The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to play the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night and the news and rumors are ramping up.
Check out the latest buzz below.
LeBron Wants Playing Time Reduced
LeBron James says that he wants to play fewer minutes, indicating that the time is right for the minutes to start coming down.
James is averaging 39.1 minutes per game–third in the NBA–with Kyrie Irving (38.4 minutes) and Kevin Love (37.0) ranking fourth and fifth.
“I wouldn’t mind it. I think we have to give our guys on the bench more of an opportunity. I looked at a stat and myself, Kyrie (Irving) and Kevin (Love) are three of the top five guys in the league in minutes per game and that has to come down,” James told ESPN.
“For me, I don’t want to do that all year. Obviously right now it’s difficult because we’re trying to find a groove, we’re trying to find a rhythm and we’re trying to implement something that you don’t want to shortcut it, but at the same time you want to be smart about it.
“So, I don’t mind giving a few of my minutes up just to help the team, to help my minutes go down. I think it would be for the best.”
James has been playing so much partially because Shawn Marion, who was designated his backup, replaced Dion Waiters in the starting lineup.
Coach David Blatt says that he has the minutes situation on his mind and that he wants to lower them for some of the players going forward.
However, he said there’s no problem with James’ minutes specifically.
“Right now LeBron has said and has told me that he’s feeling good and he’s starting to feel his real game shape. So this is not the time to think about resting him. He’s feeling good. This is the time to allow him to get comfortable and to get in his rhythm. And he’s been playing great basketball. Let’s not overlook the fact that he’s been playing great basketball and he looks good physically. He looks excellent,” he said.
“So, for the foreseeable future, we’re going to ride that. Would I like to get him a couple less minutes per game? Yes. And that really has to do with how we’re playing, how we’re doing game to game. But down the line, if that’s a necessity, then like anything else we’ll weigh it and we’ll consider it and we’ll do what’s best for the team and for the player.”
No Trade Out of the Question
Cavaliers general manager David Griffin says that no player on the team’s roster is untouchable in response to recent trade rumors.
The main rumor is that the Cavs and Rockets are pursuing Corey Brower of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“The Cavs are unquestionably interested in a deal for Timberwolves forward Corey Brewer, as reported by ESPN. One team official told FOX Sports Ohio that Brewer would be the perfect fit,” reported Fox Sports.
“He defends wings, doesn’t need the ball, and would allow Marion to move back to his role as James’ backup at small forward. And yes, keep the often shot-happy Waiters coming off the bench and scoring points — which is how the Cavs’ really like him.”
Now Griffin tells the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he’d include basically any player in a deal if it was the right one.
“No one is untouchable, and you’re never done building a team, so we’re always paying attention to what opportunities are out there,” Griffin said.
“My tendency is always trying to do what we can do to improve the roster. But I’m not looking to create one so much as paying attention to what I’m hearing.”
Griffin didn’t specifically respond to the Brewer rumor, but noted that the team needs more defensive talent.
“Fortunately, we’re blessed to have a lot of talent, but we’re also not blessed with a great depth of defensive talent,” Griffin said. “We need to improve in that area. That’s probably an area where we may need to act at some point to improve the roster.”
