Ricky Rubio to put career on hold

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Cleveland Cavaliers veteran point guard Ricky Rubio has announced he is putting his career as a professional basketball on hold. Rubio stated that he will be focusing on his mental health during his time away from the game.

Taking time to focus on one’s mental health is very important should an individual deem that necessary. Personal matters should always come first as there are more important things in life than a game. Basketball will always be there. There is no reason to put mental health on the back burner in order to play the game of basketball. Stepping away and taking the right steps to improve mental health when needed is and will always be the correct course of action.

Darius Garland on Knicks: “They beat us up”

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland did not mince words when describing their postseason exit at the hands of the New York Knicks. Garland spoke with Cavs beat writer Chris Fedor and described the overall physical nature of their playoff matchup with New York.

I think their physicality took a toll on us in that series. They beat us up. We now know how physical the game is in the playoffs and we know how fast the pace is and every possession matters. Just taking little bits and pieces of that series and trying to put it together for the regular season and then also carry that into the playoffs.

Darius Garland on series with Knicks

Darius Garland also made sure to note that this was the first playoff action for a lot of the Cavs’ players. This is something that is very important in the grand scheme of things. There is value in being a young team and getting your teeth knocked in during a postseason series loss. The playoffs are a completely different animal and sometimes that leads to exits in this manner. But this should not mean anyone should be down on the future of this team.

Although Cleveland’s first postseason trip in the second post-LeBron era did not go their way, it will prove to be a valuable learning experience for everyone involved. Getting that first taste of posteason play is so crucial in the development of a team. There is simply no substitute for actual playoff basketball and replicating it properly is impossible.

Cleveland expects to get back to the playoffs this year and the hope is that they can draw from their prior learning experience as a way to get better. The front office has brought in a collection of new players to help their cause. Now it is up to the players to hold up their end of the deal and put together a more successful postseason run.

Cavs crack Top 10 in ESPN Power Ranking

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Are the Cleveland Cavaliers a Top 10 team in the NBA? ESPN seems to think so as they have the Cavs just making the cut in their post-offseason power rankings. A group including Kendra Andrews, crybaby Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Andrew Lopez, Tim McMahon, Dave McMenamin, and Ohm Youngmisuk was consulted when putting together this list. This group ultimately has Cleveland ranked ninth in the NBA. McMenamin provided the information on the Cavs’ entry.

After the franchise’s momentum was stalled with a first-round flameout against New York, the Cavs have had a strong offseason — from adding Max Strus and Georges Niang to rookie Emoni Bates looking like a potential steal in Cleveland’s run to the summer league championship. Still, the biggest question remains if the team can make enough strides next season to convince Donovan Mitchell to extend and make The Land his home. 

Dave McMenamin on the Cavs

The only team in the Central Division to be ranked higher than Cleveland is Milwaukee (2) and rightfully so. The Bucks finished with the best record in the NBA last season and are considered to be on the short list of elite teams. Cleveland is on their way to that level, although a sizeable gap remains currently.

Expectations are high in Cleveland as the Cavs are expected to go from postseason participant to true contender. The front office identified areas of need and hopefully found solutions as noted above. There are some concerns about the length of Donovan Mitchell’s stay in Cleveland, but that is not anything to get worked up about at the current moment. The current focus is on improving now and putting together a deeper postseason run. After that is when working on an extension for Mitchell becomes their top priority.

When to expect a possible Donovan Mitchell extension

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What is the expected timeline for contract extension talks between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Donovan Mitchell?

The future of Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland has been one of two recurring topics this offseason, (the other being trade rumors involving Jarrett Allen). While there is no genuine information at this time about a potential departure, that not has stopped speculation from those in other larger markets.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst made an appearance Monday on NBA Today, providing some insight into the situation.

I don’t think under any circumstances he was ever considering extending this season, and I think the Cavs knew that when they traded for him

Brian Windhorst on Donovan Mitchell

Windhorst would also add that it is next year when should be any sort of pressure to sign Mitchell to an extension. Even though it would be a bit comforting to have a resolution sooner rather than later, there is no need to panic as of yet. The Cavaliers have been reportedly “rolling out the red carpet” for Donovan Mitchell and this is a process that takes time.

This does appear to be unwelcome news for perpetual crybaby Tim Bontemps. Bontemps has been campaigning all summer for the Cavaliers to trade Donovan Mitchell. There could be a time when the Cavs are put in a position where it would be wise to trade Mitchell, but it doe not appear to be coming any time soon.

Jarrett Allen an option for New Orleans? Cavs big man named possible target for Pelicans

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Trade rumors involving Jarrett Allen just never seem to go away. Unlike those involving Donovan Mitchell, this seems to be rooted more in reality. There are concerns about the long-term viability of Allen and Evan Mobley and moving the former could lead to better results for the latter.

A discussion-style article between William Guillory and John Hollinger appeared in The Athletic with Jarrett Allen being mentioned as a possibility to go to New Orleans. Guillory mentioned the Cavs’ center as an option for the Pelicans.

With Valančiūnas heading into the final year of his deal, the Pels have been sniffing around for other options in recent months. There have been rumors of them exploring potential deals for Jarrett Allen or Isaiah Stewart, but nothing has materialized quite yet.

William Guillory

But when it came to whether or not a realistic deal could be made between the two sides, Hollinger believes if there was one it would have already been made.

I imagine if there was a realistic deal that satisfied both sides, Allen would already be in town. The Cavs would likely be looking for things in an Allen deal the Pels either can’t provide or would be extremely reluctant to (i.e., Murphy, Dyson Daniels, Lakers pick); part of what makes filling this spot such a challenge is finding the right cost in terms of assets.

John Hollinger

That is the difficulty when it comes to potential trades of Jarrett Allen. It has been stated previously that Allen is more valuable to the Cavs than anyone else. With that in mind, getting a fair return in their eyes will be difficult. This is not to say that Cleveland should lower their demands by any means. It is just that he is valued much differently by other organizations. This fact is something to consider when discussing possible trades of their starting center.

There has not been any indication that the Cavs are shopping Jarrett Allen at this time. That has not stopped teams from approaching them with possible trade offers though. It is possible that the Cavs alter their plans during the season based on how things paly out. For now, expect Allen in Cleveland on Opening Night.

MLB trade deadline: More teams in the mix for Justin Verlander

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At least one mystery team has emerged as a potential suitor for New York Mets pitcher Justin Verlander. This is according to a report from Jon Heyman via Twitter.

Mystery team(s) emerging for Justin Verlander. In other words “other significant interest” beyond the known Astros and Dodgers

Jon Heyman on Justin Verlander’s market via Twitter

The Dodgers and Astros were mentioned as teams interested in Verlander previously with Houston being seen as an also-ran of sorts due to difficulties they could have in making a deal. The Astros are still in the mix and should be considered as such until Verlander lands elsewhere. Los Angeles still appears to be a very likely destination but the presence of at least one mystery team could alter the chances of Verlander donning a Dodgers uniform.

New York is clearly in sell mode. Pulling the plug on the Justin Verlander era in Queens is far from ideal but appears inevitable. It has been a season full of underwhelming performances for the Mets, leading to the team trailing by nearly 20 games in the division.

The Mets have already made several trades ahead of Tuesday’s deadline and a deal involving Verlander appears all but certain. New York is looking to reset and regroup for next season. This would be the correct course of action with how the season has gone up to this point. Looking forward with a younger pitching staff should be the priority for 2024.

Are the Cavs projected to be better or worse in 2023-24?

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There are plenty of reasons for optimism regarding how the Cavs will do in 2023-24. The front office addressed areas of need, but will the team actually be better next season? This is a fair question to pose about the newly reconfigured Cavaliers.

A recent article published by Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale believes that to be the case. This is not necessarily surprising considering the Cavs were named as one of the most improved teams previously by Favale. The additions of Max Strus and Georges Niang were noted as reasons to believe they are better off.

Max Strus and Georges Niang bring legitimate outside touch on high volume. The floor will open significantly for Cleveland’s Core Four, both in the playoffs and regular season, with Strus sponging up reps at the 3.

The Cavs brought in Strus and Niang to help out in the three-point department. Cleveland has struggled in that area for some time and improvements were desperately needed. Taking on proper complementary roles, this new three-point duo should make the jobs of everyone else just a bit easier.

Ideally, this version of the Cavs should be able to progress a bit further in the postseason. The team notably struggled against the Knicks and there have been plenty of questions about the compatibility of a few players on the roster. Hopefully having the right supporting case can lead to those questions disappearing and the team performing at the level that is expected of them.

Is Justin Verlander the next to go? Mets could trade another starting pitcher

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Even after trading Max Scherzer to Texas, the New York Mets could continue to sell. Plenty of teams have expressed interest in Justin Verlander and he could be the next arm making his exit from Queens. Verlander was reportedly a target for the Giants, but those rumors appear to have gone by the wayside.

A reunion with Houston was rumored to be on the table, but it is now considered unlikely. A more realistic landing spot appears to be in Los Angeles with the Dodgers. Verlander would certainly be a big-time pitcher for a contender that is still looking to add to their rotation. The Dodgers will be able to make things work out from a prospect and financial aspect. This would be appealing to the Mets should an acceptable offer be on the table. But as far as Verlander being on the move is concerned, he would have to waive his no-trade clause as Sherzer did Saturday.

Going down this route is a wise move for the Mets. The 2023 season has been a failure and looking to regroup for next season is the correct course of action. New York is clearly in sell mode and getting something in return for Justin Verlander is the right move. It is a tough pill to swallow for Steven Cohen, but selling rather than throwing more money at the current version of the Mets is a tough, but wise decision. Getting younger in the rotation after moving two players on the back end of their careers should help from a long-term perspective and that should be very appealing to the decision-makers in the Mets’ front office.

Cavs “rolling out the red carpet” for Donovan Mitchell

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are doing everything they can to convince Donovan Mitchell to stay with the organization.

Despite the almost non-stop pleas from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the Cleveland Cavaliers are not looking to trade Donovan Mitchell “today” as he requested. In fact, they are taking an approach that was embraced by George Costanza known as The Opposite.

According to a recent report, the Cavs are going above and beyond to make sure that Donovan Mitchell is happy.

They’re doing their best to reconfigure things around him and just keep rolling out the red carpet, making sure he knows he is taking care of, all of that

Additionally, it was noted that the team is not looking to give up on Mitchell’s time in Cleveland after just one season. The Cavs made this trade by giving up several players and draft picks. There is absolutely no reason for them to pull the plug on their current roster configuration. The decision to trade for Mitchell was made with the intention that he would be here for the long haul. Giving up after a single season would be a rather epic level of mismanagement.

The Cavaliers have made several moves to bolster their depth this offseason. A much improved supporting cast in Cleveland should make things a bit easier for everyone, including Mitchell. The Cavs improving their talent level combined with a deeper postseason should result in Mitchell being more open to staying. That is as long as this season goes the way most expect.

Bontemps is free to whine like a petulant child about how the Cavs should trade Donovan Mitchell all he wants. It may be best for him (and others) not to get his hopes up though. Cleveland is looking to take steps forward and trading Mitchell would be counterproductive. As long as the Cavs look to compete, expect Mitchell to be in Cleveland.

Is Max Strus Cleveland’s weakest starter?

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Max Strus has played exactly zero games for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but that has not stopped him from being labeled as the weakest starter on the team.

A recently published article from Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey titled “The Weakest Link in Every NBA Team’s Starting Lineup” has identified the recently acquired Strus as the so-called weak link in the Cavs lineup. If this seems unfair, well that is because it is. Bailey even stated that he got this designation by default. It is not ideal, but that can be the reality of evaluating a team’s starting five.

This is the tough thing when it comes to evaluating a new complementary player on an already established team. Cleveland had a very specific need this offseason and they went out and addressed it. It is not a super sexy move or an addition of a star player, but it needed to be done.

Max Strus is not going to be tasked with being a high-usage player for the Cavs. In fact, that is not why Cleveland acquired him. The Cavaliers were looking for an upgrade at the small forward position due to their previous options being underwhelming. Strus does not need to be a star, he just needs to play off of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley. And if it results in him being labeled their weakest starter, so be it.