Less than 24 hours after Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com once again made the case that Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue needs to change up his lineup, the club suffered its sixth loss in seven contests. After the game, Lue admitted that he had come around on the idea of a lineup shake-up, telling reporters, including Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com, that he intends to make a change.
Lue didn’t reveal on Tuesday night which positions or players he’ll target when he adjusts the Cavaliers’ lineup, but as McMenamin observes, LeBron James and Kevin Love are probably the only locks to remain starters. J.R. Smith told ESPN that he would accept a bench job if he’s demoted, but McMenamin notes that Jae Crowder and even Isaiah Thomas are also candidates to change roles.
In Pluto’s view, it would make sense for the Cavs to go back to starting Jose Calderon at point guard and Dwyane Wade at shooting guard, sending both Thomas and Smith to the bench. As Pluto argues, the Calderon/Wade combo would likely be more solid defensively, and would allow the Cavs to go to Thomas and Smith for instant offense off the bench.
Here’s more out of Cleveland, as the Cavs attempt to get their season back on track:
- Monday’s team meeting highlighted a division in the Cavs’ locker room that has become apparent over the course of the season, McMenamin writes in his piece linked above. McMenamin suggests that the players who were with the Cavs prior to this year aren’t always on the same page with the team’s newcomers.
- In a more detailed look at that Monday meeting, which was described as fiery and emotional, McMenamin passes along quotes from Lue and from Love, who suggests he wasn’t the only “target.” Jason Lloyd of The Athletic corroborates that account, indicating that the meeting “escalated into something more” after initially focusing on Love’s weekend sickness. Wade and Thomas were the instigators, Lloyd hears.
- Recognizing that Cleveland is still one of the few spots in the NBA where he has a shot at a title, Love hasn’t asked to be traded and has no plans to do so, he tells Lloyd. “The NBA is so fragile,” Love said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get this chance again in my career to win.”
- Multiple Cavs sources told McMenamin that they hope communication will improve throughout the organization. Communication has reportedly been an issue both on the court – with players not talking enough on defense – and off the court, where first-year GM Koby Altman has yet to establish “protocol for open discourse.”
- Speaking of Altman, he continues to work on potential trades for the Cavs, but Monday’s meeting didn’t affect his urgency on that front, sources tell McMenamin. We heard on Tuesday that Cleveland has made progress in trade talks involving Kings point guard George Hill.
division in a locker room full of prima donnas? SHOCKING!!!
Funny! All of LeBron’s buddies plus Crowder and IT battling it out. Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but Stephen A. said yesterday Kevin Love being the lone white guy (Osman too) and being the one scolded when he and LeBron are the only good players the Cavs have.
LeBron has like 2 buddies, JR & TT. “All of his buddies” you say. “Veteran Cavs” would be more accurate but you are on an anti-James binge and so are distorted. You and Dionis are like angry ex-girlfriends. “Buddies” could have been true last year but the roster was greatly altered, not in James’s political favor. And finish your last sentence, with Korver too.
Here is the liklihood: Thomas wants to be a leader now that he’s playing, and questioned why Love quit the game. Then IT got turned on, prob due to his D and teamwork, and now his head is spinning, esp with the George Hill talk.
BTW delays are not good in getting that trade done. Thinking of great trades can be the enemy of securing a good trade.
No offense, if LeBron stays it will be because of Dwayne Wade, his best friend in the world. You can read and have. LeBron publicly recruited all these guys. I didn’t want to make the comment I did. LeBron is an activist. I seriously feel for Kevin Love, especially with this group.
I said yesterday see Cleveland.com-Terry Pluto. He said Wade and Calderon should start. This sites writer read it. We’ll see if this is what Tyron does.
I think LeBron is a really good player, but I question him as a team player?general manager and getting whatever he wants. Wade always took cuts in Miami for the team. Durant took cuts for Golden State. I like the fact they look out for the team as much as themselves.
I saw Hill play too many games for the Pacers. I think Tyreke Evans would be a much better fit for the Cavs.
You can’t truthfully deny this roster is LeBron’s doing. I have a lot more respect for Kevin Love. Do your best and do what you’re asked to do.
I lived many years watching MJ and Reggie Miller since I lived between Indianapolis and Chicago. That’s why I’m such a big NBA fan. I wonder if these people who are putting LeBron on a pedestal have seen MJ play. I wish ESPN would take a weekend and play nothing but games of MJ against his competition one game and LeBron against his the next. LeBron isn’t even the best player in the game right now, Kevin Durant is. I’m just wondering how far this Cavs team will sink. Kyrie wanted to leave to avoid a repeat of LeBron leaving. Kyrie “is” the reason the Cavs are playing so poorly.
It is also well known that IT had troubles in Sacramento, Phoenix, and Boston. Today’s Cleveland.com had an article about the meeting and said IT has only been here 10 minutes (they were exaggerating, you know what he meant) and IT had no business attacking Love.
It’s a touchy subject, but Stephen A. was right about Love being the token white guy (who plays) having to take the heat. The Cavs would really be in trouble without Love or LeBron. I remember Love’s first season, LeBron was showing his selfies with his buddies. None included Love. When the season was over he had to go out to L.A. to convince him to come back.
Madman.
Wade is a friend but get real, James has a wife & kids & Wade may move on with better offers. James helped recruit players if asked. He does not get whatever he wants. Every sentence of yours has BS in it and there are so so many of them, like you have to convince yourself to hate. You’re going off the deep end, talk to your doctor about your meds.
I win, you lose. Everything is true, you just don’t want to accept it. I’m going to laugh so hard if Love leaves after next season. Kyrie leaving and Love wanting to should tell you something. You have thr right not to believe this and I have the right to believe what I read. I saw Dave Griffin on ESPN, the JUMp, Sports Nation and Sports Center. That’s no BS.
You see a lot of things & mix it all up in your head & believe it all because look where it came from. Just sponge it up, no discrimination. But find where Love wants to leave. Can’t.
You are calling me, the writers on this site, ESPN, NBA.com, Sports Iluustrated.com, Cleveland.com, all the city locals, CBS.com,etc. liars. I won’t respond to you any more. Whatever happens happens. I know everything I’ve said is true so I can deal with it. Like they say about tv, if you don’t like the program, change the channel.
Love said he wants to play with his family friend Klay Thompson on an all-star team after he leaves the Cavs. He can opt out after next season. If you don’t want to believe it don’t. Blame CBS, they reported it. I will not respond to you again. You really do want everything to be as you see it. Even the writers here.
It is true people say things. They’re called opinions. But the actual Kevin Love has expressed no desire to leave. It’s just a story that attracts gullible viewers to their shows. And Love’s critic is Thomas, not James.
mobile.twitter.com/kevinlove/status/956236117052968963
Do tweeters on this link know the allstar game is NOT east vs west? Maybe not.
Osman is a Euro he’s not white white like Love.
Are y’all all forgetting korver or does he just not exist anymore?
He’s like Love, he’s left out. Check out Kevin Love’s twitter!
Only Swanson forgot. He interprets things to suit himself.
That’s your opinion. You are believing what you want to. I’m just reporting what I see. Get over it.
Jeff Green needs get more playing time. They lack speed and size and he’s the second most athletic guy on the team. I love jr but green should start at the 4 and slide lebron and crowder up to the wings. Not a long term solution but should give them a boost
I agree, but I’m not sure if Crowder will continue starting. He played shooting guard with Avery Bradley at point guard in Boston last year. He’s having a bad year. I wonder id the position changes is why. Green has been consistently good.
They need someone that can make a stop on the ball, and at the rim. Thompson is a good rebounder and average defender. The only problem is which Big can they bring in that will help them again GSW? It’s 1 less shooter for them on the court. Too bad Frye is kinda old and not a great defender. They basically need a younger Frye.
Cousins or Gasol but both are expensive.
I agree. The Cavs have dug themselves in a deep hole with these bad contracts. I wonder if Memphis will move Tyreke Evans.
Cavs need to use the 1st round picks for this year to dump jr, shump, frye and tristons contracts and upgrade them
JR is OTH and should be benched. TT is a lazy bum with a fat contract thanks to LBJ. Trade Love to Clippers for DJ. Crowder was stud in Boston but now a bum?Coaching matters folks. Now it’s obvious why KI wanted out. IT is gone after this year. LBJ stays only if mr Dilbert gives him a piece of the team.
The Love thing might not be a bad idea. Them or the Lakers is probably where he’d go when he opts out after next year. Did you see Love’s twitter message?