Cleveland Cavaliers

Suffice it to say there's no love lost between Kyrie Irving and Cleveland Cavaliers fans.

Irving and a Cavs fan got into a back-and-forth during Monday's game between the two sides, with the Brooklyn Nets guard calling out Cleveland for being "ungrateful."

"Got y'all a championship and motherf--kers still ungrateful," Irving said in response to the heckling fan.

Irving played for the Cavaliers from 2011 to 2017 before he requested a trade, which was later granted in a deal with the Boston Celtics. The seven-time All-Star also knocked down what wound up being the game-winning three in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, giving the Cavs their first championship.

It appears the sour feelings over the trade request supersede Irving's role in the 2016 title for some fans. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers would reportedly target forward Joe Harris if he's made available by the Brooklyn Nets ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline on Feb. 10.

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported the Cavs' interest in the veteran sharpshooter Friday on the Wine and Gold Talk Podcast (via HoopsHype).

"If the Nets make Joe Harris available—and I'm not saying that they're going to—but if they make him available, the Cavs would be very interested there," Fedor said.

Harris hasn't played since Nov. 14 because of an ankle injury that required surgery.

Nets head coach Steve Nash said Wednesday the forward's recovery has been "trickier than we thought," as he still hasn't received clearance to resume full basketball activities despite completing the initial four-to-eight week recovery timetable.

"Yeah, so I think he's ... not full [ramp-up mode]," Nash told reporters. "He's not fully cleared to do everything yet. He's got to get back to that, and he's got to get his high-intensity stuff in. So, he's not there yet."

Harris averaged 11.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 14 appearances this season before the injury. He remained one of the NBA's best three-point shooters, knocking down 2.9 threes per game while shooting 46.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Rookie Cam Thomas has stepped up to help fill the void on the wing. Bruce Brown, Kessler Edwards and David Duke Jr. have also seen additional playing time at the 3.

The Nets' depth could make Harris expendable ahead of the trade deadline, though interested teams may want the 30-year-old University of Virginia product to fully recover from the injury before making a deal.

Cleveland doesn't seem like an ideal trade partner on the surface, however, since Brooklyn would likely seek a proven, high-end wing defender if it was going to move Harris.

That said, it sounds like the Cavs will at least check in if the 2019 Three-Point Contest champion lands on the block over the next few weeks.

The Indiana Pacers are reportedly "ramping up" trade talks for guard Caris LeVert as they seemingly pivot into rebuilding mode.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported the Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams expected to express interest.

The Cavs are looking to bolster their backcourt depth after losing Ricky Rubio and Collin Sexton to injuries. They've already traded for Rajon Rondo, but the veteran is more of a stopgap than an effective rotation player at this point of his career.

The Pacers acquired LeVert last January as part of a four-team trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. Team doctors discovered a small cancerous mass in LeVert's left kidney as part of his trade physical, costing him two months of action. LeVert returned to play 35 games with the Pacers last season and has remained largely healthy in 2021-22, averaging 17.8 points, 4.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds.

While he hasn't developed into an All-Star-caliber layer, LeVert is an effective scorer who can fit in any lineup off the bench or as part of a reserve unit. He's also playing at a $17.5 million base salary this season that is about the going rate for someone of his skill set and is only under contract through 2022-23.

It's likely a team would give up a protected first-round pick and a non-elite young player as part of a trade package for LeVert ahead of the trade deadline. 

Rajon Rondo is headed to yet another team.

The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly traded Rondo to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Los Angeles would receive Denzel Valentine in return and then waive the shooting guard, who averaged 2.9 points per game in 9.3 minutes over 22 games (no starts) this season. 

Charania reported on Thursday that the Cavaliers were in "serious talks" to land the point guard after Ricky Rubio suffered a season-ending ACL tear.

Los Angeles just signed Rondo this past offseason after he spent the 2020-21 campaign on the L.A. Clippers and Atlanta Hawks. The veteran point guard also helped lead the Lakers to the championship during the 2019-20 season.

That Rondo was traded is not particularly surprising.

Cleveland could have used more backcourt depth even before the Rubio injury considering Collin Sexton was lost for the campaign following a meniscus tear.

The Cavaliers are playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference, so the connections to a veteran leader with championship experience made sense. However, that also made him someone who was potentially intriguing for a number of other contenders.

Rondo is no longer the player he was in his prime for the Boston Celtics, but his resume includes two NBA championships, four All-Star selections and four All-Defensive selections. At his best, he was a double-double threat who could get out in transition, score at the rim and facilitate for teammates either on the break or on kickouts in half-court sets after he drew multiple defenders with drives.

He has laced it up for the Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, Lakers, Hawks, Clippers and Lakers again this season.

The University of Kentucky product was a rotational player at best for the Purple and Gold this season at this point of his career. He averaged 3.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 0.7 steals in 16.1 minutes a night across 18 games.

While Rondo is no longer the dominant force he was on the Celtics at 35 years old, he probably brings more to the table than he did for the Lakers this season.

If he can tap into some of his playmaking abilities to help the Cavaliers reach the playoffs, he figures to be a part of their postseason rotation given his track record as a championship-level player.

Cleveland is a young team with building blocks such as Darius Garland and Evan Mobley and should be primed to compete for playoff spots for the foreseeable future. Its last postseason appearance came during the 2017-18 campaign with LeBron James leading the way during four straight NBA Finals appearances.

While the franchise's ceiling is not there this season, it at least has someone with championship experience to address the backcourt depth problems.           

The Cleveland Cavaliers are holding "serious talks" with the Los Angeles Lakers to acquire veteran point guard Rajon Rondo, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed the report: 

That comes in the wake of Ricky Rubio tearing his ACL this week, ending his season, while Collin Sexton was already out for the year with a torn meniscus. Those two injuries have left the resurgent Cavs (20-14) incredibly thin at point guard.

Rondo, 35, hasn't made much of an impact for the Lakers this season, averaging just 3.1 points and 3.7 assists in 16.1 minutes per game across 18 contests. While a hamstring injury and his current stint in the league's health and safety protocols have cost him games, he's fallen down the pecking order in the rotation.

And with veteran Darren Collison recently added to the roster, Rondo is expendable for the Lakers. 

His potential trade would end his second stint with the team after he spent the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons with the Lakers, which included winning a title. 

But since spending parts of the first nine seasons of his career with the Boston Celtics, Rondo hasn't lasted anywhere long. Since leaving Boston in the 2014-15 season, Rondo has played for seven different teams and hasn't lasted more than two years at any one destination. 

If nothing else, Rondo will bring experience to a young Cavaliers team trying to reach the postseason for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign, when LeBron James still played for the team. 

Led by Darius Garland (19.5 PPG, 7.3 APG), Jarrett Allen (16.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG) and ascendant rookie Evan Mobley (14.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.8 BPG), the Cavs are one of the NBA's best stories this season. Rondo should help patch up some of the team's depth issues in the backcourt. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers announced Wednesday that guard Ricky Rubio will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee.

Rubio went down with a non-contact knee injury in Tuesday's loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. He was helped off the floor without putting any weight on his leg and was set to undergo an MRI on Wednesday.

"It's really hard for me because I could see the pain he was in when he went down," Cavs forward Kevin Love told reporters. "Him and I have such a history. I really care for him. I'm just praying that he's going to be OK. We don't know what the near future is going to hold for him. We're just completely gutted. He was having such a great season."

Rubio previously tore his left ACL during the 2011-12 season, an injury that derailed an otherwise promising season.

The veteran point guard has largely stayed healthy over the past six seasons, missing no more than 14 games in a season over that timespan.

The Cavs were off to a surprising 20-14 start, with Rubio playing a steady hand off the bench while helping mentor rising star Darius Garland. With Collin Sexton out for the season with a meniscus tear, the Cavs' formerly robust guard depth is suddenly looking thin.

Don't be surprised if Cleveland seriously considers making a trade before the February deadline to bolster its guard depth.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio appeared to suffer a left knee injury during his team's 108-104 road loss against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

ESPN's Andrew Lopez, NBA analyst Nate Duncan and The Athletic's Will Guillory provided more information:

He had 27 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and two steals before exiting. Dean Wade replaced Rubio with 2:20 remaining in regulation.

Rubio entered Tuesday averaging 12.7 points and 6.5 assists through his first 32 games. He's provided steadiness to a Cleveland team that's been desperately searching for a point guard with a defensive presence. 

Darius Garland could return to a more primary ball-handler role with Rubio out, but he's currently in the league's health and safety protocols. 

Ultimately, losing Rubio for any amount of time will be a tough blow. If Rubio and Garland are out, more minutes figure to open for Kevin Pangos and Denzel Valentine, two guards who came off the bench Tuesday.

Kevin Love has played solid basketball in a limited role this season, making it possible the Cleveland Cavaliers can move him ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on his podcast Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective that Love has developed a "bad reputation" around the league over his attitude but has worked to rectify that this season:

"Love has gotten such a bad reputation—and he's earned it for the last couple of years, with the way he's pouted and everything and some of his on-court antics. When they drafted a big man [Evan Mobley] and then they signed another one with [Lauri] Markkanen, they told Love, 'Hey, you're gonna go to the bench,' and Love said, 'OK, but I want to make a deal. The deal is, if I earn minutes, you play me those minutes. In other words, don't John Wall me.'"

Windhorst said that while the Cavs can't trade Love for anything of value, he's not the deal-breaking albatross he was during the offseason. He is making $31.3 million this season and $28.9 million in 2022-23, the final year of his contract. 

Cleveland has been mentioned as a potential suitor for Ben Simmons with Love's contract likely included for matching purposes. The Sixers wouldn't take Love as a centerpiece in any Simmons deal, but it's possible they could reroute him to a third team that picks up assets as part of a larger swap.

Love is averaging 12.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists while playing 20.0 minutes per game. He's embraced coming off the bench regularly for the first time since his second NBA season while also not showing any of the behavioral issues of the past few years.

Frustrated with Cleveland's losing ways, Love had several on-court outbursts and clashed with members of the front office. He was also sent home from Team USA over the summer and received criticism from managing director Jerry Colangelo. 

The Cavs are a surprising 20-13 this season, which likely helped pick up his spirits. If Love continues to play at a high level, the Cavs have no incentive to move him—barring a need for a matching salary in a trade for a star-caliber player.

The Cleveland Cavaliers could be a landing spot for Ben Simmons in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Wojnarowski broke down the situation Saturday on NBA Countdown (h/t Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire):

Here's an interesting team to watch, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who before they went on this really incredible start to the season had been engaged with Philly on Simmons. They’ve got some really intriguing assets either in a straight deal with Philly or perhaps a three- or four-team deal, and we reported earlier J.B. Bickerstaff agreed to a new extension today through '26-'27.

Wojnarowski also listed the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves as teams that were previously engaged with Philadelphia and could continue talks before the Feb. 10 deadline.

Despite the interest, the 76ers are reportedly "adamant" that they won't trade Simmons if their demands aren't met, per NBA insider Marc Stein.

Simmons has yet to play in 2021-22, saying earlier in the year that he is not mentally ready to compete. He requested a trade in the offseason before reporting to training camp in October.

The 25-year-old still has value as a three-time All-Star and two-time All-Defensive player.

The 6'11" guard has averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game over his career and can be a difference-maker in many different phases of the game. It's kept the 76ers from selling low on him, reportedly targeting players like Damian Lillard in trades, per Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe of ESPN.

They noted: "Philadelphia has been aggressively trying to assemble two- and three-team deal structures to land a package that would include a top-25-level player, sources said."

Cleveland has plenty of young talent, including Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Isaac Okoro and the injured Collin Sexton. Those who aren't included in a deal could help form an exciting young core alongside Simmons as the Cavaliers try to return to contention.

The Cavs are already off to a strong start at 19-13 and could use a splash trade to put them over the top.     

The NBA confirmed Sunday's game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks won't be played because of a COVID-19 outbreak among the Cavs.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the decision.

Wojnarowski previously reported Cleveland likely wouldn't have the minimum eight players required to play the game because of a series of positive COVID-19 tests. 

The Cavs announced Saturday that Evan Mobley had entered the NBA's health and safety protocols. That came two days after Isaac Okoro went into the protocols. 

According to Wojnarowski, Jarrett Allen is one of the five new players going into the protocols. He also reported Hawks star Trae Young entered into the protocols Sunday. 

Wojnarowski and Baxter Holmes previously reported about an NBA board of governors call that took place Friday during which there "was an overwhelming sentiment among NBA owners to do whatever is necessary to avoid postponements and cancellations this season."

ESPN's Bobby Marks noted that the "majority of players" who fall under the NBA's hardship umbrella are in Las Vegas for the G League Cup and "travel logistics present a challenge to get extra bodies in uniform by tonight."  

The NBA already had to postpone two games because of COVID-19 outbreaks, both involving the Chicago Bulls. 

Per James Herbert of CBS Sports, there are currently 19 teams that have at least one player in health and safety protocols. 

Cleveland played the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Saturday night. Its game against the Hawks was scheduled to be played at 7:30 p.m. ET.