Cavaliers news, features and notes
- 2103 NBA Scouting Combine: GlenOak graduate C.J. McCollum hopes to be a lottery pick
- 2013 NBA Scouting Combine: Cleveland Cavaliers focus on drafting good players, not overall strength of draft
- 2013 NBA Scouting Combine: Otto Porter seems like perfect fit for Cleveland Cavaliers but no meeting on agenda
- 2013 NBA Scouting Combine notebook: Nerlens Noel won’t play until late December but still interests Cavaliers
- Projected top pick Nerlens Noel won't be ready for start of season, targeting Christmas
- Former Ohio State star Deshaun Thomas refuses to give NBA team his phone number at combine
- Otto Porter, Cleveland Cavaliers won't meet during combine
- NBA Draft filled with mystery prospects; Otto Porter of Georgetown could be Cavs target
- Cavs notebook: Waiters, Zeller named to All-Rookie teams
- Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters named to All-Rookie first team; Tyler Zeller named to second team
Joe Smith back to Cleveland? or Drew?
According to reports coming out of Oklahoma City, the Thunder reached an agreement to buyout the contract of forward Joe Smith allowing him to become a free agent and thus sign with any team.
Smith would be a natural choice to fill the hole left due to Ben Wallace's injury, but things aren't quite that simple.
Smith and Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao share an agent in Dan Fegan. That in itself clouds the situation, according to a league source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
With Smith back on the team Varejao would certainly lose some playing time and given the fact that he can opt out of his contract at the end of the season, Fegan is unlikely to want to see the possibility of a big payday slip away.
Smith arrived in Cleveland just before the trading deadline last season. He quickly became a team favorite and the Cavs didn't want to part with him, but had to to get Mo Williams.
LeBron James said after Sunday's victory over the Hawks, that he would welcome Smith back.
The 6-10 Smith averaged 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds with the Thunder this season but has seen his playing time vanish after a trade with the New Orleans Hornets was rescinded last month.
UPDATE: Things grew complicated when the Sacramento Kings released former Cav Drew Gooden just before the deadline Sunday. The forward, who is currently has a groin injury, is another fan favorite. Could it be the Cavs will have a choice of big men should they be unable to sign Smith?
The Kings got him in a trade from the Chicago Bulls before the trading deadline. He spent almost four seasons here and averaged close to 12 points and more than eight rebounds. This season he is averaging 13.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.