Tag Archives: Alvin Gentry

LANDING LEBRON

Writers note – This story was written before Joel Embiid suffered a right foot injury and it is being evaluated. If the injury is serious, along with his recent back issues, it could change a lot in my plan to “Land LeBron”!

If the Cavaliers are serious about trying to reunite with LeBron James and get him to return to Cleveland as a free agent this off season, there are a number of things they need to do before free agency starts on July 1st to even have a chance of making this happen. I’m not saying it will, I’m saying it would better their chances.

LeBron James photo small 11-27-13

First off, since they don’t have a Pat Riley or Phil Jackson in the front office they need to hire a coach who’s been a winner on the sidelines, played in the NBA and has some cache and a name. Right now none of their reported candidates have that combination.  Tyronn Lue doesn’t. Neither does Alvin Gentry or David Blatt. While there is no proven, championship winning coach available out there, the closest thing to a coach who’s been successful on the sidelines, has played the game and has some “street cred” to go along with his game smarts is Mark Jackson.

That move I believe would get LeBron’s attention while he is on vacation with his family and thinking about his future.  Problem is, according to a story I read from the News-Herald/Morning Journal’s Bob Finnan today, he had a quote from Jackson in the article saying that reports that the Cavs have contacted him are, “Nothing but rumors and speculation.”  If that indeed is the case, and G.M. David Griffin has said they will leave no stone unturned as they search for their next head coach, you have to ask yourself why haven’t the Cavs contacted Mark Jackson?  What are they waiting for, especially if they are thinking about trying to lure LBJ back to C’Town?

Secondly, if you’re not going to make a major trade for Kevin Love, and the only way I do that if I’m the Cavs is if I get Love to sign a contract extension, then you draft center Joel Embiid. Now granted, you have to feel confident that after putting him through all of your medical tests that his back is fine, but if it is, then you go get the “Big” out of Kansas.

Embiid has a ton of upside, and while right now he’s still a little raw on offense, he reportedly impressed the Cavs in his work out by showing off his great foot work and the ability to shoot the basketball from some distance, along with a nice touch around the rim. While his offense is a work in progress and there is evidence there that it will develop, he can make his presence felt in his rookie season with his defense and rebounding. Right away he gives the Cavs a much needed rim protector in blocking shots and altering others. Plus his rebounding would allow the Cavs to get out and run more and get easy baskets in transition.

So if Jackson ended up being your coach and Embiid was the choice as the first overall pick in the draft, you would have your coach who’s got some swag to go along with his winning record in the NBA as your bench boss and you’d have a young legitimate center with a lot of potential and the ability to patrol the paint. On top of that you’d have a fourth year all-star point guard in Kyrie Irving, a third year shooting guard in Dion Waiters, plus some cap space and maneuverability to fill some other spots on your roster through trade or free agency.

 

There have been some reports out there that LeBron and Kyrie don’t get along that well any more, or that James doesn’t want to play with a ball dominate point guard. I say that’s hogwash. After seeing how a lack of point guard play killed the Heat in the NBA Finals against San Antonio this year, I believe LBJ understands the importance of having a top notch point guard in today’s game and would sacrifice being in control of the offense the majority of the time if it meant more wins and less minutes for him as he gets older.

LeBron and Kyrie shake hands at Z jersey Ceremony 3-8-14

While none of what I just wrote would guarantee that LeBron James will decide to opt out of his contract in Miami and come back to Cleveland this off season as a free agent, I believe if the Cavs are serious about bringing James home again, it has to start there. If LeBron is not in their plans, then they can consider hiring a Tyronn Lue or a David Blatt as their inexperienced head coach and fill the small forward hole on their roster by picking either Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker and continue to build for the future with a young squad growing together over time.

But if the Cavaliers want to try and lure LeBron back and win right away, bold moves and chances have to be taken by Dan Gilbert and David Griffin, and hiring Jackson and drafting Embiid would be the place to start!

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TALKING SPURS CHAMPS, LEBRON A FREE AGENT?, CAVS DRAFT AND HEAD COACH

FoxSportsOhio.com NBA Beat Writer Sam Amico joined me just hours after the Heat lost to the Spurs in the NBA Finals and we quickly got into what that means for LeBron’s future. Will he opt out and become a Free Agent? If so, could he come back to Clevleand?Who are the Cavs going to take with that number #1 pick and who’s going to be coaching the “Wine and Gold” next year? Listen Here –

Sam Amico Photo

MARK PRICE TO INTERVIEW FOR CAVS HEAD COACHING POSITION

G.M. David Griffin and the Cavs will interview former Cavaliers point guard Mark Price for their vacant head coaching position on Tuesday, June 10th. @PDcavsinsider on Twitter was first to report this story.

Mark Price Video Photo

Price, a four time All-Star who played in Cleveland from 1986-95 and was an All-NBA first teamer for the Cavs in 1993, has been an assistant coach with the Charlotte Bobcats/ Hornets for the past year after spending time with the Nuggets, Hawks, Warriors and Magic as an instructor or assistant coach dating back to 2007.

One of the trends in the NBA now in finding new head coaches is hiring former NBA players who’ve had some success in the league and proved to be a leader both on and off the court, along with working their way up the coaching ranks as an assistant. Price, who just turned 50 back in February, meets that criteria.

Price joins at least Alvin Gentry, Vinny Del Negro, Lionel Hollins, Adrian Griffin, David Blatt and Tyronn Lue as individuals who have interviewed, or reportedly interviewed for the Cavs head coaching position.

The Lakers and Cavaliers remain as the only two NBA teams still without a head coach after former Lakers and Thunder point guard Derrick Fisher, reportedly will sign a 5-year deal worth $25 million dollars to be the new head coach for the New York Knicks.

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“RR60″ PODCAST – THE RODA REPORT IN 60 SECONDS

The NBA Draft is a little over two weeks away and the Cavs still don’t have a head coach. Are they getting closer to hiring one? If so, who’s the leader in the clubhouse? Listen here:

tyronn-lue-nba-los-angeles-clippers-phoenix-suns (photo courtesy of fansided.com)

LBJ AND THE CAVS, HOME FIELD ADVANATGE FOR THE TRIBE AND MANZIEL VS GORDON

If you’re a LeBron James fan and you’re hoping he might return to Cleveland in the off season, the only chance, and it’s a small one, the Cavs have off possibly getting LBJ to think about leaving Miami this off season and considering the Cavaliers in free agency is, if the Heat lose to the Spurs in the NBA Finals. This would nullify LeBron and the Heat a chance of going for a four-peat next year.  So if you want LeBron back, you’re thinking – Go Spurs Go!

Having said that, I picked the Heat to win the title at the beginning of the season, then again at the start of the playoffs and I’m sticking with them in 6 games over the Spurs. However I will be pulling for Timmy, Manu and Tony to exact their revenge after giving away the title last year.

The Cavs have talked with at least four head coaching candidates in Adrian Griffin, Tyronn Lue, Alvin Gentry and Lionel Hollins. Griffin and Lue are the hot, young assistants looking for their first chance to be a head coach in the NBA, while gentry and Hollins are the older, retreads if you will, who have had some success as head coaches in the NBA, but have never made it past the conference finals. It’ll be interesting to see which way new Cavs G.M. David Griffin and owner Dan Gilbert want to go.

Not sure who the clubhouse leader is, but keep this in mind. Gentry was with David Griffin in Phoenix and has some ties to Dan Gilbert when Gentry was with the Pistons.

But I’ve heard that Adrian Griffin had a very good interview and Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau has given him a ringing endorsement. Lue is respected throughout the league and has learned from one of the best head coaches in the league in Doc Rivers over the last 5 years.

My choice is still Fred Hoiberg from Iowa St., but sources tell me “The Mayor” is leaning towards staying in the college game for now, but I’m not ruling him out just yet.

Other names could pop up and we’ve probably missed some names of coaches they have at least made a phone call to. As David Griffin told us at his press conference, they’re in no hurry to name their coach because they want to make sure in their eyes, they get the right coach, not the first coach.

In case you were wondering my top three draft picks are 1-Andrew Wiggins, 2-Joel Embiid and 3-Jabari Parker. I’ve heard the Cavs top three are 1-Joel Embiid, 2-Andrew Wiggins and 3-Jabari Parker. Embiid is number one on the Cavs list pending a team physical and battery of tests on that questionable back of his.

After getting swept in Chicago by the White Sox, the Indians answered with a huge bounce back series sweep this weekend over the Rockies,  capped off by Michael Bourn’s walk-off 2-run homer on Sunday. The Tribe now with an A.L. best (18-11) home record with three more games left at Progressive Field this week against the Red Sox.

As for the Browns, sounds like his trips to Vegas and L.A. haven’t hurt Johnny Manziel’s performance on the practice field. While he hasn’t been perfect, he’s performed well from what I’ve been told. So I’ll say it today, like I did a week or so ago, chill out and judge the kid based on what he does on the field.

If you want to judge a player for his stupidity off the field then judge Josh Gordon. Gordon is just flat out stupid. Do you not want to play in the NFL? You’re waiting on the results of your appeal with the league involving a drug test and then you go and get a ticket for speeding with supposedly, allegedly marijuana in the car belonging to your friends. That’s just flat out STUPID! The Browns have to seriously consider just cutting ties with Gordon regardless of how talented he is on the field!

NBA DRAFT LOTTERY COULD DETERMINE THE PLAYER AND COACH FOR THE CAVS

Tuesday night’s NBA Draft lottery is important in so many ways for the Cavs. First they’ll find out where they’ll be picking. They have a 1.7% chance of getting the first overall pick out of the number #9 spot. It has happened once before when the Bulls entered the lottery in the 9th spot and ended up winning the lottery in 2008 and selected Derrick Rose first overall. The Cavs also have a 2% chance of landing the second pick and a 2.4% chance of getting the third pick in the draft. That’s a 6.1% chance of moving up into the top three picks to have a shot at Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker or Joel Embiid.

But don’t forget other teams could leap frog the Cavs and bump them back to 10th, 11th or 12th spot.  However in the history of the lottery, 81% of the time the team in the 9th spot has selected 9th. That’s what happens when you don’t have enough ping pong balls in the hopper.

The second reason Tuesday night’s draft lottery is so important is that potential coaching candidates will be watching to see where the Cavs end up picking in the lottery and that could have a major effect on whether or not a candidate would consider the Cavs. Remember the Lakers, Knicks, Jazz and Timberwolves all have coaching openings and are all in the lottery just like the Cavs.

David Griffin Photo 5-13-14

The third reason the lottery is important to the Cavs is it will allow them to set up their first interviews with the coaching candidates on their list. My sources tell me that the Cavaliers have not interviewed any coaches yet, but will start in earnest post lottery. The front office, led by new general manager David Griffin, reportedly has been putting together a coaching list and the traits they’re looking for in their next head coach.

My first choice remains current Iowa St. head coach Fred Hoiberg. But sources tell me he may not want to leave the college ranks for the NBA just yet.  However, if I’m the Cavs I make that phone call and have him tell me no before you scratch him off your list.

The other names the Cavs could be considering are Adrian Griffin, Alvin Gentry, Mike D’Antoni, Coach K., Tom Izzo, John Calipari, Alex Jenson, Lionel Hollins, Nate McMillan, Mark Jackson, Vinnie Del Negro, George Karl, and David Fizdale. Leave no stone unturned. I may be missing a candidate or two, but you get the idea. Put a huge list together; see who has the traits you’re looking for in your next head coach and then make a phone call and see if they’re interested.

So the wheels will be put in motion once the draft lottery is decided. G.M. David Griffin will be representing the Cavs on stage Tuesday, not Nick Gilbert. Here’s hoping some of Nick’s luck rubs off on Griff so he can bring back one of the top three picks. If he does, that would make the Cavs job extremely desirable to all of the potential coaching candidates!

FOX SPORTS OHIO’S SAM AMICO TALKS CAVS HIRING AND FIRINGS WITH ME

Cavs beat reporter Sam Amico and I breakdown the hiring of David Griffin full-time by the Cavs as G.M. and the firing of Mike Brown as head coach and the search for his replacement.

 

Mike Brown Cavs

CAVS FIRE HEAD COACH MIKE BROWN A SECOND TIME

After one season in his second stint as Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown has been fired once again by owner Dan Gilbert.

Mike Brown Photo

Mike Brown press conference (4-16-14) after Cavs final game of the season on his future.

 

Brown was brought in a second time because Gilbert wanted him to reinstitute his defensive game plan and mindset with a Cavaliers basketball team that had no interest in playing defense under Byron Scott. While the Cavs made some progress defensively and improved their win total by nine games at (33-49) in a under Brown, not making the playoffs in a year Gilbert and many expected the Cavs to be in the post-season probably cost Brown his job for the second time in Cleveland.

While Brown is on his way out, interim GM David Griffin was promoted today to full-time general manager of the team and his first task will be to begin the coaching search for Mike Brown’s replacement.

Cavs GM David Griffin

Potential candidates the Cavs and Griffin could be interested in are Mark Jackson, Fred Hoiberg, Stan Van Gundy, Steve Kerr, George Karl, Lionel Hollins, Adrian Griffin, Nate McMillan, David Fizdale, Alvin Gentry Tom Izzo and John Calipari to name a few.

Griffin will hold an official press conference tomorrow morning at 11am at Cleveland Clinic Courts to address the changes.