CLEVELAND: Ramon Sessions has been dealing with trade rumors since he signed a free-agent contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves three years ago, so the fact his name has surfaced again isn’t much of a surprise.
The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly interested in Sessions, who holds a player option for next season at about $4.5 million. For now, Sessions is doing his best to ignore the noise.
“It’s been like that for me for a few years now,” he said. “Haven’t been traded yet.”
Sessions’ former agent, Chubby Wells, hinted during the summer he would ask the Cavs for a trade after they drafted Kyrie Irving with the top overall pick. But Sessions has since changed agents, and the Cavs waived Baron Davis to eliminate their logjam at point guard.
Sessions has cooled after a fast start. He worked on his 3-point shooting all summer and it showed early, but Sessions entered Tuesday shooting just 31 percent from the floor since Jan. 8, a span of 12 games. His turnovers and assist numbers are still within range, but he’s gone cold from the floor.
“He hasn’t been shooting the ball well, but everything else he’s doing pretty good,” coach Byron Scott said. “He’s just not shooting well and he’s not getting to the basket like he normally does.
“Some of that is because teams are doing a pretty good job of clogging the middle on him, so he has to rely on making shots and he’s not making them right now on a consistent basis. Earlier in the season he was. It’s just a matter of getting back in that groove again.”
All of the injuries at shooting guard have forced Scott to play Sessions and Kyrie Irving together, which neither guard looks very comfortable doing right now. Scott said he can’t practice the two together because they’re the only point guards on the team. That leaves them to learn on the fly during games.
“I think they’re both trying to feel each other out,” Scott said. “I don’t think either one is extremely comfortable without the ball.”
As for whether or not he’ll exercise his player option for next season, Sessions said he hasn’t decided.
“I haven’t really thought about that far, but it’s something coming up that I’m aware of,” Sessions said. “When the time is right, I’ll sit down and go over it and see where it goes.”
Gibson out of hospital
Daniel Gibson was released from a Boston hospital Tuesday evening after spending two nights there to treat a soft tissue infection in his neck. Gibson was treated with antibiotics and was expected in Cleveland later Tuesday night.
“We’re all relieved he’s coming home,” Scott said. “It’s a real good sign.”
Dunk contest for Gee?
Alonzo Gee has opened eyes recently with his assortment of power dunks, but surprisingly said Tuesday he wasn’t so sure he wanted an invitation to the dunk contest.
The field hasn’t been set yet and Gee hasn’t even been invited, but he said he wouldn’t be a lock to attend if he was invited.
“The season being the way it is, if I get time off … ” Gee said without finishing the thought, inferring his body could use some rest during the All-Star break.
Buzzer beaters
Luke Harangody attended Tuesday’s game, but was not activated by the Cavs. Harangody is on assignment to the Development League, but attended Tuesday’s game because the Canton Charge just returned home from a West Coast trip and had the night off. … Anthony Parker aggravated his back injury Sunday when he went up for a shot and landed awkwardly. Because of the fickle nature of back problems, Parker said there isn’t really a timetable for his return.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ. Follow ABJ sports on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
