Cavs Sign Ben Uzoh To 10-Day Contract
The Cavaliers have signed Ben Uzoh to a 10-day contract, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter). The team confirmed the signing.
Uzoh played 42 games last season for the Nets as an undrafted free agent, recording 3.8 points and 14.8 PER in just over 10 minutes per game. The 23-year-old had been playing for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the D-League this year, and was named the league's Performer of the Week from January 16-22.
Having waived Mychel Thompson on Monday, the Cavs won't need to make a move to clear a roster spot. Coach Byron Scott said the team signed Uzoh rather than D-League standout and ex-Cav Manny Harris because they need a point guard with Kyrie Irving out (Twitter link).
Cavaliers Not Trying To Trade Varejao
Terry Pluto of the Plains Dealer writes that multiple sources report the Cleveland Cavaliers are not seeking trades for veteran big man Anderson Varejao and will not make a deal unless another teams wows them with an offer.
Varejao, 29, is off to a fantastic start this season averaging a double-double at 11 PPG and 11.8 RPG. He is one of the better defensive big men in the NBA, provides value on offense without a high usage or plays being called for him, and at $7.7MM this season is on a reasonable contract.
In short, he is a perfect fit on a near contender looking to for a piece to put them over the top.
The reports could be typical posturing, Varejao has enough value for the Cavaliers to be patient and holdout for the best deal possible, but it would also make sense in the long term for the Cavaliers to deal their best trade asset.
Tristan Thompson, this past summer's no. 4 overall pick, shares similar strengths and weakness with Varejao, making their skill sets redundant and hampering their time together on the court.
Varejao is only 29, but plays a reckless, energetic style of basketball that leaves him susceptible to injury. He is at his peak right now and holding onto him is a gamble that he will still be at or near this level when rookies Thompson and Kyrie Irving enter the beginning of their primes.
Trading Varejao would hurt this season, all but ending the Cavaliers unlikely bid for the Eastern Conference's 8th playoff seed, but in the long run freeing minutes for Thompson and securing another top-10 pick in a deep draft–on top of whatever assets a trade would return–might be in the Cavaliers best long-term interests.
Odds & Ends: Dampier, Lin, Weems, Heat, Varejao
Let's take a look at a few links from around the league as we await tonight's renewal of the Lakers/Celtics rivalry in Boston….
- In a blog entry for NBA.com, Scott Howard-Cooper discusses Seattle's push for an NBA team, the Warriors' potential trade options, and Chauncey Billups' future.
- Hawks coach Larry Drew conceded to Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Erick Dampier isn't in great shape (Twitter link). Atlanta signed Dampier to a 10-day contract to add frontcourt depth.
- As Jeremy Lin dominates headlines in New York, teams that could've signed and kept him look back on a missed opportunity. Donnie Nelson talked about the Mavericks' failed attempt to sign Lin (Dallas Morning News link), while Houston GM Daryl Morey tweeted that he should have held on to Lin when he was a Rocket.
- Sonny Weems won't be returning to the NBA this season, his agent tells Sportando.
- Talking to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Oscar Robertson said the Heat need a center who can consistently record 12 points and 10 boards if they're going to win championships. With respect to the Hall-of-Famer, I think the Heat are talented enough to win a title without a strong presence in the middle.
- The Cavaliers won't actively place Anderson Varejao on the trade market, since they likely wouldn't get fair value for him, writes Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.
Mo Williams Talks Role, Contract, Cavs Trade
Mo Williams returned to Cleveland last night, playing his first game at Quicken Loans Arena since being traded from the Cavaliers to the Clippers nearly a year ago. Before the game, Williams spoke to reporters about a number of topics, including the trade that sent him to Los Angeles.
On his role with the Clippers (via Bob Finnan of the News-Herald):
"I haven't come off the bench for a long time. Once I understood the role, it's starting to flow. You have to play a role on every team. This is what they've asked me to do. Whether I like it or not, I have to perform my duties."
On the trade that sent him to the Clippers with Jamario Moon for Baron Davis and the draft pick that became Kyrie Irving (via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal):
"I thought [the Cavs] handled everything first class, even though I was traded. It was a decision that they made as an organization. I would say it worked out for them."
On his current contract situation (via T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times):
"I don't know where I stand…. If you have a girlfriend and she tells you she loves you every day, obviously you know she loves you…. The way [a team] tells you they love you every day is by signing you to a contract extension."
I think Simers' portrayal of Williams as a selfish player out for another payday is unfair. Williams' comments suggest to me that he won't feel like he's part of the Clippers' long-term plans (which he may not be) as long as the team seems content to let his contract expire. Neil Olshey has said he's not shopping Williams, but the Clips GM, at least before Chauncey Billups' season-ending injury, seemed open to a trade if he received the right offer.
Central Notes: Sessions, Rose, Irving, Pistons
Rookie sensation Kyrie Irving sustained a concussion against Miami on Tuesday, according to Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He is not playing tonight, and there's no timeline for his return. With averages of 18.0 PPG and 5.1 APG, Cleveland's point guard was seen by many as the front runner for Rookie of the Year before suffering this injury.
Here are some more stories from around the Central Division:
- Before tonight's game against the Nets, Detroit head coach Lawrence Frank had nothing but good things to say about guard Walker D. Russell, according to MLive.com's David Mayo. "I think his mindset is that he doesn't want this to be for just one year," he said. "So now he just has to put forth the effort and the film work and the study to stay.” Russell's contract was guaranteed yesterday afternoon.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly want a first round pick for Ramon Sessions, according to The News-Herald's Bob Finnan. With Irving out from his concussion, and there being no timetable for his return, it's likely that instead of moving him, the Cavs hang on to Sessions for the time being.
- After falling to the Miami Heat in last year's Eastern Conference Finals, Derrick Rose sought the advice of former Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas, according to Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com. Rose has played through pain this season, with notable injuries to his toe and back. The two spoke about what it takes to be the premier player on your team from the point guard position.
Decisions On Non-Guaranteed Contracts
February 10th marks the day that all players on non-guaranteed contracts will have their deals guaranteed for the remainder of the season. However, if a team wants to meet that Friday deadline, it will need to make its decisions today, allowing its player(s) to pass through waivers in time.
Some non-guaranteed players, such as DeJuan Blair and Jeremy Lin, are in no danger of being waived. However, with a few dozen players on non-guaranteed deals across the league, there will be plenty of cuts before the day is out. Some of those players will sign 10-day contracts shortly after being cut, while others could join the D-League or find a place on our list of current unrestricted free agents.
We'll track all the day's decisions on non-guaranteed contracts right here, with the latest news up top:
- Other players who will have their contracts guaranteed for the remainder of the year: Ivan Johnson, Jannero Pargo, Jerry Stackhouse (Hawks), Cory Higgins (Bobcats), Brian Scalabrine, John Lucas (Bulls), Samardo Samuels, Alonzo Gee (Cavaliers), Sean Williams (Mavericks), Julyan Stone (Nuggets), Vernon Macklin, Damien Wilkins (Pistons), Dominic McGuire, Chris Wright (Warriors), Sundiata Gaines, Keith Bogans (Nets), Steve Novak, Jerome Jordan (Knicks), Ryan Reid (Thunder), DeAndre Liggins (Magic), Lavoy Allen, Francisco Elson (Sixers), Danny Green, Gary Neal (Spurs), Jeremy Evans (Jazz).
- The Jazz will guarantee Jamaal Tinsley's contract, according to Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune (via Twitter).
- The Pistons are keeping guard Walker Russell, agent Giovanni Funicello told HoopsHype (via Twitter).
- The Hornets have waived DaJuan Summers and Carldell Johnson, league sources tell Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
- The Rockets waived Jeff Adrien, reports Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The move clears a roster spot for Greg Smith.
- The Wizards have waived Hamady N'Diaye, according to a team release.
- Chris Johnson received a call from Trail Blazers GM Chad Buchanan this morning saying his contract would be guaranteed, tweets Mike Tokito of The Oregonian.
- The Celtics will hang on to Greg Stiemsma and guarantee his deal, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
- The Lakers have waived Derrick Caracter. Caracter broke the news himself, tweeting "It's over before it begun!!! …. On to the next chapter of my life" (Twitter links). The Lakers will hang on to Devin Ebanks, Andrew Goudelock, and Darius Morris, tweets Mike Breshnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
- The Clippers have cut Solomon Jones, reports Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).
- The Heat have waived Mickell Gladness, the team announced (Twitter link). Miami's other two players on non-guaranteed deals, Eddy Curry and Terrel Harris, look safe, tweets Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
- The Grizzlies have waived Josh Davis, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
- The Spurs announced they've waived Malcolm Thomas, who was assigned to the team's D-League affiliate last week.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Cavaliers Waive Mychel Thompson
The Cavaliers have officially waived Mychel Thompson, according to the team. Tom Reid and Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer first reported (via Twitter) that the Cavs intended to waive the 23-year-old.
Thompson signed with the Cavs as an undrafted rookie out of Pepperdine, and worked his way into the starting lineup in the last week. He struggled in his three starts, making just five of 21 shots from the field (23.8%) and averaging 4.7 points in just under 27 minutes per game.
Thompson's contract would have become guaranteed for the rest of the season on Friday had he remained on the roster, so the move gives the Cavs some extra flexibility. Their roster now stands at 14.
Central Notes: Bogans, Thompson, Gee, Pistons
By this point, we expected to hear where Joel Przybilla decided to sign, but ESPN's Marc Stein tweets that the veteran center is still weighing his options. Though the Bucks are thought to have interest, Przybilla is believed to have narrowed down his options to the Bulls and Heat. While we wait for a decision from Przybilla, let's check out some links from around the Central division….
- Keith Bogans, who recently signed with the Nets, wasn't pleased about the way the Bulls released him this preseason, as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes. "I put everything on the line each night," said Bogans. "I played with a hurt knee 82 games. I took a pill 82 games to get that (release) in return. Every time I play them for the rest of my career, it will give me something added."
- Mychel Thompson of the Cavaliers is trying to prove his worth, says Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Thompson's non-guaranteed contract would become guaranteed if the Cavs hold onto him through Friday.
- Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio discusses the Cavaliers' trade assets, and suggests the team extend Alonzo Gee by season's end.
- Keith Langlois answered readers' questions about the direction of the Pistons in a Pistons.com mailbag.
Cavaliers Receiving Inquiries On Varejao
The Cavaliers have received calls from a few teams inquiring about the availability of Anderson Varejao, tweets ESPN.com's Marc Stein. However, the 29-year-old's play this season has earned him "near-untouchable status," according to Stein.
Through his first 22 games, Varejao is averaging career highs in points (10.8) and rebounds (11.9) per game, while his rebound rate of 21.7% ranks third in the NBA. The longtime Cav will earn $7.7MM this year and is Cleveland's only non-rookie under contract through the 2014/15 season.
Varejao's strong play this season, along with the Cavaliers' status as a rebuilding club, had led to some recent speculation about the possibility of a trade. Although it looks like they don't intend to make him available, Varejao could potentially net the Cavs multiple draft picks in a deal.
Odds & Ends: Sixers, Cavaliers
With a 17-7 record more than a third through the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have been a pleasant surprise under coach Doug Collins. Even with a 20-point loss at home to the Miami Heat on Friday night, the 76ers are atop the Atlantic Division and would be a 3 seed in the Eastern Conference if the season ended today. The Cleveland Cavaliers have also exceeded expectations as the team is nearly halfway to matching its win total from last season. As the NBA trade deadline approaches, both of these teams face important decisions on how to shape their rosters moving forward.
- John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that the 76ers have a strong core of players under the age of 23 but wonders if a move must be made to ensure the squad's first division title since 2001. Mitchell lauds Collins for outperforming every other coach in the league as he has gotten more out of the team's talent than anyone thought possible. Collins credits some of his team's success to the fans as the Wells Fargo Center has recently enjoyed a string of sellouts.
- Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant will be facing a series of tough decisions as the trade deadline approaches, writes Bob Finnan of The News-Herald. One of the decisions includes figuring out how Anderson Varejao, 29, fits into the team's long-term plans. If traded, Varejao could net the Cavaliers as many as two future first-round draft picks which would allow the team to continue to stockpile young talent.