Hey Windy --- 2.12.15 (special Thursday edition before All Star break)
http://stationcaster.com/stations/w..._Brian_Windhorst___Jason_Gibbs-1423750781.mp3
01. Cavs are 31-13 when LeBron plays, that winning percentage would put them only behind Golden State and Atlanta.
02. Cavs core is in place. They are ready for a title run, this year.
03. Cavs schedule will tighten up after the All Star game break.
04. The Cavs are now a "fearsome" team.
05. Most of my days now are taken up talking with agents and league executives. They are saying that Cleveland looks good.
06. The Cavs are starting to "rattle the cages" of teams around the league. Scaring them.
07. There are still a few things with the Cavs that are shaky. But overall they are in a good place.
08. (discussing LeBron tweet about Love; host setting it up to talk about)
09. LeBron and Kevin Love are ok.
10. LeBron is trying to impose his will on how the team will be run on the floor. He did this with Kyrie at start of the year, playing point guard. This helped the Cavs. Now LeBron is trying to get Kevin Love to buy into how Love will be used now.
11. LeBron is trying to "manage" Kevin Love. Trying to get him to fall in line, as he did with Kyrie.
12. How many times is Kevin Love going to get dumped on before he gets fed up? Not getting the ball in the 4th; being benched in the 4th quarter.
13. After all the tweet stuff, Love keeps saying "it's ok." Is he saying this because he feels it, or is he really ticked off on the inside?
14. Is Kevin Love putting up a facade that could crack later, like in the playoffs or when Love becomes a free agent?
15. The Cavs don't treat Love like a mid market team usually would treat a potential max player. They're treating him like he isn't going to make a decision on the team this summer.
16. Kevin Love's agent is one of the best in the league. Seems doubtful he has locked Love into staying in Cleveland already.
17. Love has been better with more rest. This makes me think that his back could be an issue.
18. Perhaps Love's back is making him less effective later in the game?
19. (Windy reads off stats when Love has no rest between games; shooting way down).
20. Host: Why don't Cavs shut Love down like they did LeBron?
21. I'm not sure if Love has a back issue or not. But there are times when he moves like an 80 year old.
22. It sounds like Love's eye was doing better by the time the team flew to Chicago.
23. Love may try to play tonight. If Cavs win tonight, they win tiebreaker over Chicago for the season.
24. Host: Love not come out from Cavs locker room against Lakers (following the game) until all other players left already.
25. Love is spending a lot of time in the training room.
26. Host: Love may be more even more a loner than Kyrie is, or was.
27. LeBron wants to be at the center of everything. He has parties at his house, hosts dinners, takes teammates to games.
28. Kyrie and Love have different personalities than LeBron does. I don't think it's a big issue.
29. Heat are targeting 2016 same as they did for 2010. So can spend on free agency.
30. Heat are a shell of what they used to be defensively.
31. The Cavs obliterated the Heat on the interior last night.
32. The Heat clearly miss LeBron.
33. It's nice to have LeBron James.
34. LeBron slipped on defense last year. Was his worst since his second year in the league.
35. LeBron does not seem to be giving the same effort on defense this year, either.
36. Let's see how LeBron's defense looks in the postseason before we say too much about LeBron's defense.
37. I talked with Ray Allen's agent this week. Agent said he's not sure if Ray will come back at all.
38. Allen expects to decide IF he will play after All Star weekend.
39. I'm not sure why Ray Allen is delaying his decision.
40. The Cavs are very confident they will get Ray Allen if Allen decides to come back and play.
41. Cavs switching to a 8-man rotation is good. Part of why Cleveland playing better.
42. But not sure if Ray Allen fits in with Cavs shortened rotation.
43. I think Atlanta would be best fit for Ray Allen. There is a hole behind Kyle Korver.
44. I think the Memphis Grizzlies could be a good fit for Ray Allen.
45. Cavs would/should sign Ray Allen if he calls you and says he's ready to play.
46. If I'm the Cavs, I'm still looking for a way to get a point guard and maybe a center. Getting a wing player like Ray Allen is not necessarily a priority right now.
47. I don't dislike Dellavedova. I just think that Delly is not a guy you want, at this point in his career, as someone in your 8 man rotation in a Finals game.
48. Cavs can be just fine even if Ray Allen does not come to the team.
49. Cavs are making Brendan Haywood available in trades.
50. I still think it's a good idea to hold on to Haywood, and keep your options open.
51. Cavs are looking for either a backup point guard or a backup center.
52. Cavs may have to include Joe Harris in a deal (with Haywood) to unload Haywood.
53. Cavs have offered Haywood for Jameer Nelson of the Nuggets.
54. Many teams are in position to make the playoffs right now. So there are fewer "sellers" in the personnel market at this time.
55. Denver will be active in dealing players next week, before trade deadline.
56. Jameer Nelson could be a good pick up.
57. I think Nelson deal is most likely for the Cavs of all available potential deals.
58. Luke Ridnour also may be available.
59. Nelson, Ridnour are about only point guards you could get for Haywood's contract.
60. Centers you could get in a trade are Robert Sacre and Ryan Hollins.
61. Cavs had interest in Sacre in the past.
62. Cavs can be active in buyout market. And for guys who will be coming back from China after their season ends.
63. I can just about 1 billion percent guarantee that Cavs will pick up Mozgov's contract option.
64. I think Cavs want to keep Thompson as well.
65. I think JR Smith is about 95% to opt out of his contract, barring an injury.
66. I do think Cavs intend to keep Tristan Thompson, it's just a matter of how it gets done. I think Thompson contract issue could drag out long into the summer.
67. Mike Miller is a zombie. He will get dusted off at some point and come in and hit threes.
68. James Jones is same as Mike Miller. Will be needed at some point and will come in and hit threes.
69. I think Cavs should want to get on the opposite side of the playoff bracket from Chicago.
70. I'm more concerned about the Bulls than Atlanta in the playoffs.
71. I may have to eat crow on the Hawks.
72. Chicago is a formidable team, despite their record.
73. It would be great if Cavs could have home court for first two rounds of playoffs.
74. Salary Cap 101. If you sign Ray Allen to a veteran minimum contract, it is pro-rated over how many games left in the season. It's worth about $13,000 per game. But other teams may be able to pay Ray Allen more than the Cavs can pay him. Like the Hawks.
75. Non Bold Prediction. I think that by next Friday the Cavs will have made a small trade. Likely for a point guard, not a big man. Nelson is the highest likelihood.
76. Jameer Nelson has already been traded twice this season.
77. Teams like veteran players like Nelson.
