Yearly Archives: 2021

Cavs acquire Rajon Rondo from Lakers

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The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In need of some backcourt help, the Cavs struck a deal with the Lakers. Cleveland is sending Denzel Valentine to Los Angeles for Rajon Rondo.

Acquiring a backup point guard became a necessity after the season-ending injury to Ricky Rubio. Rubio was in the midst of one of his better seasons when the injury occurred and. was helping solidify an up and coming Cavs team. Conversely, Rajon Rondo is averaging career-lows in points (3.1), assists (3.7), and minutes per game (16.1). For Cleveland exchanging Valentine for Rondo is an upgrade, but it has more to do with an improvement over the low-end guards currently playing with Rubio out and Darius Garland in health and safety protocols. The Cavs had to make a move and Rondo was more than likely the best player available at the position. Rondo will most likely carve out some type of role in Cleveland, but it will not be impactful as what they had in the now injured Rubio.

Browns activate four, release two others

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The Cleveland Browns have activated four players from the reserve/COVID-19 list while releasing two others.

As expected, the Cleveland Browns continue to get more players back before Monday’s tilt in Pittsburgh. Cleveland activated Jordan Elliott, Chase McLaughlin, Greg Newsome, and JC Tretter. The Browns also released Chris Naggar and Josiah Bronson.

While McLaughlin may have to battle for his job with Chris Blewitt, Newsome and Tretter are both starters and Elliott is a role player. Getting these types of players back can only help the Browns in their uphill battle to make the playoffs.

Cavaliers unable to keep up with Wizards, lose 110-93

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The shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers were not able to make Thursday’s matchup with Washington a contest as they lost by 17 points.

Despite keeping things close in the first half, the Cleveland Cavaliers lack of depth became a clear problem in the second. Washington was able to pull away and at one point led by 21 points against an undermanned Cavs team. Cleveland struggled to shoot making 42.2% of their field goals (35-83), 28.6% from deep (8-28), and 65.2% fro the free throw line 15-23). The Wizards are far from a juggernaut, but there was difference in talent on the floor Thursday night.

This was the first game for Cleveland after losing Ricky Rubio for the season, As they were still without Darius Garland who is still currently in the league’s health and safety protocols, this led to some obvious problems for the Cavaliers. Cleveland was left to start Kevin Pangos and depend on Dylan Windler, R.J. Nembhard Jr., and Malik Newman as their primary guards with underwhelming results. This group of guards combined to go 6-23 for 15 points.

While the Cavaliers guards were a negative, at least Evan Mobley and Kevin Love were positives. Love finished with team-highs with 24 points and 11 rebonds. Mobley finished with 21 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal. Lauri Markkanen and Isaac Okoro both finished with 11 points, typical production from each player.

The Cavs have now lost two straight and find themselves at 20-15 on the season. Continuing to lose players by one way or another is having an impact on their ability to win games. That ability will be tested Friday night as they face the Hawks at home.

Browns sign Chris Blewitt to practice squad

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The Cleveland Browns have signed the 26-year old kicker to their practice squad.

Chris Blewitt has been signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad. Blewitt has appeared in two games fo the Washington Football Team this season.

This comes just one week after having to elevate Chris Naggar from the practice squad due to Chase McLaughlin landing on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Naggar made one of two extra-point attempts and his lone field goal attempt. Blewitt is 2-5 on field goals this season while making both extra-point attempts.

Ricky Rubio out for season with ACL tear

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The worst fears have been confirmed as the Cleveland Cavaliers guard will miss the rest of the season.

The moment Ricky Rubio went to the ground and signaled for help it did not look good. Initial speculation was an ACL injury and it was confirmed with an MRI on Wednesday. The 31-year old guard will miss the remainder of the season with an ACL tear.

The injury occurred late in Cleveland’s loss to the Pelicans Tuesday.

Ricky Rubio was having one of the most productive season of his career coming off the bench for the Cavs. Rubio was averaging 13.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 34 games this season. The injury to Rubio comes at a time that Darius Garland is in health and safety protocols and without Collin Sexton due to his own season-ending injury. Cleveland will have to figure out a way to configure their backcourt moving forward if they are going to continue to be a presence in the Eastern Conference.

Cavaliers fall short in Big Easy, lose 108-104

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The Cleveland Cavaliers were up early, but could not finish the job in New Orleans, losing to the Pelicans 108-104.

Early on it appeared that the Cleveland Cavaliers were going to cruise to an easy win. Shot after shot went in and the Cavs even held a 19 point lead after the 1st quarter. That is why all four quarters are played, because New Orleans was able to crawl back by outscoring Cleveland in the following three quarters and heading the Cavaliers a four-point loss.

Cleveland actually held a double-digit lead in the 4th quarter, but were not able to score when it counted. It was clear that the key players in the Cavaliers lineup were exhausted and were out of energy. Due to numerous players still in the league’s health and safety protocols, minutes were distributed among a smaller group of players than normal.

The Cavs entered the game without Darius Garland as he entered COVID protocols earlier in the day. Ricky Rubio would take his place in the starting lineup, nearly ending up with a triple-double. Rubio finished with 27 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Unfortunately Rubio would exit the game with an injury late in the 4th quarter and was not able to walk off under his own power, being helped to the locker room immediately after leaving the floor.

Evan Mobley made his return to the Cavaliers lineup after clearing COVID protocols. Mobley would score 22 points and grab seven rebounds in his first game since December 13th. With the return of Mobley, Kevin Love went back to his role coming off the bench. Love was still a force, scoring 24 points powered by seven made threes in 32 minutes.

The Cavaliers road trip continues Thursday in Washington. Cleveland has a chance to win their third of four matchups with the Wizards this season.

Browns make practice squad moves

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The Cleveland Browns have made four moves involving their practice squad Tuesday.

Lawrence Cager and Miller Forristall in, Bryan Mills and JoJo Natson out. Those are the practice squad moves that the Cleveland Browns made on Tuesday.

Of all the players involved, Natson is the player who has seen the field the most with just 30 total snaps. Forristall follows in second with 29, Cager is in third with just one, and Mills has not seen the field this season. Considering the Browns have signed and released a group of players all season long on the practice squad, these moves are far from final.

 

Cavs sign Malik Newman to 10-day hardship deal

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The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed the current G-League guard to a 10-day deal.

Malik Newman has signed a 10-day hardship deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Newman is the fourth player has signed this season using this exemption.

The signing of Newman comes after Cavaliers guard Darius Garland entered COVID-19 protocols. Cleveland is not a team with a lot of depth at the guard position, so signing Newman on a temporary basis helps them bridge the gap between now and when Garland returns.

Malik Newman is averaging 17.8 points on 47.3% shooting from the field while making 42.3% of his three-point attempts in 13 games for the Charge.

Darius Garland enters COVID protocols

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The Cleveland Cavaliers guard  has entered COVID-19 protocols.

Darius Garland is now in COVID-19 portals according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Garland is entering protocols just as rookie Evan Mobley cleared them.

One of the biggest reasons why the Cavs are playing as well as they are this season, Darius Garland is averaging career-highs in points (19.5), assists (7.3), field goal percentage (47.9), and rebounds (3). It is possible the Cavaliers can weather the storm while Garland is out, but they are definitely a better team with him in the lineup.