March 2015 Cleveland Cavaliers Wiretap

Cavaliers To Increase Kevin Love's Usage

Sep 30, 2015 4:48 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers plan on using Kevin Love more prominently in his second season with the team.

"I just think he's more comfortable in the situation that he's in," LeBron James said after practice Wednesday. "He's got a year under his belt; he knows what he expects out of himself and what his teammates expect out of him. I expect big things from him this year with a year up under his belt."

Using Love more would also allow James to rest more than he has in the past.

Love's numbers took a noticeable hit last season, as he averaged just 16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while often appearing an ill fit for coach David Blatt's schemes. Love's usage rate dropped from 27.7 in his last season with the Timberwolves, second among all power forwards, to 20.4 in his first season with the Cavs, 20th among all power forwards.

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Iman Shumpert Out Three Months With Right Wrist Injury

Sep 30, 2015 9:48 AM

Iman Shumpert recently suffered a ruptured Extensor Carpi Ulnaris sheath in his right wrist.

The extent of the injury was confirmed by MRI at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health on Monday by Dr. Thomas Graham and Dr. Richard Parker.

Shumpert will have surgery to repair his wrist Wednesday at Cleveland Clinic. His return to play is currently projected to be 12 to 14 weeks.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Iman Shumpert, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Kyrie Irving Plans Changes To Game To Avoid Injuries

Sep 28, 2015 4:46 PM

Kyrie Irving plans on altering his game to reduce the amount of injuries he has suffered throughout his career.

Irving spent part of the offseason reviewing film and looking for ways to avoid hard falls.

"For me it's about ... staying off the floor a little bit more," Irving said. "It's how can I be better in terms of avoiding injuries going to the basket and falling on the floor. I enjoy finishing around the big men, but honestly I'm trying to stay off the floor. I'm trying to get better in that aspect."

 

Irving has missed an average of 14 regular season games per season.

Part of the reason for his long injury list is his willingness to attack the basket and finish in traffic, two areas at which he excels.

 

"I don't play above the rim. I'm not a lot faster than anyone else," Irving said. "I'm not going to stop trying to get to the basket. I don't want to stay away, but in terms of going in there every single time -- especially with the centers and power forwards we have -- I don't have to do it every single time."

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Tags: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Tristan Thompson Has Until Thursday To Sign Cavs' Qualifying Offer

Sep 28, 2015 11:19 AM

Tristan Thompson and the Cleveland Cavaliers have been unable to agree upon a contract ahead of their media day.

The Cavs did not accept Thompson's most recent offer of a three-year maximum contract that his side put on the table last week.

Thompson has until Thursday to accept the Cavs' one-year qualifying offer of $6.9 million that would enable him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

 

By Thursday, Thompson must either agree to a new long-term contract, sign the qualifying offer or mutually agree with the Cavs to extend the qualifying offer deadline further and a holdout situation becomes legitimate.

 

The Cavaliers have made several offers over the summer, including one for as high as $16 million per season.

 

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Tags: Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Tristan Thompson Willing To Sign Three-Year, $53M Deal With Cavs

Sep 24, 2015 6:49 PM

Tristan Thompson is willing to sign a three-year, $53 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Thompson is a restricted free agent and has been seeking a five-year, $94 million max contract.

Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal, however, reports there is no deal in place between the Cavaliers and Thompson. Lloyd adds the Cavaliers aren't interested in a three-year deal.

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Tags: Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Austin Daye Agrees Upon One-Year Deal With Cavs

Sep 23, 2015 6:27 PM

Austin Daye has reached agreement on a one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Daye spent last season with the San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and in the D-League.

Daye was the 15th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga by the Detroit Pistons.

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Austin Daye, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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LeBron James Remains Uninvolved In Tristan Thompson Talks

Sep 21, 2015 11:08 AM

LeBron James has remained a bystander in contract talks between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Tristan Thompson.

James' agent, Rich Paul, also represents Thompson.

James has passed on multiple opportunities to apply public pressure to the Cavaliers and hasn't commented on it via social media.

When Eric Bledsoe was a restricted free agent last summer, James urged the Phoenix Suns to make a deal via social media. Bledsoe is another client of Rich Paul.

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Tags: LeBron James, Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Tristan Thompson, Cavs Remain $14M Apart On Contract Talks

Sep 21, 2015 11:05 AM

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Tristan Thompson have a $14 million gap in contract talks.

The Cavs have held firm at an offer of five years and $80 million with Thompson looking for a max contract of $94 million over the same span.

Talks between Thompson and the Cavaliers have remained at a virtual standstill since early July. Both sides have little optimism of a compromise being reached.

Thompson could sign the one-year qualifying offer of $6.9 million, which would make him an unrestricted free agent next offseason. Thompson's agent, Rich Paul, has said his client would not sign long-term with the Cavaliers if he becomes unrestricted in 2016.

Thompson believes he will get multiple offers that will average $20 million per year.

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Tags: Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Cavs Hire Trajan Langdon As Director Of Player Administration

Sep 14, 2015 11:23 AM

The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Trajan Langdon as director of player administration.

Langdon will replace Raja Bell, who has decided to spend more time with his family.

Langdon was drafted 11th overall in 1999 by the Cavs out of Duke and went on to have a successful career playing for CSKA Moscow.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA

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Kevin Love Could Be Ready For Opening Night

Sep 12, 2015 6:35 PM

Kevin Love continues to rehab his shoulder and could be ready for the start of the regular season.

"I feel great," Love told Seth Myers. "I actually spent three weeks in Park City, Utah at the Olympic training facility there, rehabbed my shoulder, got in great shape and I feel great. I’m probably about a month, month and a half away. I don’t want to set an immediate deadline now, but I really feel good."

Love re-signed with the Cavaliers at the start of free agency.

David Zavac/Fear The Sword

Tags: Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Tristan Thompson Skipping LeBron's Minicamp

Chris Haynes/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Report: Tristan Thompson Has Three Teams Willing To Max Him In 2016

Michael Scotto/Sheridan Hoops

D.J. Stephens Agrees To Camp Deal With Cavs

Zach Links/Hoops Rumors

Cavaliers Sign Sasha Kaun

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LeBron Invites Cavs' Teammates To Miami For Pre-Camp Workouts

Chris Haynes/Cleveland Plain Dealer

J.R. Smith Officially Re-Signs With Cavs

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