Cavs Reportedly Offered Korver, Pick for Fultz

According to multiple reports, the Cleveland Cavaliers offered Kyle Korver and a protected draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Markelle Fultz. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, Fultz is no longer part of the 76ers’ long-term plans.

Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported that the Cavs inquired about Fultz and proposed the 37-year-old sharpshooting guard/forward Korver in trade discussions. Korver and Fultz have nearly the same salaries, meaning the players can be traded for one another straight-up.

The Cavs covet the 20-year-old Fultz, as Amico Hoops reported on Sunday. After the 76ers acquired Jimmy Butler, it was clear there was no room for Fultz in their lineup. Fultz, whose shooting woes have been well-documented, cannot play next to Ben Simmons, the reigning Rookie of the Year and franchise cornerstone who also has yet to develop an outside shot.

The 76ers have centered their future on a Big Three of Joel Embiid, Simmons and Butler. They are willing to part ways with Fultz if it means bolstering this year’s roster (and ideally beyond). Korver would add much-needed shooting to the 76ers’ second-unit.

For the season, Fultz has posted per-game averages of 8.2 points and 3.1 assists. He is shooting a dreadful 42 percent from the field, a measly 29 percent from three-point territory and 56.8 percent from the free-throw line. Fultz’s young age and potential make him an attractive option for the rebuilding Cavs, in spite of his early career struggles.

The 76ers are willing to trade Markelle Fultz. (Reinhold Matay/USA Today Sports)

Korver is an enticing trade asset because his $7.5 million salary for next season is non-guaranteed. If the 76ers were to acquire Korver, who spent the first four year of his career with Philadelphia, they could give him a trial run for the remainder of the year. They can let go of him after the year if things don’t work out and he is unable to help in their postseason run.

It's unclear exactly how far the talks went between Cleveland and Philadelphia, but the 76ers are listening to offers for Fultz, signaling his time in Philadelphia will end sooner rather than later.

Skip Bayless Caught in Lie Regarding MJ and LeBron

LeBron James looked exhausted at times during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 2 loss at Oracle Arena on Sunday night.

James has been incredulous in Cleveland’s deep playoff run. In his past four postseason games—two against the Golden State Warriors and two versus the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals—he has averaged 41.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists in a whopping 46.5 minutes per contest.

LeBron looked exhausted in Game 2 of the Finals. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Given those gaudy numbers, his usage rate on the court and lack of rest, James should be tired.

Just don't tell that to Fox Sports 1 Analyst Skip Bayless, who has spent much of the past decade hating on James and diminishing the many accomplishments of the greatest player of the 21st century. Bayless mocked how James was called tired by ESPN Analyst and former NBA player Chauncey Billups and asserted NBA icon Michael Jordan would never be labeled tired.

Think about this: Chauncey Billups just said on ABC that LeBron "looked a little tired." IT'S ONLY GAME 2 OF THE NBA FINALS. I covered Michael Jordan when he was year older than LeBron is now. NOBODY EVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT MJ BEING TIRED. That would've been blasphemous.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 4, 2018

Interestingly enough, Jordan actually was called “tired” twenty years ago—by none other than Bayless himself in a column he wrote during the 1998 NBA Finals.

Twitter users took notice and exposed Bayless.

THIS IS ART, a two-part classic. pic.twitter.com/NkdhLNObxo

— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) June 4, 2018

Fantastic twitter own right here pic.twitter.com/M8Z8Q5kvDI

— Alex Kantrowitz (@Kantrowitz) June 4, 2018

That is some poetic justice right there. Bayless tried desperately to pedal the Jordan/James storyline, and it backfired. He must not have remembered writing that column, but people (aided by some quick research) don’t forget, Skip. People don't forget.

Ty Lue Offers Absurd Reason for Not Playing Kyle Korver More in Game 5

The Cleveland Cavaliers were a mess in Game 5. They were overwhelmed by rookie Jayson Tatum, four-time All-Star Al Horford and a raucous crowd which has now witnessed the Boston Celtics win 10 consecutive playoff games at TD Garden. The Cavs, pushed to the brink of elimination, left Boston searching for answers after the lopsided defeat.

LeBron James’ apparent fatigue and the lack of production from George Hill and J.R. Smith were topics of discussion, but another question arose: why didn’t Kyle Korver receive more playing time?

Kyle Korver was a non-factor in Cleveland's Game 5 loss. (Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports)

The often-beleaguered Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue said Korver—who averaged 13 points in the past three contests—saw limited action because Celtics backup rookie forward Semi Ojeleye did not play.

“Well, initially, he's been putting Ojeleye in,” Lue said of Stevens. “So that's been kind of Kyle's matchup when he comes in the game. He didn't play him tonight, so it kind of threw us for a loop.”

Apparently, Ojeleye’s absence (DNP-coach’s decision) was enough for Lue to sit the Cavaliers’ lone effective bench player. Score that another win for Celtics coach Brad Stevens, who also wisely inserted the bruising Aron Baynes into the starting lineup in order to defuse Tristan Thompson’s impact on the glass, particularly on the offensive end.

Playing Korver less because Ojeleye was removed from the Celtics’ rotation is asinine no matter how the matchup-based Lue spins it. Korver has been a spark-plug for Cleveland. But his reduced minutes (19) limited him to just six shot attempts from the floor in Game 5. He knocked down two 3-pointers and hit one free throw, finishing with seven points. Korver came into the contest averaging 10.7 points and 25.1 minutes per game in the postseason.

Lue’s logic for not playing Korver doesn’t add up. Ojeleye only saw nine minutes in Cleveland’s Game 4 victory, yet Korver received ample playing time (25 minutes) that contest and delivered his best performance of the postseason, posting 14 points, four rebounds and three blocks.

Coming into tonight's game, Korver had played 90 minutes in the series - just 31 of them were while Ojeleye was on the court.

What. Is. This. Dude. Talking. About

????? https://t.co/FyZ9XQ41Kx

— Ben Dowsett (@Ben_Dowsett) May 24, 2018

Regardless of whether Ojeleye returns to the Celtics rotation, Lue needs to find minutes for Korver in Game 6 if Cleveland is to keep its season alive.

Marcus Morris Shuts Down LeBron, Backing up Pregame Claims

For the first time all postseason, LeBron James did not lead his team in scoring. Kevin Love scored a team-high 17 points for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who got pummeled by the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. James has had some historic postseason games at TD Garden, but struggled mightily on Sunday—posting just 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting with seven turnovers—in a demoralizing 108-83 defeat.

It certainly took a team effort to shut down James, but Marcus Morris was the driving force behind the Celtics containing the NBA’s best player. Morris guarded James on a team-high 39 possessions and held him to 3-of-10 shooting with five assists and four turnovers in those instances. James missed all five of his three-point attempts and was never able to get into a rhythm offensively.

Morris played suffocating defense on James in the Celtics' Game 1 win. (David Butler II/USA Today Sports)

Before Game 1, Morris praised his ability to guard James.

"Personally, I think I’m probably the best guy defending him in the league, outside of Kawhi [Leonard],” Morris said.

Earning the start over center Aron Baynes as the Celtics went with their small-ball starting unit, Morris backed up his claims in the series opener. The 6'-9” forward used his strength and toughness to slow down James, who looked out of sorts all afternoon and finished with a stunning minus -32. It was just one game in what is expected to be a long series, but there is an extended history of “Mook” containing “The King”—proving that Morris' lofty claims have some serious merit.

UPDATED – LeBron's last 12 Games vs. a Marcus Morris team
– 20.6 PPG
– 14.6% from 3
– Has not reached 30 points in a single gamehttps://t.co/ajQR7pQppT

— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) May 13, 2018

Not only did Morris play terrific defense, he also had a strong game on the offensive end, posting 21 points with a team-best 10 rebounds. Morris says the injury-riddled Celtics—who were underdogs on Sunday for the fifth time in six games (5-1 record in those contests)—believe they are capable of defeating any opponent.

“Our confidence is very high,” Morris said. “The younger guys to the older guys, we think we can compete and play with anybody. At the end of the day, all the talking done off the court. Once we step between them lines, we have to compete no matter who we have out there, and that's what we've been doing.”

NBA 2017–18 Eastern Conference Standings Predictions

1. Boston Celtics

The Celtics finished in first place in a historically weak Eastern Conference last season with a 53–29 record. The East got worse and the Celtics improved by adding All-Star forward Gordon Hayward, who is in the prime of his career.

Trading Avery Bradley may present some initial bumps in the road, but the Celtics netted a quality player in Marcus Morris from the Detroit Pistons. A versatile forward, Morris has done a commendable job guarding LeBron James in recent years. Furthermore, the move opens up more court time for second-year guard/forward Jaylen Brown, who will look to play his way into the starting lineup.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers are the three-time reigning Eastern Conference champions, and yet, the franchise is in turmoil. Kyrie Irving demanded a trade, a trade for Paul George was scraped at the last minute and LeBron may skip town (again) next summer.

LeBron James will become a free agent next summer. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Remarkably, the Cavs remain the favorites to reach the Finals for a fourth straight year, even though it’s likely Irving will be moved at some point before February’s trade deadline.

As long as James is in Cleveland, the East is the Cavs to lose.

3. Toronto Raptors

Toronto brought back Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka, but lost P.J. Tucker and Patrick Patterson in free agency. Still, the core of Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Ibaka, Jonas Valančiūnas and the emerging Norman Powell — set to be a starter in 2017–18 following the trade of the underachieving DeMare Carroll to the Brooklyn Nets — makes the Raptors a near-lock to finish in the top-half of the East standings. 

4. Washington Wizards

The Wizards locked up John Wall for the foreseeable future with a supermax contract and re-signed Otto Porter to a max deal to maintain one of the best starting units in the conference. 

The bench, which was terrible a season ago and hampered the team in its postseason run, managed to get worse with Bojan Bogndanovic defecting to the Indiana Pacers via free agency. With that said, they have the conference’s top point guard and have a great shot to win a playoff series for the second straight year.

5. Milwaukee Bucks

A starter in the 2017 All-Star Game, Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA’s must-watch players. ‘The Greak Freek’ showcased his all-around game last year, becoming the first player in league history to finish in the top 20 in total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks for a single season. Antetokounmpo’s presence alone makes the Bucks a playoff contender in the East. 

The return of forward Jabari Parker — who tore his ACL this past February, abruptly ending his third season in the league — could be the added boost that propels the franchise to its first playoff series win since 2001.

6. Charlotte Hornets

After reaching the postseason in 2016, the Hornets took a step back last year, finishing 10 games under .500 and missing the playoffs all together. 

Kemba Walker was the lone bright spot, as the 27-year-old point guard earned his first All-Star appearance. 

Dwight Howard holding his Hornets jersey in his introductory press conference. (David Foster III/Charlote Observer)

Active in the offseason, the Hornets traded for Dwight Howard, who should fit perfectly in Charlotte’s inside-out offensive attack.

Howard joins a strong frontcourt that includes Frank Kaminsky, Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller and lengthy forwards Nicolas Batum (who actually starts at shooting guard, even though he stands at 6'10") and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a defensive stalwart.

Howard has had a rough-go since forcing his way out of Orlando, but the three-time Defensive Player of the Year actually played quite well for Atlanta a season ago — averaging 13.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per contest . He should see his role on offense expand for the playoff-bound Hornets.

7. Miami Heat

Miami came up just short in its bid for a playoff spot last season. After a woeful 10–31 start to the year, the Heat flipped the script and registered a 31–10 mark for the second half of the season. 

Returning the same cast of characters with Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside and James Johnson leading the squad, Miami also added former Celtics center Kelly Olynk in free agency. The Canadian sharp-shooting big man bolsters one of the strongest benches in the league — which already includes combo guard Tyler Johnson and guard/forward Josh Richardson. 

Add in that 21-year-old Justice Winslow — who played just 13 games last season after tearing his labrum in his right shoulder —will return to the fold and likely become a major contributor, and it’s hard to foresee a scenario where Miami misses the playoff for a second consecutive year.

8. Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers will be the ultimate wild card team for the 2017–18 season. In all likelihood, health will be the major determinant of success. Joel Embiid, who showed flashes of brilliance last year before his season was cut short after undergoing surgery to address a meniscus tear in his left knee, needs to prove he can stay on the court. Ben Simmons — who sat out the entire season — must also live up to expectations in order for Philadelphia to become a force in the East.

Joel Embiid has played in just 31 games in three years since being drafted by the 76ers. (Aaron Doster/USA Today)

The depth of the 76ers is impressive. J.J. Redick was signed to a 1-year deal in the summer and will likely slide into the starting shoot guard role, while free agent addition Amir Johnson is expected to come off the bench.

If the top overall selection of June’s NBA Draft — Markelle Fultz — joins Simmons, Embiid and Dario Saric in the starting rotation, swingman Robert Covington, one of the league’s most unappreciated players, would anchor a formidable second-string unit.

Philadelphia fans have adhered to the “Trust The Process” philosophy set forth by former general manager Sim Hinkie for years now. This seems like the season their faith in the longterm rebuild is rewarded with a postseason appearance.

Rest of the Pack

9. Detroit Pistons

10. Orlando Magic

11. New York Knicks

12. Indiana Pacers

13. Atlanta Hawks

14. Chicago Bulls 

15. Brooklyn Nets

LeBron's Self-Induced Drama a Plea to Reclaim NBA Center of Attention

            In LeBron James' letter to Sports Illustrated announcing his return to Cleveland in July 2014, the four-time NBA MVP sounded like a mature, changed man. He admitted his mistakes in the handling of his departure from the Cavaliers in 2010, noting ‘The Decision’—a deplorable nationally televised event that made him look like the most self-absorbed player in league history—was something he wishes he never took part in.

            LeBron recognized it was the way he left Cleveland—not the act itself of defecting to Miami—that was his demise among the public. In explaining why he was coming back to the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent, LeBron depicted in his letter the love he holds for his former Miami Heat teammates and the team's front office, relishing in the success the team enjoyed in his four-year tenure in Miami. He made it clear he was leaving the Heat, who he led to four straight Finals and two championships, for one single goal: To win a title for championship-starved Cleveland.

LeBron set his sights on winning the Cavs their first championship in franchise history. Will his self-imposed drama ruin Cleveland's title plans? (Tony Dejack/AP)

            In the Cavaliers' 2014-15 media day, LeBron objected to reporters who referred to him, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love as a Big Three, declaring they were just three members of a team. This was a far cry from the LeBron from four years prior when he danced on the stage at American Airlines Arena with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh after the three stars infamously celebrated uniting together to play for the Heat. LeBron confidently asserted on the stage that night the new Miami trio was talented enough to win "not five, not six, not seven" but eight championships.

            The narrative of LeBron returning home to Cleveland to bring the City a title nearly came true in his first season back with the Cavs. Even with a rocky start to the regular season, LeBron led the Cavs to the 2015 NBA Finals, despite Love dislocating his left shoulder in the first-round of the playoffs and subsequently missing the remainder of postseason. The Cavs also lost Irving due to injury, as the star point guard fractured his left knee cap in Game 1 of the Finals which required surgery and sidelined him until December of this season. Devoid of his two star running mates, LeBron propelled the Cavs to a 2-1 series lead before falling to the eventual NBA Champion Golden State Warriors in six games in one of the most prolific player performances in Finals history.

            Nine months removed from the Finals loss to the Warriors, LeBron is acting like his former pettish self which once made him the league’s most hated player. He is sending out cryptic tweets which have led analysts, mainly Stephen A. Smith, to speculate the 12-time All-Star could bolt Cleveland again. LeBron galvanized controversy with these tweets and furthered the hysteria by working out with Wade in Miami in one of the Cavs’ off-days, leading some to believe LeBron had regrets of leaving South Beach.

            You can blame the media for stirring the pot in somewhat unfounded speculation that LeBron will leave Cleveland again. LeBron almost certainly will remain with the Cavs for the rest of the career. As you may recall, he promised to “never forget” where he “came from,” a quote of his which remains on his personal Twitter background.

            The reality, though, is the onus falls on LeBron for causing a media frenzy. With Stephen Curry dominating the league in unprecedented fashion and well on his way to a second consecutive MVP crown, LeBron is not the center of attention in the NBA for the first time since the self-declared ‘King’ was drafted No. 1 overall in 2003. From an outsider’s vantage point, LeBron simply can't deal with no longer being the face of basketball.

LeBron  James is struggling to accept that Stephen Curry is now the talk of the league. (Ben Margot/AP)

            LeBron, who tweeted “Do not take his greatness or anyone for granted,” felt compelled to remind the NBA and the City of Cleveland he has the power to change the landscape of the league by walking away from his current team. It’s undeniable that any team who lands LeBron becomes an instant title contender. But why is LeBron even bothering to bring up his excellence via social media? By all accounts, he is threatening to leave the Cavs—a franchise he has a stranglehold over—by sending out messages that evoke NBA followers of his greatness.

            In typical self-induced LeBron dramatic fashion, this childish, fake threat is all for show. He is bluffing leaving Cleveland, where the fans worship him like a God. LeBron cares way too much about public reception and his legacy—which he’s made clear by discussing continually where he places among the NBA’s All-Time Greats—to depart the city he refers to as "The Land." Ditch Cleveland and the basketball world will consider him “persona non grata.” He came back to the Cavs not only to win Cleveland a championship for the first time since Jim Brown ran the Browns to an NFL Title in 1964, but to cleanse the mess of ‘The Decision.’  

            LeBron would never risk tarnishing his brand by decamping Cleveland. But these tweets and hollow quotes from LeBron swing the center of the league's attention back his way. And apparently that’s what 'The King' cares about most.

NBA Summer Forecast: 2015-16 Eastern Conference Standings

 1. Cleveland Cavaliers

   Players added

Via draft:

Forward Cedi Osman (No. 31)
Forward Sir'Dominic Pointer (No. 53)

Via free agency:

Guard Mo Williams (from Hornets)
Forward Richard Jefferson (from Mavs)

Players Lost*

Via free agency:
Center Kendrick Perkins (to Pelicans)

Via trade:
Center Brendan Haywood (to Trail Blazers, who waived him)
Guard/Forward Mike Miller (to Trail Blazers, who waived him)

Via retirement:

Forward Shawn Marion

2. Chicago Bulls

Players Added

Via draft:

Forward Bobby Portis (No. 22)

Players Lost

3. Toronto Raptors

Players Added

Via draft:

Guard Delon Wright (No. 20)
Guard Norman Powell (No. 46)

Via free agency:

Forward DeMarre Carroll (from Hawks)

Forward/Center Luis Scola (from Pacers)

Guard Cory Joseph (from Spurs)

Forward/Center Bismack Biyombo (from Hornets)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Forward Amir Johnson (to Celtics)

Guard Lou Williams (to Lakers)
Forward Tyler Hansbrough (to Hornets)

Via trade:

Guard Greivis Vasquez (to Bucks)

Forward/Center Tomislav Zubcic (to Thunder)

4. Miami Heat

Players Added

Via draft:

Guard/Forward Justise Winslow (No. 10)

Guard/Forward Josh Richardson (No. 40)

Via free agency:

Forward/Center Amar'e Stoudemire (from Mavs)
Forward Gerald Green (from Suns)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Forward Michael Beasley 

Via trade:
Guard Shabazz Napier (to Magic)
Guard Zoran Dragic (to Celtics)

5. Atlanta Hawks

Players Added

Via draft:

Forward Marcus Eriksson (No. 50)

Forward/Center Dimitrios Agravanis (No. 59)

Via free agency:

Guard Justin Holiday (from Warriors)

Via trade:

Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (from Knicks)

Center Tiago Splitter (from Spurs)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Center Pero Antic (to Fenerbahce, Turkey)

Forward DeMarre Carroll (to Raptors)
Forward John Jenkins (to Mavs)

Waived:

Forward Austin Daye

6. Milwaukee Bucks

Players Added

Via draft:

Guard Rashad Vaughn (No. 17)

Via free agency:

Forward/Center Greg Monroe (from Pistons)
Forward Chris Copeland (from Pacers)

Via trade:

Guard Greivis Vasquez (from Raptors)

Players Lost

Via trade:
Forward Jared Dudley (to Wizards)

Forward Ersan Ilyasova (to Detroit)

Center Zaza Pachulia (to Mavs)

7. Washington Wizards

Players Added

Via draft:

Forward Kelly Oubre (No. 15)

Forward Aaron White (No. 49)

Via free agency:

Guard/Forward Alan Anderson (from Nets)

Guard Gary Neal (from Wolves)

Via trade:
Forward Jared Dudley (from Bucks)

Players Lost

Via free agency: 

Forward Paul Pierce (to Clippers)

Forward Rasual Butler

Forward/Center Kevin Seraphin (to Knicks)

Guard Will Bynum

8. Indiana Pacers

Players Added

Via draft:

Center Myles Turner (No. 11)
Forward Rakeem Christmas (No. 36; acquired from Cavs in trade on July 23)

Guard Joseph Young (No. 43)

Via free agency:

Guard Monta Ellis (from Mavs)

Forward/Center Jordan Hill (from Lakers)

Via trade:

Chase Budinger (from Wolves)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Guard C.J. Watson (to Magic)

Forward/Center Luis Scola (to Raptors)

Forward David West (to Spurs)
Forward Chris Copeland (to Bucks)

Via trade:

Center Roy Hibbert (to Lakers)

Forward Damjan Rudez (to Wolves)

9. Boston Celtics

Players Added

Via draft:

Guard Terry Rozier (No. 16)

Guard R.J. Hunter (No. 28)

Forward Jordan Mickey (No. 33)

Guard Marcus Thornton (No. 45) (plans to play in Australia this season)

Via free agency:

Forward Amir Johnson (from Raptors)

Via trade:

Forward Perry Jones (from Thunder)

Forward David Lee (from Warriors)
Guard Zoran Dragic (from Heat)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Forward Luigi Datome (to Fenerbahce Ulker, Turkey)

Forward Brandon Bass (to Lakers)

Via trade:

Forward Gerald Wallace (to Warriors)

Waived:

Guard Phil Pressey (signed with Trail Blazers)

10. Detroit Pistons

Players Added

Via draft:

Forward Stanley Johnson (No. 8)

Guard Darrun Hilliard (No. 38)

Via free agency:

Forward Aron Baynes (from Spurs)

Via trade:

Guard/Forward Reggie Bullock (from Suns)

Guard Steve Blake (from Nets (from Blazers))

Forward Danny Granger (from Suns)

Forward Ersan Ilyasova (from Bucks)

Forward Marcus Morris (from Suns)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Forward/Center Greg Monroe (to Bucks)

Forward Tayshaun Prince

Guard John Lucas III

Via trade:

Guard/Forward Caron Butler (to Bucks, who waived him; Butler signed with Kings)

Forward Shawne Williams (to Bucks, who waived him)

Forward Quincy Miller (to Nets)

11. Charlotte Hornets

Players Added

Via draft: 

Forward Frank Kaminsky (No. 9)

Via free agency:

Guard/Forward Aaron Harrison (undrafted free agent)
Guard Jeremy Lin (from Lakers)
Forward Tyler Hansbrough (from Raptors)

Via trade: 

Forward Matt Barnes (from Clippers)

Forward Nicolas Batum (from Blazers)

Forward/Center Spencer Hawes (from Clippers)

Guard Jeremy Lamb (from Thunder)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Guard Mo Williams (to Cavaliers)
Forward Jeffrey Taylor (to Real Madrid, Spain)

Via trade:

Forward Matt Barnes (to Grizzlies)

Guard/Forward Gerald Henderson (to Blazers)

Guard/Forward Lance Stephenson (to Clippers)

Forward Noah Vonleh (to Blazers)

12. Brooklyn Nets

Players Added

Via draft:

Forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (No. 23)
Forward/Center Chris McCullough (No. 29)

Forward Juan Pablo Vaulet (No. 39)

Via free agency:

Center Andrea Bargnani (from Knicks)

Guard Wayne Ellington (from Lakers)

Guard Shane Larkin (from Knicks)

Forward Thomas Robinson (from 76ers)

Via trade:

Forward Quincy Miller (from Pistons)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Guard/Forward Alan Anderson (to Wizards)

Forward Mirza Teletovic (to Suns)

Via trade:

Center Mason Plumlee (to Blazers)

Waived:

Guard Darius Morris

Forward Cory Jefferson

Guard Deron Williams (signed with Mavs)

13. New York Knicks

Players Added

Via draft:

Forward/Center Kristaps Porzingis (No. 4)

Guard Jerian Grant (No. 19)

Center Guillermo Hernangomez (No. 35)

Via free agency:

Guard Arron Afflalo (from Blazers)

Center Robin Lopez (from Blazers)

Forward Derrick Williams (from Kings)
Center Kevin Seraphin (from Wizards) 

Via trade:

Forward Kyle O'Quinn (from Magic)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Center Cole Aldrich (to Clippers)

Guard Shane Larkin (to Nets)

Forward/Center Jason Smith (to Magic)

Center Andrea Bargnani (to Nets)

Forward Quincy Acy (to Kings)

Guard Alexey Shved (BC Khimki, Russia)
Center Samuel Dalembert (to Mavs)

Via trade:

Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (to Hawks)

14. Orlando Magic

Players Added

Via draft:

Forward Mario Hezonja (No. 5)
Guard Tyler Harvey (No. 51)

Via free agency:

Forward/Center Jason Smith (from Knicks)

Guard C.J. Watson (from Pacers)

Via trade:

Guard Shabazz Napier (from Heat)

Players Lost

Via trade:

Forward Maurice Harkless (to Blazers)
Forward Kyle O'Quinn (to Knicks)

Waived:

Guard Ben Gordon

15. Philadelphia 76ers

Players Added

Via draft:

Center Jahlil Okafor (No. 3)

Forward Richaun Holmes (No. 37)

Forward J.P. Tokoto (No. 58)

Via trade:

Forward Carl Landry (from Kings)

Guard Nik Stauskas (from Kings)

Forward/Center Jason Thompson (from Kings)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Forward Thomas Robinson(to Nets)

Forward Luc Mbah a Moute (to Kings)

*As of 8/4/15, Tristan Thompson (restricted) and J.R. Smith remain free agents. Thompson is widely expected to re-sign with the Cavs and Smith—who (foolishly) declined his $6.4 million player option—is likely to return to the Cavs as well, provided he takes a pay cut. 

Cavs Cant Abandon Mozgov From Their Game Plan

            Timofey Mozgov dropped a career-high 28 points and corralled 10 rebounds in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena, but rode the pine for the majority of Sunday’s Game 5 defeat at Oracle Arena. Mozgov, Cleveland’s 7-foot Russian center, was nowhere to be found in the Cavs’ 104-91 loss, playing a grand total of nine minutes without a single point, rebound or assist recorded.

            "It's no disrespect to anyone, certainly not to Timo, who has done a great job for us," said Cavs head coach David Blatt, when asked why Mozgov's minutes were significantly reduced. "That's just the way that we played it tonight, and Timo will be back and he will not lose his way or lose his head just because he didn't play a lot tonight."

            Warriors head coach Steve Kerr made a genius move prior to Game 4 with his team facing a 2-1 deficit, inserting Andre Iguodala into the starting lineup to replace Andrew Bogut—who did not see any playing time in Game 5 and logged just three minutes in the prior contest. Recognizing his team could not go toe-to-toe in the rebounding department against the Cavs, he opted for a quicker lineup that could create better looking shots from the outside. 

            Kerr’s plan worked perfectly in Game 4, mainly because Iguodala shut down LeBron James. Mozgov was the lone bright spot for Cleveland in that contest. In Sunday’s defeat, James returned to form but the Cavs’ second-best player of the series, Mosgov, was left on the bench and unable to help his superstar teammate.

            Blatt has played into Kerr’s hands by sitting Mozgov. Outside of James, Mozgov is the only Cavalier the Warriors have struggled to guard. With Mozgov sitting, the Cavs’ depth—already brutalized thanks to season-ending injuries to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, both three-time All-Stars—becomes even more challenged.

            The Cavs need to play Mozgov and Tristan Thompson on the court together for at least some portions of Game 6. Thompson, the 6-foot-10 inch power forward who has thrived in the absence of Love this postseason, played almost all the minutes at center in Game 5. Though Mozgov and Thompson struggled alongside each other in Game 4 against the Warriors’ smaller lineup, the ferocious rebounding tandem should be given another chance in the Cavs’ must-win contest on Tuesday night.

            When Mozgov is next to Thompson, it gives the Cavs a colossal edge on the glass. It allows one player to focus on offense (while the other looks to grab an offensive rebound) without giving up much on the offensive glass. When Mozgov and/or Thompson sets a bruising pick on James’ man, it causes the Warriors’ biggest defender—in most cases Draymond Green in Golden State’s small-ball lineup—to step up on James, giving Cleveland the upper-hand.

            The reality, though, is that Thompson and Mozgov can no longer play the majority of the game alongside one another, like they had done in the previous two series. Golden State exposed multiple mismatches by using their smaller lineup to combat Cleveland’s bigs. Still, Mozgov seeing only nine minutes of action in Game 5 is ridiculous and that falls on Blatt. 

            The tandem of Thompson and Mozgov should probably play no more than 15 minutes together. The remaining minutes should be split equally—or at least close to equal—with Mozgov on the court and Thompson on the bench and vice versa. Unless one of the two particularly shines, the minutes should be (roughly) distributed evenly. Mozgov is just as big a reason, if not more, that the Cavs are within two wins of a championship as Thompson, and Blatt needs to recognize that before it’s too late.