Cleveland Cavaliers

Kevin Porter Jr. posted a final farewell to Cleveland Cavaliers fans Friday after the completion of his trade to the Houston Rockets for a protected second-round pick.

https://twitter.com/Kevinporterjr/status/1352751329895215104

A first-round pick in 2019 out of USC, Porter averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 50 games last season but hasn't played this season because of personal issues. Porter was involved in a single-car crash in November that led to charges of improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle, failure to control the vehicle and misdemeanor possession of marijuana. An Ohio grand jury later declined to indict Porter.

Cleveland decided to move on from the 20-year-old after he threw food and yelled at team officials last week after attending his first game of the season, according to Jason Lloyd, Joe Vardon and Kelsey Russo of The Athletic.

Porter reportedly lashed out after seeing his locker was assigned to the recently acquired Taurean Prince. 

On his way out, Porter stopped to show appreciation for the team that first took a chance on him. It's certainly a respectful gesture but may not change the way many remember his Cavs tenure. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers plan to trade or release guard Kevin Porter Jr. after a locker room confrontation on Friday, according to Jason Lloyd, Kelsey Russo and Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

The incident came after the Cavaliers gave Porter's locker to Taurean Prince, who joined the squad as part of last week's blockbuster James Harden trade.

According to The Athletic, Porter "began yelling and at one point threw food" before getting "combative" with general manager Koby Altman.

Cleveland tried to trade him over the weekend and will seemingly cut him if there are no offers.

Porter has not yet appeared for the Cavaliers in 2020-21 and was away from the team for personal reasons until returning to the bench Friday, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

He reportedly returned to practice for the first time Thursday.

"We have a plan in place with KP," head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "He's always been a part of the team, but we wanted him with the guys."

Following a single-car accident, Porter was arrested Nov. 15 and charged with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle plus misdemeanor marijuana possession and driving without a license, but all charges were dropped in December.

The 20-year-old showed promise on the court as a rookie after being taken in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft, averaging 10.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in 50 appearances. 

Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond isn't dwelling on trade rumors swirling around him.

Per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, Drummond noted "there's nothing I can do about" the trade talk.

"I play the same way each and every night," he said Friday. "The trade, it is what it is. There's nothing I can do about that. If I do get traded, I don't control that either. I'm just here to play basketball with whatever jersey I have on. That's all I can focus on right now."

Drummond's short-term future in Cleveland became unclear when the team acquired Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince from the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday as part of the three-team James Harden trade.

Fedor reported Friday that Cleveland received calls "shortly after the Allen swap" from opposing teams asking about Drummond and backup center JaVale McGee.

Allen and Drummond are traditional centers who play close to the basket. Allen, 22, is five years younger and will be eligible for restricted free agency in the offseason. He averaged 11.2 points and 10.4 rebounds in 12 games with the Nets this season prior to the deal.

Drummond will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He was acquired by the Cavs in a February trade with the Detroit Pistons. The two-time All-Star has averaged 18.6 points and 13.9 rebounds in 20 games with Cleveland.

As the Cleveland Cavaliers prepare to welcome Jarrett Allen into the fold, they reportedly find themselves in a contract bind with Andre Drummond. 

On the Wine & Gold Talk podcast, Chris Fedor of the Plain Dealer reported Cleveland's "initial conversations" with Drummond's camp "didn't go great" because the "kind of value he's looking for is not necessarily one that the Cavs would be comfortable with in free agency."

The Cavs acquired Allen on Thursday as part of the four-team blockbuster trade that sent James Harden from the Houston Rockets to the Brooklyn Nets. 

Allen has been Brooklyn's primary center since his rookie season in 2017-18. The 22-year-old started 180 of the 234 games he appeared in for the franchise and is averaging a career-high 11.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game so far in 2020-21. 

Drummond opted in to the final season of his contract during the offseason. The two-time All-Star will earn $28.75 million in 2020-21 before being eligible for free agency this summer. 

Cleveland acquired Drummond from the Detroit Pistons in February. He's averaged 17.8 points and 13.4 rebounds in 19 starts with the team. The 27-year-old leads the league with 15.1 rebounds per game this season. 

The Cavaliers are building around a young foundation led by Darius Garland and Collin Sexton. Allen is five years younger than Drummond and will be eligible for restricted free agency after this season. 

Given the current state of Cleveland's roster, Allen seems like the safer bet for the franchise to prioritize over Drummond. 

The Brooklyn Nets reportedly acquired James Harden in a blockbuster four-team trade Wednesday, but the Houston Rockets are set up well in the draft going forward.

According to Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic, the Rockets will receive Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, four first-round picks and four pick swaps. The Indiana Pacers land Caris LeVert and a second-round pick, while the Cleveland Cavaliers get Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the second-round pick the Pacers will receive will come via the Rockets (2023).

The deal helps shape the landscape of the 2020-21 season with the Nets becoming instant contenders, while Oladipo and LeVert could become impact players on different playoff teams.

It also creates significant movement for the future with a lot of draft capital changing teams.

All of the picks involved are unprotected as well, according to Charania. Though the Nets are expected to contend this year, we have seen unprotected picks turn into early lottery selections in the past.

We might not see the impact of this deal for several years, but it could have lasting effects for both Brooklyn and Houston.

Here is the latest regarding the upcoming draft picks for each team (h/t Bobby Marks of ESPN).

     

Houston Rockets

First round

• 2021: 1-4 Own or swap with Brooklyn; or least favorable of Houston (if 5-30), Miami and Oklahoma City and two most favorable to Oklahoma City; Has Detroit (if 17-30); Has Portland (if 15-30)
• 2022: Own; Has Brooklyn; Has Milwaukee (if 11-30); Has Detroit (if 17-30) and not already settled; Has Portland (if 15-30) and not already settled
• 2023: Own or swap with Brooklyn; Detroit (if 19-30) and not already settled; Has Portland (if 15-30) and not already settled; Has Washington (if 15-30)
• 2024: 1-4 Own; Has Brooklyn; To Oklahoma City (if 5-30); Has Detroit (if 19-30) and not already settled; Has Portland (if 15-30) and not already settled; Has Washington (if 13-30) and not already settled
• 2025: 1-10 Own or swap with Brooklyn; Own or to Oklahoma City (if 11-30) (via Oklahoma City swap for Houston or LA Clippers); Has Detroit (14-30) if not already settled; Has Portland (if 15-30) and not already settled; Has Washington (if 11-30) if not already settled
• 2026: 1-4 Own; Has Brooklyn; To Oklahoma City (if 5-30); Has Detroit (if 12-30) and not already settled; Has Portland (if 15-30) and not already settled; Has Washington (if 9-30) and not already settled
• 2027: Own or swap with Brooklyn; Has Detroit (if 10-3) and not already settled; Has Portland (if 15-30) and not already settled

Second round

• 2021: Own or swap for Philadelphia
• 2022: To Cleveland
• 2023: To Indiana (31-32 Own; or least favorable of Houston (if 33-36), Dallas and Miami; more favorable of (i) HOU (if 33-60) and (ii) less favorable of Dallas and Miami to Boston)
• 2024: To Oklahoma City if Houston does not convey first-round pick to Oklahoma City in 2024; Has Golden State
• 2025: To Oklahoma City if Houston does not convey first-round pick to Oklahoma City in 2024
• 2026: To Oklahoma City if Houston does not convey first-round pick to Oklahoma City in 2026; Has Washington if Washington has not conveyed first-round pick to Houston by 2026
• 2027: To Detroit; Has Washington if Washington has not conveyed first-round pick to Houston by 2026; Has Detroit if Detroit has not conveyed first-round pick to Houston by 2027; Has Portland if Portland has not conveyed first-round pick to Houston by 2027

         

Brooklyn Nets

First round

• 2021: Own (Houston has right to swap)
• 2022: To Houston
• 2023: Own (Houston has right to swap)
• 2024: To Houston
• 2025: Own (Houston has right to swap)
• 2026: To Houston
• 2027: Own (Houston has right to swap)

Second round

• 2021: To Charlotte; Has Atlanta; Has Indiana (if 31-44); Has Phoenix (if 36-60)
• 2022: Own; Has Indiana (if 31-44) and has not already settled
• 2023: Least favorable of Brooklyn, Atlanta and Charlotte; most favorable to Philadelphia and second most favorable to Atlanta; Has Indiana if not already settled
• 2024: Own
• 2025: To Atlanta; Has Golden State
• 2026: Own
• 2027: Own

       

Cleveland Cavaliers

First round

• 2021: Own
• 2022: Own
• 2023: Own
• 2024: Own
• 2025: Own
• 2026: Own
• 2027: Own

Second round

• 2021: To New Orleans
• 2022: To New Orleans; Has Houston, San Antonio and Washington
• 2023: Own; Has Golden State or Detroit
• 2024: To Indiana; Has Milwaukee (if first has not been conveyed)
• 2025: Own; Has Milwaukee
• 2026: Own, Has LA Lakers
• 2027: Own; Has Utah

      

Indiana Pacers

First round

• 2021: Own
• 2022: Own
• 2023: Own
• 2024: Own
• 2025: Own
• 2026: Own
• 2027: Own

Second round

• 2021: 31-44 to Brooklyn; 45-60 Own; Has Milwaukee; Has Utah
• 2022: 31-44 to Brooklyn; 45-60 Own if not already settled; or to Orlando if Indiana conveys 2nd round pick to Brooklyn in 2021; Has Miami
• 2023: To Brooklyn if not already settled; or to Orlando if not already settled and if Indiana conveys 2nd round pick to Brooklyn in 2022; Has Houston
• 2024: Has Cleveland; To Orlando if not already settled and if Indiana conveys 2nd round pick to BRK in 2023
• 2025: To Milwaukee; Has Miami
• 2026: Own; Has Miami
• 2027: To Oklahoma City

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without guard Darius Garland and swingman Isaac Okoro on Monday night against the Orlando Magic, according to Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor.

Okoro continues to nurse a sprained foot that has kept him out of action since a 128-119 double-overtime win over the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 26.

Garland, meanwhile, suffered a shoulder strain as the Cavs beat the Atlanta Hawks 96-91 on Saturday.

Any injury to Garland could cause panic in the Cavs organization because of what happened during his freshman season at Vanderbilt. The 20-year-old played just five college games before suffering a torn meniscus in a Nov. 23 game against Kent State. 

Garland showed a lot of promise in his brief time with the Commodores, averaging 16.2 points per game and shooting 53.7 percent from the field. Cleveland believed enough in his raw talent to make him the No. 5 overall pick in June's draft. 

In 59 games last season, Garland was still finding his footing with 12.3 points and 3.9 assists. He only shot 40.1 percent from the field overall, but his 35.5 three-point percentage on 5.2 attempts per game was passable. His 87.5 free-throw percentage is an indication there's more shooting potential for him to tap into.  

Garland is making big strides in his second year. Through six games, he's averaging 17.2 points and 6.3 assists while shooting 46.9 percent from the perimeter.

Injuries are already giving Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff headaches. Fedor noted Cleveland will have to utilize its sixth different starting lineup since Garland and Okoro are unavailable.

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love is expected to miss at least three weeks after suffering a calf injury Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers.  

The Cavs announced that Love aggravated a right calf strain suffered during the preseason and will be reassessed in three to four weeks.

The 32-year-old UCLA product has been one of the NBA's most consistently productive players over the past 12 years. He's averaged at least 16 points in 10 straight seasons and over nine rebounds every year, earning five All-Star appearances along the way.

Love also played a key role in helping the Cavs win their first and only NBA championship in franchise history in 2016.

Love has been hampered by injuries over the years, though. He's missed extended stretches over the past two seasons with hand and toe injuries, and he's sat out at least five games every year since the 2009-10 campaign.

In two games this season, Love is averaging 9.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 three-pointers made while shooting 33.3 percent from both the field and beyond the arc.

Larry Nance Jr. should draw the vast majority of the starts at the 4 for the duration of the California native's absence. It will also create more opportunities for Dean Wade and JaVale McGee as part of the Cavs' frontcourt rotation.

Much of the frontcourt burden will also likely fall on the shoulders of starting center Andre Drummond, who is off to a great start this season with 20.3 points, 14.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocks per contest.

The Cavs are one of the NBA's most pleasant surprises this season as they own a 3-0 record after finishing last in the Eastern Conference with a 19-46 mark last season.

Love's long-term outlook in Cleveland is unsettled as a veteran contributor on a franchise focused largely on young talent. He's still a valuable asset, however, thanks to the stretch 4 capabilities that should make a solid impact when he's healthy.

The Cleveland Cavaliers submitted a plan to the Ohio Department of Health in November asking to have 4,596 people at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for games held during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported the news, noting Cavaliers CEO Len Komoroski wrote a letter that was included with the variance request the team submitted. 4,596 people would represent 23.65 percent of the capacity at the team's home stadium.

The request was in response to an order from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in August saying indoor sporting events could host 300 people or 15 percent of seating capacity, whichever total was less.

Fedor explained the Cavaliers also submitted an 86-page presentation explaining a number of safety measures they would take amid the pandemic.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and the Cleveland Department of Public Health both supported the plan, and the team has worked with the Cleveland Clinic, the city, state and NBA while attempting to put a plan in place.

There may be some hope for the Cavaliers, as the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League were granted a variance allowing them to host more fans than the initial order called for at the Covelli Centre.

The Phantoms submitted their plan shortly before the Cavaliers did and made many of the same arguments about the size of the arena and the safety protocols they would take with increased attendance.

Most of Ohio's marquee sports teams have not held fans amid the pandemic, including Ohio State football, the state's two Major League Baseball teams and the Cavaliers. However, the Columbus Crew hosted a limited-capacity crowd during their MLS Cup victory over the Seattle Sounders.

On the court, the Cavaliers are off to a 3-0 start and will look to build on that during Tuesday's game against the New York Knicks.

Cleveland Cavaliers big men Kevin Love and Andre Drummond reportedly covered lost wages for employees at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse amid the COVID-19 pandemic, per Chris Manning of Fear the Sword and the Locked on Cavs podcast.

Manning offered further clarification on Love's and Drummond's contributions.

https://twitter.com/cwmwrites/status/1343611675275108352

The employees were reportedly tasked with swapping out the arena floor, and the wages covered five lost home games that were never played because of the pandemic.

The NBA suspended play March 11, and Cleveland was among eight teams whose season ended at that point, with the other 22 playing out the remainder of the campaign in Walt Disney World.

Love had previously announced a $100,000 donation to Cavs' arena and support staff on March 12 through the Kevin Love Fund.

He isn't the only Cavalier to help out Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse workers. Drummond announced a $60,000 donation to arena staff in April, per Rod Beard of the Detroit News.

That donation was in addition to a $100,000 gift for personal protective equipment for his hometown area in Connecticut as well as 10,000 headphones for schools in Cleveland and Detroit for online education.

Per Kevin Kleps of Crain's Cleveland Business, the Cavs also did the following:

"The Cavs also compensated workers who were scheduled to be at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for the Mid-American men's and women's basketball tournaments, the six NCAA men's hoops tournament games that were slated to be held at the arena and a Michael Buble concert that was canceled.

"The Cavs said the part-time event staffers received a total of more than $1.2 million for the events that were canceled or suspended.

"The team also said it hasn't had any layoffs or furloughs during the crisis."

In addition, the Cavs said they were paying arena workers who are normally compensated by other organizations, per Nancy Armour, Rachel Axon, Steve Berkowitz and Tom Schad of USA Today. 

Those workers include people normally paid by "food and beverage conglomerates," as the USA Today reporters noted.

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is back open for Cavs basketball after the season began earlier this month. However, only 300 fans are allowed in attendance right now because of the pandemic.

Ty Lue won't have trouble standing up to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George if needed as Clippers coach.

Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN recalled a story from Lue's early days in Cleveland during the 2015-16 season when the coach told Kyrie Irving and LeBron James, "why don't you guys play and I'll coach the f--king team" during a huddle in which the star players had "interjected to contradict a tactical adjustment."

Irving and James apparently heeded Lue's request, which Arnovitz noted was made "without ire or defensiveness," and the Cavs went on to win the 2016 NBA championship. 

"My biggest thing is just communication and accountability," Lue said. "But in anything in life, whatever, there's always going to be a pecking order. It doesn't mean everyone else is treated unfairly. It just means that some people get away with more than others. But it can never be to the effect of where it hurts the team and where you don't hold guys accountable for certain things."

Lue served as Doc Rivers' assistant on last season's Clippers team before being named his replacement in October. He's essentially being charged with the same job he was in Cleveland: taking a championship-caliber roster and pushing them over the top in a way his predecessor could not.

If the 2019-20 season is any indication, Leonard and George may need to be checked in a manner similar to James and Irving. Jovan Buha of The Athletic provided an extensive look at the Clippers' culture last season, which included several perks for Leonard and George that frustrated members of the locker room. Leonard and George essentially had carte blanche to cancel practices, and teammates believe they could "pick and choose" games they played.

While superstar treatment is nothing new in sports, the red carpet rolled out for Leonard and George after they came to the Clippers last offseason reportedly led to rifts that bled over on the court. The Clippers were one of the NBA's most disappointing teams in the bubble, blowing a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets.

Lue was on the bench for everything that transpired last season, so it's unclear if his voice will carry enough weight to heal bruised egos. However, it should be a showing of faith in Lue's coaching ability that he was the Lakers' (and thus James') first choice for their head coaching vacancy during the 2019 offseason, per Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, before the deal fell apart over contract terms.