As we wait for the Browns to make their hire, why don't we stroll down memory lane and decide which head coach is the best since 1999.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns are currently looking for their next head coach.
After firing Rob Chudzinski following the season finale against the Steelers in December, the Browns have interviewed offensive and defensive coordinators.
But, as we wait for the Browns to make their hire, let’s stroll down memory lane and decide which head coach was the best.
Cleveland has played in one playoff game since their return in 1999. They traveled to Pittsburgh, and lost, to the Steelers on Jan. 6, 2002 under Butch Davis. Would he be the favorite?
The Browns have had seven head coaches the past 15 seasons and none of them have a winning record. Davis and Romeo Crennel had the most wins at 24. Davis did it in 58 games, while Crennel achieved the mark in 64 games, winning ten in 2007.
Chris Palmer coached the Browns for two seasons, winning five games. Terry Robiskie was interim head coach in 2004 after the firing of Davis, winning once in six games.
Eric Mangini took over in 2009 and won ten games in two seasons. Pat Shurmur won nine games over two seasons.
Bottom line: Head coaches in Cleveland since 1999 are not sporting a favorable record.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Full Court Press boys basketball podcast will return Wednesday after a two-week hiatus for the holidays. Boys basketball beat reporter David Cassilo will be joined by Mark Kern and Bill Landis to take a look at some of the big boys basketball storylines this week.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Full Court Press boys basketball podcast will return Wednesday after a two-week hiatus for the holidays.
Boys basketball beat reporter David Cassilo will be joined by Mark Kern and Bill Landis to take a look at some of the big boys basketball storylines this week.
If you missed the first installment of the Full Court Press Podcast, you can listen here.
This week, Warrensville Heights coach Brian Swift, and Beachwood coach Matt Miller and guard John Davis will join the podcast.
If you have questions for any of our guests, submit them in the comments section below. You can register for an account here. If there are any topics you’d like the hosts to discuss, you can submit those in the comments section as well.
David, Mark and Bill will also take a look back at last week’s Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic, and discuss the shakeup in this week’s cleveland.com top 25 boys basketball poll.
Seven of the top 10 teams in last week’s poll suffered at least one loss last week, so there will be plenty to discuss when it comes to the poll. One of those teams, Mentor, is off to a slow start this season, and we’ll break down some of the reasons for the Cardinals early season struggles.
As always, we’ll preview the weekend ahead and set up the early portion of next week’s boys basketball slate.
Contact high school sports reporter Bill Landis by email (blandis@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@blandis25). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Will the Cavaliers' trade with the Bulls eventually help the Miami Heat?
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Since the relationship between LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers will never go away, Ira Winderman writes on sun-sentinel.com how the trade between the Cavaliers and Bulls might add even more size to the Heat's power rotation and quiet the speculation of a LeBron James return to Cleveland this summer as a free agent.
For the Bulls, the deal was purely a luxury-tax decision, effectively removing them from the punitive financial consequences for this season, provided they release Bynum and the non-guaranteed portion of his 2013-14 contract by Tuesday's 5 p.m. guarantee deadline.
From there, Bynum, after, as expected, clearing the 48-hour waiver period, would become a free agent, available to sign with the team of his choice starting at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Those preferences, word has it, are the Clippers or the Heat.
Bynum, writes Winderman, at the minimum would represent what Greg Oden has represented to this point on the inactive list ... 7 feet of possibilities.
And if the Cavaliers plan to re-sign Deng, adds Winderman, an impending free agent, this offseason, which seems to be the initial interest, then it would preclude them having the salary-cap wherewithal to also make a July free-agent run at a reunion with LeBron.
Maybe the trade won't work, but the Cavs had to make it because Deng is exactly the type of small forward this team needs.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Maybe the deal won't work.
Maybe Luol Deng fails to help the Cavs make the playoffs.
Maybe all the different conditions on the various draft picks headed to Chicago in the trade for Deng break the wrong way for the Cavs.
But the Cavs had to make this trade.
That's right, they had to do it.
Ever since LeBron James left to go to Miami in July of 2010, the Cavs' fan base has been taking a beating. The team has been terrible, James' old small forward spot an embarrassment.
Deng comes to town as one of the top small forwards in the NBA, averaging 19 points, 6.9 rebounds and shooting 45 percent this season.
Why would the Bulls give up Deng for Andrew Bynum's contract, a couple of second rounders (2015 and 2016) and the possibility of a first-round highly-protected pick via the Sacramento Kings?
Because Deng will be a free agent, and he turned down a three-year, $30 million extension offer from the Bulls. And the Bulls are in a salary cap/luxury tax swamp -- needing to dump payroll.
Meanwhile, the Cavs turned the failed Bynum experiment and extra picks that they had collected over the years into a short-term move that hopefully can transform this team into something worth watching.
The Cavs are 11-23 and have lost 8-of-10, yet they are only three games out of the playoffs in the awful Eastern Conference. They are six games away from home-court advantage.
Deng can make a major difference. Not just because he can score, but he defends, rebounds and is very good at making sure the ball moves.
There are immediate risks. He has been battling an Achilles problem, and has missed nine games this season.
He has played the last three games, averaging 16 points, 6.0 rebounds and shooting 41 percent since returning from the injury.
In the last three years, he has averaged 39 minutes a game. He will turn 29 in April, which sounds relatively young. But there are a lot of miles on his basketball tires.
Meanwhile, think about the franchise since the departure of James.
In the last three seasons, the Cavs have a 65-165 (.354) record. The only three-year span that was worse was the 1980-83 Ted Stepien Era (66-180, .366).
Deng has been a terrific pro, the best friend of coaches and a role model for younger players. He knows the division, having spent his entire career with the Bulls.
Best case scenario is Deng stays healthy, the Cavs make the playoffs and he signs an extension to stay in Cleveland.
The worst? You can guess.
But right now, I'm in the mood to hope for something close to the best -- because what the Cavs really need is a dose of hope that comes to town with Deng.
Noah Spence's father reportedly told ABC 27 in Pennsylvania that the defensive end failed a Big Ten drug test because of ecstasy use.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Noah Spence's three-game suspension, handed down last week by the Big Ten for an unspecified rules violation, was originally a one-year ban. Spence's father, Greg, told ABC 27 in central Pennsylvania, that the punishment resulted from a positive test "for a small amount of ecstasy."
According to the report, Spence unintentionally consumed the drug when provided an open drink at a party. The Spence family told ABC 27 Spence was "shocked" when the test came back positive.
A source told Cleveland.com that Spence failed the test prior to the Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan State last month. The conference tests players year-round and also tests those on the travel roster for the conference title game. The league does not test for street drugs, but does test for performance-enhancing substances.
The NCAA considers ecstasy a street drug, but the Big Ten considers it a performance-enhancer. Thus, the league initially suspended Spence for a year, according to the report. The Spence family, with support from Ohio State's athletic department, appealed the ruling, which was reduced to three games. They reportedly appealed again, but the three-game punishment was upheld.
Spence missed the Orange Bowl and will sit out Ohio State's 2014 games against Navy and Virginia Tech. He will not be eligible to play until Ohio State's tilt with Kent State on Sept. 13, though he is permitted to participate in spring practice.
The Spence family, which resides in Harrisburg, Pa., reportedly plans to file a lawsuit against the Big Ten.
Spence led the Buckeyes with eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. When asked about Spence's situation in the days leading up to the Orange Bowl, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer referred to the pass-rusher as one of his "favorite guys," though he admitted he was disappointed in him.
"Sometimes things happen in life that you have to move on and football teaches you that," Meyer said. "A lot of things teach you that. You have to move forward. I love that guy, though. He's a great kid."
The Spence family did not immediately return Cleveland.com's request for comment.
Irving participated in shootaround, but will be a game-time decision for tonight's contest against Philadelphia.
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – The answer to your question is, the
Cavaliers don't know.
They don't know if newly acquired forward Luol Deng will
arrive in time for tonight's game against Philadelphia. A 12:30 a.m. conference
call to complete the trade for Andrew Bynum and draft picks, and a Midwest
caught in a polar vortex aren't helping Deng's Cleveland arrival.
They don't know for sure if Kyrie Irving will play either, though they are slightly more optimistic about the
All-Star point guard getting on the court for the first time in three games. Irving participated in shootaround this afternoon, but coach Mike Brown said he wants to see how Irving's left knee
contusion feels before gametime.
One thing is certain, according to Brown: Backup point guard
Jarrett Jack is out with back spasms that also forced him to
miss Sunday's game against Indiana.
Probable starters: Cavs -- F Earl Clark, F Tristan Thompson, C Anderson
Varejao, G C.J. Miles, G Kyrie Irving. Sixers -- F Thaddeus Young, F Evan
Turner, C Spencer Hawes, G Michael Carter-Williams, G Hollis Thompson.
Injuries: Cavs – Jarrett Jack
(back spasms) is out. Sixers – Tony Wroten (flu-like symptoms/migraine) is
doubtful. Arnett Moultrie (left ankle injury) and Nerlens Noel (left knee
injury) are out.
Officials: John Goble, Tony Brown, Nick
Buchert
Up next for Cavs: vs. Utah on Friday
at EnergySolutions Arena.
Even after trading three picks (and Andrew Bynum) to Chicago to get Luol Deng, the Cavs have 18 picks remaining over the next seven years.
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The Cavaliers have plenty of draft picks remaining after Tuesday's deal that sent Andrew Bynum and three selections to the Chicago Bulls for All-Star small forward Luol Deng, including their own first-round pick in 2014, which is supposed to be one of the best collections of young talent in years.
In all, the Cavs still hold nine first-round and nine second-round picks over the next seven years.
Here is a look at their picks through 2020, courtesy of the Cavaliers media relations department:
2014: The Cavs have their own first-round pick. They have their own second-round pick, Memphis' second-round pick and Orlando's second-round pick.
2015: The Cavs have their own first-round pick with Chicago having the right to swap first-round picks (protected 1-14). They also have Miami's first-round pick (1-10 protected). The Cavs have their own second-round pick. Cavs also have Memphis’s first-round pick, protected 1-5 and 15-30.
2016: The Cavs have their own first-round pick. The Cavs have their own second-round pick. If not conveyed in 2015, Cavs also have Memphis’s first-round pick (protected 1-5 and 15-30).
2017: The Cavs have their own first-round pick and also have their own second-round pick. If not conveyed earlier, Cavs also have Memphis’s first round pick (protected 1-5).
2018: The Cavs have their own first-round pick and also have their own second-round pick. If not conveyed earlier, Cavs also have Memphis’s first-round pick protected 1-5.
2019: The Cavs have their own first-round pick and their own second-round pick. If not conveyed earlier, Cavs also have Memphis’s first-round pick unprotected.
2020: The Cavs have their own first- and second-round picks.
"They're hard to find -- guys who can score on one end and defend on the other," Cavs GM said of new acquisition Luol Deng. "He is definitely a two-way player."
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant would like to keep newly acquired Luol Deng a Cavalier for a long, long time.
"We're bringing him here and we'd like to keep him here long term,'' Grant said of Deng, who may or may not arrive before tonight's game against Philadelphia at The Q but likely will not play. "He's 28 years old. We see him as part of our core and our youth moving forward. We'll get through the season and get into those conversations at the appropriate time.''
Deng, who will make $14.3 million this season, can be a free agent this summer. Under the new collective bargaining rules, the Cavs could only offer him a three-year extension if they tried to do so before July 1, whereas they could offer him a five-year deal once he becomes a free agent. Deng and agent Herb Rudoy turned down a reported three-year, $30 million from the Bulls recently, prompting the Bulls to trade him instead of losing him for nothing next summer.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Deng, upset with the Bulls' treatment and reaction when he developed what he called life-threatening complications after a spinal tap late last season, was seeking something more in line with -- or above -- the $14 million a year Josh Smith received from Detroit last summer.
Grant, who has been a fan of Deng's since he entered the 2004 draft out of Duke, explained why the Cavs coveted him.
"From an organization standpoint, we're bringing in a player who's an All-Star in his prime, who epitomizes all the things that we're trying to build as a foundation with this young group of players, fits a position of need, has a winning background, leadership,'' Grant said on Tuesday at Cleveland Clinic Courts. "Obviously, he comes from a strong defensive system. He has a strong defensive presence himself, leading scorer of his team. So it's an exciting time for us.
"They're hard to find -- guys who can score on one end and defend on the other. He is definitely a two-way player. That's a good way to characterize him and just a fantastic human being. You guys will get to know him but in my short conversation last night with him on the phone you could just tell in 30 seconds that this was a great guy and a class act.''
The Cavs obtained the two-time All-Star from the Chicago Bulls for Andrew Bynum, Cleveland’s rights to the Sacramento Kings' first-round draft pick conveyed in a 2011 deal, the right for Chicago to swap its 2015 first-round draft pick with the Cavs' 2015 pick (if the Cleveland pick is between 15 and 30) and the Portland Trail Blazers' 2015-16 second-round draft picks acquired in a 2013 draft-night trade.
Because of the protections on the Kings' pick the next three seasons, it's possible that the Cavs got Deng for Bynum and three second-round picks. Sacramento has to be one of the league's top 18 teams this season or top 20 teams in 2015 or 2016 in order for that pick to be a first-round pick. If that doesn't happen, it reverts to a second-round pick in 2017. The Kings are currently 10-22, the fourth-worst record in the league.
The key in all that is Bynum's contract. The Cavs knew they were taking a chance on signing the fragile big man last summer, but Grant, with the full support of owner Dan Gilbert, structured the two-year, $24-million deal so that only half of his $12.25-million salary was guaranteed this season, protecting themselves in case things didn't work out and giving themselves an attractive bargaining chip in case they did.
When they suspended Bynum for one game on Dec. 28 after a pattern of disruptive behavior and then excused him from all team activities, they began looking for trading partners who needed salary cap relief. That included Chicago, the Lakers and the Utah Jazz, among others.
The Bulls, struggling since the loss of All-Star Derrick Rose for the second straight season with a knee injury, are expected to waive Bynum by 5 p.m. on Tuesday so he can clear waivers by Friday, when NBA contracts are guaranteed. They will save $15 million in salary and taxes and have acquired much-needed pieces to rebuild.
This season, Deng has appeared in 23 games (all starts) for Chicago, averaging a career-best 19.0 points on .452 shooting, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steal in 37.4 minutes. The 6-9, 220-pound forward has scored at least 20 points 10 times, including a stretch of six straight from Nov. 24-Dec. 5. He missed nine games in December with a sore left Achilles but has played 29 minutes or more in the Bulls' last three games.
A native of The Sudan who grew up in England and played one season at Duke, Deng was originally drafted by Phoenix in the 2004 NBA Draft as the No. 7 selection. He has spent his entire nine-year career with the Bulls and owns career averages of 16.1 points on .460 shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal in 35.9 minutes over 637 games (591 starts). He has also played in 48 playoff games (42 starts) with averages of 16.7 points on .452 shooting, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 40.3 minutes per game.
Though limited to 20 minutes a game by the Cavs medical staff because of his bad knees, Bynum averaged 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 24 games, shooting 41.9 percent (85 of 203) with 28 blocks and 30 turnovers.
The Cavaliers turned Andrew Bynum into Luol Deng. And if it costs them a spot in the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery, there's still a lot to like about Tuesday's trade.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Whatever you think about the Cavaliers and their penchant for going nowhere, you cannot dispute they’ve developed one of the great closers in the NBA.
But this column isn’t about Nick Gilbert.
To suggest the 11-23 Cavs might be better off in the talent-rich 2014 NBA lottery yet again -- rather than making Tuesday’s trade with Chicago for two-time All-Star Luol Deng -- is to say you’re betting on the owner’s son delivering the goods one more time.
And then what?
Give me Deng for 50 games (and possibly more).
Win another Lotto and Nick Gilbert’s bow tie belongs in the Quicken Loans rafters for sure, but the idea should be to win enough to someday hang a banner.
Deng fits a desperate need for offense at small forward. And when Mike Brown gets tired of lecturing about defense -- not that there's any evidence he does -- he can now just point to how he wants it played.
Deng is a complete player and as professional a presence as you’d want in a locker room. (Yes, Andrew, even more than you.)
One argument for delaying gratification yet again, is that the ceiling for this season, even with Deng, is basically a Hobbit house. So what? Win now. Make the playoffs. Go as far as you can.
Reset. Repeat next year.
Unlike the NFL, these things actually take time in the NBA. Longer, if you never start the process of winning games.
The Deng deal is not without a trap door because he becomes a free agent at season’s end and keeping him could be riskier than letting him walk. While it’s promising that the Cavs could pay him more than anyone else to stay, he would be a dangerous max contract given his age (29 in April) and the miles on his odometer.
So the trade for Deng is not without concerns. But for an organization needing to turn its direction from wallowing to winning in time to give Kyrie Irving more enticement than money alone to make this his home, Deng is the right acquisition.
Maybe Irving stays anyway. History says he will. But that doesn't have to be the end game to make Deng a smart and welcome move for the Cavs and the people who've been shelling out season ticket money post-LeBron.
If we’ve had our fill of anything in this town, it should be teams getting giddy over how close they are to winning games that simply get away from them in the end. It’s pro sports. It’s not University of Kentucky vs. Transylvania.
The only way you learn to win is by winning as often as possible. That should start as soon as possible for the Cavaliers, who really could use two or three Luol Dengs.
I get that this draft – unlike the past few -- has some gold to mine: Andrew Wiggins of Kansas and Duke's Jabari Parker. You could ask what’s not to like about that?
The answer: A lot, actually.
Starting with the perpetuation of the losing culture it takes to be in that position yet again.
(More of Bud Shaw's Sports Spin will be posted later Tuesday afternoon)
On Cavs Insider, cleveland.com's Chris Fedor is joined by The Plain Dealer's Cavs beat reporter's Jodie Valade and Mary Schmitt Boyer to break down the Luol Deng trade.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - What impact will the Luol Deng trade have on the Cavs? How did the deal come together? Does this trade make the playoffs possible?
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This week's girls basketball Top 25 poll was released Tuesday. Check out the new top 25 here. Each week after posting the updated Top 25, we'll post another story like this with talking points, including insight into why some teams moved up or down, or in or out of the rankings.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This week's girls basketball Top 25 poll was released Tuesday. Check out the new top 25 here.
Each week after posting the updated Top 25, we'll post another story like this with talking points, including insight into why some teams moved up or down, or in or out of the rankings.
Do you have additional questions about our poll decisions? Post your questions in the comments section below and we will answer you.
We also invite you to provide your input in the comments section, a new feature added to high school stories this school year. Tell us what you agree or don't agree with. You can even post your own rankings, which we welcome.
Talking point No. 1: Why was there very little movement in the poll?
Thank the weather. And the holidays. There were very few games to begin with last week, but add in the terrible weather that postponed many games and it didn't allow for much action in the week.
The action that did happen kept the teams pretty much on par. It was almost like a week of hibernation in Northeast Ohio girls basketball. Trust us, this week there are plenty of games to give the poll some movement.
Talking point No. 2: Why did Hudson fall so far this week?
Hudson saw the biggest fall in the poll this week. The Explorers dropped six spots. They lost to Stow-Munroe Falls by 16 points, giving them their third straight loss. The last time that happened, Hudson rebounded with four straight victories.
They are also the only team with a losing record in the top 25.
However, five of their six losses are to teams ranked in the Top 10. The Explorers play one of the toughest schedules of any NEO team and the weeks ahead, with more top 10 matchups, will determined Hudson's rise or fall.
Talking point No. 3: Why did Brecksville-Broadview Heights and Olmsted Falls make the Top 25?
Brecksville-Broadview Heights enters the top 25 for the first time this season after defeating then-No. 21 Strongsville by six. The victory made us look closer at the Bees and their two losses, one to a dominate Berea-Midpark team.
Olmsted Falls also broke into the Top 25 for the first time this season. The Bulldogs upset Rocky River last week and all of their losses are to ranked or previously ranked teams, including Strongsville, Westlake, Brecksville-Broadview Heights and their most recent to North Royalton. They definitely play a tougher schedule.
Up next for Olmsted Falls? No. 3 Berea-Midpark.
Talking point No. 4: What games will shape next week's poll?
On Wednesday, No. 4 Solon takes on No. 7 Magnificat. It's a game that will be a real indicator of if, at 8-2 Solon deserves to be so far above a 7-2 Magnificat (and an undefeated Stow team). No. 18 Twinsburg also plays No. 11 Walsh Jesuit on Wednesday. The game will show whether or not a 6-5 Twinsburg deserves to be in the top 20 or if they should fall more into the mid20 range and whether an 8-4 Walsh Jesuit can remain steady just outside the top 10.
Games that could shape the poll on Saturday include No. 10 Mentor at No. 5 Stow-Munroe Falls, as well as No. 4 Solon at No. 18 Twinsburg in a rematch of last year's quarterfinals of the Division I state basketball tournament.
Contact high school sports reporter Stephanie Kuzydym by email (skuzydym@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@stephkuzy). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The first girls basketball poll of the new year is pretty similar to the last poll of 2013. In fact, if you wanted to pick a word of the year that would describe this poll, it would be "steady." It appears 13 times in our poll, including the entire way through the top 10 teams.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The first girls basketball poll of the new year is pretty similar to the last poll of 2013.
In fact, if you wanted to pick a word of the year that would describe this poll, it would be "steady." It appears 13 times in our poll, including the entire way through the top 10 teams.
We are excited to introduce comments to all cleveland.com high school sports stories this school year. Please sound off and share your top 25 in the comments section at the bottom of this post.
Make sure to also check out our talking points article, which explains some of our Top 25 decisions. It’s posted every Tuesday, too.
Which girls basketball team do you think is the best in Northeast Ohio? Let us know in the comments.
Due to many cancellations and postponements due to inclement weather, there weren't a whole lot of girls basketball games played last week. Regardless, we give you this week's top 25 poll, including a steady top 10 and two new teams in the top 25. (Records through Monday. Last week's ranking in parentheses.)
Last week: Idle. Game against Westlake on Monday, Jan 6. Postponed due to weather.
This week: Wednesday at Midview and Saturday at Rocky River.
The Rangers were supposed to play Westlake in a showdown of two top 10 teams, but mother nature had other plans. A matchup against Rocky River will not be easy.
Last week: Defeated Hudson. Game against Lakewood on Monday, Jan. 6 postponed due to weather.
This week: Wednesday vs. Highland, and Saturday vs. Olmsted Falls.
Like the Rangers, the Demons have a busy week ahead despite not playing on Monday night. In their last game, Westlake overcame a five-point fourth quarter deficit to win a big road game against Hudson.
This week: Wednesday at Beachwood and Saturday against Richmond Heights.
The most surprising team thus far, the Redskins continue to take care of business. Two talented teams are looming this week, giving Cuyahoga Heights two big opportunities to move up even more.
Last week: Lost to Stow-Munroe Falls. Monday game vs. Austintown Fitch cancelled due to weather.
This week: Saturday at Shaker Heights.
The Explorers have played the most difficult schedule thus far in the season, with five of their losses being to teams ranked in the top nine of the cleveland.com girls poll.
This week: Wednesday at Medina and Friday vs. John Marshall.
The Scarabs have been playing some terrific basketball, with their only three losses being to teams that were in the first Associated Press girls state basketball poll.
The Bees squeak into the top 25 after defeating a previously-ranked Strongsville squad.
Dropped out: Strongsville
Contact high school sports reporter Stephanie Kuzydym by email (skuzydym@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@stephkuzy). Also contact high school sports reporter Mark Kern by email (mkern@cleveland.com) or on Twitter (@MarkKern11). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Tuesday night’s live racing program at Northfield Park has been cancelled.
CLEVELAND, Ohio âTuesday nightâs live racing program at Northfield Park has been cancelled. It is the second straight night this weekâs arctic storm has kept the trotters and pacers from braving the extreme cold.
The harness racing track will be open for wagering on simulcast racing from 2-8 p.m. The Hard Rock Rocksino will also be open. Live racing is expected to return on Wednesday night, with a 6 p.m. first-race post time.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made their intentions at the beginning of the season clear. They no longer wanted their end-of-season party to be held at the draft lottery.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Cavaliers made their
intentions at the beginning of the season clear. They no longer wanted their
end-of-season party to be held at the draft lottery.
But, with the third-worst record (11-23) in the NBA, two
wins on the road all season, eight losses in the last nine games and a habit of
throwing games away late, it looked like the playoff plans were going to be put
on hold – again.
Until Tuesday. That's when Cavs General Manager Chris Grant, figuratively
sporting a ski mask, executed an early-morning heist for small forward Luol
Deng that even the Joker from Batman would applaud.
Grant gave Chicago what amounts to nothing – the deadweight
contract of Andrew Bynum, who has a history of being a malcontent and was
suspended by the team earlier this season, three future draft picks, one that
has maddening and confusing protection restrictions, and the right to swap first
round picks in 2015 with the Bulls – in return for a two-time All-Star.
This was Grant's master plan all along. It was tough to see
it through the losing streaks, the sloppy basketball, the on-court bickering and whatever else might have been going on behind closed
doors. Grant's task was never easy, but his goal was being ready to strike when
this kind of deal presented itself. Sure, he's made mistakes, some of which he's still paying for. But without his tireless hours trying to
accumulate assets, his shrewd construction of Bynum's contract -- which turned
him into a trade chip -- and cap flexibility, this kind of robbery would not
have been possible. For that, he deserves praise.
It started with rumors of Richard Jefferson and Pau Gasol, but ended with Deng. Better than I could have anticipated. He's the kind of player the Cavs have been searching for
since the summer of 2010 when LeBron James took his talents to South Beach
and left the franchise reeling.
Deng is an enormous upgrade at the team's worst position,
small forward. The Cavs no longer have to start Earl Clark, who hasn't taken to
the position switch as well as the team had hoped, or Alonzo Gee, who belongs
near the end of the bench as a defensive specialist. With Deng in the starting
lineup alongside Kyrie Irving, C.J. Miles, Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao,
the Cavs have a formidable five.
Add in Dion Waiters' offensive punch off the bench, Jarrett
Jack's ball-handling and savvy, Matthew Dellavedova's hustle and intensity and
Tyler Zeller's size, and it adds up to a playoff-worthy roster, easily the best
since James bolted for Miami.
Deng's a veteran; he's a team-first guy who comes from a
winning organization. His presence will be great for a locker room full of youngsters
still trying to find their way on and off the court. He's a strong defender, always welcoming the challenge of
guarding the best players at the position on the perimeter and in the post.
Not overly athletic, his game has been built through hard
work and dedication. He relies on strength and intelligence, a
welcome addition to a team that has made crumbling in the closing seconds a bad
habit.
Offensively, he has a variety of arrows in his quiver with which to
attack the defense. He can knock down threes, post up, slash to the basket
and finish at the rim and possesses a solid mid-range game. Deng moves well
without the ball and is a willing and capable passer, which should help Mike Brown's stagnant offense. Despite playing with a
nagging Achilles injury that has cost him nine games, Deng is currently
averaging a career-best 19.0 points on 45 percent shooting. The previous duo at
small forward, Clark and Gee, average less than 10 points combined.
Deng is also one of the better rebounders at his position,
corralling 6.9 per game, which puts him fourth among small forwards and ahead
of the league's MVP, James.
Like so many deals, this one also comes with a bit of risk. It
starts with his health. Aside from an Achilles injury, Deng underwent a spinal
tap during the Bulls playoff series against Miami, which led to him being
hospitalized because of complications.
Then there's the contract, which expires at the end of the
year. Set to hit free agency and already having reportedly turned down a
contract offer of $30 million over three years from Chicago, Deng could be
looking for a big payday. The Cavs already had a hard time
keeping one talented, All-Star caliber small forward in the city. Although the
organization wants to keep Deng long-term and now has an inside track because
they can offer him more money than any other team, it might not be enough.
Deng's future in Cleveland is anyone's guess. He may depart in the summer. But the Cavs' goal of making the
playoffs has been clear since the start of the season and this trade gets them
closer. The days of playing for ping-pong balls, hoping the right combination
comes up, are in the rearview mirror. The Cavs' young core -- led by Irving,
Waiters and Thompson -- which often looks lost, has a new running mate to guide it
to where it needs to be: the postseason.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- During winter break there are many boys basketball tournaments. Our video highlight providers, 3rdcoasthoops.com, caught several games, some of which provided some of the top plays from the past week. Watch the weekly video of the top plays with Northeast Ohio Media Group reporters Lexi Pluym and Nathaniel Cline and let us know which one is...
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- During winter break there are many boys basketball tournaments. Our video highlight providers, 3rdcoasthoops.com, caught several games, some of which provided some of the top plays from the past week.
Watch the weekly video of the top plays with Northeast Ohio Media Group reporters Lexi Pluym and Nathaniel Cline and let us know which one is your favorite.
Tell us which play was your favorite by voting in the poll, and feel free to say why in the comments section below.
Thanks to Steven Newton and Robert Holmes of 3rdcoasthoops.com for providing the highlights. Check cleveland.com every Tuesday for the play of the week video and poll.
In the most recent video play of the week poll, Elyria's Isaiah Walton won with 50 percent of the votes with his one-handed dunk.
Do you have video of a play you think belongs in the poll? Be sure to email your highlight videos weekly to Lexi Pluym via email or Twitter by Mondays at noon. See contact information below.
You can also follow the highlights providers on Twitter (@3rdcoasthoops).
Contact high school sports reporter Lexi Pluym by email (apluym@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@LexiPluym). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Deng not only can score (19.0 points per game this season) and defend, but the 28-year-old Sudan native also has won humanitarian awards for his work with refugees.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – In Chicago, the mourning began early.
Bulls players filed out of the United Center on Tuesday and told reporters
there just how difficult life would be without Luol Deng.
"To have him traded is tough on us," Carlos Boozer told reporters. "Luol is like a brother to us."
Said
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau: "It's tough. Lu did an
unbelievable job for us. He embodied everything that we believe in: high
character, intelligent, mentally tough, great humanitarian. He worked extremely
hard and performed well. We wish him well."
All of which is another way to say that the Cavaliers have just
acquired a 6-foot-9 small forward who not only will lead Cleveland on the court
at the position they have been most desperate to fill for four years, but will also
be the kind of luminescent locker-room personality that the Cavaliers covet
most.
Oh, and he also happens to play both offense and defense equally
as well.
"He is definitely a
two-way player," Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant said Tuesday. "That's a
good way to characterize him -- and just a fantastic human being. You guys will
get to know him, but in my short conversation last night with him on the phone,
you could just tell in 30 seconds that this was a great guy and a class act."
"Class act" is the phrase used most in association with
Deng, who has proven to be as active off the court as on. Born in what is now
South Sudan, Deng and his family fled during civil war to Egypt when he was 5,
and then on to England. He moved to the United States at age 14 to play
basketball, later played for Duke, and in 2004 was drafted by Phoenix before he
quickly was traded to Chicago.
Through it all, he has remained thoughtful and cognizant of his
upbringing, providing support to refugees to the point that he won the U.N.
Refugee Agency's Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2008. At that time, Bulls
fan President Barack Obama said, "Both on and off the court, Luol sets a
standard of excellence and service that all Americans can look to for
inspiration."
"The professionalism that he brings to the
table – that's one of the things that you hear first when people mention Luol
Deng -- it's second to none," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "And I'm excited
to be around it."
Brown and the rest of the Cavaliers also are excited
for Deng's career-best 19.0 points and 3.7 assists per game this season.
Asked what Brown most looked forward to with
the arrival of Deng, the Cavaliers coach rattled off a long list that included
everything from his length, his leadership, his defense and his screen-setting.
"He brings a lot of everything," Brown finally
said.
And with Deng just 28 years old, the Cavaliers already
are hopeful they can re-sign him when he becomes a free agent in the
off-season.
The guys on the team he just left know all the
reasons why.
"I don't think
you can win a championship without a player like Luol," Thibodeau
told Chicago reporters before the season. "He does so many things for our
team that go unrecognized by most except his teammates and coaches. He's a
complete player."
The Cleveland Browns can cross one name of their list. Josh McDaniels has taken his name out of the running for the Browns head coach position.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns can cross one name of their list.
Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot has confirmed a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter that New England's offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has taken his name out of the running for the Browns head coach position.
McDaniels is one of the three NFL assistants the Browns have interviewed. The others are Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. The Browns have also received permission to interview Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase.
Read tweets from fans and media reacting to the news of McDaniels taking his name out of the running. Voice your opinion in the comments section below.
How will the Buckeyes' running back corps survive without Carlos Hyde next year?
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Carlos Hyde and his 1,521 rushing yards -- the seventh-highest single-season total in Ohio State history -- are gone.
So where does that leave the Buckeyes' running back situation?
"It's definitely up for grabs," said Ezekiel Elliott.
The speedy back from St. Louis should factor into the equation, and could even be the starter. Urban Meyer raved about the sophomore-to-be throughout the 2013 season. Elliott rushed for 262 yards on 30 carries (8.7 yards per tote). He played mostly on special teams, though he gained 162 yards on 14 attempts against Florida A&M in late September.
"This year, the biggest thing was just laying the foundation and getting some game experience, no matter where it was, special teams or in the backfield," Elliott said. "I just had to go out and make plays. Hopefully it carries over to next year."
Next year won't include Hyde, who finished his senior season with nine consecutive 100-yard games. Behind an offensive line stocked with four seniors, Hyde became the first running back to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark under Urban Meyer.
"He leads by example, just the way he competes," Elliott said. "He's a clutch player."
So, behind a remodeled offensive line, an inexperienced crop of backs will dictate the Buckeyes' running game. Bri'onte Dunn didn't see the field this season. Rod Smith and Warren Ball combined for only 35 carries.
"We have four backs coming back next year," Elliott said. "We're going to compete and just have to work hard through spring practice."
Elliott said each back "brings something different to the table." And he expects each of the four to vie for the starting gig.
"That's why any back came here, because they want to be the starter here at Ohio State," Elliott said. "We'll all go out there and grind and compete against each other."
Elliott said he used his freshman campaign to grow accustomed to the speed of the game and the size of the players. Next year, it gets real. To those concerned about the lack of experience left in a backfield that won't include Hyde, Elliott offered a simple message.
"We still have a great backfield," Elliott said. "We didn't get as much of a chance to shine as we wanted to this year, but once spring practice comes and the spring game, they'll see."
In news that surprised no one, Johnny Manziel filed his paperwork, declaring for the 2014 NFL Draft.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - In news that surprised no one, Johnny
Manziel filed his paperwork to declare for the 2014 NFL Draft.
Manziel spent just two seasons at Texas A&M, but his
list of accomplishments is long. Last season he went into Alabama and carved up
Nick Saban's vaunted defense. That performance put him in the national spotlight and propelled him to the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first freshman to win the award.
This past season with the Aggies, Manziel improved as a
passer. His completion percentage (69.9), passing yards (4,114), touchdowns
(37) and QB rating (172.9) were all higher than they were in 2012.
On New Year's Eve, moments before the rest of the country
waved goodbye to 2013, Manziel finished his college career with one of his
typical show-stopping performances. The playmaker left helpless defenders flailing at him in the open field. It only added to his
already spectacular highlight reel.
The next step for Manziel is the NFL. He will be a lightning
rod, likely to dominate the headlines all offseason leading up to the draft in
May. Is he tall enough? Will his party habits fade away once he becomes a
professional? Will his freelancing style work in the NFL? Can he avoid taking huge hits outside the pocket?
No doubt evaluators will have those tough questions to answer, and Manziel won't be for everyone. But decision-makers would be
foolish to overlook his potential upside.
When Johnny Football steps between the white lines, he transforms into a magician. Combine that with his arm strength, accuracy, leadership and unique instincts, and it adds up to an intriguing prospect that gives opposing coaches nightmares (just ask Nick Saban).
The danger of playing against Manziel is that a team can do everything
perfect on defense (coverage, assignments, pressure) and he can still make them
pay with his arm or his legs. He's not the best quarterback in the draft. That
ranking belongs to Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater, but Manziel's playmaking ability
makes him the QB with the most upside.
Was Josh McDaniels No. 1 on the Browns list? Who is the favorite to take over the job? Our Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot answered those questions and more during today's podcast.
Mary Kay Cabot Podcast, Jan. 8, 2014
Was Josh McDaniels No. 1 on the Browns list? Who is the favorite to take over the job?
