Odds & Ends: Cavs, China, Akognon, Melo

The fates of GM David Griffin and coach Mike Brown hang in the balance, as does Cleveland’s appeal to free agents as the team embarks on a season-ending stretch run that’s one of the most important times in franchise history, writes Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.  The Cavs are 20-33 coming out of the All-Star break and will hope for a major turnaround in their last 29 games.  Here’s tonight’s look around the Association..

  • The Chinese basketball season is through and Emiliano Carchia of Sportando rounded up a list of notable CBA players who will now be available for NBA clubs.  The list includes Pooh Jeter, Delonte West, D.J. White, Lance Thomas, and Josh Akognon.
  • Akognon has offers from Puerto Rico and Europe but may head to the D-League in an effort to keep his NBA hopes alives, Carchia writes.  Akognon averaged 28 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 5.0 APG in 30 games for his Chinese clubs.
  • Ken Berger of CBSSports.com gives props to LaMarcus Aldridge and Carmelo Anthony for caring about the wellbeing of the NBPA.  Both stars were vocal about the union during the weekend in New Orleans.
  • In his latest mock draft, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders dropped Duke’s Jabari Parker to No. 5 after executives told him that they were concerned he might be a tweener in the NBA.
  • The Warriors announced that they have assigned Ognjen Kuzmic to their D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz.  Kuzmic has compiled averages of 6.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 21.4 minutes in nine games (one start) on previous assignments to Santa Cruz this season.  He has appeared in 17 games for Golden State.
  • The Rockets announced they have re-assigned guard Isaiah Canaan to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League.  To keep up with all of this year’s D-League assignments and recalls, check out Hoops Rumors’ running list.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

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