There are former Cleveland Cavaliers playing everywhere from Miami to Milwaukee to Minnesota to China.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Milwaukee Bucks were very serious about their desire for Matthew Dellavedova.
The former Cleveland Cavalier backup point guard is starting and playing 29 minutes a game, averaging 8.8 points, 6.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds.
His shooting is a bit off -- .435 from the field, .315 on 3-pointers.
The Bucks went into the weekend with a 4-4 record. Dellavedova brings toughness, defense and unselfish play to that young roster.
He signed a four-year, $39 million contract with the Bucks. The Cavs did a complicated sign-and-trade deal, bringing Mike Dunleavy to Cleveland.
According to ESPN, Dellavedova bought a large, five-bedroom home on the shores of Lake Michigan for $1.3 million.
MOZZY THE STARTER
The Los Angeles Lakers rushed to sign Timofey Mozgov to a four-year, $64 million deal right as free agency opened.
The 7-foot-1 center has started all eight games games for the Lakers, averaging 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and shooting .617 from the field. He plays 22 minutes a game.
Larry Nance Jr. doesn't start for the Lakers, but the Revere High product is playing 20 minutes a game -- averaging 6.6 points and 4.9 rebounds.
New coach Luke Walton has the Lakers off to a 4-4 start.
ABOUT DAVID BLATT
The former Cavs coach turned down chances to be an NBA assistant this season to return to the Euroleague.
He signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract to coach Darussafaka Dogus in Istanbul, Turkey. Blatt reportedly is the highest-paid coach in Europe.
He took over what amounted to an expansion franchise that was 9-15 last season. They are off to a 4-2 start this year.
The team also plays in other leagues, so it's difficult to put the different records in context. The Euroleague record is important. Blatt's return to the Euroleague is a huge story.
Another former Cavs coach -- Mike Brown -- is Steve Kerr's top assistant in Golden State.
ABOUT ANTHONY BENNETT AND DION WAITERS
I was just in the mood to check on former Cavaliers.
The top pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Cavs, Bennett is trying to stay in the league with the Brooklyn Nets.
He has played 37 minutes in Brooklyn this season -- firing up 20 shots. That includes 4-of-13 on 3-pointers. He has four rebounds and 21 points in those 37 minutes. He is not out there to pass.
The Cavs 2012 first-rounder, Dion Waiters, is starting for Miami. He has replaced departed Dwyane Wade in the lineup.
Waiters is averaging 10.4 points in 33 minutes a game, but he is shooting only 33 percent from the field.
Waiters became a free agent last summer. He saw the kind of money given to Dellavedova and thought he'd cash in.
He signed a $2.9 million deal with the Heat, with a player option for $3 million in 2017-18.
ABOUT ANDREW WIGGINS
Now in his third pro season, Wiggins is making real progress under new Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau.
The top pick in the 2014 draft, he never played for the Cavs (except in the summer league). He was traded to Minnesota (along with Bennett) as part of the Kevin Love deal.
Wiggins is averaging 24 points. The big jump is his improved shooting, .475 from the field and .636 (14-of-22) on 3-pointers. It's only seven games, but Wiggins' outside shot does look better.
He often was indifferent on defense, and Thibodeau is inspiring him to do better in that area. Wiggins is only 21 and now is starting to understand how to do more than just put up points.
ABOUT EX-CAVS IN CHINA
I was looking at a Hoops Hype list of former NBA players now in China.
I had strange flashbacks to the four years LeBron James spent in Miami as former general manager Chris Grant tried to find players. Here are some former Cavs from those grim times, along with some others who passed through Quicken Loans Arena.
Here we go:
1. Samardo Samuels: He played 109 games for the Cavs between 2010-13, averaging 5.9 points.
2. Lester Hudson: He played 13 games for the Cavs in 2011-12. He averaged 12.7 points. He turned down a chance to re-sign with the Cavs. He played only eight NBA games after that.
3. Donald Sloan: Played 45 games for the Cavs between 2011-13, averaging 5.5 points.
4. J.J. Hickson: He was with the Cavs from 2008-11, averaging 9.1 points and 5.7 rebounds. He played for several NBA teams after that.
5. Jared Cunningham: He played 40 games for the Cavs last season, averaging 2.6 points.
6. Carlos Boozer: He was with the Cavs from 2002-04. He played 12 NBA seasons. He's now 34 years old.
7. Alex Kirk: He was with the Cavs in 2014 and played five games.
8: Norris Cole wasn't with the Cavs, but the Cleveland State product was not able to find more than a one-year NBA deal, so he signed to play in China.
ABOUT THE COMEBACK
I will be signing copies of my Cavs Book, The Comeback, at several places this week:
- Nov. 14 -- Barnes & Noble Mentor, 7-8 p.m.
- Nov. 16 -- Stark-Lake Library in Uniontown. I will be speaking and it's free. 6:30 p.m.
- Nov. 17 -- Barnes & Noble Fairlawn, 7-8 p.m.
- Nov. 19 -- Barnes & Noble Woodmere, 1-2 p.m.