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Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have officially unveiled Ricky Rubio’s debut Cavs bobblehead, presented by KeyBank. The bobblehead will be given to all fans in attendance on Wednesday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. when the Cavs take on the Philadelphia 76ers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The nodding figurine features the fan-favorite guard in his #13 wine Icon uniform.

Fans can purchase tickets for the game to receive the Ricky&nbsp;Rubio Bobblehead&nbsp;at&nbsp;cavs.com/promo.

An extremely limited number of special edition Ricky Rubio bobbleheads will also be available as part of an exclusive single-game ticket package that will go on-sale soon. The bobblehead features Rubio in the Cavs 2022-23&nbsp;City Edition uniform, a vintage and earthy design inspired by Cleveland Metroparks.&nbsp;Fans can text RICKY to 30594* to sign-up for notifications and be the first to know when the special edition ticket package goes on-sale.

Rubio&nbsp;(6-3, 190) has appeared in 679 games (601 starts) with Minnesota, Utah, Phoenix and Cleveland, holding career averages of 11 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.80 steals in 30 minutes. He played in 34 games (eight starts) for Cleveland last season, averaging a career-high tying 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.44 steals in 28.5 minutes before missing the final 48 games with a season-ending ACL tear. On Dec. 13, 2021 vs. Miami, Rubio became one of 12 active NBA players to record 5,000 career assists. Rubio also recorded a career-high 37 points, shooting 8-9 (.889) from the three-point line, 10 assists and three rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench&nbsp;on Nov. 7&nbsp;at New York, becoming the first player in NBA history with at least 30 points, 10 assists and eight three-pointers in a game off the bench. He also became the first player in Cavs team history to make his first eight three-point attempts of a game [via Elias Sports Bureau]. Rubio was traded to Indiana after his injury in a deal that brought Caris LeVert to Cleveland but did not appear in a game for the Pacers.

Originally drafted by the Timberwolves with the fifth overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, the 11-year NBA veteran was a 2012 NBA All-Rookie First Team selection. Rubio currently has the 11th-most assists among active NBA players (5,098) and has averaged more than 6.0 assists in 10 of 11 NBA seasons. He has also made two playoff appearances with Utah in 2018 and 2019, averaging 14.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.82 steals in 33.6 minutes. A longtime member of the Spanish National Team, Rubio has played in three Olympics (2020, 2016, 2008), winning silver 2008 and bronze in 2016. At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, he scored 38 points against the United States, breaking the record for most points scored against USA during Olympic competition. He also led Spain to a gold medal in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

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Cavs Unveil Ricky Rubio Bobblehead presented by KeyBank

cleaenyeart

The Cavs organization stands with Cedi Osman and extend our sincerest condolences, thoughts and prayers to all of the victims and their families impacted by the catastrophic earthquakes in Türkiye and the neighboring regions.

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Cavs Support Earthquake Relief Efforts in Türkiye

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward&nbsp;Mamadi Diakite&nbsp;(MAH-mah-dee dee-ah-KEE-tay)&nbsp;to a Two-Way contract, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Diakite&nbsp;(6-9, 224) appeared in all four preseason games for the Cavaliers, averaging 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.25 steals and 1.25 blocks in 16.8 minutes. On Oct. 12 versus Atlanta, Diakite posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double in the Cavs preseason win over the Hawks. Last season, Diakite appeared in 13 games (three starts) with the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaging 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 14.5 minutes.&nbsp;

The third-year forward went undrafted in 2020 after a four-year collegiate career at the University of Virginia (2016-2020), where he was part of the Cavaliers National Championship team in 2019. Diakite signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks prior to the 2020-21 season and later signed an multi-year deal with the team. In his rookie season, Diakite was part of the Bucks NBA Championship team, appearing in 14 regular season games (one start) and seven playoff games. The Guinea native also saw action in 12 G League games (three starts) that season as a member of the Lakeland Magic, where he recorded averages of 18.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.08 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game, winning a G League Championship with Lakeland. &nbsp;

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Cavaliers Sign Mamadi Diakite to a Two-Way Contract

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**NOTE: The news clips and articles listed don't necessarily reflect the views or beliefs of the Cleveland Cavaliers or their Basketball Operations staff, partners, or sponsors.**

Cavaliers extend radio partnership with iHeartMediaAuthor: Joey Morona
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers organization and iHeartMedia have reached an agreement to keep the city’s NBA, G League and AHL teams on the nation’s largest radio company’s stations for the foreseeable future.

The Cavs and Canton Charge are staying put at WTAM 1100 AM/WMMS 100.7 FM and 99.7 FM Canton’s New Country, respectively. The Monsters, however, will be moving from FM to AM starting next season when FOX Sports 1350 AM “The Gambler” replaces Alt 99.1 as the team’s flagship station. Terms of the multiyear deal were not disclosed.

“We are excited to extend our already successful relationship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Monsters, and Charge,” said iHeartMedia Cleveland Metro President Keith Hotchkiss in a statement. “These teams are an important part of the iHeartMedia family, and this multiyear agreement allows us to continue delivering content to fans who listen to iHeartRadio’s WTAM, WMMS, and FOX Sports 1350 The Gambler.”
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2020 NBA Mock Draft: Cleveland Cavaliers stay true to best player available philosophyAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- At long last, the 2020 NBA Draft is less than a month away -- unless the date changes again. With the playoffs over and a champion crowned following a pandemic-paused regular season, teams are deep into their stranger-than-usual evaluation process.

The draft combine was a virtual event. Pro days are limited. Information is tougher to get. Just recently, the NBA cleared teams to conduct in-person workouts and interviews, but even that is complicated with COVID travel restrictions.

Uncertainty is the 2020 buzz word. That goes for the draft as well. There’s no Zion Williamson or Ja Morant. The three best players -- LaMelo Bell, James Wiseman and Anthony Edwards -- come with more red flags than usual. Multiple sources have referred to this as the weakest class since 2013. One rival executive expects plenty of trade activity because “no one wants anything to do with this class” and many teams choosing in the top 10 are looking for immediate contributors.
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Cleveland Cavaliers, iHeart Media strike new radio rights agreementAuthor: Kevin Kleps
Publication: Crain's Cleveland

WTAM's tenure as the flagship home of the Cleveland Cavaliers' radio network is going to extend well into a fourth decade.

The Cavs and iHeart Media announced a new multiyear, multi-team agreement on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The deal begins with the 2020-21 season and includes the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League and the Canton Charge of the NBA G League.

WTAM's AM and FM stations (1100 and 106.9), along with WMMS-FM 100.7, will remain the flagship stations of the Cavs. WTAM-AM 1100 has been a flagship home of the Cavs since the 1990-91 season.
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Collin Sexton Talks Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Cavaliers, More in B/R AMAAuthor: Adam Wells
Publication: Bleacher Report

Now two years into his NBA career, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton has established himself as a go-to scorer.

Drafted No. 8 overall in 2018, Sexton led the Cavs in scoring this season as a 21-year-old with 20.8 points per game. He's played in all of the team's 147 games over the past two seasons, including starting 65 games in 2019-20.

As the Cavs continue their roster rebuild, Sexton is putting himself in an excellent position to be a critical piece for the organization. He's a 39.2 percent shooter from three-point range on 551 career attempts.
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Daily News- October 21, 2020

Cavs.com

Will Cleveland Cavaliers trade Andre Drummond? Hey, Chris!Author: Chris Fedor
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It’s the latest edition of Hey, Chris!

The submissions for this post once again came mostly from Subtext insiders, who received a message to send one question each. The best were chosen. Want to receive Cavs Insider texts and communicate directly with me? Sign up for a 14-day free trial with your phone number and perhaps one of your questions will be used in the next edition of Hey, Chris! You can also sign up by texting me at 216-208-4499.

Hey, Chris: Are the Cavs going to try to trade Andre Drummond? -- Mike, Greenville, S. Carolina
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Prospect Profiles Presented By Panini: Obi ToppinAuthor: Joe Gabriele
Publication: Cavs.com

The first two Draft prospects featured on Cavs.com were unknown commodities to casual basketball fans. James Wiseman’s college career was limited to 70 minutes and, unless you stream the Israeli Basketball Premier League, you probably haven’t seen many of Deni Avdija’s performances.

Today’s prospect has the bona fides - he’s got the numbers, he’s got the personality and, yes, he’s got the name.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

MOCK DRAFT MONDAY - OCTOBER 19Author: STAFF REPORT
Publication: Cavs.com

DATE PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 14
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

The top 125 NBA players: The Athletic’s Player Tiers, Tier 5 — from Aaron Gordon to Tyler HerroAuthor: Seth Partnow
Publication: The Athletic

“What do we have? What do we need? What do we have to do to get there?” —Every NBA Executive, today. Possibly apocryphal.

The NBA playoffs can serve as a great separator. Every year, we relearn the lessons of just how big the difference can be between being effective during the grind of a long season and being able to perform against the higher level opposition in the intense, detail-oriented arena of a postseason series. Twenty-nine teams have been found wanting. Even the champion Lakers, once the champagne dries, know they need to get better if they are going to do it again in however long it is until we do this again. For every one of those teams, the burning question is:

“Just how close are we?”
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Knicks-Suns trade, Obi Toppin into top 5: 2020 NBA beat writer mock draft, 3.0Author: STAFF REPORT
Publication: The Athletic

After several pushbacks and much uncertainty due to COVID-19, finally, we can see the 2020 NBA Draft down the road!

With that said, NBA writers at The Athletic have gathered for the third installment of the beat writer mock draft. Trades were allowed to be discussed. Trades were executed. Predicting this chaotic event is a chore in itself, and given the circumstances surrounding this particular draft, we anticipate there being a lot of movement when Nov. 18 actually shows up.

In this latest version, the Timberwolves tried to trade the No. 1 pick to three teams, but nothing came to fruition. The Warriors, again, entertained deals for the No. 2 pick. Nothing. The Bulls had to get a house phone because the cellphone wouldn’t stop buzzing. There was one trade, this one between the Knicks and Suns, and it involved more than just a swapping of picks.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

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Daily News- October 20, 2020

2020 Draft Position Preview: GuardsAuthor: Joe Gabriele
Publication: Cavs.com

On November 18, the NBA takes its next step in the process of returning to normalcy when the 2020 Draft goes down virtually in Bristol, CT.

Nothing about this Draft – like nothing about 2020 itself – is normal. Workouts and interviews will be a challenge. The incoming class didn’t have the NCAA Tournament to build its resume. And there won’t be the big night in New York where kids and their families finally get to take the stage, shake the commissioner’s hand and get the team’s lid that validates a lifelong dream.

Plus, it’s in November.
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Cavaliers' docuseries "The Road Back" will chronicle pandemic activities, 2020-21 seasonAuthor: Marla Ridenour
Publication: Akron Beacon Journal

“The Road Back,” a Cavaliers’ documentary series that will chronicle team’s journey through the coronavirus pandemic and the 2020-21 season, premiered Wednesday night on the team’s social media platforms.

Featuring behind-the-scenes footage, mic’d up comments and exclusive interviews, the series is available on Cavs.com, the team’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Episode 1 began with the Cavs’ March 10 loss at Chicago, their final game of the season as the NBA suspended play the next day after two members of the Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19. The episode also included players’ return to Cleveland Clinic Courts for voluntary individual workouts and interviews on the Cavs’ commitment to social justice reform.
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Cavs’ Larry Nance Jr. working to encourage voting, address accessibility in OhioAuthor: Kelsey Russo
Publication: The Athletic

Larry Nance Jr. watched from outside the bubble as players in Orlando wore messages on the backs of their jerseys and the league supported the social-justice movement. Throughout the three months in Orlando, coaches and players used their platform to discuss various aspects of Black Lives Matter and other issues to encourage change in society.

“We can talk about (it) and make videos and have press conferences and put things on the back of our jerseys until we’re blue in the face,” Nance said last month, “but at the end of the day, change comes through voting booths in both the presidential elections and state elections, county elections. It comes in the voting booths in all shapes and sizes.”

Understanding how important Ohio is as a swing state in the presidential election, he and Kevin Love went to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles recently to change their licenses and register so they could vote locally. Nance admitted this election will be his first time voting in Ohio.
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NBA Mock Draft 7.0: Projecting All 60 Picks Post-FinalsAuthor: Jeremy Woo
Publication: SI.com

The Finals and the bubble are in the bag, the draft is just over a month out, and the NBA’s virtual combine process is underway. The offseason isn’t quite in full swing—free agency likely won’t start until the end of November—but things are moving behind the scenes. It’s a convenient time to update the mock draft, factoring in the latest information and intel from around the league.

The big recent development is that teams are now permitted up to 10 in-person visits with prospects before the draft, affording teams the opportunity to gain information firsthand. These meetings add a level of intrigue and should serve as a clear sign of where teams’ priorities lie going into draft night. It’s worth keeping in mind how many factors are still up in the air with this draft—there’s an expectation that there will be a good deal of trade activity, but until the NBA and NBPA finalize salary cap negotiations, teams can still only operate speculatively when planning ahead right now. It should be an active offseason landscape, with a relatively thin free-agent class, few teams coming into significant cap space and a vast majority of the league aiming to make the playoffs. That dynamic should lead to a highly active draft, and the sense I get is that most teams picking in the mid-to-late first round will be more than open to parting with their picks and moving around.

This mock projects what all 60 picks might look like if the draft took place today. For a more comprehensive ranking of prospects, read through the Big Board.
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Daily News- October 15, 2020

Inside Cleveland Cavaliers' bubble: Topgolf, cornhole, downtown boat ride, team dinners and plenty of hoopsAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On Monday afternoon, days before the Cavaliers were set to leave their downtown bubble, they took a team trip to Topgolf in Independence.

Collin Sexton got a brief pointer on how to properly grip the club. Then it was go-time. The third-year guard instructed everyone to back up before lunging forward (not exactly the way they teach), bringing the club back and swinging more like a hockey slapshot. As the ball sailed off the mat and down toward one of the greens, a proud Sexton placed the club back in its spot and walked away.

“I handled my business,” Sexton said with a smile. “Drop the mic.”
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Bubble WrapAuthor: Joe Gabriele
Publication: Cavs.com

There’s nothing odd about the Cavaliers finally getting together in late September after a long summer off. They’ve been doing that for 50 years. What’s odd is that the guys are going their separate ways after 10 days of workouts this year.

The Wine &amp; Gold’s downtown mini-bubble came to an end this week, with the Cavs joining 28 other teams not named the Lakers and Heat in a holding pattern until the league decides exactly how and when the 2020-21 will tip off.

Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. were on hand to steer the squad. Dylan Windler, who missed all of last year, made more strides towards his pending return. Darius Garland is trimmed down and Collin Sexton is bulked up. And after taking the reins after last year’s All-Star Break, J.B. Bickerstaff can come to camp with a nice blueprint laid down after the bubble.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Cedi Osman appointed UNICEF newest National Ambassador in TurkeyAuthor: PRESS RELEASE
Publication: Cavs.com

Ankara, 1 October 2020 - Turkish National Team and NBA Basketball Player, Cedi Osman has been appointed as UNICEF's newest Goodwill Ambassador. The appointment was announced by Philippe Duamelle, UNICEF Representative to Turkey during a virtual meeting organized with the participation of children and media representatives.

''It is a dream come true to become a UNICEF National Ambassador, "said Osman. "lt is a huge honor to be part of the UNICEF family. UNICEF has done tremendous work in Turkey and globally, I am looking forward to meeting as many children and young people as I can, hearing and sharing their stories. Sports unite people and give them hope. I will do my best to share my vision with children and youth to support them in fulfilling their dreams”.

Cedi Osman (born April 8, 1995) is a Turkish professional basketball player currently for the Turkish National Team and Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Cedi Osman started playing basketball at a very early age, and he was discovered by the Anadolu Efes scouts when he was 13. Cedi Osman throughout his career has played with teams that have won the Turkish Cup, Turkish Super Cup and Turkish Presidential Cup. He also represented the Turkish national team and played on two gold medal-winning Turkish teams that won FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship in 2013 and FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship in 2074. Cedi Osman's accomplishments include being selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2014 tournament.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

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Daily News- October 2, 2020

Darius Garland’s confidence at ‘all-time high’ after productive summer: ‘We’ve seen a new Darius'Author: Chris Fedor
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Darius Garland doesn’t want to talk about last season.

Not the All-Rookie Team results. Not the fact he never truly felt like himself -- something he finally admitted to cleveland.com in an exclusive interview -- after getting injured in his fifth college game at Vanderbilt, undergoing season-ending knee surgery, missing Summer League, showing up to Cleveland out of shape and suffering another nagging injury setback early in his first NBA training camp.

Not his dead-last analytical rating that raised eyebrows and fueled questions about his suddenly-rickety spot in the Cavaliers' core. Not an unnatural on-court pairing with ball-dominant backcourt mate Collin Sexton that yielded shaky initial results. Not the needed coaching change midway through the season that ignited an incremental rise over the final two months.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

YouTube TV dropping Fox Sports Ohio, SportsTime OhioAuthor: Joey Morona
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- YouTube TV subscribers will lose access to Fox Sports Ohio and SportsTime Ohio effective October 1.

The cable replacement service said Tuesday it hasn’t been able to reach a deal with Sinclair, the parent company of the cable home of Cavaliers and Indians, to keep 19 Fox regional sports networks on the platform.

“To bring you 85+ channels, we periodically renegotiate contracts with content owners. In February, we announced we had negotiated an extension with Sinclair to continue providing FOX Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) through the end of MLB, NHL and NBA seasons,” YouTube TV posted on Twitter. “Now that the seasons are over, that extension is expiring. Starting October 1, 2020, FOX RSNs will no longer be available on YouTube TV. Members that are impacted will no longer have access to Library recordings from the FOX RSNs.”
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The Comeback KidAuthor: Joe Gabriele
Publication: Cavs.com

Imagine being so skilled at something that you’ve been chosen as one of the 450 very best in your profession on the planet.

Now imagine the opportunity to show that skill completely taken from you for over a year-and-a-half.

That’s what Cavaliers sophomore Dylan Windler has been working his way through. And of the guys currently competing in the Cavs downtown bubble, it’s probably fair to say that none of them is more eager than Windler for the 2020-21 season to finally tip off.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

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Daily News- September 30, 2020

Presented by:

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