Cleveland Cavaliers

If success in the NBA Finals is a leading metric in determining a player's legacy, LeBron James has a way to go.

The Nerlens Noel who is being criticized lately does not sound like the one Mary Schmitt Boyer interviewed in Birmingham recently.

The stuff dreams are made of... Giannis Adetokunbo's hands. As a sports fan, it’s often a challenge to remain reasonable. At this time of year, at draft time, it’s a real challenge not only to manage our expectations, but to not get swept away. It’s difficult not to fall in love with some player’s unique skill set or measurements. That’s because the draft is all about imagination — and, more often than not, players who can be termed “very good basketball players” do not excite the sports fan’s imagination. There’s something else there that makes us dream big about certain guys. Every year, very good basketball players tumble down the board on draft day and go on, in many cases, to have fulfilling pro careers and (one might imagine) lives. What really makes a sports fan see red at this time of year are the players who may not be the very best basketball players, but who have some wrinkle to their make-up that convinces us that Player X has it. This is why we go nuts over guys with wingspans never before measured or verticals never before reached or athleticism never before embodied. These are the things that whisper, “This guy is different. Okay, well, how different? How about future all-star different? How about future defensive anchor of a NBA championship defense different? How about solid rotation player different?” But, hey, that last guy was a pick toward the back of the second round. So … you know, that’s really good! Fans even know that, no matter how much a singularly exciting skill or statistic is, likely, their fascination is getting sold a bill of goods. We have numbers to help protect us from our sports imaginations, but even those numbers are being used to suggest a hypothetical projection of some future time; that’s using numbers to fuel imagination. And imagination, at the end of the day, is what makes this all so much (kinda) fun anyway. No, Rudy Gobert is not likely to be the type of shot obliterating big man in the pros that he was at the combine. We know that. But … maybe. No, the fact that Giannis Adetokunbo has looked (occasionally) amazing against pretty low level competition does not mean he’ll look even remotely like that going against NBA players. But, man, have you seen those hands?! Do you realize he grew three inches this past year and is now a hyper-athletic 6’9” small forward prospect? Maybe, maybe… Yeah, sure, Alex Len’s a good player. He’s got good size and decently developed skills for this point in his career. But, wow, Nerlens Noel just looks better doing it. Those hands. That hair. Maybe, maybe, maybe… (Side note: Yes, it’s official. This is the first year I have become irrationally attached to a player’s pro potential based, largely if not in full, on his hair style. It’s a piece of the package) Every year, there’s a player who should be a full-on imagination all-star, but who gets caught up in someone (or many people’s) insistence that we have moved beyond imagination, that we are reasonable people now. Kenneth Faried should have gotten everyone’s imaginations excited. He sure did mine. His rebounding was that bizarre wrinkle in his make-up that (along with his hair – See! It’s a real thing) should have had people dreaming up scenarios where Faried played … well, about as good as he has in his first couple of years. But he was too short. Conventional wisdom suggested that he might not be able to achieve in the pros what he did in college. It happens. And so GMs talked themselves down, away from the rebounding (and the hair!) and decided to let conventional wisdom rob them of a very exciting young player. It happens. So, who will it be this year? Who will be the player whose singular skill, combination of intangibles or collection of measurements will be looked past because we’re being smart? And who will teams reach for because, for an instant, they blinked and let imagination get the better of them? Here’s to this draftR

After all the hate that was spewed tonight all over my newsfeed, twitter, etc...I'd just like to say the following to an audience that will feel my pain:My cheering for the Spurs isn't about an irrational hate for LeBron and willingness to want to see him fail. He was my guy on the Cavs, win lose or draw, and he's still the #1 talent in the NBA, hands down. He had every right to leave Cleveland, and ever since Michael Redd and Joe Johnson declined teaming with LeBron many years ago (leaving us to our 3rd place Larry Hughes spoils), the writing has been on the walls that he was going to leave us. My only issue was and will always be he waited until every free agent under the sun had signed before he made his decision, leaving our immediate situation a disaster. Doing this to his hometown team was far worse than if he had just said "I'm done with this" after the Boston Series. But as that fan of a small market NBA team, if the Heat win another championship, against one of the best "teams" in the last decade (the Spurs being the epitome of relevance in a smaller market), it will prove that Free Agency Collusion and Buying Championships is in-fact, statistically, still the right strategy. It's bad enough that Boston, LA, Chicago, Houston, Miami and San Antonio have been a part of every finals (except '90 with the Bad Boys) since BEFORE I WAS BORN, it's simply worse to think that trend will do nothing but continue. That's right, one of 6 or 7 teams have represented their conference in the NBA finals every year for the last 30+ years. I root against the Heat because it's bad for the future of the NBA. If they win 2/3 straight finals, don't be surprised to see Cp3 and Howard team up, whether it be in Houston with Harden, or elsewhere to form another super team. And this will leave teams like Cleveland, Memphis, Toronto and others battling for the Table Scraps of the Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay or Andre Iguodala sweepstakes...irrationally outbidding one another for a chance to fill seats and stay financially relevant (while simultaneously handicapping future growth by being a .500 plus team). At the same time, a team like LA can "lose" for a year, and then trade a couple late round picks and Kwame Brown to get back Pau Gasol in his prime.#GoFigureAs a fan of the game, I know this has been the case since before I can remember, but it's even more of a reason to hope that the Spurs win on Thursday. That way a week from Thursday, the other 20 or so fan bases can approach the 2013 draft with some semblance of "that could be us" hope going into next season. After all the hate that was spewed tonight all over my newsfeed, twitter, etc...I'd just like to say the following to an audience that will feel my pain:My cheering for the Spurs isn't about an irrational hate for LeBron and willingness to want to see him fail. He was my guy on the Cavs, win lose or draw, and he's still the #1 talent in the NBA, hands down. He had every right to leave Cleveland, and ever since Michael Redd and Joe Johnson declined teaming with LeBron many years ago (leaving us to our 3rd place Larry Hughes spoils), the writing has been on the walls that he was going to leave us. My only issue was and will always be he waited until every free agent under the sun had signed before he made his decision, leaving our immediate situation a disaster. Doing this to his hometown team was far worse than if he had just said "I'm done with this" after the Boston Series. But as that fan of a small market NBA team, if the Heat win another championship, against one of the best "teams" in the last decade (the Spurs being the epitome of relevance in a smaller market), it will prove that Free Agency Collusion and Buying Championships is in-fact, statistically, still the right strategy. It's bad enough that Boston, LA, Chicago, Houston, Miami and San Antonio have been a part of every finals (except '90 with the Bad Boys) since BEFORE I WAS BORN, it's simply worse to think that trend will do n

All through the college basketball season, many fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers had a favorite prospect that seemed to be a perfect fit for the young roster being built around Kyrie Irving. That prospect was Otto Porter. Porter was one of the best players in college basketball for a good team in a good conference. He played a position, small forward, that the Cavaliers needed a deperate fix for. In game threads near the end of the season, each Alonzo Gee blown fast break would usually be followed by a post or two about how good Porter would be Cleveland. Posters on this site, as well as other Cavaliers blogs, went with the screen name Otto Porter. An early tournament exit wasn't enough to dampen the Porter fever; he seemed like an excellent fit for the Cavs, likely picking somewhere between three and five in the NBA draft. And then the Cavaliers won the lottery. Everything changed. Did it? All through the season, the whispers and rumors were that the Cavs Big Board was Nerlens Noel, Otto Porter, and Alex Len, in that order. While there have been scattered reports and rumors about Victor Oladipo, Ben McLemore, and Anthony Bennett, it actually seems like we are probably pretty close to where we have always been. Is Nerlens Noel's knee alright? Cleveland will take a look on the 20th. Does the team love Porter? Probably, but they might think the top pick is too high, especially when the need for a young center with starting potential is so obvious. Are there members of the organization that think Alex Len has tantalizing potential? It sure looks like it. Is Chris Grant one of them? We don't know. Otto Porter: Safe, fits a need, and has a lot of upside I am on the record as saying the Cavaliers don't need a star at small forward to make the playoffs, or be a really good team. You are all sick of hearing me say it, actually. But that doesn't mean I think the idea of a star at the position is a bad one. Porter could be a star, while doing exactly what Cleveland needs him to do to fit with Irving and Dion Waiters. Let's take a look at the measureables first. Porter turned 20 two weeks ago, making him young for a sophomore. He is 6'8.5 with a wingspan at 7'2. Kevin Hetrick has done work over at Cavs: the Blog indicating that height and length is hugely important for small forwards when predicting future success. Porter, at a really young age, already knows how to use his body effectively. He is an excellent passer out of the high post, and elsewhere, using his height to help his excellent court vision. He uses his length defensively to disrupt shots and block passing lanes. His lack of elite quickness is made up for in part because he can afford to give up space to the man he guards- his arms' reach means the buffer he provides isn't used for clean looks. It also helps him defend without fouling. If there is a measureable that worries me, it is his 198 pound frame. Due to a teammates' injury, Porter spent much of his sophomore season at Georgetown playing power forward, and he carries the promise of being able to play some stretch 4 at the NBA level, similar to what Harrison Barnes did this season. With his passing, he carries even more potential than Barnes. I want to say that in a different way; Harrison Barnes is almost always talked about in terms of potential, while Porter is usually talked about as a safe player. At least in terms of stealing minutes as a power forward, Porter's potential in my view is higher than Barnes. To do this, though, he will have to put on weight. He just turned 20 years old, and will be able to get into an NBA training regimen. It won't happen overnight (see: Zeller, Tyler) but if Porter can play at 210-215 pounds, he won't get muscled by strong small forwards, and will be able to hold his own against more than a few power forwards the league has to offer. A few things I like While Porter showed the ability a few times this season to take over basketball games and put the team on his shoulders (

LeBron James led a title-saving charge, and now his crown will be on the line one more time in Game 7.

ESPN reports that the Cavaliers will hold a big workout today for Kansas guard Ben McLemore, Georgetown forward Otto Porter Jr., Indiana guard Victor Oladipo and San Diego State guard Jamaal Franklin, but the Cavs declined to confirm the report.

The NBA Finals are coming to an end and the NBA draft is right around the corner. Every year the draft brings about another chance to make your team better and find the right piece for the future or for the present. For my hometown Celtics, they could move in either direction. During this past season, Boston finished above .500 without their best player and key role players battling injury all year. With all players 100% healthy, and the role players farther along in development, the Celtics could be one free agent away from a chance at a playoff run. However, as much as I would love the core of Rondo, Pierce, and Garnett to stick together until retirement, everyone knows that will not be able to happen. In a draft year that is lacking a superstar like Derrick Rose or Blake Griffin, there are still great players that can be developed into all-star players. The consensus top prospect in this years draft is 7'0 center Nerlens Noel out of Kentucky. Although Noel is recovering from a torn ACL, he is still believed by many professionals and myself to be taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is where my mind starts to wonder and think about some shocking and difficult draft day moves. Trade talks have started swirling around veteran forwards Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Clippers as well as others. At the same time, the Cavaliers have been talking about looking to trade the first overall pick for an established scoring forward which both Garnnett and Pierce are. Now this is not something that would work over the long term, however the Cavaliers only need a short burst of success in my mind. With all of the young talent already on the Cavs roster, and the superstar point guard Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers just need to show that they can make some sort of a playoff push and allow for the prime opportunity for the home town king to come back. Yes thats right folks. This whole situation would not only give the Celtics the number one pick, but also bring LeBron James back home to Cleveland. Time will tell on what the Cavaliers do with the first pick and if they keep it who they draft. Most of our answers with be answered on June 27 on ESPN. Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers scheduleCleveland Cavaliers roster The NBA Finals are coming to an end and the NBA draft is right around the corner. Every year the draft brings about another chance to make your team better and find the right piece for the future or for the present. For my hometown Celtics, they could move in either direction. During this past season, Boston finished above .500 without their best player and key role players battling injury all year. With all players 100% healthy, and the role players farther along in development, the Celtics could be one free agent away from a chance at a playoff run. However, as much as I would love the core of Rondo, Pierce, and Garnett to stick together until retirement, everyone knows that will not be able to happen. In a draft year that is lacking a superstar like Derrick Rose or Blake Griffin, there are still great players that can be developed into all-star players. The consensus top prospect in this years draft is 7'0 center Nerlens Noel out of Kentucky. Although Noel is recovering from a torn ACL, he is still believed by many professionals and myself to be taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is where my mind starts to wonder and think about some shocking and difficult draft day moves. Trade talks have started swirling around veteran forwards Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Clippers as well as others. At the same time, the Cavaliers have been talking about looking to trade the first overall pick for an established scoring forward which both Garnnett and Pierce are. Now this is not something that would work over the long term, however the Cavaliers only need a short burst of success in my mind. With all of the young talent already on the Cavs roster, and the superstar point guard Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers just

This is a sponsored post. Slacker Radio is running a campaign and wants us to talk a little bit about the music featured in our NBA Arena. When I first heard about this, one thing immediately came to mind -- Machine Gun Kelly. I know that lots of people have varying opinions about MGK, but it seems as though the Cleveland Cavaliers have fully embraced him as the voice of Quicken Loans Arena. As you probably know, MGK is from Cleveland and makes that apparent in virtually every song he writes. That kind of civic pride is something that the Cavs appreciate. Dan Gilbert and the Cavs even invited MGK to the NBA Draft Lottery. He looked a little bit out of place but if the brief moments when I got to talk with him, he seemed sincerely happy to be there with the rest of the entourage. At the beginning of last season, the Cavs used MGK and his music in their pre-game intro video. The intro with MGK's "Invincible" was awesome every time on TV, but if you didn't get to witness it in person, I feel bad for you. The whole arena basically shook when the intro starting and then huge flames burst out of the scoreboard and burned your face off. It was epic. The Cavs seemingly always have awesome intro videos and I'm excited to see what they have in store for us next season. Whatever it is, don't be surprised if Machine Gun Kelly is front and center once again.

The NBA Draft is Thursday (next Thursday). That means it's coming up pretty soon. ESPN's Chad Ford released the 50683rd version of his mock draft and I was anticipating this version quite a bit, actually. It doesn't have much change in it as far as the Cleveland Cavaliers are concerned, but that's a good thing. Recently, various people have been reporting that they think the Cavs are leaning towards selecting Alex Len with the first overall pick. If Chad Ford got on this bandwagon too, I'd really start to get concerned. However, Ford stuck with what he has been saying all along. 1. Cleveland Cavaliers select Nerlens Noel Here's part of Ford's blurb about this selection: "Sources in Cleveland strongly suggest that the Cavs have yet to make their decision. Anthony Bennett, Ben McLemore, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter, Alex Len and Noel all have visits and/or workouts scheduled in Cleveland this week. Noel is scheduled to visit the team Thursday and has a chance to seal the deal as the No. 1 pick if he performs well." 19. Cleveland Cavaliers select Reggie Bullock Here's what Ford says about the selection of Bullock: "If the Cavs grab Noel at No. 1, look for them to add a small forward or shooter with the second first-round pick. They would love to get their hands on Karasev, but I'm told they believe Bullock wouldn't be a bad consolation prize. Bullock shot 44 percent from 3-point range this season and has the size to play both wing positions." Other highlights from Mock Draft 5.0: Lucas Nogueira rose all the way up to the Utah Jazz at #14 Sergey Karasev rose all the way up to the Dallas Mavericks at #13 Alex Len fell to the New Orleans Pelicans at #6 Rudy Gobert fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves at #26 Giannis Antetokounmpo rose to the Atlanta Hawks at #18