Tonight's the NBA draft. Free agency looms for LeBron James. A coach must be found. How about trades? It's a summer of intrigue for the Cavaliers.
LeBron James, here holding his second NBA MVP trophy, holds the key to Cavaliers' plans.Cleveland, Ohio -- As tonight's NBA draft approaches, the Cleveland Cavaliers have many questions about the makeup of their team for the 2010-11 season. Foremost, of course, is: Will two-time NBA MVP and Akron native LeBron James' foray into free agency result in his decision to return to the Cavaliers?
James' current status and ultimate decision impacts most matters for the Cavaliers. Included among them is the team's coaching situation. Since the firing of Mike Brown, the Cavaliers are without a head coach.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo turned down the Cavaliers' offer to become their floor leader. Attention has turned to the likes of former New Jersey Nets and New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott. Scott, though, is a former Los Angeles Lakers star guard, and it's understood he would love to some day lead his old team.
Now, Lakers coach Phil Jackson says he may retire. His decision will likely affect Scott and his choice of what job to pursue.
Ken Berger writes for CBSSports.com about Jackson, Scott and the Cavs' coaching job:
It also could be a graceful way for the 11-time champion to exit stage left, turning the reins over to former Laker Byron Scott – whose candidacy for the Cavs’ coaching job is officially on hold while Jackson makes his final decision.
Scott is serious about the Cleveland job, and the Cavs are serious about him. But everyone involved understands that Scott’s dream job is coaching the Lakers. While Kobe Bryant has been adamant that he wants Jackson back, he’d be amenable to Scott taking over if that’s the way it had to be.
Quite an intro
Chris Grant is the Cavaliers new general manager. Jason Lloyd writes for the Akron Beacon Journal that it's not a simple time to become the team's top personnel executive:
Grant's position is new, but his face isn't — at least not around the team facilities. He was always considered a GM-in-waiting, but no one thought his time would come so quickly. When Danny Ferry surprised everyone by resigning at the beginning of the month, owner Dan Gilbert needed only a couple of hours to promote Grant, who graduated from San Diego with a degree in psychology.
He might need that degree to figure out what LeBron James is thinking. Grant has walked into an unenviable situation of searching for a coach while trying to persuade James to re-sign, all while scouting potential players for Thursday's draft.
Cavs coverage
Plain Dealer Cavaliers coverage includes beat writer Brian Windhorst's report on the New York Knicks' plans to host LeBron James and friends for an elaborate dinner when James becomes eligible for free agency next Thursday.
Also, Bill Lubinger's story about how in 1970, the Cavaliers prepared for the draft of college players and also for the expansion draft of NBA veterans. The expansion-team Cavs were about to begin their first season. Included in the story is Lubinger's "Where are they now?" update on the players from the first Cavaliers team.
Earlier this week, Brian Windhorst wrote about the Cavs' efforts to buy or trade for a draft pick.
Elsewhere
Paul Forrester runs down all 30 teams' "Free Agency Wish Lists" for Sports Illustrated's SI.com.
Bob Finnan reports on the Cavs' draft status for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.
RealGM reports that LeBron James representatives' say there's nothing to Jalen Rose's Twitter tweet that James has all but eliminated the Cavaliers and New York Knicks from signing consideration.
Adrian Wojnarowski writes for Yahoo! Sports about the trade rumors involving Hornets' star Chris Paul, a close friend of James, and how James' associates Maverick Carter and William Wesley get involved in league matters.