn't really matter to me. It is all about winning for me. So I put myself in a position when that day comes next summer, I want to win. If I feel like the team is ..."

LeBron will have better options than Knicks

Comment

November 8

New York Post

columnist Peter Vecsey

"Big ups to the Cavaliers, who came into New York and rode roughshod over it . . . you know, like Bloomberg. As usual, the Knicks' sorry showing against the Cavs provokes the same old question: Why would LeBron James want to join forces with this motley crew's skeleton remains (with apologies to Eddy Curry) if he's aiming for a championship bull's-eye? Well, let's get two things straight at the top: Foremost, one of LeBron closest confidants, in response to those who mocked my disclosure Cavs chairman Dan Gilbert is terrified his meal ticket will abscond should the team not win a title, declared to friends, "They (Dan and his entourage; young owners have them, too) better be scared!" ..."

Wally Szczerbiak rehabbing knee, doesn't know if he will play in NBA again

Comment

November 7

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"As he sat courtside at Madison Square Garden about an hour before tipoff Friday night, Wally Szczerbiak accepted a steady stream of handshakes, hugs and smiles from his former Cavaliers teammates and coaches. Szczerbiak is in New York rehabbing from knee surgery, one that has left his future as a player in doubt. After his contract with the Cavs expired in June, he spoke to several teams but also ended up talking to his several doctors. During the Cavs' playoff run, his troublesome left knee started flaring up. He hoped rest would help, and he even was negotiating with several teams about a free-agent contract. "When I started to amp it up for the season, it was bugging me, so I had to ..."

A terrible audition for LeBron

Comment

November 5

New York Post

"The Knicks were still basking in the glow of their first victory of the season, allowing them to dream of an actual winning streak. Then came last night, a 101-89 collapse that served as both a bucket of cold water in their collective faces, and an ominous warning with LeBron James & Co. looming tomorrow. The same team that had hung a 40-point fourth-quarter on the Hornets was held to just 15 by the Pacers. The same club that couldn't miss on Monday couldn't buy a basket down the stretch, missing its last dozen shots. In short, all that good mojo left the Garden faster than a Hideki Matsui longball left Yankee Stadium. "We had an opportunity a couple times to put them away and let them ..."

Knicks just not fit for the 'king'

Comment

November 5

New York Post

"Bring on LeBron! Actually, not really a good time. If the Knicks were trying to impress LeBron James as he comes to town tomorrow night for his lone Garden appearance this season, the Knicks did the opposite in playing a horrifying fourth quarter last night. The prevailing theory is James would sign with New York as a free agent this summer if he genuinely feels he can make the Knicks a contender. But they looked like a laughingstock in losing last night to the previously winless Pacers, 101-89, to fall to 1-4. The Knicks shot 2-of-17 in the fourth quarter, 0-of-7 on treys, and missed their final 10 shots from the field. They went without a field goal for the final 9:21. They scored 15 ..."

Knicks president Donnie Walsh not surprised at Larry Bird's words about Lebron James

Comment

November 5

New York Daily News

"Donnie Walsh didn't take it personally when his former subordinate, Pacers president Larry Bird, lobbied against Le-Bron James coming to New York next July as a free agent. "I have no problem with what Larry said," the Knicks president said Wednesday night before New York took on his old team at the Garden. "I love Larry. I'm not surprised he'd say that, either." Bird's contention is that James, an Akron native, means too much to Ohio and would be a catastrophic loss to the franchise. It's hard to argue with either of those points. "I like to see the great players stay in the cities and with the teams that drafted them," said Bird, who played his entire Hall of Fame career in Boston. "So ..."

Larry Bird likes LeBron James as Cavalier, not a New York Knick

Comment

November 3

New York Daily News

"Not that he wants his former boss, Donnie Walsh, to fail at rebuilding the Knicks, but Pacers president Larry Bird doesn't want to see LeBron James come to New York next summer. "I hope he stays in Cleveland," Bird said Monday. "He's from Ohio and he means so much to that team and that state. I used to love to go and play in Cleveland because they love the game. And, I like to see the great players stay in the cities and with the teams that drafted them. It means so much for the league and the state. So I would rather see him stay." Bird, who coached for Walsh and then joined the front office when the current Knicks president ran the Pacers, participated in a conference call with Magic ..."

Jackson rumors all over the map

Comment

October 29

San Francisco Chronicle

"With rumors again swirling that the Warriors might grant Stephen Jackson his trade request, the sold-out, opening-night crowd had a power struggle in how to deal with the swingman Wednesday. The crowd's boos overpowered the cheers during pregame introductions. Jackson was booed like he was on the road throughout his first four touches. And, after the happy side out-applauded the hater side during his first free-throw attempt, the jeers prevailed when the shot missed. Jackson requested a trade to a contender before training camp, but he has publicly backed off that desire in recent weeks. Still, ESPN reported Wednesday that trade talks have "heated up." The report said the Warriors are ..."

Cavaliers, Antonio Daniels may soon come together

Comment

October 28

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Antonio Daniels cleared waivers Tuesday. Whether or not his next stop lands him in a Cavaliers uniform should be known soon. Daniels has a couple of options, with the Cavs being high on his list, accord ing to multiple league sources. After missing all of the preseason waiting to come to a buyout agreement with the Minnesota Tim berwolves, Daniels is ex pected to make a decision soon on where he'd like to play. Cavs coach Mike Brown said before Tuesday's season opener against the Celtics that he has a good relationship with Daniels dating back to when they both were with the San Antonio Spurs. Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry was a teammate of Daniels with the Spurs. "If someone comes ..."

Delonte West's status still uncertain

Comment

October 27

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Since the first day of training camp, the Cavaliers have been living in a gray area with the status of Delonte West, their valuable but troubled guard. Sometimes it has been because they were trying to protect West, sometimes it has been because they were trying to help him, and sometimes it has been because they just don't know. Battling to attain balance coming off a very difficult month, West is truly day-to-day. Monday after practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts the team left the door open that West could play against the Celtics in the season opener tonight. But because of the nature of the situation, it is far from a sure thing and not just because the Cavs may want to leave the ..."

LeBron to N.Y.? Odds against it

Comment

October 24

New York Daily News

"The Knicks will have to defy the odds if they want to sign LeBron James next summer. A Las Vegas bookmaker has installed the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 2-5 favorite to re-sign James, who can become an .unrestricted free agent on July 1. According to Bodog.com , the odds of James joining the Knicks next summer are 9-4. James remains noncommittal about his future, and a majority of league executives believes that he won't leave Cleveland for the Knicks, a franchise that has suffered through eight straight losing seasons. During his annual media conference call Friday, NBA commissioner David Stern was asked if having a winning team in New York is important to the overall success ..."

Rule change legalizes LeBron's 'crab dribble'

Comment

October 18

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"So-called "star calls" have been commonplace in the NBA for many years, even if it often perturbs fans. But you haven't truly arrived until you have your own "star rules." Sha quille O'Neal has been there for a while; Le Bron James is just getting there now. Decades ago, the league installed a rule that players who are fouled before the ball is inbounded or away from the ball in the final two minutes of the game get free throws plus another possession. This was once known as the Wilt Chamberlain rule, but over the past dozen or so years has become known as the Shaq rule. It limits the effectiveness of the hack-a-Shaq strategy late in close games. Five years ago this month, the NBA ..."

Knicks' Larry Hughes believes LeBron James will stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers

Comment

October 15

New York Daily News

"Larry Hughes understands that the chances of him returning to the Knicks next season are slim to none. Unfortunately, the same may be true of one Hughes' best friends as well. Hughes reiterated Wednesday that he believes LeBron James, the Knicks' primary free agent target, will re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers when James becomes a free agent next summer. "I still feel that way," Hughes said following the Knicks' practice in Greenburgh, N.Y. "He's got a good opportunity to win there. And I know a lot of people talk about him playing in a big market, but he just wants to win a ring. It's not about playing in a big market." Hughes speaks regularly to his former teammate with the Cavs ..."

Trade rumors, retirement talk doesn't bother Ilgauskas

Comment

October 10

Akron Beacon Journal

"Talk of retirement? Rumor of a trade? It doesn't matter to Zydrunas Ilgauskas. It probably shouldn't have, but when a report said Ilgauskas wasn't married to the idea of returning to the Cavaliers after this season, it raised a couple of eyebrows. Going into his 12th season, Ilgauskas has endured bad seasons and multiple foot surgeries. ''I don't know what I'm going to do, that's what I said,'' he said of his future. ''My guess is we'll see how the season is and how I feel at the end of it.'' And should the Cavs win a championship, a realistic possibility heading into the season, it would appear to represent the perfect way for Ilgauskas to go out. ''No, it will depend on how I feel and ..."

Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas rolls with the rumors

Comment

October 10

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"By Zydrunas Ilgauskas' estimate, he has been traded about 75 times since he first came to the Cavaliers 12 years ago. "Or maybe 77," Ilgauskas deadpanned Friday. "I lost count already." That's the 7-foot-3 center's way of saying trade rumors are a daily part of life in the NBA, and why he's shrugging off the newest whispers that Golden State has inquired about swapping unhappy swingman Stephen Jackson for Ilgauskas. While it's true that the Cavaliers might now almost have a surplus of talented big men with the off-season ac quisition of Sha quille O'Neal, the trade rumor also would vio late one of the league's unwrit ten tenets - don't trade big for small. So Il gauskas isn't too worried ..."

Delonte West's absence from practice dims mood as Parker fills in

Comment

September 30

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The delicate and uncharted mix of supporting yet managing guard Delonte West is turning into a full-time job for the Cavaliers. West hit a new low Tuesday on the first day of training camp, skipping both of the team's workouts. The absences were unexcused and caught the team off-guard after West reported to Monday's media day. It has now left the Cavs immersed in a gray area of how to proceed with their talented but troubled guard. "Delonte is in Cleveland," Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry said in a statement. "He is addressing a personal matter and did not attend practice." According to a source, West was in his home for the day and did not leave to come to practice. There was no ..."

Cavaliers may not be done tinkering with roster

Comment

September 25

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Cavaliers are just days away from opening training camp but may not be done with their roster. The Cavs are considering adding another guard to the mix, according to multiple league sources. They have been making calls on some remaining free agents and testing the trade-market waters to see who might be available. Even before Delonte West was facing a possible suspension after he was arrested and charged with illegal gun possession last week it was arguable the team could use another ball handler. Mo Williams and West are the only two players on the team that have proven they can play point guard. Daniel Gibson has done it but hasn't proven he can be effective. Last season the Cavs' ..."

Cavaliers guard Delonte West arrested on weapons charges

Comment

September 18

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Cavaliers guard Delonte West was arrested Thursday night near his offseason home in Maryland for weapons possession. West was pulled over by police on his 2009 Can-Am Spyder motorcycle in Brandywine, Md., at 10 p.m. Thursday night for excessive speed and making an unsafe lane change. A Prince George's County police spokesman said West had two handguns and a shotgun in his possession and he cooperated with police as he was placed under arrest. He has been released on his own recognizance."

Is he or isn't he? Free-agent forward Kurz may choose Nuggets over Cavaliers

Comment

September 10

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Admittedly there has been quite a bit of attention paid over the last month to just who the 15th man on the Cavs' roster will be. That is because that player may actually end up playing a key role early in the season and because of the little cat and mouse game that has been developing with it. Free agent forward Rob Kurz, who has been in possession of a training camp invitation for more than a month and was in town Wednesday, may not end up being that man at all. According to a league source, Kurz is now considering bypassing the Cavs' training camp for the Denver Nuggets. Kurz is a 6-9 combo forward who is a shooting specialist. He averaged 3.9 points in 40 games as a rookie for the ..."

Stephen Jackson wants Warriors to trade him

Comment

August 29

Oakland Tribune

"Stephen Jackson wants out of Golden State and has hired an agent to facilitate a trade, our Marcus Thompson II confirmed late Friday night on our "Inside the Warriors" blog. Jackson told an audience gathered Friday in New York for a shoe company's party that he doesn't expect to be with the Warriors when the season begins in November. Jackson stunned the crowd after he was asked by an MC if he thought the Warriors would make the playoffs. " "Um I don't think I'll be a Warrior next year. I'm looking to leave," Jackson said. The 31-year-old Jackson signed a three-year contract extension with the Warriors while acting as his own agent last November. But, he has since cooled on the idea of ..."

Source: Smith to join 10th team

Comment

August 15

ESPN.com

"Joe Smith has agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks for the veteran's minimum, a source told ESPN's Ric Bucher on Friday. Smith, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound center, is a 14-year veteran. He was picked No.1 overall by the Golden State Warriors in 1995 and has played for nine teams. Smith picked Atlanta over Cleveland Cavaliers, where here played last season and which was offering the same deal."

Lebron unlikely to accept contract extension

Comment

August 8

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"LeBron James all but said he plans to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. This does not mean James will leave the Cavaliers, but it does mean he wants to keep all his options open. In his strongest comments on the subject to date, the NBA's reigning MVP indicated Friday that he would not sign the extension, believed to be three years, offered by the Cavs on July 18 nor pick up his player option that would keep him with the team through the 2010-11 season. Speaking at the launch of his new Nike Air Max LeBron VII sneaker, James said, "I signed a contract in 2006 with an option. It would make no sense for me to sign that contract if I didn't keep my options open. "I'll let you ..."

Hakim Warrick chooses Milwaukee Bucks over Cleveland Cavaliers

Comment

August 2

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"As happens often in the free-agent process, it is on to the next for the Cavaliers. Friday, power forward Hakim Warrick accepted a contract offer from the Milwaukee Bucks over one from the Cavs. The proposals were not the same. The Bucks reportedly signed Warrick to a one-year, $3 million contract, and he will have a chance to compete for a starting job. The Cavs' offer was their bi-annual exception of just under $2 million to take position behind starter Anderson Varejao. The Cavs still are believed to want to add another forward. One player under consideration is Joe Smith, who finished out last season with the Cavs. He averaged 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21 regular season games ..."

Cavs not done shopping

Comment

July 31

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Cavaliers' major moves are done, but the finishing touches may not be. According to a league source, the Cavs have a contract offer out to a forward and are hoping to get an answer within the next few days. That forward is believed to be Hakim Warrick, a 6-9 athletic big man who has played the past four seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. The team is believed to be offering its biannual exception, which would be just under $2 million for this season, plus a player option for the 2010-11 season. ESPN.com reported Thursday that Warrick is considering the Cavs, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. Both the Bucks and 76ers can offer Warrick more money, and he is from Philadelphia. If ..."

Cavaliers not done shopping; team reportedly offers contract to Grizzlies' Hakim Warrick

Comment

July 31

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Cavaliers' major moves are done, but the finishing touches may not be. According to a league source, the Cavs have a contract offer out to a forward and are hoping to get an answer within the next few days. That forward is believed to be Hakim Warrick, a 6-9 athletic big man who has played the past four seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. The team is believed to be offering its biannual exception, which would be just under $2 million for this season, plus a player option for the 2010-11 season. ESPN.com reported Thursday that Warrick is considering the Cavs, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. Both the Bucks and 76ers can offer Warrick more money, and he is from Philadelphia. If ..."

Cavaliers top draft pick, Christian Eyenga, will play in Spain next season

Comment

July 24

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Cavaliers' first-round draft pick, the raw-shooting guard Christian Eyenga, will play in Spain next season instead of coming to Cleveland, his agent confirmed Thursday. However, the three-year deal he signed with DKV Joventut this week has enough flexibility that Eyenga can join the Cavaliers after each season of preparation spent abroad. Andy Miller, Eyenga's New Jersey-based agent, said the agreement will allow the 20-year-old native of Congo to develop as he continues to play with the Spanish club where he spent the past two seasons. "This has nothing to do with money. It was not a shakedown of any sort," Miller said. "This has everything to do with allowing Christian to gain ..."

Cleveland Cavaliers sign Jamario Moon, forward, to offer sheet

Comment

July 20

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"As part of their continuing efforts to upgrade this off-season, the Cavaliers have signed restricted free agent Jamario Moon of Miami to an offer sheet, according to a league source. The Cavaliers have about $3.2 million remaining on their midlevel exception that they can use to pay Moon, a 6-8 swingman, or they can use their $2 million biannual exception. The offer is for two guaranteed years. Once the league receives the paperwork, which is expected to be today, the Heat will have seven days to match the offer. This marks Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry's first foray into courting a restricted free agent. The Cavaliers are banking on Miami's attention being diverted to other ..."

Now it appears to be Moon over Cleveland, rather than Miami

Comment

July 20

Toronto Star

"The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed restricted free agent Jamario Moon to an offer sheet. Moon spent last season with the Heat, who yesterday confirmed the offer first reported by ESPN.com. Terms were not disclosed. Calls to Joel Bell, Moon's agent, were not returned. Miami has seven days to match the offer. Moon averaged 7.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 26.5 minutes per game last year. The Heat already have a glut of wing players and team president Pat Riley has often said often over the past few weeks that salary cap and luxury tax restrictions could force Miami to keep as few as 13 players on the roster as opposed to the maximum 15."

Cavaliers make a bid for Miami Heat's Jamario Moon

Comment

July 20

Miami Herald

"As the Heat continues to try to sign the Lakers' Lamar Odom, Miami learned Sunday that restricted free agent small forward Jamario Moon has signed an offer sheet with the Cleveland Cavaliers, reducing the likelihood of the Heat retaining him. After the offer is submitted to the NBA office Monday, the Heat would have seven days to decide whether to match. Terms were not revealed, but the offer is for at least two years, and the first-year salary cannot exceed the $3.2 million that Cleveland still has available from its $5.9 million midlevel exception. The Heat might be reluctant to match for two reasons: 1) Unless Miami is acquiring an impact player (such as Odom), the Heat prefers not to ..."

Sources: Cavs ink Moon to offer sheet

Comment

July 19

ESPN.com

"The Cleveland Cavaliers have continued their offseason remodeling by signing restricted free agent Jamario Moon to an offer sheet, according to NBA front-office sources. Although the full details of the offer sheet are unlikely to be known until Monday, when the contract is submitted to the league office, sources told ESPN.com that the deal Moon signed Friday spans at least two years. The Miami Heat will have seven days to match the offer once it's formally processed, but Cleveland would appear to have a good chance of landing Moon given Miami's well-chronicled desire to avoid new contracts longer than one year to protect its 2010 salary-cap space. There are exceptions to that policy, as ..."

'Efficient' Anthony Parker eager to fill any need for championship-starved Cleveland Cavaliers

Comment

July 14

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"It was just about three years ago that the Cavaliers took their first shot at acquiring guard Anthony Parker. Parker, a nonentity in his first three NBA seasons with Philadelphia and Orlando, had blossomed into a star overseas and was named the Euroleague MVP in 2005 while playing with Maccabi Tel Aviv. He won five Israeli Premier League championships, five Israeli Cups and three Euroleague titles. "Up to this point, it has been my best basketball experience," Parker said. General Manager Danny Ferry and assistant GM Lance Blanks were just completing their first seasons with the Cavs on the lookout for players who could help. Blanks was one of a number of team officials who saw Parker ..."

Source: Cavaliers have interest in Toronto Raptors forward Joey Graham

Comment

July 12

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Should the Cavaliers fail to land the "stretch-four" they've been seeking, another player they have some interest in is free agent small forward Joey Graham, according to an NBA source. Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry could not be reached on Saturday night to confirm the team's interest. Graham, 27, has spent his entire career in Toronto after the Raptors made him the 16th pick in the 2005 draft out of Oklahoma State. The 6-7, 225-pound Graham is a strong defender who averaged 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 19.8 minutes in 78 games with the Raptors last season. He shot 48 percent from the field but only 18 percent from 3-point range. His twin brother Stephen, who played 13 games with the ..."

Gallinari Is Key as Knicks Plan to Woo James

Comment

July 12

New York Times

"In a gym buzzing with bright-eyed prospects, the most significant figure was a well-tanned spectator standing against the wall with his shirt off. Danilo Gallinari is weeks away from playing basketball, but he has never been more critical to the Knicks' future. Jason Kidd and Grant Hill are not coming, despite the franchise's best recruiting efforts. The June draft brought two solid prospects - Jordan Hill, who agreed to a two-year, $4.3 million contract Saturday, and Toney Douglas - but no saviors. The roster for next season may be largely unchanged. So when the time comes next July for LeBron James to consider a new home and new teammates, the Knicks' sales pitch might well begin with ..."

LeBron James more likely to stay a Cav if salary cap continues to drop

Comment

July 10

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Looking ahead to the much-hyped summer of 2010, the Cavaliers are facing some good news and bad news. The Cavs signed Anderson Varejao to a six-year contract Thursday that guarantees him $42.5 million plus incentives. The team is expected to sign guard Anthony Parker to a two-year deal worth around $6 million as early as today, according to a source. The Cavs still have roughly $5 million to spend, as part of different cap exceptions that cannot be combined, and they are expected to use much of it. With that in mind, here's something else: ESPN obtained a memo this week that the league office distributed to all teams, which warned that the salary cap next summer may decrease between $4 ..."

Varejao agrees to 6-year deal with Cavaliers, who add 6-6 free-agent guard Anthony Parker

Comment

July 9

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Cavaliers have made their big moves in free agency. After making a splash by trading for Shaquille O'Neal, the Cavs have come to terms with one of their core players and are close to adding a key piece. The Cavs have agreed on a new contract with forward Anderson Varejao, agent Dan Fegan said Wednesday. In addition, a league source said the Cavs have come to terms on a deal for free agent guard Anthony Parker. He could complete the that deal within the next few days. Varejao, the team's versatile big man who became a starter last season, is set to get a six-year contract that could be worth as much as $50 million. Much as with the contracts the team signed with Delonte West and ..."

Cavaliers, Anderson Varejao reportedly moving toward agreeing to a new contract

Comment

July 8

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"In the wild world of NBA free agency, there's been little talk about Anderson Varejao the past week. But that doesn't mean there hasn't been movement. The Cavaliers and Varejao have the ball rolling toward a new contract, according to multiple sources. The deal isn't done and because of the nature of the business the situation is fragile, but it appears things are lining up for Varejao to agree to remain with the Cavs. The Cavs may be gaining some momentum on several fronts, in fact. A league source said the team was entering more advanced talks with free-agent guard Anthony Parker. Parker's options changed last week when his team, the Toronto Raptors, decided to sign Hedo Turkoglu. ..."

Pistons reportedly agree to deal with Kuester

Comment

July 7

Detroit News

"The Pistons apparently have their coach, and it's not Avery Johnson. Sports Illustrated.com reported Tuesday the Pistons have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Cavaliers assistant John Kuester. Kuester became the main target of team president Joe Dumars after talks with Johnson broke down. Dumars told The News on Tuesday that Johnson, who had been considered the frontrunner, was no longer in the team's plans. "Where we are right now as a team is kind of like where we were at the start of the Rick Carlisle era," Dumars said. "And a $4 to $5 million (a year) coach is not what we need right now. We didn't have one of those until we were close to contending for a championship when we ..."

Cavaliers assistant John Kuester now a leading candidate for Detroit Pistons job

Comment

July 7

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Cavaliers assistant coach John Kuester has emerged as a leading candidate for the Detroit Pistons head coaching position. Several outlets reported today that the Pistons have ended talks with former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson after a disagreement over the contract offer. Former Pistons coach Doug Collins pulled his name from consideration last week shortly after the Pistons fired coach Michael Curry after one season. The Cavs don't want to lose Kuester, who has been with the team for the last two years and took over as the offensive coordinator this past season. But according to a team source they would not stand in his way of him getting a promotion, even though it is to a ..."

Source close to LeBron James denies ESPN report that he told Trevor Ariza he was staying with Cavaliers

Comment

July 7

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"According to a source close to LeBron James, the current NBA Most Valuable Player did not tell free agent Trevor Ariza that he was for sure going to be with the Cavaliers past 2010. Earlier today ESPN.com reported James told Ariza "I'll be there. Of course, I'll be there" as part of the Cavs' recruiting pitch to land the coveted 6-foot-8 swingman. The report said Ariza deemed the statement to be a ploy to convince him toa commitment to sign with the Houston Rockets. The source close to James indicated it wasn't even a ploy. ESPN also reported that Cavs general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown met with Ariza on Sunday in Los Angeles, after he'd committed to go to the Rockets last ..."

Cavaliers Trade Rumors