Shaker Heights' Esa Ahmad and David Wright combined for 41 points to lead the Raiders past Cleveland Heights.

Shaker Heights' Esa Ahmad and David Wright combined for 41 points to lead the Raiders past Cleveland Heights.

During the tenure of Hank Peters, the Indians drafted Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Brian Giles, Charles Nagy. Chad Ogea and Herbert Perry.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I first met Hank Peters in the spring of 1979. He was the general manager of the Baltimore Orioles, I was a rookie baseball writer for the Baltimore Evening Sun.

He had heard that I was from Cleveland, and we soon started talking about the Indians.

"You know why I left?" he asked.

Peters resigned as the Tribe's farm director in 1971. He'd had the job for four years.

I wanted to hear the story.

"You remember Vernon Stouffer," said Peters, mentioning the former Tribe owner from 1967-72.

I nodded.

"He came to me one day and wanted to slash the farm budget, almost in half," said Peters.

The quiet, silver-haired Peters shook his head.

"I looked him in the eye and said that was like committing suicide for a baseball team," said Peters.

Another shake of the head.

"Mr. Stouffer had money problems and wouldn't change his mind about the budget," said Peters. "I told him that I couldn't do the job under those circumstances."

Peters resigned.

"The only way you can win in places like Cleveland and Baltimore is with a good farm system," said Peters. "You have to spend money on scouts. You have to make smart trades and do a good job with the draft."

I never forgot that conversation.

Peters liked Cleveland. He "felt bad" for the fans, because he believed they'd support a winner. We talked about the Indians several times during that 1979 season, when the Orioles went to the World Series.

In 1980, I joined The Plain Dealer to cover the Tribe. I had no idea that several years later, Peters also would be coming to Cleveland.

HE IS UNFAIRLY FORGOTTEN

I thought of all this when I heard that Peters died Sunday at the age of 90. It was from complications from a stroke.

Peters was in charge of the Orioles for 12 years. They won two pennants. They won at least 90 games in seven different years. Only twice, did he have losing seasons.

But new Orioles Owner Edward Bennett Williams thought Peters was a baseball dinosaur, a man who built teams via the farm system and trades rather than free agency.

Peters left the Orioles after the 1987 season, and then was hired by new Tribe Owner Dick Jacobs.

In 1995, Peters told this story to Bill Tanton, my old boss from the Baltimore Evening Sun: "When Dick Jacobs interviewed me for the Cleveland job, I told him, 'Look -- I'm 63 years old. I was just let go in Baltimore. I only plan to work another four years. If you hire me, we probably won't win any championships. But I believe we can lay the groundwork for a championship team.'"

Jacobs said: "Run the club as if you own it."

That's exactly what Peters did. He cut the big league payroll, but poured money into the farm system.

Key players drafted during the tenure of Peters were Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, Charlie Nagy, Brian Giles, David Bell, Chad Ogea, Paul Byrd, Herbert Perry and Albie Lopez.

But his signature deal was sending Joe Carter to San Diego for Sandy Alomar, Carlos Baerga and Chris James.

In his four years, Peters and his staff brought a lot of talent to Cleveland. Peters resigned after the 1991 season.

THE LEGACY OF PETERS

When Tom Hamilton and I were working on Glory Days In Tribe Town, we quickly agreed that Peters deserved his own chapter.

Without Hank Peters, there was no John Hart, no Dan O'Dowd, and probably no Mike Hargrove as manager. At least, not in their huge roles with the Tribe of the 1990s.

Tom Giordano worked for Peters in Baltimore, running the farm system and scouting department. In 1988, Giordano became a special assistant to Peters with the Tribe. He had a name on his lips -- John Hart.

At the time, Hart was a minor league manager for the Orioles. He was not considered a future front office executive. But Giordano thought otherwise, and Peters quickly became enamored with Hart. And Peters also brought in O'Dowd, who also had been with the Orioles.

Peters trained Hart and O'Dowd to take over the front office. He also promoted Hargrove through the farm system as a manager -- turning the big league team over to Hargrove in the middle of the 1991 season.

Peters received little credit for the Tribe's revival. Even in Baltimore, it was Earl Weaver who was considered the mastermind of the Orioles. Weaver was indeed a Hall of Fame manager. But he also needed a patient and wise executive such as Peters to keep the young talent coming.

I once asked Peters how he started in baseball. He told me how his first baseball job was with the old St. Louis Browns. He answered a newspaper advertisement placed by the team, looking for front office help. This was in 1946. Peters had just left the Army. He was 22 years old.

"They put me in the farm department," he said. "Part of my job was to read all the letters coming in from guys who wanted tryouts. If you wrote a good letter, I set up a tryout. It really was looking for diamonds in the rough."

And during his 46-year baseball career, he found more than a few jewels that helped make the game a better place.

Warrensville Heights dropped a back-and-forth game on Sunday.

Warrensville Heights dropped a back-and-forth game on Sunday.

A look at the Mentor boys basketball victory against John Hay at the Scholastic Play-by-Play Classic on Sunday.

A look at the Mentor boys basketball victory against John Hay at the Scholastic Play-by-Play Classic on Sunday.

Officials' decision to pick up a flag against the Cowboys after a pass interference call has Lions fans irate on Twitter.

It might be a good thing Cleveland is about three hours away from Detroit. The Motor City likely is in a surly mood.

The Lions, on the verge of winning their first playoff game in 23 years, lost Sunday to the Dallas Cowboys, 24-20, in Arlington, Texas, after Tony Romo threw the game-winning touchdown with 2:32 remaining.

But Romo's heroics are not what people are talking about. The Lions were leading, 20-17, and driving midway through the fourth quarter when Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens was called for pass interference on Brandon Pettigrew on a third-and-1. However, referee Pete Morelli announced officials had reversed the call without explanation.

The Lions followed with a 10-yard punt, and Romo led the Cowboys 59 yards in 11 plays to the winning score, an 8-yard TD pass to receiver Terrance Williams. The game ended when quarterback Matt Stafford was sacked and fumbled on fourth down with less than a minute remaining.

According to the Associated Press, Pettigrew was not given an explanation on why the flag was picked up. Lions coach Jim Caldwell said he was unhappy with the explanation he received.

"Not a good enough one. I'm going to leave it at that," Caldwell said. "I'm not going to sit up here and act like that was the play that made a difference in the game. We still had our chances."

The controversial call left Lions fans livid and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in tears after the game.

"I'm speechless," Suh said, according to the AP. "Defense put it all out there. This team put it all out there. ... I didn't expect this outcome."

Shawn Windsor, columnist for the Detroit Free Press, is exasperated by the Lions' loss:

Just don't blame Stafford. Blame the refs if you like – I don't usually ascribe to this approach, but the decision to pick up the flag after officials had called pass interference against Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens was outrageous. Blame the offensive line, too. ... So blame bad karma. Or blame bad timing. Or blame some sinister plot to keep Cowboy blue on television another week. But again, don't blame Stafford.

After the game, Morelli said the penalty against Hitchens was not warranted, according to ESPN.com.

Kareem Hunt ran for 271 yards and five touchdowns to lead Toledo over Arkansas State 63-44 in the GoDaddy Bowl on Sunday night.

MOBILE, Ala. -- Kareem Hunt ran for 271 yards and five touchdowns to lead Toledo over Arkansas State 63-44 in the GoDaddy Bowl on Sunday night.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Hunt capped a phenomenal season by slicing through Arkansas State's defense early and often. The performance set a GoDaddy Bowl record and he averaged 8.5 yards per carry.

Hunt, who finished the season with 1,631 yards rushing, had touchdown runs of 4, 44 and 29 yards in the first half as the Rockets built a 35-17 halftime lead. Toledo (9-4) ended the season on a three-game winning streak.

Arkansas State (7-6) pulled within 49-38 in the fourth quarter, but could get no closer. The Red Wolves were playing in their fourth straight GoDaddy Bowl and fell to 2-2 over that span.

Arkansas State's Fredi Knighten threw for 403 yards and five touchdowns.

It was an entertaining game that featured three defensive touchdowns, six touchdowns of at least 40 yards and Arkansas State linebacker Xavier Woodson getting kicked out of the game for "threatening an official."

Big numbers were the norm, even outside of Hunt's record-setting performance. Knighten's day was tempered by two costly fumbles that were both returned for touchdowns. Arkansas State's Booker Mays caught five passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns.

The two teams combined for 1,009 total yards.

Hunt's stellar performance wasn't a surprise -- he's been piling up numbers for more than year. The Willoughby, Ohio, native moved into a starting role midway through his freshman season and has run for at least 100 yards in all 10 games he played this season.

Toledo finished with 365 yards rushing, including 103 yards and two touchdowns by Damion Jones-Moore. Logan Woodside completed 21 of 27 passes for 176 yards.

It was a frantic start to the game with two touchdowns scored in the first 90 seconds.

Knighten fumbled on Arkansas State's first play and Toledo's Trent Voss recovered in the end zone to give the Rockets a 7-0 lead. The Red Wolves bounced back quickly, though, needing just five plays to tie the game on Knighten's 43-yard touchdown pass to Mays.

Toledo scored two more touchdowns by the end of the first quarter -- both on runs by Hunt -- to take a 21-14 advantage. The 35 combined points in one quarter tied a GoDaddy Bowl record.

Arkansas State pulled within 21-17 by midway through the second quarter, but the Red Wolves had no answer for Hunt and couldn't overcome some costly turnovers.

Toledo added two more touchdowns in the waning minutes of the first half: Hunt ran for a 29-yard touchdown on a 4th-and-2 play and then 6-foot-2, 275-pound defensive Allen Covington recovered a fumble by Knighten and rumbled 67 yards for the touchdowns.

It gave the Rockets a 35-17 halftime lead despite Arkansas State's 250-237 advantage in total yards.

Arkansas State didn't go away until late in the fourth quarter. The Red Wolves fell behind 42-17 midway through the third quarter, but responded with two quick touchdowns, including a 94-yard interception return by Money Hunter, who is the son of Major League outfielder Torii Hunter.

Even though LeBron James is sidelined, Kevin Love says that's no excuse for dropping games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – On Sunday you saw a younger-looking, rejuvenated Kevin Love running up and down the floor at The Q.

The power forward was clean-shaven, having shaved off a beard that helped him earn a spot on Rolling Stone's 25 Hottest Sex Symbols of 2014 list. Out with the old and in with the new.

"I did something yesterday where I felt it was time for a new look," Love told Northeast Ohio Media Group. "I look a few years younger, but I've done this in the past at the start of the year. I guess it's a fresh start for me."

The Cavaliers are in the midst of a fresh start of their own: Life without LeBron James.

With James sidelined and a brutal West Coast trip approaching, this team desperately needs another vocal leader to carry the baton until James returns for the handoff.

James is the caffeine in the coffee, the milk in the cereal and any other weird analogies you'd prefer to use. The point is it'll be hard to be too critical of the team if they happen to drop some games here and there in his absence.

Fortunately, Love does not subscribe to that line of thinking and he hopes his teammates aren't thinking that way.

"Obviously we lose a lot with LeBron out but no, I don't think we can use him as an excuse," Love said. "It's tough. We all have to play better. It's not just me, it's not just Ky[rie] Irving, it's not just Bron. It's all of us."

Not only has Love stepped up his scoring by averaging 28.5 points in the last two games, but he is also stepping up his leadership.

After the Cavaliers were soundly beaten 109-90 by the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, NEOMG asked Love what exactly was the root of the problem on that night.

The All-Star didn't mince his words.

"It was a lot," he said. "We let guys drop passes, we didn't protect at the rim, and we didn't get back in transition defense. I think that was a big thing. We turned the ball over and we didn't shoot the ball particularly well. That's not a good recipe for success, especially against a team that good."

Dallas' bench outscored Cleveland's bench 42-33. Most of the Cavalier reserves scored when the game was pretty much decided.

"As you can see when you have a deep bench -- Dallas does -- when our bench plays better and when our starting unit plays better, we're just a better team all around," Love added.

Just when things seem to be getting better, something comes along to set the team back. Irving will miss Monday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers to receive treatment on his sore lower back.

Love just shook his head in disbelief.

"Andy [Varejao] was like the start of it all," Love said. "Fighting that battle of attrition, I've been a part of that before. It sucks."

It's as if Love is back in his Minnesota days. However, the difference is that he's striving to lead by example. The Cavaliers have never needed Love the way they do now.

It's not about racking up double-doubles, although that helps. It's about playing the right way and holding guys accountable. Everyone is looking to Love for the answers with James out, and he's doing his best to deliver.

In the meantime, he doesn't want to hear any excuses.

"I'm trying to become a better leader every day," he said. "It's something I need to improve upon and I will. It's a learning experience for me but I'm trying. Regardless of who is not playing, we're trying to win games. That doesn't change."

Johnny Manziel reportedly flipped the bird to some heckling fans in a nightclub and had drinks thrown on him, according to TMZ Sports.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Johnny Manziel had another eventful night out on the town, according to TMZ Sports.

The site reported Monday that Manziel had drinks thrown at him at a Houston nightclub after he flipped some hecklers the bird.

The incident took place late Sunday at Dekan nightclub in Houston, after Manziel spent the first few days of his break in South Beach.

He's due back in Cleveland this week for treatment on his pulled hamstring, but apparently made the most of his free time after the season ended Dec. 28 and players were allowed to leave town Dec. 29th.

TMZ Sports talked to J.R. from Sticky Promotions, who was with Manziel at the club Sunday night. He said the hecklers shouted at Manziel and aggressively tried to take photos of him.

He's been warned by the Browns, and by teammates, not to let people photograph him in bars.

Manziel, who was fined $12,000 in preseason for raising his middle finger to the Redskins' bench, let the bird fly again Sunday night and was doused with drinks for the gesture.

"I ducked and I looked at Johnny and we grabbed security and they ran us out of there," J.R. told TMZ Sports.

The site reported that Manziel and some members of his party went back to their hotel room to change, and then returned to the club. By then, the hecklers had been tossed from the bar.

The incident never escalated to the point where the police had to be called, according to TMZ Sports.

Manziel was also involved in an incident Nov. 22 at his downtown Cleveland apartment building The 9 with what he described as a "very intoxicated, very aggressive'' fan the night before the team left for Atlanta. He was also fined the day before the season finale for oversleeping for his hamstring treatment after a late night of partying.

The Monday after the finale, when players were cleaning out their lockers, Manziel apologized to his teammates for being a distraction and vowed to be accountable "instead of looking like a jackass.''

"I think I've been a work in progress throughout this year,'' he said. "There have been a lot of ups and downs. There have been some good things and bad things. You know but I'm still an extremely competitive person and know what I want to do in my life. I know what is important to me and now it is time to come in here, look at myself in the mirror and hold myself accountable and start making some deals with myself.

"These problems I'm doing in my life that are occurring every now and then are bumps, and things in the past have caught up to me. I need to start doing every single thing and everything the right way and if I don't I'm going to be exposed."

He added that he also wasn't fair to the fans who expected great things from Johnny Football this season.

"I didn't come out and perform this year and that's what it comes down to,'' he said. "I'm upset with how I have handled things at times. I did grow up and then I took a step back. It is the same story with me. We're taking one step forward and then two steps back.

"Now it is really in my court. What do I want to do and what do I want to be known as? Do I want to be known as a guy who has been in this league two years and now doing something different with his life or come in here and compete, give this thing a fair chance and work my ass off to be the quarterback and person I know I am. Am I going to put the time in and do what I need to do to be successful and that's what it comes down to."

Meanwhile, the Browns admitted they'll leave no stone unturned in their bid to get their quarterback situation right and that they'll look at all available rookies and veterans.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer also said he still believes Manziel has the ability to be successful in the NFL.

"I do think he can develop into a solid starter in this league, yes,'' said Farmer. "The sample size that's available is small, and to that end we've all got to be patient. I think there is an opportunity for the guy, it's up to him to make those changes, but I think the talent is in his body to accomplish that."

He added that the Browns wouldn't hesitate to draft a quarterback in the first round for the second season in a row.

"Nope, I would not,'' he said. "I would not hesitate to take whoever I thought could help this football team and move us forward. The goal is to win. It's not draft any particular person or player.''

In his first week of the offseason, Manziel hasn't yet shown any signs of changing.

Get live updates and analysis as cleveland.com's Chris Fedor and other reporters bring you the latest on the Cavs and 76ers.

PHILADELPHIA -- The injury-plagued Cleveland Cavaliers are in action against the hardly-recognizable Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

Get live updates and analysis as cleveland.com's Chris Fedor and other reporters bring you the latest on the game in the comments section below.

Make sure you're following Chris as well as Chris Haynes and Joe Vardon on Twitter.

Game 35: Cavs (19-15) vs. 76ers (4-28)

Tip off: 7 p.m. at The Wells Fargo Center

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

Cavs probable starting lineup: Matthew Dellavedova, Dion Waiters, Mike Miller, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson.

76ers probable starting lineup: Michael Carter-Williams, K.J. McDaniels, JaKarr Sampson, Henry Sims and Nerlens Noel.

FREQUENTLY REFRESH this page to get the latest updates. If you're viewing this on a mobile app, click here to get updates and comment.

Check out the first AP state boys basketball poll for the 2014-14 season, including where teams from Northeast Ohio are ranked.

Check out the first AP state boys basketball poll for the 2014-14 season, including where teams from Northeast Ohio are ranked.

There are eight franchises eligible for selection should no other team volunteer to host the series, and Browns offer the most compelling storylines.

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns haven't decided where they will conduct training camp starting in July, but I'm telling you right now where you probably can watch it: HBO.

The Browns are one of nine NFL franchises eligible for selection by Hard Knocks should no team volunteer to host the show that chronicles a club's training camp, according to Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch. The other candidates are the Giants, Redskins, Vikings, Buccaneers, Rams, Texans, Jaguars and Titans.

Since their 1999 return, the Browns rarely have been frontrunners for anything except maybe the season's first quarterback change. In the realm of reality television, however, they are the footballing equivalent to the Kardashians. Characters and intrigue abound.

The cable network wanted the Browns a year ago after they selected Johnny Manziel, but the franchise declined citing one of the league exemptions, a first-year head coach. Mike Pettine had hoped to use another exemption – a team making the playoffs – but we all know how that turned out despite a surprising 7-4 start.

So there's a strong chance Pettine will make his second appearance on the acclaimed series, his first one coming as a defensive coordinator with the Jets in 2010.

The other candidates simply don't supply as many good stories. The Titans, Vikings and Bucs don't offer much sizzle. Unless Blake Bortles and girlfriend Lindsey Duke reunite, the Jaguars are a snoozer. It's hard to imagine the league giving its blessing to the Rams with a potential move to Los Angeles. The Redskins can match the Browns' dysfunction, but the Daniel Snyder and Robert Griffin III dramas are a bit stale.

The Texans with J.J, Watt and coach Bill O'Brien are compelling. Same goes for the Giants with Odell Beckham and coach Tom Coughlin.

But nobody in field tops the Browns, who not only possess electric personalities, but rich, albeit tortured, franchise history and legitimate potential if they can resolve their age-old quarterback quandary. Here's a snapshot of potential of Berea storylines:

Manziel's second chance

View full sizeCleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel throws during warm ups before the game against the Carolina Panthers.Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer 

He was greeted last May as a conquering Caesar and left town amid a trail of apologies, missed wakeup calls (one literally) and serious questions about his ability to play in the NFL.

Assuming he returns for a second season, the behind-the-scenes encounters between Manziel and coaches would be riveting. So would staff meetings as they assess the daily quarterback competition. Is he willing to put in the work? Can he make the necessary adjustments or is he destined for a quick exit from the pros and a starring role his own reality series?

There would be no shortage of interest.

The 'other' first-rounder

One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the 2014 Browns was the off-field problems of cornerback Justin Gilbert. We know there were issues involving attitude and punctuality, but what's at the root of them? Coaches and respected veterans called out the No. 8 overall pick. Pettine said if the defensive back didn't have the talent – and unlike Manziel we saw flashes of it – the team wouldn't have been so hard are him.

There's a story here that's not been yet been uncovered.

The shotgun marriage

The partnership of Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer is fascinating. Farmer didn't hire the rookie coach – they have no background ties -- but men seemed to make it work.

They spoke every day in season and arrived at some hard decisions – cutting free-agent acquisition Ben Tate, benching third-round pick Terrance West and disciplining Manziel, Gilbert and Josh Gordon.

Can they overcome what appears to be suspect draft picks in Gilbert and Manziel? Will the get it right with a pair of first rounders this year? Farmer and Pettine were put in a tough predicament a year ago and survived by trying to make players accountable. Do they both make it out of a second season?

The Mack Daddy

Hard Knocks loves comeback stories and contract issues – center Alex Mack provides both. The 2014 season was mortally wounded on Oct. 12 when the All Pro broke his leg against the Steelers.

The Browns' offensive line was one of the league's best before the injury and one of the most vulnerable after it. You can trace Brian Hoyer's decline to the loss of Mack. The club will benefit from his return, but he holds an opt-out clause in his contract following the 2015 season.

Mack is one of the more interesting, intelligent and hard-working athletes I've encountered. Can't wait to see what his future holds.

Brothers in arms

The Browns' receiving corps is a great story. There's a good chance Gordon is gone before Hard Knocks begins filming, but if he's still part of the team he'll dominate training camp headlines. He's immensely talented and often troubled, a former All Pro who acted like he wanted to be anywhere but Cleveland by season's end.

Can the Browns reach him? Is he still worth the hassle? Or, is it time to invest a high draft pick in another front-line wideout -- something some believe they should have done last year?

Beyond Gordon, the diminutive duo of Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel is a worthwhile tale. Hawkins' protest of police shootings in Ohio makes him an interesting figure, as well. The Browns makeshift receiving unit was actually more productive before Gordon's Nov. 23 return from a 10-game suspension.

The Quote Machine

The son of a preacher, linebacker Karlos Dansby knows how to captivate an audience. No topic is off limits, including the work ethic of young players and his quest for recognition.

He was enjoying a Pro-Bowl caliber season until his Nov. 16 knee injury. Can the 33-year-old make another run at it and drag the Browns into playoff contention again? There will be no shortage of sound bites when HBO cameras focus on Dansby.

Home away from home?

If Hard Knocks does select the Browns, where will they be filming? The franchise might move at least part of its training camp out of Berea.

One possibility is Columbus, a capital city that's seen an influx of Steelers' and Bengals' fans as the Browns have stumbled through one losing season after another. Such a move would be seen as a chance to gain new corporate partners and reconnect with Central Ohio, which used to be a Browns' stronghold.

All these topics without even a mention of Pro Bowlers Joe Thomas, Joe Haden, Tashaun Gipson, owner Jimmy Haslam or interviews with former Browns quarterbacks discussing why its so hard to play the position in Cleveland.

Hard Knocks came calling a year ago. There's no reason why they shouldn't want to return in 2015.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently engaged in trade talks that could center on shooting guard Dion Waiters, who was pulled from the Cavaliers lineup prior to tip off on Monday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Cleveland Cavaliers are engaged in trade talks that center on shooting guard Dion Waiters, who was pulled from the Cavaliers lineup before Monday's tipoff against the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Waiters, a Philadelphia native, was expected to make the start at shooting guard in front of what he referred to as "countless" members of friends and family at the Wells Fargo Center.

Lou Amundson and Alex Kirk are also involved in the trade discussions. They were in uniform on Monday night, but left the bench shortly after pregame introductions.

Both Amundson and Kirk are on non-guaranteed deals for the next couple of years and can be waived for cap relief by the team that acquires them.

Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the expected deal is a three-team move also involving the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks.

The Cavaliers are expected to receive mercurial swingman J.R. Smith and possibly defensive-minded shooting guard Iman Shumpert as part of the deal for Waiters, the fourth pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

New York is sending J.R. Smith to Cleveland, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 6, 2015

Dion Waiters will be traded to Oklahoma City in the three-way deal, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 6, 2015

Waiters, who has played in 33 games, is averaging a career-low 10.5 points on 40 percent from the field this season.

New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert would be a valuable piece for the Cavaliers, who were on the verge of trading third-year guard Dion Waiters Monday night. Another Knicks player, J.R. Smith, would test head coach David Blatt's patience even more than Waiters did -- Bud Shaw

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Iman Shumpert could be the saving grace of any deal involving Dion Waiters leaving and J.R. Smith coming.

While the same could be said for most everybody in the NBA not named J.R. Smith, Shumpert could actually make coach David Blatt's job easier.

(And on a night when Matthew Dellavedova ends up taking the last shot in a 95-92 loss to the Sixers, how's that for a welcome concept?)

But J.R. Smith? Really?

One erratic chucker for another, more erratic chucker (You can choose which is which).

The Cavs, Knicks and Oklahoma City were putting together a deal that would send Waiters to the Thunder and spring Smith and Shumpert from the five-win Knicks to join coach Blatt's "rotation." The Cavs would send a second-round pick to the Knicks while receiving a heavily protected No. 1 from the Thunder.

Waiters probably wasn't long for Cleveland the day LeBron James announced he was returning.  Or certainly when the Cavs decided they wanted him to become a catch-and-shoot artist. That's not his game. His game might not be what the Cavs can even identify night to night, but asking him to change was never going to work.

Waiters started the season's first three games, then began losing minutes. A Waiters deal seemed inevitable, especially since the Cavs don't have many valuable trade chips. But this deal?

Shumpert, who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder, is a strong perimeter defender. Other than a strong interior defender, there's not much the Cavs need more.

That's the plus for Blatt. The payback would be having to coach Smith. If Blatt knows George Karl, he should call him and inquire about his J.R. Smith Handbook, provided Karl didn't bury it for the same reasons priests are called to perform exorcisms.

Smith can be dynamic off the bench. He was the NBA's sixth man of the year in 2012-13. But he hasn't been that player for a while. 

When GM David Griffin expressed his confidence in Blatt's coaching ability Sunday, he must've meant it. Because Blatt's job – if it didn't just get harder – is certainly not any easier.

Griffin said the Cavs, from the players to the owner, know this is a long-haul proposition. But the players acquired since James walked back through the door have been mostly short haul acquisitions.

J.R. Smith might be the shortest of all.

Five-star running back Damien Harris is going to announce his college decision at his high school on Friday. Would the Buckeyes accept his commitment?

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Would Ohio State accept a verbal commitment from five-star running back Damien Harris of Berea (Ky.) Madison Southern at this point? That's the $1 million question. 

And the answer is probably yes. Harris is that good.

Whether that commitment is coming will be known for sure on Friday when Harris announces his college decision at his high school. 

Madison Southern football star Damien Harris will announce his college choice (UK, Alabama or Ohio State) Friday at 1:15 at the high school.

— Mike Fields (@MikeFieldsNotes) January 5, 2015

As of right now, though, it probably isn't coming. 

The Buckeyes accepted a verbal commitment from four-star running back Mike Weber of Detroit Cass Tech in December, and since Ohio State has seemingly faded out of the main picture for Harris. 

Rated by 247Sports the No. 2 running back in the class, Harris had been Ohio State's top running back target for a year, but the Buckeyes couldn't afford to turn down a commitment from Weber while waiting on him. 

That could be the difference in Harris' recruitment. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Harris is deciding between Kentucky, Alabama and the Buckeyes. 

Meyer came to some Oregon practices when Chip Kelly was head coach in 2011. With Helfrich? "We'e very friendly," Helfrich said of Meyer and other coaches. But, "we try to gather information more than, you know, than send it out."

EUGENE — Mark Helfrich, coach of the Oregon Ducks, took questions at a press conference today ranging from his relationship with Ohio State coach Urban Meyer to helping his players prepare for the College Football Playoff National Championship.

The Ducks will play Ohio State. In the semifinals, Oregon defeated Florida State in the annual Rose Bowl, and Ohio State beat Alabama, at the annual Sugar Bowl.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer came to some Oregon practices when Chip Kelly was head coach in 2011. With Helfrich? "We're very friendly," Helfrich said. But, "we try to gather information more than, you know, than send it out."

The playoff system is new, even if the venue — AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — is at least a little familiar. Oregon played (and lost) to LSU there in the season opener in 2011.

The title game will be indoors. Where the Rose Bowl game had a home-field vibe for the Ducks, maybe that won't be the case in Texas.

Helfrich said he's talked to players about what to expect.

"It's different," Helfrich said. "We've used that to fuel our preparation."

— Molly Blue | mblue@oregonian.com

@mollyablue

At least three teams are interested in Kyle Shanahan as part of a package deal with his Super Bowl-winning father Mike. The Bills have also requested permission from the Browns to interview him for their head coaching vacancy.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Bills have requested permission to interview Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan for their head coaching vacancy, and at least three teams are interested in him as part of a package deal with his father, Mike, sources have told cleveland.com.

The three teams considering Mike as head coach and Kyle as offensive coordinator are the 49ers, Raiders and Bills.

The fact that the Bills have formally requested permission to interview Kyle for their head coaching vacancy was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The only way Shanahan could be reunited with his dad is if the Browns let him out of his contract after only season. Even then, he'd likely have to receive a promotion to assistant head coach for the Browns to even consider it.

The Shanahans spent four seasons together in Washington from 2010-2013, guiding the offense to No. 9 overall in 2013 with 369.7 yards per game and fifth in rushing with 135.3 yards per game. Under the Shanahans, Robert Griffin III produced a stellar rookie season in 2012, and running back Alfred Morris rushed for more than 1,200 yards in each of his first two season.

The 49ers, Raiders and Bills have already interviewed Mike, who's won two Super Bowls and has a 177-143 career record.

The Bills are also interested in Eagles offensive coordinator and former Browns coach Pat Shurmur. They have interviewed at least four other candidates, including Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Kyle Shanahan was a stabilizing influence for the Browns this season for an offense that lost Pro Bowlers Alex Mack, Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron for much of the season.

In his postseason press conference, coach Mike Pettine said he expected to retain "the vast majority'' of his coaches, including Shanahan. Shanahan would replace Pettine's former Bills boss Doug Marrone, who opted out of his contract.

The Cavaliers were already playing the 76ers without LeBron James (left knee and lower back), Kyrie Irving (lower back) and Anderson Varejao (torn Achilles). With Alex Kirk and Lou Amundson back in the locker room, also involved in trade chatter, it left Cleveland with nine healthy bodies, and they squandered a big lead, losing to the 76ers, 95-92.

PHILADELPHIA -- Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Dion Waiters was smiling ear to ear as he prepared to make his fourth start of the season.

Waiters was back in his hometown, with what he referred to as "countless" friends and family in attendance to watch him at the Wells Fargo Center.

But Waiters was introduced with the starters and then pulled from the lineup, as the Cavs were reportedly finalizing a three-team trade to bring J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to Cleveland from the New York Knicks.

With Alex Kirk and Lou Amundson back in the locker room, also involved in the trade chatter, the Cavaliers went on to squander a big lead, losing in stunning fashion to the 76ers, 95-92.

The Cavaliers were already playing without LeBron James (left knee and lower back), Kyrie Irving (lower back) and Anderson Varejao (torn Achilles). The trade precautions left them with nine players for the game.

The game came down to the final minutes when the Cavs, who led by 17 points at one time midway through the third quarter, gave up a driving layup to Tony Wroten with 9.1 seconds left. That gave the 76ers a 93-92 lead.

Matthew Dellavedova, who missed two critical free throws in the final minute, had a chance to win it for the Cavs. But he missed a driving layup, and Kevin Love missed a tip-in on the rebound. The Sixers grabbed the board and Robert Covington made a pair of free throws with a second left to ice the game.

The Cavs got off to a slow start, leading Philadelphia, the worst team in the NBA, by just one point at the end of the first quarter, 20-19. Once again it was Love leading the way early. The Cavs made 9-of-21 from the field, with Love connecting on five of those makes. Love finished the quarter with 11, continuing his stellar start to the New Year, and finishing with 28 points and 19 rebounds in 37 minutes.

The 76ers briefly took the lead about four minutes into the second quarter, but the Cavs finished on an 18-4 run, led by Tristan Thompson's 11 points during the spurt. The Cavs led by 13 points at the end of the first half, the biggest margin up to that point for either team.

The Cavs' lead ballooned to 17 points before the 76ers started climbing back. The Cavaliers went cold, making just 5-of-21 from the floor in the period. Meanwhile, the 76ers scored inside and outside. They used crisp ball movement and balanced scoring to cut the lead to eight by the end of the third period.

The fourth quarter belonged to Philadelphia, which outscored Cleveland, 35-24, and the Sixers finished the game on a 17-6 run, capped off by Wroten's heroics. 

Wroten's first floater tied the game at 88 apiece with two minutes left. Love then hit two free throws, giving the Cavs a two-point edge. Then it was Henry Sims, a former Cavalier, who hit a midrange jumper to tie the game again, this time at 90. Love answered with a hard-earned bucket underneath, giving the Cavs a two-point edge.

After Wroten split a pair of free throws for Philadelphia, the Cavs' offense stalled on the next possession as Dellavedova tossed up an off-balanced runner to beat the shot clock.

Down by one, Michael Carter-Williams failed to connect on a jumper, and the 76ers fouled Dellavedova. The Aussie missed both free throws and then Wroten capitalized on what turned out to be the game-winning shot. The Cavaliers did not score in the final minute and suffered their most disappointing loss of the season.

Thompson scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Joe Harris, who got the start in place of Waiters, scored 16 points.

The Cavs are now 19-16 on the season and have lost five of their last six games.

The 76ers won their first home game of the year, and first since last April, improving to 5-28.

What's it mean?

The game between the Cavs and 76ers came secondary after the news of the Cavs possibly trading Waiters began to leak. But the shorthanded Cavs needed to beat the lowly 76ers, especially with the grueling schedule coming up.

The Cavs will play five of their next seven games against teams currently in the playoffs if the season were to end today. The Cavs are now 1-5 without James in the lineup.

Short-term shooting guard

As the Cavs were engaged in trade conversations centering on Waiters, Harris made his first start of the season, and responded with his best game in the wine and gold. He scored 16 points, a new career-high, on 6-of-12 from the field in 32 minutes.

Who's next?

The Cavs will head back home for one game against Houston before going on five-game road trip out West. It's the first of two games against the Rockets this season.

See box scores and highlights for high school boys and girls bowling, hockey from Jan. 5, 2015.

See box scores and highlights for high school boys and girls bowling, hockey from Jan. 5, 2015.

It seems most Cavs fans are not sad to see the departure of Dion Waiters, but there are reservations about the arrival of J.R. Smith.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — So the Dion Waiters era with the Cleveland Cavaliers comes to an end after a little more than two seasons.

The Cavs are sending Waiters to Oklahoma City as part of a three-team deal that brings shooting guards J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to Cleveland from the New York Knicks. The Cavs also receive a protected first-round pick from the Thunder, while Cleveland rookie center Alex Kirk and forward Lou Amundson go to New York.

It seems most Cavs fans are not sad to see the departure of Waiters, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Syracuse. Waiters put up some solid scoring numbers, but wasn't known for his willingness to share the ball.

But should fans really thrilled with the arrival of Smith, another guard not known for being a good sharer? That's the question on the mind of The Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw:

J.R. Smith? Really? One erratic chucker for another, more erratic chucker (You can choose which is which). ... Smith can be dynamic off the bench. He was the NBA's sixth man of the year in 2012-13. But he hasn't been that player for a while. When GM David Griffin expressed his confidence in Blatt's coaching ability Sunday, he must've meant it. Because Blatt's job – if it didn't just get harder – is certainly not any easier.

Columnist Micah Peters of USA Today believes Smith won't fit in with the Cavs any better than Waiters. However, he says the defensive-minded Shumpert is a good acquisition:

Getting rid of (Waiters) is a good thing for the Cavs, but replacing him with J.R. Smith feels a bit like jumping from the frying pan to the fire. Or at least frying pan to another, older, more proven frying pan. ... If J.R. Smith accepts his role as instant offense off the bench, and tries occasionally on defense, this could work. But if he doesn't, at worst, the Cavs have turned one freewheeling two-guard into a different freewheeling two-guard and still snagged a solid perimeter defender in Iman Shumpert in the process. All things being equal, they've come out ahead.

Go below to see reaction from fans on Twitter:

With the addition of J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, the real work for the Cleveland Cavaliers begins.

CLEVELAND, Ohio. – Cleveland Cavaliers' General Manager David Griffin was quite busy Monday evening.

His work didn't go unnoticed as he strengthened the roster with the additions of J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert. As part of a three-team swap, Dion Waiters was sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Here are some initial thoughts and tidbits regarding the move.

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1. Iman Shumpert is the prototypical player the Cavaliers were looking for in a wing defender. He will fit right into the starting lineup and produce instantly. Griffin knocked this one out of the park.

2. J.R. Smith is a proven instant offensive threat off the bench. He's also a wildcard. If he's motivated, and there's no reason he shouldn't be, Smith will be a valuable piece to the puzzle. If not, oh brother. The 2013 Sixth Man of the Year recipient will fill the void left by Waiters and it is anticipated that he would be an upgrade.

3. LeBron James was kept in the loop, we're told. He enjoyed his time with Waiters, but he's looking forward to getting acclimated with his new teammates to build a sustainable winning culture. It's a move he understood was best for the team.

4. James and Smith have history together dating back to high school. For years, Smith would travel to Akron over the summers to train with James. Their relationship, I'm told, is solid.

5. The timing of Dion Waiters being shipped wasn't ideal. He was scheduled to start in his hometown of Philadelphia before being pulled. He was excited to get the nod while Kyrie Irving was back in Cleveland nursing a sore back. A ton of family and friends were attending the game. I can guarantee he wasn't in a good mood tonight.

6. Yes, it's a process but now the Cavaliers are definitely in win-now mode. If the organization thought the heat and scrutiny was unwarranted before, they'll be in for a rude awakening if the team continues to struggles.

7. Overall, the trade was excellent. Now, the real work begins.