LeBron James wasn’t expecting the Cavaliers to make any major deals prior to the deadline, sources told David Aldridge of NBA.com. James anticipated a minor trade or two but found out a night prior to the deadline that a major roster makeover was possible, Aldridge continues. James had already decided he needed to do more to get the team headed in the right direction, as he told Aldridge. “Even before the deadline happened and before the trades happened, I had to refocus myself and understand that I’m the leader of this team, and I have to be mentally sharp and mentally strong throughout anything,” he said.
In other nuggets involving the Cavaliers:
- The team’s scouting staff has been energized by the acquisition of the Nets’ first-round pick that the Celtics forwarded in the Kyrie Irving trade, Joe Vardon of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. There’s a level of excitement in evaluating players who will go in the lottery, knowing the franchise will draft one of them. “With a high pick, you go to a game and you watch a guy and you think ‘there’s a legit chance that maybe we get him, and he becomes a core piece of our franchise moving forward,'” Cavs assistant GM Mike Gansey told Vardon.
- Rodney Hood should be used extensively as the ballhandler on pick-and-rolls, according to Bryan Kalbrosky of Hoops Hype. Kalbrosky notes that Hood was a superior scorer on pick-and-roll plays with the Jazz. By trading away Isaiah Thomas and Dwyane Wade, the Cavs need Hood to fill the void in those situations, Kalbrosky adds.
- The additions made at the trade deadline have improved the Cavs’ defense but it’s still not at the level of other title contenders, Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer argues. The roster is now younger and more athletic but none of the newcomers are All-NBA defenders, Fedor adds.
Re: Gansey, a person would think a NBA FO would be looking every year regardless of lotto pick or not. You never know when you’ll be in a position to pick up a lotto pick via trade. Never-say-never.
The Cavs have not done anything with Hood yet, which is fine for now, but the P&R is a good idea. Something else to throw at a D.
Osman has not improved with more PT IMO. Cavs reslly should get Hood going.
Osman is going to be out the league after his contract.
Versus Nets, Cavs did run Hood on pick n rolls, and it worked well, including the most clutch make. Korver did well and likes those also.
nice
LeBron says he wants to own a franchise and athletes should have a way to get paid after high school. LaVar has been sending out DM to try and get players for his league. LaVar doesn’t have the money to operate it. LaVar wants LeBron in Los Angeles with his boys. LeBron can fund his league!