The Cavaliers plan to leave an open spot on the roster heading into training camp, Joe Vardon of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Cleveland currently has 12 players on guaranteed deals and has filled both of its two-way slots. The Cavs are holding spots for both restricted free agent Rodney Hood, whose negotiations with the organization have stalled, and free agent guard David Nwaba, who has agreed to a contract but is still working out all the details, according to Vardon. Training-camp invitees will battle for the final spot on the 15-man roster, Vardon adds.
We have more from around the Central Division:
- The Cavaliers will allow the remainder of their trade exception from the Kyrie Irving deal to expire on Wednesday but they still have two more exceptions, Vardon notes in the same piece. It has exceptions of $2.5MM and $1.3MM from the deal that sent Richard Jefferson and Kay Felder to the Hawks last season. Those exceptions expire on October 15th.
- Pistons swingman Luke Kennard could have an expanded role in his second season, according to Ansar Khan of MLive.com. New coach Dwane Casey wants Kennard to handle the ball more often and become a playmaker, Khan continues. He could see action at three positions, though he will primarily back up Reggie Bullock at shooting guard, Khan adds.
- Free agent acquisitions Brook Lopez and Ersan Ilyasova fit the current NBA model of big men who can stretch the floor, Bucks GM Jon Horst declares in a video clip posted on the team’s Twitter feed. “With Brook and Ersan, you have guys that have great size, that can shoot the three. They compete on both ends of the floor and have high basketball IQ,” Horst said.
That Nwaba link is from Aug.1, so I wonder about him. Maybe the Bulls’ FO is getting into their new going-for-it posture and has counter-offered.
Hey, hey! The Browns got Dez Bryant. They have a quarterback and receivers for first time since 1999? Now they just need a left tackle to replace Joe Thomas!
Heck they might have 2 QBs now!
They were really gunning for Bryant.
Bitonio can do okay at LT but that opens up LG…
Browns are getting a lot of money bet on them according to SN. I’ll pass
Casey is already doing bone headed things, why on god’s green earth would you start Bullock over Kennard? Kennard is a better play-maker and floor spacer and they need all the shooting they can get from the looks of the starting lineup. Reggie Jackson is shoot first guard, Stanley is a defensive minded player with subpar playmaking ability, Drummond is no playmaker, leaving Blake Griffin as their only passer on the court.
Kennard should be starting period cause there were points in last season when I felt he should be the primary ball handler, he could literally average 16 ppg and 7-8 apg as a starter. Starting lineup should be:
Jackson-Kennard-Stanley-Blake-Drummond
Bench: Bullock,Ish,Leuer,Ellenson,Robinson
Bullock was one of the best 3 point shooters in the league last year.
But he’s not a play-maker.
Bullock is definitely worth starting over Kennard. He could use some time in a bigger role. He would have been a serious MIP candidate if not for Oladipo.
Brook Lopez is a great player to have It sucks he didn’t return to the Lakers. The bucks lucked out
Lopez and Ilyasova are great signings, basically the reason why Milwaukee are the favorites for the central and the #3 seed in the East.
I agree with most of what you say Dionis about Detroit, just I think Drummond became a very good passer, I mean 4APG isn’t bad for a center, right?
True but Casey would be dumb to start Bullock over Kennard.