Cavaliers News, Rumors 2014: LeBron James, Dion Waiters, Matthew Dellavedova

Cavaliers News, Rumors 2014: LeBron James, Dion Waiters, Matthew Dellavedova
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) drives against New Orleans Pelicans guard Austin Rivers, left, during an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
Zachary Stieber
12/14/2014
Updated:
12/14/2014

 The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off a loss but preparing for the upcoming week as the news and rumors ramp up.

Check out the latest buzz below.

LeBron Playing Too Many Minutes

LeBron James is still playing too many minutes, averaging 38.0--second in the league. He missed the recent loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a sore knee.

“Counting the playoffs, no one in the NBA has played more minutes than James. And you must count playoffs, because those are often the most demanding and intense minutes,” noted the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

“James has played 40,781 minutes (counting the playoffs) in his career. Consider that Larry Bird played only a total of 41,329 minutes. Magic Johnson played 40,783. Michael Jordan played 48,485. So James will pass Johnson and Bird in minutes played at some point this season.”

The outlet says coach David Blatt must resist the temptation to play James so much, although he is allowing James to take it easy in practice. 

“Blatt likes to start Shawn Marion at shooting guard. Marion was signed to back up James at small forward. Well, with Matthew Dellavedova back from his knee injury, the Aussie can play some guard and allow Marion to drop down to small forward,” it added.

“There are other possibilities, especially when Mike Miller returns from his concussion. Blatt just has to do it.”

The Cleveland News-Herald noted that injuries to James or the other top players--Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love--could have huge impacts.

“The Cavaliers were lucky neither knee injury to James or Irving was serious. Losing either player would have been disastrous and could have derailed their championship hopes,” it said.

“Of course, if they keep defending like they have, there will be no championships in Cleveland this season. Blatt must identify the problems and fix them on the practice court and in the film room in a hurry.”

Waiters Adjusts Attitude

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters (3) shoots between Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jeremy Lamb (11) and center Kendrick Perkins, right, in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014. Oklahoma City won 103-94. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters (3) shoots between Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jeremy Lamb (11) and center Kendrick Perkins, right, in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014. Oklahoma City won 103-94. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

 

Dion Waiters much-publicized benching has evened out as the guard says he’s adjusted his attitude.

After floundering in the first 17 games, he and Blatt started finding common ground and he realized the importance of his sixth man role.

“I was just fighting myself, man,” Waiters told the Plain Dealer. “That’s what I was doing. I just left it alone. I’m going to make the best of it. I’ve got good people in my corner who actually care for me. I'll be good.”

Waiters was also approached by assistant coach Phil Handy, who noted how Waiters wasn’t coming straight down on his jump shots.

Handy noticed when he did come straight down, he made more shots. Waiters corrected the problem, and has been shooting better. 

“I just had to do my job, continue to keep working, [and] putting in the extra hours of work,” he said. “Staying with it and it’s paying off.”

Waiters has been averaging 19.3 points and shooting 52 percent int he last three games, and is looking to improve even more. 

Waiters has been subject to trade rumors, but sources told the News-Herald that while the team wants to make a deal, Waiters’ strong play recently is moving him away from being traded.

James Attends Browns Game

 

Best of luck to my lil brother @jmanziel2 on making his 1st start today. Let’s Go!!

A photo posted by LeBron James (@kingjames) on

LeBron attended the Browns game on Sunday, which doubled as the debut for Johnny Manziel.

Blatt moved practice up Sunday so players could watch the game. 

“It’s part of our city. ... We’re all Browns fans and Indians fans, and Gladiator fans. We’re Cleveland fans, of course,” he told the Plain Dealer.

No other players were going with James, but Blatt and some players were going to watch the game at the Cavs practice facility.

James said he wasn’t going to deliver any pep talks to Manziel.

“He’s got enough people talking to him right now, I don’t want to be another one,” James said. “He (needs to) just do what he’s been doing.”

Waiters, Dellavedova Released From Hospital

Waiters and Matthew Dellavedova were released from a New Orleans hospital after becoming sick Friday night.

The Cavs said Waiters and Dellavedova will return to Ohio on Saturday after a night at the Ochsner Medical Center. Waiters played 10 minutes in the first half against the Pelicans before being taken from the arena because of abdominal pain. Tests were negative.

The team said Dellavedova had stomach issues following the game and was admitted to the hospital.

The Cavs did not disclose Dellavedova’s illness and that he didn’t travel until hours after the team had already returned to Cleveland.

Dellavedova played 24 minutes but did not score in the 119-114 loss. He recently returned after missing 15 games with a sprained left knee.

Evans, Anderson Lead Pelicans Over Cavs

New Orleans Pelicans forward Tyreke Evans (1) shoots the ball over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Tyreke Evans (1) shoots the ball over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)

 

Tyreke Evans stood on the baseline and gave an affirmative nod to the crowd.

His powerful driving layup over LeBron James late in the third quarter left little doubt about the New Orleans Pelicans’ determination to overcome the loss of Anthony Davis — not to mention the return of James.

Evans had 31 points and 10 assists, Ryan Anderson tied a career high with eight 3-pointers on his way to 30 points, and the Pelicans beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 119-114 on Friday night.

“It’s all about having fun,” Evans said. “Tonight, it looked like we were having fun. Everybody was moving the ball, getting good shots, playing together. When we play like that, we are unstoppable.”

Davis left the game with 5:30 left in the first quarter, complaining of pain in his chest after a free throw by Kevin Love. Team officials could not immediately specify how or when the injury occurred, but Pelicans spokesman Matt Ryan called the injury a chest contusion from an apparent collision with another player’s elbow.

“I just know when he was on the bench he was wincing as if he couldn’t breathe, so I was hesitant to put him back in the game,” Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. “We watched him for a while and he took himself out. That’s when I knew he didn’t feel right.”

James, returning from a one-game absence because of a sore left knee, scored 41 points, while Love added 21.

“I’m trying not to think about it while I’m out there. Just try to go out and play,” James said of his knee. “Obviously, it’s a little sore now, you know, just coming from one game off, but I’m going to continue to do what we need to do to strengthen it and get it back right and make sure I’m OK.”

Kyrie Irving played one night after hurting his left knee in a collision with Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook, but struggled early. He missed his first nine shots and did not score any of his 17 points until the fourth quarter, when Cleveland trailed by as many as 19.

Cavs coach David Blatt said Irving, “showed heart and the character to get out there and play as hard as he could.”

On the verge of being blown out, the Cavs didn’t quit, pulling to 112-107 after Irving scored five quick points and James Jones added a 3-pointer with 54 seconds to go.

Luke Babbitt responded with only his second field goal — also his second 3-pointer — andCleveland could not recover.

Jrue Holiday finished with 16 points for New Orleans. Omer Asik had 14 rebounds and nine points.

Anderson Varejao scored 11 points and Tristan Thompson grabbed 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which has lost two straight after winning eight in a row.

The Pelicans shot 55.7 percent (44 of 79), which was just good enough to beat the Cavs, who shot 49.4 percent (44 of 89).

Evans was 13 of 24, scoring mostly on powerful drives to the hoop for an array of floaters and reverse layups, but also hit two 3-pointers. He and Anderson dominated the second half, and Anderson’s final 3-pointer gave New Orleans its largest lead at 100-81 with 8:37 to go.

“This was a game that we knew that we had to fight extra hard without (Davis),” Anderson said. “This was a huge win for us so I’m really happy with the way we played.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report