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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.**

Cleveland Cavaliers find perfect mix of talent and need with Isaac Okoro: Chris FedorAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers entered this exhausting draft process with a few goals.

They wanted to add someone who blends into the refurbished culture. Attitude matters. Character does as well. Competitive spirit is a prerequisite, one of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s core values. Same with work ethic, especially given the mighty emphasis on player development that will guide this rebuild. Since general manager Koby Altman has been in charge, he refers to those traits as the controllables. For a top 10 pick, they’re essential.

The Cavs also recognized the importance of adding a two-way wing. But the Altman-led front office was not going to let position drive this selection. The primary objective: find the best player.
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Isaac Okoro ready to defend the league’s best players, help Cleveland Cavaliers make playoffsAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Isaac Okoro, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ pick at No. 5 in the 2020 NBA Draft, isn’t shying away from the pressure and expectations that come with being a top pick.

He’s already set big goals for this season.

“I feel like my role for this year is to help the Cavaliers get back to the playoffs,” Okoro said pointedly during a Zoom interview with reporters Wednesday night.
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Cleveland Cavaliers go for defense with Isaac Okoro, which makes sense – Terry PlutoAuthor: Terry Pluto
Publication: cleveland.com

That’s what I was thinking when the Cavaliers took Isaac Okoro with the No. 5 pick in the NBA draft.

Yes, the Cavaliers needed a small forward and they picked a small forward. He also is a defense-first small forward, something the Cavaliers have missed since the departure of LeBron James. This is not to compare Okoro with James, but it is to say he is a natural small forward with the athleticism needed to play the position in the NBA.
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daily-news-november-19-2020

Daily News- November 19, 2020

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SeatGeek named new ticketing provider for Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouseAuthor: Joey Morona
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- SeatGeek is the new ticketing provider for the Cavaliers, the organization announced Thursday. SeatGeek replaces Flash Seats and StubHub, handling all ticketing for events at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse including Cavs and Monsters games, concerts and other events. The deal covers Canton Charge G-League games at the Canton Civic Center, too.

“SeatGeek has a similar DNA to our organization - we both put the fan experience above everything else,” Cavaliers President of Business Operations Nic Barlage said in a release. “We believe technology is a core part of our future as well, and SeatGeek is an ideal partner to bring an elevated, dynamic and safe experience to our fans as events return to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.”

SeatGeek’s app allows fans to easily purchase tickets and gain contactless entry into the venue, and offers helpful features like the ability to book a ride to the game and mobile ordering for concessions.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Final Thoughts: Now is the time for the Indians to sign Shane Bieber long termAuthor: Jason Lloyd
Publication: The Athletic

Twenty-nine thoughts on Shane Bieber’s future in Cleveland, the Cavs getting down to two options for the draft and Baker Mayfield’s ferocious bark …

1. There is a way the Indians can soften the blow of the inevitable Francisco Lindor trade. It’s going to be expensive. It’s going to cost them at least $50 million at a time when the pandemic seems to have made spending illegal for the Cleveland baseball team. But it’s nonetheless good business and necessary as a good-faith gesture to a fan base that is fed up and bracing for the trade of a franchise pillar.

2. If the Indians want to earn back some goodwill, they’ll lock up Shane Bieber to an extension before he throws another pitch in Cleveland. It’s not going to be cheap. His Cy Young award this week just jacked up the price even more. There is no excuse, however, not to do it.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Prospect Profiles Presented By Panini: LaMelo BallAuthor: Joe Gabriele
Publication: Cavs.com

If, on the following morning, you talk to a casual basketball fan who may not have watched the 2020 NBA Draft the previous night, the first question they’ll probably ask is: “Who took LaMelo Ball?”

Other prospects have more red meat on their resume than the long, lean combo-guard. Even his former Chino Hills teammate Onyeka Okongwu, after a single season at USC, has more tangible tape than Ball. But no player has a higher profile or, possibly, a higher upside.

The fact that he didn’t play college ball before declaring for the 2020 Draft doesn’t mean he’s been idle.
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daily-news-november-13-2020

Daily News- November 13, 2020

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2020 NBA Draft: Obi Toppin is ‘most polished player’ in the class, but is he a fit with Cleveland Cavaliers?Author: Chris Fedor
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In late September, Obi Toppin flew to Las Vegas for a Finish Line shoot and chance to continue pre-draft workouts at Impact Basketball.

There were four games going when Toppin strolled into the gym. Not yet warmed up, Toppin grabbed a ball and began putting on one of his prodigious, high-flying dunk shows that elevated him from obscurity into the national spotlight as college basketball’s most exciting player. His first dunk that day: A full windmill, his chin hovering above the rim he was about to punish.

Those other games stopped. All eyes were on Toppin.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Drafts From The Past: 1986Author: Joe Gabriele
Publication: Cavs.com

The Cavaliers historically bountiful Draft of 1986 started out with the Cavaliers having just the 8th overall selection after finishing with 53 losses the previous season.

Gene Littles took over for George Karl in 1985-86 as the Cavaliers limped to the finish line with 11 losses in their final 15 games.

Atop the previous Draft, the Cavs selected Cleveland native Charles Oakley with the 9th overall pick, but immediately dealt him to Chicago for Keith Lee. But that year’s incoming class wasn’t all bad. After tabbing Calvin Duncan with the 30th overall pick, the Cavaliers had struck gold with a kid named John Williams from Tulane at No. 45 – they just didn’t know it yet.
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NBA Draft: Possible that Cavs take Dayton star Obi Toppin with fifth pickAuthor: Rick Noland
Publication: Medina Gazette

Obadiah Richard Toppin didn't have a college basketball scholarship coming out of Ossining High in New York, so he spent a season playing for Mt. Zion Preparatory School before Dayton came calling.

After two remarkable seasons with the Flyers — he was Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year as a redshirt freshman and national player of the year as a sophomore — the young man who goes by Obi Toppin is expected to be a lottery pick in the Nov. 18 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Toppin, who will turn 23 March 4, will be among the oldest players taken in the first round, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could be taken by the Cavaliers with the No. 5 selection.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

daily-news-november-11-2020

Daily News- November 11, 2020

Cavaliers ‘filled with pain’ over fatal shooting of Brandon Weems' sister Ericka; Koby Altman vows to offer assistance to get justiceAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers are “filled with pain” following the fatal shooting of Ericka Weems, the sister of Cavaliers director of scouting Brandon Weems.

“The entire Cavaliers organization was terribly saddened to learn about the recent tragic death of Brandon Weems' sister Ericka,” general manager Koby Altman said in a statement released by the team on Wednesday night. “Our hearts are heavy and filled with pain over this senseless act. We express our deepest condolences to Brandon, the entire Weems family, their loved ones, and the Akron community. We will be with Brandon throughout this extremely difficult time and will offer our assistance and resources to help find justice for Ericka.”

Police found Ericka Weems, 37, dead from a gunshot wound to her head about 3 p.m. Monday in the bedroom of her home on Hardesty Avenue in Akron. Family members called police and asked officers to check on her because they hadn’t been able to reach her for a few days.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

LeBron James joins West Akron family in looking for answers for woman's deathAuthor: Sean McDonnell
Publication: Akron Beacon Journal

A family of a woman who was fatally shot this week is getting help from a childhood friend as they seek answers.

That childhood friend happens to be LeBron James.

“AKRON OHIO!! My brother’s sister was murdered this past weekend in her home!,” James said on Twitter. “My brother's family need answers to why and by whom.”
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James seeks justice in death of Ericka WeemsAuthor: Dave McMenamin
Publication: ESPN

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are reeling from the shooting death of Ericka Weems, the 37-year-old older sister of Cavs director of scouting Brandon Weems.

James took to Twitter on Wednesday to make a plea for any information connected to the shooting. Weems was discovered Monday afternoon in the bedroom of her home in James' hometown of Akron, Ohio. She was the victim of a gunshot wound to the head.

Akron Police have not announced any arrests or identified any suspects, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. A message left by ESPN with the Akron Police Department was not immediately returned.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

daily-news-november-5-2020

Daily News- November 5, 2020

Cavs.com

Drafts From The Past: 2011Author: Joe Gabriele
Publication: Cavs.com

It’s inarguable that LeBron James is the single greatest player ever drafted by the Cavaliers. The greatest single Draft class might be a different story.

The 1971 Class produced Mr. Cavalier- Austin Carr- and choosing the Chosen One in 2003 was the first step in ending the city’s half-century of sports anguish.

But, as a collective, the two most productive Drafts in the franchise’s history were 1986 – which we’ll break down next week – and today’s feature – 2011, which produced not one, but two players who were instrumental in the aforementioned Championship. Kyrie Irving hit the biggest shot in team history; Tristan Thompson was still piling up numbers as the team’s perennial workhorse up until last season’s truncated ending.
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Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse scores early on Election Day as polling locationAuthor: Vic Gideon
Publication: WOIO

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The doors to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse opened promptly at 6:30 a.m. as voters wrapped around the block to enter to cast their votes.

“Excited to be here. Excited to vote," said Kiersten Green, first in line. "Exercise for my right to do so.”

Many got in line early to avoid late day congestion.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Athletes across the country, Northeast Ohio use their platform to encourage others to voteAuthor: Amanda VanAllen
Publication: WEWS

OBERLIN, Ohio — Athletic departments across Northeast Ohio are encouraging others in their community to vote.

"For us as an athletic department, with everything going on with COVID-19, I think we made this our game day,” said head Oberlin College Women’s Basketball Coach Stephany Dunmyer.

Dunmyer says Oberlin’s athletic departments had a big initiative, get as many of their student-athletes registered to vote as possible.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

daily-news-november-4-2020

Daily News- November 4, 2020

LeBron James, Barack Obama relive phone call that helped save NBA season: ‘We were ready to leave’Author: Chris Fedor
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A few weeks before the presidential election, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James teamed up with former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama on a voting initiative, combining Obama’s When We All Vote and James' More Than A Vote.

Months earlier, James connected with another member of the Obama family, former President Barack Obama, on a phone call that helped save the NBA season.

“Milwaukee was playing Orlando that day and then I believe OKC and Houston for the next game and then our game was the last game I think, it was just us versus Portland,” James recalled during a special edition of HBO’s The Shop: Uninterrupted, which featured Obama as a guest alongside Maverick Carter. “So when Milwaukee did what they did, and rightfully so, we understood that there was no way that none of us can go on the floor. We stand as a brotherhood. We are a brotherhood in our league and we stood with the Milwaukee Bucks and what they wanted to do.”
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Prospect Profiles Presented By Panini: Tyrese HaliburtonAuthor: Joe Gabriele
Publication: Cavs.com

What’s the most repeated expression in the NBA Draft? “Upside”? “Length”? “Low-High Ceiling”? “Tweener”?

The correct answer is: All of them. And to the question of which of these pertain to Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton, the correct answer is: Yes.

Listed as a point guard, but with the length and two-way skillset to eventually play some off guard, Haliburton got to show his stuff after emerging from the shadow of Monte Morris – who had a solid rookie year with Denver – turning in a strong sophomore season and propelling himself to the upper half of plenty of draft big boards.
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MOCK DRAFT MONDAY - NOVEMBER 2Author: STAFF REPORT
Publication: Cavs.com

SCOTT GLEESON, JEFF ZILLGITT, &amp; MARK MEDINA, USA TODAY

OBI TOPPIN, UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON
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daily-news-november-3-2020

Daily News- November 3, 2020

Browns, Cavaliers and Indians executives lay out the goals of their alliance for social justiceAuthor: Joe Noga
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Emmanuel Acho has grown accustomed to seeing unknown phone numbers pop up on his caller ID following the viral success this summer of his web series “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.”

Oprah Winfrey, Matthew McConaughey and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell are among those who have reached out since Acho’s video reached more than 2 million viewers.

But it was an email the ex-Browns linebacker received from Indians manager Terry Francona that sparked Acho’s involvement in the alliance between Cleveland’s three major sports teams aimed at fighting social injustice. Acho says Francona’s email led to a conversation with the future Hall of Fame manager and an invitation to address the ballclub about issues facing Black people in America.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

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

Before being crushed by the injury bug last year, the Golden State Warriors were the most dominant team of the past decade, and they’re still young enough to pick up the pieces next year and beyond. But with all-world big man Anthony Davis alongside LeBron James in L.A., they now realize that it’ll take a quality big man to get past their in-state rivals and back to the mountaintop.

If they sit tight at No. 2 – and that’s a fluid if – they’ll have essentially their choice of bigs in this year’s highly-unpredictable NBA Draft.

The entire 2020 Class is difficult to assess because of how last season ended.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Bickerstaffs Donate iPads and Internet Service to Local High SchoolersAuthor: STAFF REPORT
Publication: Cavs.com

“Being a part of our community is extremely important to us. Those of us who have kids, think about what they’re missing or the opportunities that are being taken away from them because of the pandemic, and it pains your heart. So wanting to do more for kids in particular and give them the necessities they need to be successful, that’s what matters most.” – head coach J.B. Bickerstaff

Bickerstaff and his wife, Nikki, were moved to do something tangible for youth in the area, and after some brainstorming, came up with an idea.

“We were sitting at home, and having kids of our own, immediately when the conversation was going on about whether kids were going to be able to go back to school, we started thinking about the things that kids wouldn’t have access to, things to help them follow through with for school. We did so much with our kids for school online, and sometimes you take for granted Wi-Fi and laptops and those types of things,” said Bickerstaff. “We’re aware that that’s not easily accessible for everyone. We came up with the idea to help seniors because this is a very tumultuous time for them and there’s so much up in the air for them and you’re trying to finish your year, and with not all the tools necessary to finish your high school degree and hopefully get into college. So we wanted to make sure that these kids had the tools so they can successfully finish their senior year.”
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

daily-news-october-29-2020

Daily News- October 29, 2020

J.B. Bickerstaff, wife Nikki donate iPads and year of internet service to Cleveland-area high school seniorsAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After spending Friday morning giving back to the community as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers' drive-thru food distribution event, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff continued to pay it forward on Tuesday.

Bickerstaff and his wife, Nikki, donated iPads and a full year of internet service to select Cleveland-area high school seniors, the Cavs announced.

With help from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, the Bickerstaffs picked 10 deserving club members -- five from East Tech High School and five from John Adams College and Career Academy.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

2020 NBA Draft: Is LaMelo Ball worth the No. 1 pick? How good will he be? -- Chris FedorAuthor: Chris Fedor
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LaMelo Ball is one of the most polarizing players in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The detractors will call him cocky, flamboyant, immature, and unprofessional. They will ask questions about the level of competition in Australia and how his game will translate. They view him as a defensive liability, showing no desire to fight through screens while gambling too much for the showy play instead of sticking in his defensive stance and focusing on sound, team defense. One observer called his jumper “broken” and predicted it would take years to overhaul that funky, inconsistent form.

Will the lack of a consistent outside shot make it too much of a challenge in the halfcourt, with opponents going under screens and tempting him into ill-advised jumpers? Is he strong enough to finish through contact at the rim? In the spotlight his entire adult life, how would he handle early-career struggles? Can his loud-mouthed father be silenced, or will he become an incessant distraction?
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Cleveland’s top sports executives to discuss how their teams can help bring Cleveland togetherAuthor: Paul Hoynes
Publication: cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The alliance between the Indians, Browns and Cavaliers, announced in August to fight social injustice and foster understanding and tolerance in Cleveland and the Northeast Ohio community, will be on display Wednesday in a live streaming event from 6:30 p.m. to 7: 30 p.m.

Chris Antonetti, Indians president of baseball operations, Cavs GM Koby Altman, Andrew Berry, GM and executive vice president of the Browns, and former Browns linebacker Emmanuel Acho, creator of the web series “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man," will be on the panel. Taylor Rooks of Turner Sports will be the moderator the virtual event.

The conversation will close out the NBA’s week-long virtual summit at “Team Up for Change.” No registration is needed to join the conversation.
 - CLICK HERE to read full story.

daily-news-october-28-2020

Daily News- October 28, 2020

Presented by:

fubo

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