More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

7 months ago: New Orleans Hornets guard Antonio Daniels holds his head as time runs out in the fourth quarter of the Denver Nuggets' 113-84 victory over the Hornets in Game 1 of a Western Conference first-round playoff basketball game in Denver on Sunday, April 19, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Browse more photos »

To say that there are questions swirling around Delonte West is an understatement.  The Cavaliers haven't ruled him out of tomorrow night's opener - they haven't said much of anything about West or his playing status.  Without West, the Cavs are thin at best in the back court.  Could that be the reason that Brian Windhorst is reporting that there are rumors around the Cavs with the name Antonio Daniels?

Some reports have it simply a rumor.  Others have Daniels already agreeing to the veteran minimum after he clears waivers from being bought out by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Daniels would make a lot of sense.  He would provide the Cavaliers a proven ball handler and - perhaps more importantly, a career 80% free throw shooter.  With a team that could have Shaq and Anderson Varejao on the floor at the same time - free throw shooting becomes critical, especially late in games.

Either way, adding the depth of a proven player like Daniels can't be a bad thing - even if Delonte West is able to come all the way back.

In the end, with or without West, there is a bit of a void in the backcourt on the roster.  Daniels would help fill that void.

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

Browse more photos »

Yesterday the Cavaliers signed second-round pick Danny Green from North Carolina to a 2-year contract worth reportedly $1.2 million, according to Bob Finnan of the News-Herald.  His signing brings the Cavs roster to 14 with the last spot up for grabs in training camp. 

Green will have a tough time fighting for minutes this year with the addition of Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon but will provide more depth to the team in case of injury.  It would be nice to see Green develop in to a solid role player for the team who can push those guys for playing time and take over as a key bench player when they're gone.

Former Golden State Warriors F Rob Kurz has accepted an offer from the Cavaliers to come to Training Camp and compete for the final roster spot.  Kurz reportedly agreed to a non-guaranteed contract.

Kurz took the offer after F Joe Smith, who has had two tours of duty with the team, decided to take the veteran minimum and sign with the Atlanta Hawks.  That opened the door for Kurz to battle for the last roster spot with C Darryl Watkins.  2nd Round draft pick Danny Green is expected to have the other roster spot currently available.

The Cavaliers 15 man roster now shapes up this way, with Kurz the favorite to lock down a spot -

C - Shaquille O'Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
PF - Anderson Varejao, J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson, Leon Powe, Rob Kurz
SF - LeBron James, Jamario Moon, Jawad Williams
SG - Delonte West, Anthony Parker, Danny Green
PG - Mo Williams, Daniel Gibson

Per a Tweet from Bob Finnan, the Miami Heat have notified the Cavaliers that they will not match the Cavs' 3-year offer to Jamario Moon making Moon a member of the Cavaliers.

The deal is reportedly worth $8.92 million over 3 years, with the first two years of the contract guaranteed.  It was the 2nd season, 2010, that made the Heat leery of matching since it would take away some financial flexibility in an already draining free agent market next summer.

Moon look to be a perfect fit as a rotation player for the Cavs, with the ability to defend the 3-point line and hit the open jumper. 

More on this to come.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly signed Miami Heat F Jemario Moon to an offer sheet that sources say is for at least two seasons.

The 6-8, 200lb. Moon seems to fit exactly the type of player the Cavaliers have been trying to bring in this off-season - wing players with size that can play defense.

 The Heat will have 7 days to match the offer, but with their sights set on Lemar Odom, as well as their attempt to maintain cap flexibility next season, it would appear that the Cavs would be is solid position to obtain Moon's services.

According to Brian Windhorst, timing of the offer sheet, the first of Danny Ferry's tenure as Cleveland's G.M. is interesting -

Usually Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry avoids players who are restricted and this is the first offer sheet he's given in his four years as GM. However, the Cavs may be acting with some gamesmanship here as the Heat twist a bit while waiting to see if Los Angeles Lakers free agent Lamar Odom accepts an offer they have given him. Locking up Moon to an offer sheet prevents him to be used in sign-and-trades, which the Heat may have been looking at as well.

Whatever the case, the Cavaliers will now wait to see if the Heat match.

More photos » by John Raoux - AP

5 months ago: Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao (17), of Brazil, makes a plea to an official after committing his fifth foul in the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Orlando Magic in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, May 24, 2009. Varejao fouled out of the game moments later and Orlando won 99-89. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Browse more photos »

The Cleveland Cavaliers kept one of their own late yesterday, coming to terms with C/PF Anderson Varejao on a 6-year deal that could be worth $50 million.  For Varejao and the team, the rapid pace at which a deal was agreed upon was in stark contrast to what happened in 2007 when it took 5 months and most of Training Camp to get Varejao signed, and that was only after the Bobcats signed Andy to a deal, which the Cavs matched.

This time, both sides knew they wanted to get something done, and fast.

"Andy wanted to stay in Cleveland," Fegan said. "He feels there is unfinished business -- to win an NBA championship."

There were likely teams out there that would have paid Varejao more - Fegan stated several teams would have went over $10 million per season - but both sides were able to get something down that in the end is probably fair, to both the Cavs and Varejao and keeps a key piece of the roster in place for the foreseeable future.

Stats and links after the jump -

Continue reading this post »

More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP

4 months ago: NBA commissioner David Stern, left, poses with Christian Eyenga, of Congo, who was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first round of the NBA basketball draft Thursday, June 25, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Browse more photos »

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected guard/forward Christian Eyenga with the 30th overall pick and guard/forward Danny Green with the 46th overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft.

"Christian is very athletic and shoots the ball very well. He has the potential to be a good NBA player. We are excited to work with him, to see his development and help him grow as a player and a person," Ferry said. "Danny Green is a good basketball player and competitor. He knows how to win."

Eyenga, 20, played in 25 games this season with CB Prat Juventud of Spain, averaging 13.3 points on .488 shooting, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 30.3 minutes per game. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder from the Republic of Congo scored in double figures in 18 of their 25 games and topped the 20-point mark on two occasions. Eyenga also appeared in four Euroleague games with DKV Joventut Badalona, scoring three points in 16 minutes.

Green played all four seasons at North Carolina, playing in more games (145) and winning more games (123) than any Tar Heel in history. As a senior, the 6-foot-6, 210-pound guard/forward averaged 13.1 points on .471 shooting, including shooting .418 (77-184) from three-point range, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in 38 games (all starts) as North Carolina won the 2009 NCAA Championship. He was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team, the All-ACC Third Team and the NCAA South Regional Tournament Team. The 22-year-old finished his college career as the only player in ACC history to tally at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists, 150 three-pointers, 150 blocks and 150 steals and is the only player in North Carolina history to record 100 or more blocked shots and three-point field goals.

via www.nba.com

View full size photo »

The 2009 NBA Draft is here, and might be the least exciting news of the day around the NBA.  First it was Shaq to Cleveland, then Vinsanity to Orlando.  Can anything that happens tonight even come close to that?

Get comfy, because the Cavaliers won't pick until #30, unless of course they make a move to acquire(buy) a pick from a less financially fortunate team.  Talk about the draft here!

The picks, as they happen, after the jump --

Continue reading this post »