The Cavs drafting Anthony Bennett is fine, partly because he's not Nerlens Noel or Alex Len. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A sense of relief.

That's what I felt when the Cavs drafted Anthony Bennett.

Yes, my choice at No. 1 was Otto Porter, the Georgetown small forward.

But the Cavaliers' selection of Bennett is fine with me, partly because he's not Nerlens Noel or Alex Len.

The medical reports on those two big men were scary, and obviously other teams felt the same way.

Consider the first big man drafted was not Len, the 7-foot-1 center from Maryland. He also is the one with a stress fracture in his ankle.

It was not Noel, the 6-11, 210-pounder from Kentucky. He had an ACL injury in February, his second knee surgery in four years.

The first big man picked was Cody Zeller, the center from Indiana who was selected by Charlotte at No. 4.

Len went No. 5 to the Suns.

On Monday, I wrote: "Over and over, I hear the Cavs like Anthony Bennett. I hear he could be their Dion Waiters, draft-night surprise.

"He played one year at UNLV at 6-8, 240 pounds.

"There are reports that he now weighs 260, as he's been out with shoulder surgery. He is a bit short for a power forward, but the Cavs are among several NBA teams who are intrigued by the athletic Bennett."

If you check his scouting tapes on sites such as draftexpress.com you can see the athleticism and pure basketball talent. Bennett averaged 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 27 minutes as a freshman at UNLV.

The Cavs scouted Bennett in person at least eight times. During the season, they were thinking they'd probably draft between third and sixth, and they fell in love with his offense. Despite being 240 pounds for the Rebels, Bennett is a surprisingly graceful ballhander. He's a solid mid-range jump shooter, who shot 38 percent from 3-point range.

Defensively, there is nothing to discuss because he played no defense. Neither did much of anyone else with UNLV, so it will be fun to watch him and new Cavs coach Mike Brown go at it in practice. Bennett is recovering from post-season shoulder surgery, but it's not supposed to be a long term issue.

Yes, the Cavs have Tristan Thompson as their starting power forward. It's doubtful Bennett can defend small forwards, so his best spot is power forward. Brown will probably juggle Anderson Varejao, Tyler Zeller, Thompson and Bennett as center/power forward. That's depth in the frontcourt, and protection in case Varejao, who played only 81 games in the past three years, is hurt again or traded.

So Bennett to the Cavs?

Not my first choice, but I still like it.

Join Glenn Moore, Chris Fedor and Dan Labbe for cleveland.com's NBA Draft Show live from Quicken Loans Arena.

Who will the Cavaliers select with the No. 1 pick? Join cleveland.com for live coverage from Quicken Loans Arena.cleveland.com 

The 2013 NBA Draft is finally here.

More: NBA Draft Megablog: Pick-by-pick coverage | Live draft board

Bennett came out of UNLV after his freshman season.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The Cleveland Cavaliers selected UNLV power forward Anthony Bennett as the No. 1 player in the 2013 NBA Draft on Thursday night at Barclays Center.

Bennett, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound Canadian, averaged 16.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, one assist and 1.2 blocks in 35 games last season as a freshman.

The selection ended a month of speculation after the Cavs won the NBA Draft Lottery on May 21. At least a half dozen players were rumored to be under consideration by the Cavs for the No. 1 pick.

The team also tried to trade the pick.

The Cavs also have the Nos. 19, 31 and 33 picks. 

This was the second time in three years and the fifth time overall the Cavs have had the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Their previous No. 1 picks were Austin Carr (1971), Brad Daugherty (1986), LeBron James (2003) and Kyrie Irving (2011).

Bennett entered the 2013 draft after his freshman season.

A scouting report on Bennett by NBADraftBlog.com includes this about his play on defense:

Bennett uses his body well to anchor his position in the post. He has quick feet and hands to counter any movement by the offensive player, and he has the size to play physical. Bennett's biggest problem is that he will hesitate, even avoid, playing physical in the post, and he has given up on plays when he has been beat. With his size, he should do a much better job forcing players off the block. He also can do a better job as a help defender around the basket, where he can be a step or two slow to realize what is happening and getting to the spot to help. Bennett needs to do a better job being aware on the defensive end. Bennett has good foot speed and lateral quickness to defend players on the perimeter, but he needs to do a better job with his positioning and his reaction time to his player's movements.

Forward Anthony Bennett of UNLV and center-forward Kelly Olynyk of Gonzaga should be first-round picks and help lead Canada's future prospects in the NBA. (By Nicole Auerbach, USA Today, June 23)

It's even as to who the top forward prospect is in the draft: UNLV's Anthony Bennett or Georgetown's Otto Porter Jr. (By Andy Glockner, Sports Illustrated, June 22)

Anthony Bennett has a visit with Charlotte, but can't work out for the Bobcats because he's recovering from surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder. (By Rick Bonnell, Charlotte Observer, June 22)

The Cavaliers get ready for a visit from UNLV forward Anthony Bennett. (By Jason Lloyd, Akron Beacon Journal, June 16)

From UNLV's athletics website, a biography of Anthony Bennett going into his freshman season. (unlvrebels.com)

Anthony Bennett, a McDonald's All-American high school player, hopes to reward his mother for all of her hard work. (By Mitch Sherman, ESPN RecruitingNation, March 27, 2012)

Video: A DraftExpress scouting report on forward Anthony Bennett:

Video: Anthony Bennett is interviewed after meeting with the Phoenix Suns earlier this month:

Video: Highlight plays for Anthony Bennett, from FoxSports:

Plain Dealer reporter Mike Peticca contributed to this report

Get updates and chat as the Cavaliers introduce their 2013 draft picks during a 1:30 p.m. press conference. Watch video

INDEPENDENCE -- The Cleveland Cavaliers walked away from the 2013 NBA Draft with three selections, including UNLV's Anthony Bennett (No. 1 overall), Sergey Karasev (No. 19) and Carrick Felix (No. 33).

Haslam said Browns fans have "absolutely zero to worry about."

BEREA, Ohio – Jimmy Haslam is selling his share of a pro sports franchise – but it’s not the Browns.

The embattled Pilot Flying J CEO is part of a group selling a minor-league baseball team, the Tennessee Smokies, to a Knoxville, Tenn., businessman.

Haslam told the Knoxville News Sentinel the transaction is not related to a federal investigation into his company that already has produced five guilty pleas from Pilot Flying J employees.

Haslam has maintained his innocence in the rebate-fraud scheme. But as the probe deepens and lawsuits mount, some wonder if Haslam will be forced to sell the team. The truck-stop magnate told the newspaper on Thursday that Browns fans have “absolutely zero to worry about.” In fact, he said part of his rationale for selling the minor-league club is Browns-related.

“It does have something to do with Cleveland in that we’re obviously going to be spending more time there,” Haslam told reporters. “But I think the reality is the entire partnership group had owned the team for 12 years and felt like it was time for new ownership.”

Haslam, along with his father, James, and brother, Bill, were among a group of Knoxville investors who owned the Smokies, a Class AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The Browns owner declined to answer any questions about the FBI investigation on Thursday.

Haslam bought the Browns last year for $1 billion from Randy Lerner. He was part of a group that reportedly bought the Smokies for $7.5 million in 2002. 

Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco have officially joined the Indians for Friday's doubleheader against Chicago. Bauer will start in Game 1 and Carrasco in Game 2

Trevor Bauer will face the White Sox on Friday in Game 1 of a doubleheader at U.S. Celluilar Field.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer 

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Indians cleared a path for their starting pitchers in Friday's doubleheader against Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field.

Trevor Bauer, Game 1 starter, was recalled from Class AAA Columbus. Lefty Nick Hagadone, the Indians' Elevator Man, was optioned to Columbus to make room.

Carlos Carrasco, the Game 2 starter, arrived as well. He's designated as the Indians' 26th man under the expanded roster rules for doubleheaders. He must be optioned to Columbus after his start.

This will be Bauer's fourth spot start for the Tribe this season. He's 1-2 with a 2.76 ERA (five earned runs in 16 1/3 innings) with 15 walks, 11 strikeouts and a .161 batting average against.

In 12 starts at Columbus, Bauer is 3-2 with a 4.13 ERA. He's struck out 67, walked 36 and allowed 59 hits in 65 1/3 innings.

Carrasco, who has served two suspensions this season for hitting batters, is 0-3 with a 7.78 ERA in four starts for the Tribe.

Hagadone been on the elevator between Columbus and Cleveland so many times this season it's hard to keep track. He's 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 27 appearances for the Tribe. He's struck out 22, walked 15 and allowed 18 hits in 25 innings.

The 2013 NBA draft is now in the books. It started with a huge surprise at No. 1. But that was only the beginning of a crazy night in the NBA. The trades and shockers continued through the night. It's time to hand out the grades.

CLEVELAND -- The 2013 NBA draft is now in the books. It started with a huge surprise at No. 1. But that was only the beginning of a crazy night in the NBA. The trades and shockers continued through the night. While none of us will truly know how these teams actually fared for a few years, it's time to hand out the grades. There was only one team (Toronto Raptors) that didn't receive a grade. That's because they didn't make any picks on Thursday night. I'm usually a generous grader, but some teams made it tough this year with their blunders.

Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks

The Picks:

16. Lucas Noguiera, Center, Brazil

17. Dennis Schroeder, Point Guard, Germany

44. Mike Muscala, Center, Bucknell

47. Raul Neto, Point Guard, Brazil

Analysis: General Manager Danny Ferry got his start with the San Antonio Spurs. He does a lot of scouting overseas and it showed on draft night. Noguiera brings athleticism, shot-blocking and rebounding. With some time, he has the ability to be a rim protector in the NBA. Schroeder has been compared to Rajon Rondo. In a draft loaded with point guards, the Hawks needed to make sure they nabbed one that could run their offense. They did that. Schroeder is quick and athletic. The real question is when these players will actually play in Atlanta as neither appears ready for the NBA. Both need time to develop.

Muscala, on the other hand, could have an impact right away. He is a ready-made 7-footer who has a good offensive game and isn't afraid to mix it up underneath the basket. He should find his way into Atlanta's rotation before long.

As for Neto, he is a player the Hawks will stash overseas this season. He's not ready and may never be.  

The Hawks gambled on upside in this draft. Will Ferry be around long enough to see it come to fruition?

Grade: C+

Boston Celtics

The Picks:

13. Kelly Olynyk, Center, Gonzaga

53. Colton Iverson, Center, Colorado State

Analysis: The Boston Celtics are in the midst of a giant rebuild. It appears both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are on their way out of Beantown in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics will reportedly get a haul of first round picks for the future. That's exactly what a rebuilding team needs. This trade, though, comes right on the heels of their head coach, Doc Rivers, being sent to the Los Angeles Clippers. The next step is for the Celtics to figure out what they will do with point guard Rajon Rondo. As for this draft, the Celtics selected two big men who couldn't possibly be any different.

Olynyk is a skilled big that has a tremendous offensive arsenal. The former hockey player won't make anyone forget Garnett, and he needs to learn to finish with contact, but the Celtics needed to provide offense along the front line. Olynyk can do that. The Gonzaga big man will be part of the new young core. Iverson is a big body. He will hustle, rebound and bring toughness off the bench. He's nothing more than a rotational big.

Grade: C

Brooklyn Nets

The Picks:

22. Mason Plumlee, Center, Duke

Analysis: While other teams were focusing on this year's draft, the Nets were putting together a blockbuster trade. They now have an agreement in place to bring Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry to Brooklyn. The trade makes the Nets a threat to the Miami Heat in the East. They now have a starting five loaded with All-Stars.

The Nets addressed their biggest need with their lone pick. Plumlee will never be a star in the NBA but he will provide athleticism, rebounding and depth on their frontline. The Nets learned they were too thin up front in their series against Chicago. They set out to remedy that Thursday. And they did.

Grade: B-

Charlotte Bobcats

The Picks:

4. Cody Zeller, Power Forward/Center, Indiana

Analysis: The good news is the Bobcats only had one pick to screw up this year. The bad news is that's exactly what they did. It's clear Charlotte doesn't have any idea what it's doing when it comes to the draft. The Bobcats once again showed why they will be at the lottery party in 2014. Cody Zeller in the teens turns into a value pick. Cody Zeller at No. 4? Instead of Nerlens Noel and Ben McLemore? Gigantic mistake. Zeller was one of the better players in college basketball this season, but I think the NBA will be too physical for him early on. In Charlotte, he will be asked to be the go-to offensive option in time. I don't think he will ever be capable of that. Not to mention, McLemore was the player Charlotte needed the most from this draft and was there for the taking. Yet the Bobcats passed. Charlotte failing on draft night has become an annual tradition.

Grade: F

Chicago Bulls

The Picks:

20. Tony Snell, Shooting Guard, New Mexico

49. Erick Murphy, Power Forward, Florida

Analysis: There were a handful of shooting guards available when the Bulls' pick came around. Shooting guards are sorely needed on this team, and fortunately, they picked one. The pick makes a lot of sense, and Snell will be able to come in and contribute right away in the NBA. His inconsistency was an issue. Not to mention Allen Crabbe, Reggie Bullock and Tim Hardaway Jr. were all better options at No. 20. As for Murphy in the second round, the Bulls needed more depth up front. He can space the floor and knock down outside shots. But he doesn't do much more. He may struggle to get in the rotation.

Grade: C-

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Picks:

1. Anthony Bennett, Small Forward/Power Forward, UNLV

19. Sergey Karasev, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Russia

33. Carrick Felix, Shooting Guard, Arizona State

Analysis: The Cavs started the draft with a surprise by taking Anthony Bennett. It wasn't a bad pick. The versatile forward from UNLV is a top 5 player in this year's draft. But the Cavs had the No. 1 pick. They should have left Brooklyn with the best player. I don't think they did. Bennett is solid. He is one of the best pure scorers in the class. He will be able to score inside and outside in the NBA. He will be able to run the pick-and-roll with Kyrie Irving and be a handful for opposing teams offensively. Sergey Karasev at No. 19 was a great pick. He was a steal. The sweet-shooting lefty will make the defense pay for giving too much attention to Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters when they attack the rim. He is ready to contribute right away and has a great understanding of the game. The second round was once again a head-scratcher. The Cavs bypassed too much talent (Allen Crabbe, Jamaal Franklin, Glen Rice Jr., Tony Mitchell, Jeff Withey and Erick Green) in the round again and left with Carrick Felix. He is athletic and can defend. He's one of the last guys on a contending team's bench. The draft all comes down to Bennett, though. Five years from now will anyone be saying Anthony Bennett was the best player to come from the 2013 draft? I wouldn't bet on it.  The Cavs will regret passing on Ben McLemore, the draft's best player. McLemore was the best pick for the Cavs at No. 1.

Grade: B+

Detroit Pistons

The Picks:

8. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Shooting Guard, Georgia

37. Tony Mitchell, power Forward, North Texas

56. Peyton Siva, Point Guard, Louisville

Analysis: The Detroit Pistons have a very good, young frontcourt led by Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe. They needed to address their backcourt. They needed scoring on the perimeter and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is one of the best in the draft. He can slash to the bucket and shoot from the outside. It was a bit surprising that Detroit passed up on the top two point guards considering their need there. It was also surprising to see the Pistons overlook C.J. McCollum. But there is no arguing with KCP's talent. The second round was all about value. Tony Mitchell is one of the most talented players in the draft. He deserved to go in the first round. Mitchell has his issues, but his athleticism, speed and quickness are rare for a player his size. Siva will provide leadership, heart and intensity to the Pistons backcourt. He will be a defensive specialist that bothers opposing point guards.

Grade: B+

Indiana Pacers

The Picks:

23. Solomon Hill, Small Forward, Arizona

Analysis: I have no clue what Indiana was thinking with this pick. I don't know what they saw in Solomon Hill. He's a second round talent. Indiana left too many good players (Jeff Withey, Tony Mitchell, Allen Crabbe, Jamaal Franklin, Glen Rice Jr., and Tim Hardaway Jr. amongst others) on the board to take Hill at No. 23. Hill can do a lot of different things. He can score, rebound, pass and defend. But he doesn't do any of those things particularly well. Indiana doesn't have the luxury of blowing first round picks, but that is exactly what they did.

Grade: F

Miami Heat

The Picks:

50. James Ennis, Small Forward, Long Beach State

Analysis: The Miami Heat went into the draft without any picks. But they made a trade with the Atlanta Hawks and grabbed one of this year's sleepers. Ennis has very good athleticism and plays above the rim. He can also shoot the ball a little bit. The Heat need to get younger and more athletic. Ennis needs development, but getting him for very little was a shrewd move by Miami.

Grade: B-

Milwaukee Bucks

The Picks:

15. Giannis Adetokuonbo, Small Forward, Greece

38. Nate Wolters, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, South Dakota State

Analysis: The Milwaukee Bucks went into the draft needing to acquire a point guard. This was the year to get one. Yet they waited until the second round to grab one in Wolters, who is more of a scorer than anything else. Perhaps they will bring back Brandon Jennings, after all. Even though they failed to address their biggest need early, the Bucks opted for talent and upside. They are taking a huge gamble on Antetokounmpo. One of the youngest players in the draft, Antetokounmpo is versatile and athletic. There is a ton of upside with him. But Milwaukee will have to be patient and explain why their first round pick may spend a few years in the D-League before he ever steps foot on an NBA court. Antetokounmpo hasn't been playing against great competition, and he needs a lot of time to develop.

Grade: D+

New York Knicks

The Picks:

24. Tim Hardaway Jr., Shooting Guard, Michigan

Analysis: The more players the New York Knicks can find to take pressure off Carmelo Anthony, the better they will be. Hardaway was overshadowed by Trey Burke at Michigan but is one of the most underrated players in this year's draft. There was nobody better for New York with this pick. Hardaway has a lethal outside shot and the athleticism to finish in transition. Hardaway will provide New York with instant offense off the bench. He would be able to slide right into J.R. Smith's role if the sixth man leaves in free agency.

Grade: B+

Orlando Magic

The Picks:

2. Victor Oladipo, Shooting Guard, Indiana

51. Romero Osby, Power Forward, Oklahoma

Analysis: Victor Oladipo is one of my favorite players in this year's draft. He was No. 2 on my Big Board. So this pick isn't a complete disaster. But if shooting guard was the target, the Magic should have taken Ben McLemore. This pick reminds me a lot of what Charlotte did last year. The Bobcats took Michael Kidd-Gilchrist because of his motor, basketball IQ, character, intensity and work ethic. They wanted him to change the culture. The 'Cats bypassed more talented players in Harrison Barnes and Bradley Beal in the process. Orlando just repeated Charlotte's mistake one year later by taking Oladipo over McLemore. And they did it for the same reasons. Eventually, one of these rebuilding teams will learn to stop falling in love with intangibles and select the better basketball player. As for Osby, he's 23 years old, 6-foot-7 and supposed to play power forward. I don't see it working very well. If Oladipo doesn't ever fix his jumper, at least he could provide halftime entertainment like this...

Grade: B-

Philadelphia 76ers

The Picks:

6. Nerlens Noel, Center, Kentucky

11. Michael Carter-Williams, Point Guard, Syracuse

54. Arsalan Kazemi, Power Forward, Oregon

Analysis: The Philadelphia 76ers decided to use draft night as their own game of "Let's make a deal." Last year's failed trade of Andrew Bynum has killed the franchise, and it's clear they are going to blow things up completely and start over. They need to, as mediocrity is the worst place to be in the NBA. It's always risky for a team to trade its best player. That's what Philadelphia did by dealing away Jrue Holiday, but getting Nerlens Noel to anchor the defense in the future, Michael Carter-Williams to replace Holliday and a 2014 first round pick adds up to quite a haul for Philadelphia. The 2014 draft class is loaded. Now the 76ers head into it armed with two first round picks, one of which, judging by their roster, should be very, very high. The rebuild can officially start now.

Grade: A

Washington Wizards

The Picks:

3. Otto Porter, Small Forward, Georgetown

35. Glen Rice Jr., Small Forward, Georgia Tech

Analysis: The Wizards have one of the best young backcourts in the NBA. They needed to focus on their frontcourt this off-season, which they did on draft night. Washington added two small forwards who are ready to contribute right away. Porter is a good player. But he's not great and probably will never be. He doesn't have an elite skill. He's very fortunate going to a place as a complementary piece. Glen Rice Jr. spent this past season in the D-League maturing on and off the court. If he can keep his head on straight, he will be a steal thanks to his shooting ability and athleticism. The Wizards look like they are starting to build something nice for the future. These two pieces will help.

Grade: A-

Western Conference

Dallas Mavericks

The Picks:

18. Shane Larkin, Point Guard, Miami

43. Ricky Ledo, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Providence

Analysis: The Mavericks started the night at No. 13 and kept moving back until they felt the time was right to make a pick. When they finally did, it was a good one. Dallas needed a point guard with Darren Collison heading into free agency. Larkin is a bit undersized for the position, but his athleticism (44-inch vertical) helps make up for a lack of size. And he's fearless going to the basket. Larkin's deadly outside shot could earn him playing time early in Dallas. Ledo was great value in the second round. He has off-the-court issues, but a ton of potential. He has the talent to be a really good scorer in the NBA with his ability to slash and shoot from the outside. It's now up to the Mavericks to bring the immense talent out of him.

Grade: B

Denver Nuggets

The Picks:

46. Erick Green, Point Guard, Virginia Tech

55. Joffrey Lauvergne, Power Forward, France

Analysis: The Nuggets were rumored to be looking to move out of the first round altogether - and they succeeded. Denver traded the draft rights of Rudy Gobert to the Utah Jazz. The Nuggets are one of the deepest teams in the NBA, and it will stay that way despite only adding one player who can make the roster: Erick Green. Green led the nation in scoring last year and should be able to provide instant offense for the Nuggets off the bench. He slid to the second round because he doesn't have a true position. But someone who can score like him has value.

Grade: C+

Golden State Warriors

The Picks:

30. Nemanja Nedovic, Shooting Guard, Serbia

Analysis: The Golden State Warriors came into the draft without a pick. They wiggled their way into the first round and pulled off a shocker by taking Nedovic. The 6-foot-4 combo guard has great athleticism for a player his size. With a possible departure of Jarrett Jack, Nedovic will get a chance to make the Warriors roster if he performs well enough in the Summer League. Right now, that is a big "if."

Grade: C+

Houston Rockets

The Picks: Isaiah Canaan, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Murray State

Analysis: The Rockets had just one pick in the draft, and they made the most of it. Canaan is one of the most underrated players in this year's class. He fell to the second round because he may have a hard time finding a true position in the NBA. But whether it's point or shooting guard, Canaan can score the basketball. He's a great shooter and has tremendous athleticism to get into the paint and finish at the rim. The Rockets have gotten steals in the second round of late - Chandler Parsons comes to mind. They did it again this year.

Grade: A

Los Angeles Clippers

The Picks:

25. Reggie Bullock, Shooting Guard, North Carolina

Analysis: The Los Angeles Clippers needed a shooter on the perimeter. They needed someone to keep the defense honest while Chris Paul attacked the paint. That's what Reggie Bullock can do. He is one of the better shooters in the draft. He's a specialist, though. If he's not making open shots, he's not providing much of anything else. I thought Allen Crabbe or Glen Rice Jr. would have been better picks, but Bullock fits the profile of the player L.A. was looking to add to the roster.

Grade: B-

Los Angeles Lakers

The Picks:

48. Ryan Kelly, Power Forward, Duke

Analysis: If Ryan Kelly is going to succeed in the NBA, it's in Los Angeles with Mike D'Antoni as the coach. The best thing Kelly brings to Los Angeles is an ability to space the floor and knock down outside shots. Still, there are reasons to question his NBA potential. It starts with his injury history. Kelly had multiple foot injuries at Duke. He may be damaged goods.

Grade: D+

Memphis Grizzlies

The Picks:

41. Jamaal Franklin, Shooting Guard, San Diego State

60. Jamis Timma, Small Forward, Latvia

Analysis: One of the bigger surprises of the night was Jamaal Franklin sliding into the second round. Memphis stopped his freefall and left Brooklyn with a very good piece for their future. While he will need to work on his shot, Franklin can help out in a lot of ways coming off the bench. He was a first-round talent who fell into the waiting arms of one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Early on, he will be a role player. Down the road, he has starting potential as a two-guard.

Grade: A-

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Picks:

14. Shabazz Muhammad, Shooting Guard, UCLA

21. Gorgui Dieng, Center, Louisville

52. Lorenzo Brown, Point Guard, NC State

59. Bojan Dubljevic, Power Forward, Serbia

Analysis: I didn't quite understand what Minnesota was doing on draft night. They started with two picks in the first round at No. 9 and No. 26. After moving around a bit, they ended up at No. 14 and No. 21. While they were probably heartbroken to have Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ripped away from them by Detroit at No. 8, Minnesota should have stayed put and grabbed Lehigh's C.J. McCollum. The Timberwolves need scoring – lots of it. Passing on McCollum was a mistake. The blow was softened a bit because they were able to add Shabazz Muhammad. Bazz is great at one thing – scoring. He's not interested in passing (just 27 assists in 32 games), but he is one of the best pure scorers in the draft. He will take pressure off Kevin Love in that regard and could end up making GMs look awfully foolish in three to five years. Dieng at No. 21 was very smart. The Wolves may lose big man Nikola Pekovic in free agency this off-season, and Dieng would be called into action right away. The Big East Defensive Player of the Year has the tools to become a defensive linchpin while still working on his offensive game. Brown gives the T'Wolves depth at point guard. But his biggest issue is that his jumper is broken. With Ricky Rubio, the Wolves already have one point guard who can't shoot. Why draft a second?

Grade: B+

New Orleans Pelicans

The Picks:

42. Pierre Jackson, Point Guard, Baylor

Analysis: The Pelicans had the sixth overall pick in the draft. Talented players like Nerlens Noel and Ben McLemore slid right into their laps. Instead of nabbing one of those players, the Pelicans decided they didn't have an interest in this year's draft. So they traded for a young, up-and-coming point guard to run their offense in Jrue Holiday. The price to pry him from Philly was steep. New Orleans sent the draft rights of Noel to Philadelphia along with a 2014 first-round pick (1-5 protected). That's a huge gamble. The 2014 NBA Draft could be the best since the famed 2003 class with LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. Now, New Orleans could be out of it altogether.

Grade: C

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Picks:

12. Steven Adams, Center, Pittsburgh

26. Andre Roberson, Power Forward, Colorado

32 Alex Abrines, Shooting Guard, Spain

40. Grant Jerrett, Power Forward, Arizona

Analysis: The Thunder needed to go into this year's draft eyeing a big man and some more scoring on the perimeter. They accomplished one of those things. Steven Adams is a 7-footer with athleticism, toughness and rebounding ability. However, he is not ready to play in the NBA. He has bad hands and the game moved too fast for him at Pittsburgh. He will spend more time in the D-League than the NBA as a rookie. If there is any team that could afford that luxury, it's Oklahoma City. The problem is, to take Adams, OKC passed up on guys like Shabazz Muhammad and Sergey Karasev. That will come back to haunt them because they still haven't replaced James Harden's scoring off the bench.

Roberson was a reach in the first round. At Colorado, he showed to be one of the best rebounders in the country. But that's it with him; he's a specialist.

The Thunder saved their best for last, though. Jerrett was one of my sleepers of this year's draft. Under-utilized at Arizona, the former McDonald's All-American didn't get to show off his diverse skill-set, but it is there. He can score inside and outside. With some coaching and some development, Jerrett could be a dangerous weapon for a loaded OKC team as a stretch-four.

Grade: D+

Phoenix Suns

The Picks:

5. Alex Len, Center, Maryland

29. Archie Goodwin, Shooting Guard, Kentucky

57. Alex Oriakhi, Power Forward, Missouri

Analysis: The Phoenix Suns have a new head coach in Jeff Hornacek and general manager in Ryan McDonough. It wasn't a good debut for McDonough. The Suns needed talent-- pure talent. Yet they passed up on Ben McLemore and Nerlens Noel for Alex Len. That was a mistake. Len is a skilled 7-footer who brings athleticism and potential. However, he is raw offensively, has very few post moves, no left hand and is coming off stress fracture surgery. He will take time to develop. He's not a bad player, but they could have done much better.

Goodwin intrigues me; he always has. He went to Kentucky with a lot of expectations and, for the most part, failed to deliver. However, he has loads of talent and is one of the youngest players in this year's draft. He needs to work on his jump-shot, but he attacks the paint and can score the basketball. With some coaching, he could end up being a steal.

At 57, the Suns weren't going to find a difference-maker. Even though Oriakhi is tough inside, he may struggle to make the team; he's just not very good.

Grade: C-

Portland Trail Blazers

The Picks:

10. C.J. McCollum, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Lehigh

31. Allen Crabbe, Shooting Guard, California

39. Jeff Withey, Center, Kansas

45. Marko Todorovic, Small Forward/Power Forward, Serbia

Analysis: With last year's Rookie of the Year, Damian Lillard, holding down Portland's point guard spot for years to come, the Blazers needed to find him a running mate - and they did. C.J. McCollum is instant offense. He can play a little point guard and a little shooting guard. What he does is get buckets. He can drive to the basket, has a mid-range game and will have no problem lighting it up from three-point range. The Blazers just gave themselves one of the best young backcourts in the NBA. Lillard and McCollum are going to be a problem for opposing teams for years. Don't be surprised in five years when McCollum ends up being one of the three best players to come from this draft.

Crabbe was great value at No. 31. I thought the Cavs should've kept his rights. He doesn't have much of an interest in defense right now. However, he is a lethal shooter and aggressive scorer. Coming off the bench to provide instant offense will be a great role for him early on in his career. He brings the size McCollum lacks to the Blazers' backcourt.

The Blazers also needed someone else inside to help LaMarcus Aldridge. More important, they needed a player to protect the rim and rebound. They needed someone to do the dirty work while Aldridge carries the offensive load inside. That's exactly what Withey brings. He is a great shot-blocker and will improve the Portland defense.

Grade: A+

Sacramento Kings

The Picks:

7. Ben McLemore, Shooting Guard, Kansas

36. Ray McCallum, Point Guard, Detroit

Analysis: The Sacramento Kings got the most talented player in the draft at No. 7. Talk about a draft-day gift for new general manager Pete D'Alessandro. Sacramento needed athleticism and shooting at the shooting guard spot to move Tyreke Evans back to his more natural position of point guard. Mission accomplished. It's rare when a team can improve two positions with one pick, but that's what the Kings did. Of all the players in this year's draft, McLemore has the best chance to be an NBA All-Star.

McCallum was a player who flew under the radar for most of this process. Playing in the Horizon League, it's hard to get noticed. But McCallum is a coach's son with a great basketball IQ. He knows how to run an offense. Sacramento needs a point guard like him to make the pieces fit together. Could not have been a better debut for D'Alessandro.

Grade: A+

San Antonio Spurs

The Picks:

28. Livio Jean-Charles, Small Forward/Power Forward, France

58. DeShaun Thomas, Small Forward, Ohio State

Analysis: Playing in the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs showed they don't have a lot of room for players right away. They need to start looking toward the future. That's what they were thinking with this draft. Jean-Charles is a versatile player who can play small forward or power forward. He has a good understanding of the game. The Spurs will likely keep him in France for at least one year so that he can continue to develop.

I've never been a fan of DeShaun Thomas; I just don't see him as an NBA player. He's not big enough to be a power forward and not quick enough or skilled enough to be a small forward - and he can't guard anyone. He was able to score in college because of the mismatches the Ohio State offense created. I don't know how he scores in the NBA.

Grade: D+

Utah Jazz

The Picks:

9. Trey Burke, Point Guard, Michigan

27. Rudy Gobert, Center, France

Analysis: The two most important things for Utah to come away with from draft night were a point guard and a big man. Mission accomplished. Kind of. The Jazz started with the No. 14 and No. 21 picks. They would not have been able to grab Burke at No. 14, and they knew it. So they traded up to get the player they needed more than anyone else in this year's draft. Burke is a winner, leader and ready to run an offense right now. Not only can he score for himself in a variety of ways, but he makes everyone around him better. He did in high school. He did in college. And he will in the NBA.

When it comes to Gobert, the Jazz may lose both Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap in free agency. They need depth behind Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. That's what Gobert can provide in the future. He's a player with more questions than answers right now, but he is 7-foot-2 with a ridiculous wingspan (7-foot-9). He's not ready now; he doesn't know how to play. But if he ever figures it out and bulks up, Gobert could be an intimidating presence inside.

Grade: A

It's time to say "well done" to the Cavaliers for their sleeper second pick in the NBA Draft, Russian Sergey Karasev.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This Cavaliers' draft lit up the city like Las Vegas! Oh, wait. They drafted a player  from Las Vegas? Never mind.

Still, I like taking Anthony Bennett from UNLV at No. 1 overall, although mainly because he wasn't a big stiff who's currently hurt and maybe can't play on one entire end of the floor. Yeah, I'm talking about you, Nerlens Noel on offense, and you, Alex Len on defense.

Bennett will be in a mix with Tristan Thompson, Tyler Zeller and Anderson Varejao (remember him?) at center/power forward. You need depth because of Varejao's fragility.

But the real reason I want to say, "Harosho" ("good" in Russian) is the pick at No. 19 in the first round of small forward Sergey Karasev, a 6-7 lefty with the range and three-point stroke every Cavalier except Kyrie Irving seemed to lack.

Basketball is changing. The long ball almost carried the San Antonio Spurs to a huge upset of Miami in the NBA Finals. It made a phenom of former Cavalier (and also twice a former Spur) Danny Green.  Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo., hit home runs in "Damn Yankees" the way Danny Green hit threes in the Finals. 

While all good three-shooters get their best looks on inside-out ball movement, the fast break is an underrated opportunity to use it because the team with the ball already has a manpower advantage and would be more likely to get the rebound of a miss.

The corner triple is the easiest  one, and while it is slightly shorter in international basketball (by just under 4 1/4 inches) than the 22-footer in the NBA, the wider NBA sidecourts, due to the slightly narrower NBA lane, allow for better spacing and more open looks.

Only six of 30 teams shot the triple worse than the Cavs' collective 34.6 percent. Then again, only five defended the arc worse than the Cavs' 37.2 percent allowed.

One of those that shot worse was Memphis, which reached the West Finals with a retro game of big-body post play, then was swept by the Spurs. San Antonio's  three-point ability created open driving lanes for guard Tony Parker and others. Parker was a 19-year-old French point guard when San Antonio, which has had great success with European players, drafted him.

His drive-and-dish ability is also why I think Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas, a lefty with a nice stroke on the corner triple, can really help the Spurs. He's in the perfect situation for his game, even if he was taken at 58th overall in the second round.

If Karasev shows  anything close to his Euro touch he will revive Varejao's career by himself.

Memphis's approach was an anomaly, like a team trying to win with  the Cro-Magnon Eric Mangini ground game in the pass-happy NFL.

Note to Mike Brown in his part deux  turn as  Cavs coach: Not even the 1990s New York Knicks won it all with  a reliance on defense-alone, even though the rules at the time favored it, unlike now.

I like that Karasev, only 19, but with three years of pro ball and an Olympics trip on his record, wants to come here immediately. That's the sign of a player uncowed by the competition.

I also like that he's left-handed.

Because so many more people are right-handed than left-handed,  the 76ers' Basketball Hall of Famer  Billy Cunningham, after 10 years in the league,  still got an early basket or two against  teams that forced him to his left or closed out on his jumper to his right side.

The New Jersey Nets' Derrick Coleman almost single hot-handedly beat the Cavs in the 1993 playoffs, averaging a 26.8/10.8 double-double in a five-game first-round series, the maximum length at that time. The Cavs' defenders, among them  Hot Rod Williams, had no answer for him.

"This guy," a befuddled Williams said to teammate Larry Nance during a timeout,  "has the best left hand I've ever seen."

"That's because he's left-handed," said Nance.

The sound you heard was the renowned Cavs' coach, Lenny Wilkens, beating his head against the wall, just as did the coaches of teams that played against Cunningham.

It's been a generation since Coleman and two since Cunningham, but even in an era of "analytics" do you really think  players from the one-and-done college system are any smarter?

Watch highlights from the news conference where Anthony Bennett and Carrick Felix, selections the 2013 NBA Draft, are introduced by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers introduced 2013 NBA Draft selections Anthony Bennett and Carrick Felix Friday at Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence.

Bennett, a power forward and the number one overall selection, averaged 16.1 points per game with 8.1 rebounds and a three-point shooting percentage of 37.5 last year as a freshman.

Felix, a swingman out of Arizona State, was selected with the 33rd overall pick.  He started 70 of the 94 games he played for the Sun Devils averaging 10.2 points per game with 4.8 rebounds.

Sergey Karasev, a small forward from Russia, was selected with the 19th pick.  He did not attend the news conference because he had to fly back to Russia last night for a game with the national team.

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

Nelson facing the biggest bout of his career Saturday as he competes in an HBO-televised bout at 9:45 p.m. against Argentina's Luciano Leonel Cuello (32-2, 16 KOs) at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The skinny is, Willie Nelson can downright box.

That should come as no surprise, since Nelson has been a fixture in boxing gyms since he was 10. At age 26, he has had more than 250 amateur bouts and stands 20-1-1 (12 KOs) as a professional since 2006.

The surprising fact is that Nelson has gone through it all with the slightest of fighting frames, standing 6-3 and now carrying 154 pounds on a 28-inch waist. He will take that into Saturday's HBO-televised bout at 9:45 p.m. against Argentina's Luciano Leonel Cuello (32-2, 16 KOs) at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.

"I was always the tall, skinny kid," said Nelson, who grew up in Cleveland's St. Clair Avenue and East 71st Street neighborhood. "I remember watching the George Foreman-Evander Holyfield fight and it's what I wanted to do. I wouldn't say I was a natural. I had to work at it."

He convinced his family's mailman, Renard Safo, to take him to the West Side gym where Safo trained boxers. That began a long relationship that brought home two national Police Athletic League titles, a Silver Gloves and an under-19 championship.

But a start-and-stop professional career had too much down time to suit Nelson.

"I was discouraged," said Nelson. "I needed money to support my family. I wasn't getting fights. I was 6-3 and 140 pounds. Who wants to fight a guy that tall?"

 

It all came apart after he suffered his first loss in April 2011, as Vincent Arroyo (10-1) dropped him three times in winning a majority decision.

"I was pretty much dominating the fight, but those three punches won the fight for him," said Nelson, who was on the canvas in rounds three, six and seven, though he still managed to earn a draw from one judge. "I hadn't lost a fight in a long time. I had never been knocked down. I was the favorite to win and I went in with a lack of attitude."

It was time for an adjustment, and Nelson made the decision to hook up with Youngstown's Jack Loew, who trained former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and was known by Nelson through both the professional and amateur ranks.

It has paid off with four straight wins, including a first-round knockout against Michael Medina in March that resulted in HBO calling to put him on this Saturday's show.

"There is no way someone 6-4 [actually 6-3] gets beat to the punch with a right hand by [Arroyo] who stands 5-8," said Loew, who has run his Southside Boxing Club for 25 years. "Not if he is fighting the right way.

"I was lucky to work with a tall fighter in Kelly. All the tools are there for Willie to fight smaller guys. The guy has an 81-inch reach. That's a special talent.

"He was fighting more like an amateur, with seven-eight punch combinations to build up a points lead. He had to learn to sit down on his shots better."

He definitely did that against Medina, a straight right hand doing the damage as he defended his North American Boxing Federation title. Nelson said he just managed to catch him early.

Cleveland fighter Prenice Brewer, 25, has been Nelson's longtime gym rat through amateur and professional days. He said all his friend needed was that one big opportunity. Now that he has it, he is going to make the most of it.

"He was getting frustrated and all he needed was a break," said Brewer, a welterweight standing 16-3-1 (6 KOs) as a pro. "I'm more nervous than he is. He stays cool and calm. He takes it as another fight and handles the pressure."

Maybe on the outside, but this is not just another night at the office for Nelson. With a win, he can take a big step in the rankings and in paydays.

Cuello's two losses were in 2010 to Saul Canelo Alvarez, who takes on Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September; and in 2009 to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., son of the Mexican legend. Cuello has won his last six bouts.

"It has sunk in what I have to do," said Nelson. "I have to use my height, reach and power. Work off the jab and walk people down. I have to prove myself.

"[Cuello] has been in with two world champions. Hopefully, I will be the third one."

Saturday will say a lot about that.

The Indians and White Sox play a doubleheader this evening in Chicago.

Game 79 & 80: Indians (40-38) at White Sox (32-43)

First pitch: 5:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago.

TV/radio: TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WMMS FM/100.7, WTAM AM/ 1100

Starting pitchers: Game 1: RHP Trevor Bauer (1-2, 2.76) vs. LHP Hector Santiago (3-5, 3.03). Game 2: RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-3, 7.78) vs. LHP Jose Quintana (3-2, 3.83)

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Here's a scouting report on the Cavs' draft from two college coaches with Cleveland roots.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Wyoming basketball coach Larry Shyatt grew up in Cleveland Heights, and he's a Cavaliers fan.

"That's why I was glad they took Anthony Bennett," said Shyatt, whose Cowboys faced Bennett last season. The forward from UNLV was the surprise first choice in the draft, but Shyatt believes Bennett was the right pick.

"You're at the top of the draft, and you want a guy who is at least relatively healthy," said Shyatt. "Then, you want a guy who has the best talent, the guy who can make NBA-type plays. That's Bennett. He can be a real beast with that monster body and soft shooting touch."

Shyatt is a former head coach at Clemson, and an assistant at Florida, New Mexico Utah, Providence and Cleveland State. He has been around a lot of lottery picks. The 6-8, 245-pound Bennett averaged 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in his one season with the Running Rebels.

"In the NBA, they love to take guys who can run and jump, but they forget about the importance of putting the ball through the hole," said Shyatt. "Bennett can catch the ball in the low post, turn and face you up ... and drive around you and score. Or he can float out on the 3-point line and really shoot."

UNLV beat Wyoming, 62-50, in Las Vegas, "a game that was close, then Bennett got mad at the half and just took over."

He finished with 17 points and five rebounds. Shyatt said Revere product Larry Nance Jr. covered Bennett, "and did a really good job on him until he wore down at the end. This guy is a load."

Nance averaged 10.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and shot 53 percent from the field as a sophomore.

Shyatt was very aware of the injury issues with draft prospects Nerlens Noel (knee) and Alex Len (foot). While Bennett is recovering from shoulder surgery, he is not expected to miss any regular-season games. That is not supposed to be the case with Len and Noel.

"Bennett needs to be coached, especially on defense," said Shyatt. "I love his shooting touch and his athleticism. He can play in the league for a long time."

The final two

 

I've heard the Cavs' final three choices at No. 1 were Ben McLemore, Len and Bennett.

Eric Musselman is a former head coach of the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. He worked as an assistant with other NBA teams. He's the son of former Cavs coach Bill Musselman and grew up in Brecksville. He likes the franchise and has a good relationship with GM Chris Grant.

"In my mind, the top two picks were McLemore and Bennett," said Musselman, now an assistant at Arizona State. "You want a guy with basketball skills when you draft that high."

While Musselman didn't coach against Bennett, "I watched him on TV at least 5-6 times." He saw the immediate fit, "because you can use him in a variety of pick-and-rolls. He has long arms, good hands and can shoot."

The Cavs have two guards who can run the pick-and-roll play with the right big man. Musselman sees Bennett fitting well with Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters.

McLemore is a shooting guard, whose outside range would have helped. "But Bennett can really shoot, too," said Musselman. "He can turn and face up and shoot it. He can run the court. He has as much talent as anyone in the draft."

About the second-rounder

In the second round, the Cavs selected a player that Musselman knows well -- Carrick Felix, a senior from Arizona State.

"Mike Brown will love him," he said. "He's not a good kid, he is a great kid. He is an NBA-caliber defender right now. He will get virtually every loose ball, those 50-50 balls. He can really rebound. It's 100 percent effort, every day, every game, every practice."

Felix averaged 14.6 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Sun Devils. He's 6-6 and played shooting guard or small forward.

"We used Carrick to guard anyone from the point to a power forward," said Musselman "He could defend anyone but a center in college. In the pros, he'll get after you. He will make every practice better. I coached in the league, you need guys like Carrick on your team."

Felix earned an undergraduate degree in Communications and a Masters in Liberal Arts.

"There's no pretense, he knows who he is and that he has to work hard every day for everything he gets," said Musselman. "He needs to work more on his ball-handling and outside shooting. But he'll do what it takes to stay in the league."

This was Musselman's first season at Arizona State, and he said in some ways, Felix "reminds me of Shane Battier in that he never has a bad [attitude] day and he knows the value of defense."

Musselman was with Battier in Memphis. He's not saying Felix will make the same impact, "but don't surprised when Carrick gets in the game and you say, 'Hey, that guy does some really good things.' Just wait, you'll see it."

indians pitching prospect Dillon Howard has been suspended for 50 games by MLB.

CHICAGO -- Right-hander Dillon Howard, the Indians second-round pick in the 2011 draft, has been suspended for 50 games for violating MLB's minor-league drug program.

"The Indians organization values the purpose served by Major League Baseball's Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and we are committed to supporting Dillon as he receives the help he needs," said Ross Atkins, Indians director of player development.

MLB announced that Howard tested positive for an amphetamine, which is considered a performance-enhancing substance. He is currently on the Indians' Arizona Rookie League roster and was suspended immediately.

Howard, 20, entered the season as the Indians 10th-ranked prospect according to Baseball America. Last year he went 1-7 with a 7.90 ERA in 12 games, including 10 starts for the Arizona League Indians. 

The Indians took Howard with the 67th pick out of Searcy High School in Arkansas. His slotted signing bonus was $545,400, but the Indians went way above that and signed him for $1.85 million.

The 6-4, 210-pound right-hander has not pitched this season.

In total, 18 players drafted Thursday will start their NBA careers on a team other than the one that selected them, including five players who spent their evening in limbo while being traded twice.

Kentucky's Nerlens Noel, picked by the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, speaks during a news conference Thursday, June 27, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Thursday's NBA Draft turned into a two-phase process for potential draftees: Wait and hope your name is called, then wait some more to find out where you'll end up after teams finish passing you around like a hot potato.

Moves often are more about money and financial flexibility than they are about talent. In the Sixers' case, legalized tanking also comes into the picture. Being bad, very bad, this upcoming season could be looked at as a reward in what is considered one of the best drafts in years.

This is a great move for the Jazz, who needed a point guard on their roster and finally have a replacement for Deron Williams, who was traded a couple of seasons ago. First part of this trade for Minnesota is drafting Shabazz Muhammad at 14. He's a scorer, which they need, but he'll have to prove he can hit the 3-pointer and develop a right hand. They also pick up Gorgui Dieng out of Louisville. Dieng is a big time defensive prospect at center and could give them insurance if Nikola Pekovic leaves in free agency.

Not even Wallace's mother-punching, Johnny-befriending deal can overshadow the assets Ainge has started to build. In Green, Sullinger, Avery Bradley, Rajon Rondo and nine picks over the next five seasons, the Celtics have quickly assembled a host of valuable pieces. Ainge will surely keep some and trade others while trying to bring another championship back to Boston.

Detroit Pistons' President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars, from left, stands with draft picks Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5), Tony Mitchell (9) and Peyton Siva(34) while they hold their uniforms at the NBA basketball team's training facility in Auburn Hills, Mich., Friday, June 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

"Oh yeah, I'm going to make them pay," Noel confided to USA TODAY Sports.

Frankly, it seems to be like an easy argument to make: The age and relative immaturity of the players being drafted nowadays cheapens the product.

There are numbers that support both sides of the argument, but we don’t mean to pick on freshmen. In fact, the anecdotal evidence is all over the map: For every Michael Beasley and Marvin Williams, there is a Kevin Durant and Kevin Love. For every Brandon Knight, there is a Kyrie Irving.

But we’re still coming to grips with the one-and-done syndrome and its ripple effects, and this would seem to be self-evident: The more you encourage 19-year-olds to turn pro, the subsequent drafts are fated to be progressively weaker, and nobody in the NBA seems willing to change the present system that created this circumstance.

"Bill (Simmons) is a fan," Rivers said. "Is he qualified enough to debate the NBA? We can debate that all day. Bill's a fan. Bill's not a friend of mine or a fan of mine and never has been. I rarely respond. I don't do that very often, but I just kind of had enough of that. I thought it kind of ruined the broadcast last night because he kept bringing it up. Almost like he had an agenda. I was just getting tired of it."

Former Ohio State tackle Johnathan Hankins is ready for the next level with the New York Giants.

BEREA, Ohio - Johnathan Hankins dreamed of playing in the NFL just like many of the children who participated in the NFL Play 60 Youth Football Clinic at the Cleveland Browns' training facility with the AFC rookies today.

And Hankins' dreams weren't necessarily deferred, as a second-round pick out of Ohio State by the New York Giants, but he didn't exactly imagine the end result.

"I was a running back when I played youth football, and I imagined I'd be a running back in the NFL," said Hankins, a defensive tackle who now weighs 300-plus pounds. "Things sort of changed along the way, and I had to change positions. But here I am."

Participating today was also special because Hankins was on the same field with Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston. The two terrorized their high school opposition as teammates in Detroit.

"He's going to do a terrific job, especially as a rookie," Gholston said of Hankins. "He did well from high school to college. He dominated at Ohio State. He'll do well at the next level."

Hankins left for the NFL after his junior year, and despite the boost in income, there is one drawback: He can't be a part of the Buckeyes' 2013 season and their run at a national title.
 
"Hopefully we'll win all of our games and be in the National Championship, like we were supposed to have been in last year," Hankins said.

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown has completed his coaching staff with the addition of long-time NBA coach Bernie Bickerstaff.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - Longtime NBA coach Bernie Bickerstaff has joined Mike Brown's staff with the Cavaliers, General Manager Chris Grant said today at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Bickerstaff, who was a head coach in Seattle, Denver, Washington and Charlotte before becoming the Lakers interim head coach after Brown was fired early last season, was the NBA coach of the year in Seattle in 1986-87. He also served as general manager in Denver and Charlotte.

With the addition of Bickerstaff and former San Antonio video coordinator Bret Brielmaier, Brown's staff now stands at seven, including holdover Jamahl Mosley, newcomers Jim Boylan, Igor Kokoskov and Phil Handy and former Cav Vitaly Potapenko. Handy will be the director of player development and assistant coach, while Potapenko is the development coach. Handy, Potapenko and Brielmaier will not sit on the bench during games.

"Our coaching staff is officially done," said Grant, who was impressed with the newcomers and thrilled the Cavs were able to retain Mosley. "We've got a lot of young guys. If we're going to invest in them, we want to invest in them. Mike has done an excellent job of putting together a staff. That's a pretty unique staff."

Baby talk: Second-round draft pick Carrick Felix had his hands full when he learned he was taken by the Cavaliers. He was at home in Phoenix with his family, holding 11-month-old daughter Zayah Roe and watching the draft on television.

"I wasn't overly excited," he said. "I walked outside and didn't have any emotion, I just kind of walked outside. It's a blessing to be here. It's a great opportunity, and I just thank God for this chance."

Zip line: The Cavs have not announced their summer-league roster yet, although there were reports on Friday that forward Kenny Kadji of Miami and D-League shooting guard Jermaine Taylor, formerly of Central Florida, were on the list.

Asked if Akron center Zeke Marshall was in the plans, Grant said, "I don't know. We had him in and he did a nice job. He's a really nice kid. We still have a few extra spots on the summer-league team we've got to work through."

Jensen promotion: Former Canton Charge coach Alex Jensen is leaving to join the coaching staff of the Utah Jazz. He was the D-League coach of the year last season.

"I'm really proud of him," Grant said. "That's why you have the development league, not just for the players."

The Ohio State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation lured a small crowd of youngsters to its annual Jakes Campout at East Harbor State Park.

MARBLEHEAD, Ohio -- There was a ragged symphony of turkey talk last weekend as 40 youngsters earnestly tried to play tunes on their new slate turkey calls.

They were all "jakes," the moniker for a yearling male wild turkey, even though there were quite a few girls at the Jakes Campout held by the Ohio State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation at East Harbor State Park.

The turkey-calling adventure was hosted by Zink Calls in Port Clinton, one of the largest makers of goose, duck and turkey calls in the country. Zink officials had a slate call and striker for each youngster and experts to teach them to warble turkey tunes. They soon had all of the kids trying to duplicate the putts, purrs and yelps made by real hen turkeys.

I'd plunked down the grand sum of $20 many weeks ago so my grandson, Seamus, could be one of 50 youngsters at the Jakes Campout. Seamus is not exactly an avid outdoors kid, so I was hoping he would get the hint his grandfather wanted to share more of the outdoors with him.

Seamus caught on to the cadence of hen yelps. He even entered the morning's turkey-call contest and, to a grandpa's delight, finished third.

Luckily, when we had pitched our tent in the NWTF group area the night before, our neighbors were Trent Weaver and his sons, Taylor and Trevor, from Montgomery County in southwest Ohio. Fishing and hunting had always been a part of life for the rough-and-tumble brothers, who insisted Seamus join their little tribe.

The NWTF mission is to introduce kids to the outdoor sports. The Jakes Campout was the perfect venue, cobbling together fun-filled days of camping, turkey calling, shooting, fishing, wildlife education and exploring woods and fields as if they belonged to the Ottawa of the Algonquin tribe who once lived here.

Taylor Weaver wore the weekend's face paint. His cheeks were splashed a mulberry purple after he picked handfuls of the wild fruit at the state park.

Next on the Saturday schedule was the Civilian Marksmanship Program's sophisticated air-rifle range at nearby Camp Perry. With guidance from National Rifle Association instructors, the state-of-the-art range was an introduction to shooting for many of the kids.

After a short safety film, youngsters were handed accurate pellet rifles and assigned stations on the 10-meter range. Each station boasted a rifle rest and a video monitor at the shooter's elbow to show where pellets had hit the target.

The kids could shoot to their heart's content and left the range with proof of their marksmanship. Each was given a printout of his or her targets, pieces of paper to be savored and shown off.

It would have been difficult to put a damper on the activities, but Mother Nature gave it a try. On the second night, thunderstorms and lightning rolled through the campground, providing a noisy light show and testing the waterproof guarantee of a brand new tent.

After the rains, the Ohio Division of Wildlife's archery trailer swung into action, kids lining up to shoot the unique Genesis bows used in the Archery in the Schools Program. A few steps away was the NWTF's Daisy Air Rifle Range.

On Sunday morning, a crew from the Back to the Wild rehabilitation center in Castalia, Ohio, brought a wide array of live owls, hawks, snakes, turtles and even a bald eagle to enhance its excellent wildlife education program.

After we canoed on East Harbor, the NWTF wrapped up the weekend by loading everyone aboard the Sassy Sal, a Port Clinton party fishing boat. The perch fishing wasn't very good, but the kids were delighted when anyone hooked a sheepshead, white perch or yellow perch.

As he gathered his sons and gear for the long ride home, Weaver had a good idea for a guy who writes about the outdoors. He thought features were needed to spotlight people who introduced others to fishing, hunting, hiking, paddling or just enjoying the outdoors. Folks like the NWTF volunteers.

After watching the Weaver boys in action all weekend, and how they and their father lured others to join in on the many outdoor activities, Seamus and I wholeheartedly agreed that they were the ones who deserved a pat on the back. 

The Indians rebounded from a 5-0 first-inning deficit to collect 21 hits on the way to a victory in the first game of a doubleheader.

CHICAGO -- It was not the kind of spot start Trevor Bauer wanted, but it was the kind of offensive performance manager Terry Francona has been waiting to see from his team.

Bauer didn't make it through the first inning Friday as he allowed five runs on six hits, while registering just two outs before heading back to Class AAA Columbus. The Indians answered with a five-run inning of their own in the second and a lot more after that to beat Chicago, 19-10, in the first game of a doubleheader at U.S. Cellular Field.

Every Indians regular had at least one hit and one run. Asdrubal Cabrera was the only starter without an RBI.

• Indians-White Sox boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

The White Sox hit two homers off Bauer, a two-run shot by Adam Dunn and solo shot by Jeff Keppinger. He threw in a wild pitch, a hit batsman and two walks before finally getting relieved by Matt Albers after facing 10 White Sox batters in the first.

The Indians immediately fired back with a five-run second to tie the score. All five runs came with two out.

Drew Stubbs started the rally with a two-run single. Jason Kipnis, back in his hometown, hit a two-run double to the fence in center. Nick Swisher delivered Kipnis with a single to tie it.

The Indians took the lead with a six-run fourth, featuring a two-run single by Ryan Raburn, an RBI double by Lonnie Chisenhall, a two-run single by Mike Aviles and Stubbs' RBI triple off the right-field fence.

Brian Omogrosso (0-2, 9.37), working in relief of starter Hector Santiago, took the loss and most of the punishment as the White Sox were forced to pitch outfielder Casper Wells in the ninth to save their bullpen for the second game. Omogrosso allowed nine runs on nine hits in 2 1/3 innings.

The six-run fourth staked the Indians to a 11-5 lead. They increased that to 14-5 with three more runs in the fifth. Kipnis and Swisher opened with consecutive doubles to push the lead to 12-5. With two out, Gomes doubled to score Swisher and Chisenhall doubled to score Gomes, finally ending Omogrosso's day.

The White Sox, however, had one more push in them.

They scored four runs in the fifth, three coming on Tyler Flowers' homer off Cody Allen. They added an unearned run in the sixth to make it 14-10. Raburn, however, cooled the rally with a two-run homer in the seventh. For Raburn, who drove in four runs, it was his 14th career homer against the White Sox.

Almost by accident the Indians added three more runs in the eighth.

After Cabrera singled and Kipnis hit his third double to put runners on second and third, Swisher walked to load the bases. Mark Reynolds, looking for his first hit and RBI of the afternoon, singled to the hole at short to score Cabrera. Alexei Ramirez made a diving stop, but his throw to third was wild as Kipnis scored. Gomes added the third run with a two-out single.

The Indians finished with 21 hits, including three each by Cabrera, Kipnis, Gomes and Aviles. Stubbs, Swisher, Raburn and Chisenhall had two hits each. Raburn led the way with four RBI followed by Stubbs with three.

The win went to Matt Albers (2-0), who pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings after Bauer.

The Indians activated reliever Matt Langwell between games of the doubleheader to take Bauer's spot on the roster.

Draft choices Anthony Bennett, Sergey Karasev and Carrick Felix will add depth and versatility to Cavaliers roster, says coach Mike Brown.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Mike Brown figures it will all work out.

The Cavaliers' head coach, brought back to improve the team's defense, took it in stride that General Manager Chris Grant drafted three players more known for their offense -- power forward Anthony Bennett of UNLV, small forward Sergey Karasev of Russia and swingman Carrick Felix of Arizona State.

"We had Damon Jones and Donyell Marshall here, and we were one of the top defensive teams in the league," Brown said, prompting laughter during an introductory press conference at Cleveland Clinic Courts on Friday afternoon. "These guys will figure out how to get on the floor. If they can't figure out they'll have to play defense, they'll be doing what they're doing now [sitting]."

 

Bennett and Felix were in attendance on Friday, while Karasev was playing with his national team in Europe. Bennett posed with a No. 12 jersey, while Felix held up a No. 30, but those numbers are not set in stone yet. Neither is any sort of starting lineup or rotation.

Though it seems as though Bennett is in direct competition with fellow Canadian power forward Tristan Thompson, Brown said the two can coexist and will push each other to improve.

"They have to go out and compete," Brown said of the two young men from Brampton, Ontario. "They may be buddies, but once they cross that line, I think they'll get after each other. They'll want to make themselves better, as well as the team.

"It's great to have depth in all areas. Anthony is definitely a guy that has added that to us. He is versatile. He's different than the bigs we have. He can be used in a lot of different ways."

Grant welcomes that kind of internal competition.

"We like guys that can play multiple positions and have a lot of skill," he said. "We're starting to get some higher-level competition at multiple positions on our roster with these young guys and I think that with Mike in practice, I'm looking forward to training camp."

Bennett thinks his ability to do so many different things is one of his strengths.

"I feel like I'm versatile," said Bennett, who has been compared to Larry Johnson but thinks he favors Carmelo Anthony. "I can play inside and out. I can rebound. I'm unselfish. I don't feel like I've got an agenda. I just want to help the team get wins. I feel like one part of my game I need to get better at is my defense. But I'm here and I've been put in a position to work hard every day and get better."

Felix said he modeled his game after Chicago's Jimmy Butler -- including his defense.

"I'm a high-energy guy," he said. "I'm going to get out there and compete."

That's why Grant drafted him.

"I just like his toughness," the GM said. "He's got size [6-6]. He's fearless. He's willing to guard anybody, brings energy every day, grit, motor, great kid. When he was on the board I was like, 'Guys, this guy's going to raise our level of practice. He's going to bring it every day. I was really excited about him.'"

Offense ruled the day and night as the Indians' hitters came from behind not once, but twice Friday to sweep a doubleheader from the White Sox.

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Indians rallied early and late Friday to sweep the White Sox in a doubleheader at U.S. Cellular Field.

Down 5-0 in the first inning of the opener, the Tribe countered with a five-run second on the way to a 19-10 victory. In nightcap, the Indians entered the ninth trailing, 8-5, but scored four runs for a 9-8 victory. Nick Swisher sealed it with a game-winning homer off closer Addison Reed.

It was a long day at the yard. Really long.

The two games lasted seven hours and 53 minutes. In terms of doubleheaders where both games go nine innings, it was the longest in history.

"It was a long day, bro. . .definitely a long day," said Swisher. "We got in at 3 in the morning after playing in Baltimore on Thursday night. We come out here and played two games.

"This is a no-doubt type team. We fight to the end. We're scrapping. It doesn't always look pretty, man, but we're going to do our best to try and get it done."

The Indians have won eight of their last 11 games. They trail the first-place Tigers by two games in the AL Central.

"That was one of the most rewarding days I've ever been a part of," said manager Terry Francona. "We held it together. We battled and to have the results to show for it is exciting."

In the nightcap, Ryan Raburn opened the ninth with a single. Pinch-hitter Asdrubal Cabrera, who had three hits in the opener, followed with a single to right to put runners on the corners. Michael Bourn, with his third hit of the night, scored Raburn to cut Chicago's lead to 8-6 as Cabrera hustled to third.

Francona pinch-hit Jason Giambi for Mike Aviles, even though Aviles had five hits in the doubleheader. Before Giambi contributed, Reed threw a wild pitch that scored Cabrera two make it 8-7. Giambi sent a fly ball to center for the first out of the inning as Bourn advanced to third to bring hot-hitting Jason Kipnis to the plate.

"I thought they might walk me with first base open," said Kipnis, who reached base eight times in the doubleheader. "Then when I saw the catcher squat down, I knew they were going to pitch to me."

Kipnis sent a fly ball to center that scored Bourn with the tying run. Up came Swisher against the hard-throwing Reed. He worked the count full and then drove a pitch into the right field seats for a 9-8 lead.

• Game 1 box score | Game 2 box score | Standings

Vinnie Pestano came on in the ninth to convert his sixth straight save. The win went to rookie Matt Langwell (1-0), his first in the big leagues.

"I haven't had all that much success against Reed," said Swisher. "He's got a plus fastball, a good slider, a good change up. . .With no one on, I'm just trying to keep the rally going."

Chicago scored four times in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead. They made it 8-5 with two runs against Langwell in the eighth.

The rally saved Carlos Carrasco from a loss. Carrasco, in a spot start, allowed six runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"I thought he really battled," said Francona. "The final line doesn't look good, but I felt he really battled."

Trevor Bauer started Game 1. Like Carrasco, he was making a spot start.

Bauer, however, decided it would be a good time to experiment, scrapping his wind up and pitching out of the stretch. Ten batters, six hits, including two homers, and five runs later, the White Sox had a 5-0 lead and Bauer was packing for his return to Columbus. The Indians rallied behind one of their biggest offensive showings of the year, but the question is why did Bauer pick a big-league game to work out of the stretch and did the Indians know he wasn't going to use it in the game?

Francona said Tony Arnold, Columbus' pitching coach, told them  Indians that Bauer felt more comfortable pitching out of the stretch and could use it Friday.

"There are less moving parts pitching out of the stretch and that's OK," said Francona. "That's fine with us. Watching it (the first inning) was kind of our worst nightmare at the time. I was really proud of our ballclub.. You're not going to see many games where you give up five runs in the first and four in the fifth and win."

Bauer said hasn't pitched out of the stretch in any games at Columbus. He said he didn't tell the Indians he was going to do it before Friday's game.

"That's something I just did today," he said. "I didn't do it in Columbus.

"In my last two or three starts, I didn't feel comfortable pitching out of the windup. I just felt I had a better chance to compete this way."

Bauer said he's been changing his delivery all season.

Trailing 5-0, the Indians immediately fired back with a five-run second to tie the score. All five runs came with two out.

Drew Stubbs started the rally with a two-run single. Kipnis, who reached base six times in the opener, hit a two-run double to the fence in center. Swisher delivered Kipnis with a single to tie it.

The Indians took the lead with a six-run fourth, featuring a two-run single by  Raburn, an RBI double by Lonnie Chisenhall, a two-run single by Aviles and Stubbs' RBI triple off the right-field fence.

Brian Omogrosso (0-2, 9.37), working in relief of starter Hector Santiago, took the loss and most of the punishment as the White Sox were forced to pitch outfielder Casper Wells in the ninth to save their bullpen for the second game. Omogrosso allowed nine runs on nine hits in 2 1/3 innings.

The six-run fourth staked the Indians to a 11-5 lead. They increased that to 14-5 with three more runs in the fifth. Kipnis and Swisher opened with consecutive doubles to push the lead to 12-5. With two out, Yan Gomes doubled to score Swisher and Chisenhall doubled to score Gomes, finally ending Omogrosso's day.

The White Sox, however, had one more push in them.

They scored four runs in the fifth, three coming on Tyler Flowers' homer off Cody Allen. They added an unearned run in the sixth to make it 14-10. Raburn, however, cooled the rally with a two-run homer in the seventh. For Raburn, who drove in four runs, it was his 14th career homer against the White Sox.

Almost by accident the Indians added three more runs in the eighth.

After Cabrera singled and Kipnis hit his third double to put runners on second and third, Swisher walked to load the bases. Mark Reynolds, looking for his first hit and RBI of the afternoon, singled to the hole at short to score Cabrera. Alexei Ramirez made a diving stop, but his throw to third was wild as Kipnis scored. Gomes added the third run with a two-out single.

The Indians finished with 21 hits, including three each by Cabrera, Kipnis, Gomes and Aviles. Stubbs, Swisher, Raburn and Chisenhall had two hits each. Raburn led the way with four RBI followed by Stubbs with three.

 The win went to Matt Albers (2-0), who pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings after Bauer.

Video: Nick Swisher was fired up to talk after his homer capped a four run, ninth inning rally that completed the double header sweep.