Cleveland Cavaliers
Named as George Karl's replacement in early July... Served one year as Seattle Supersonics' VP-GM after 11 seasons as their head coach... Became increasingly aloof from players... Some feel his hiring in Cleveland is another example of the recycling syndrome, whereby teams are afraid to give younger men with fresher ideas a chance, turning instead to veterans who may have become stultified... Born Oct. 28 1937, in Brooklyn, NY... Nine-time All-star as a player after outstanding career at Providence College... Wilkens played eight seasons with the St. Louis Hawks and two each with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Cavaliers... Responsible for trading Dennis Johnson to the Phoenix Suns after labelling him "a cancer"... One of only nine men to have coached 1,000 NBA games (1,044), he has a 553-491 record and coached Seattle to the 1978-79 NBA title... Needs five wins to pass Al Attles of Golden State Warriors as seventh most successful coach ever.
Showing posts with label Cleveland Cavaliers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cleveland Cavaliers. Show all posts
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Dirk Minniefield
Cleveland Cavaliers
6-3 180 Guard
Mavs drafted him No. 33 overall in 1983, out of Kentucky, Nets secured his draft rights and signed him, then cut this father of four prior to 1983-84 season... Played two season in CBA before landing roster spot with Cavs... Played 76 games and started two... Had game high of 20 points... Born Jan. 17, 1961, in Lexington, Ky.... Kentucky's Mr. Basketball in 1979... Co-MVP for Wildcats in each of his last three collegiate seasons... Will bounce around the league for a few years because of reasonable skills as a passer and scorer... Earned $75,000 last season.
Relevant Stats:
5.5 ppg, 48.1 FG%, 3.53 apg
6-3 180 Guard
Mavs drafted him No. 33 overall in 1983, out of Kentucky, Nets secured his draft rights and signed him, then cut this father of four prior to 1983-84 season... Played two season in CBA before landing roster spot with Cavs... Played 76 games and started two... Had game high of 20 points... Born Jan. 17, 1961, in Lexington, Ky.... Kentucky's Mr. Basketball in 1979... Co-MVP for Wildcats in each of his last three collegiate seasons... Will bounce around the league for a few years because of reasonable skills as a passer and scorer... Earned $75,000 last season.
Relevant Stats:
5.5 ppg, 48.1 FG%, 3.53 apg
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Eddie Johnson
Cleveland Cavaliers
6-2 185 Guard
Obtained from Hawks for Johnny Davis during last season... Used primarily as reserve, he averaged approximately 20 minutes per game... Career on wane... Shooting from field (.457) and free-throw line (.723) plus scoring output (10 ppg) last season were all well below career norms... Brought even more chaos to an already wild backcourt corps of World B. Free and John Bagley... Has manic-depressive problem under control, but can't control passage of time, which is robbing him of his quickness and shooting ability... Scored 20 points in 1980 All-Star game... Born Feb. 24 1955, in Ocala, Fla.... Chosen No. 49 overall by Hawks in 1977... Was teammate of Spurs' Mike Mitchell in Auburn... Brother of Bullets' Frank Johnson.
Relevant Stats:
10.0 ppg, 45.7 FG%, 4.7 apg
6-2 185 Guard
Obtained from Hawks for Johnny Davis during last season... Used primarily as reserve, he averaged approximately 20 minutes per game... Career on wane... Shooting from field (.457) and free-throw line (.723) plus scoring output (10 ppg) last season were all well below career norms... Brought even more chaos to an already wild backcourt corps of World B. Free and John Bagley... Has manic-depressive problem under control, but can't control passage of time, which is robbing him of his quickness and shooting ability... Scored 20 points in 1980 All-Star game... Born Feb. 24 1955, in Ocala, Fla.... Chosen No. 49 overall by Hawks in 1977... Was teammate of Spurs' Mike Mitchell in Auburn... Brother of Bullets' Frank Johnson.
Relevant Stats:
10.0 ppg, 45.7 FG%, 4.7 apg
Monday, August 15, 2005
Mark West
Cleveland Cavaliers
6-10 225 Center
Just sort of hangs around, not doing much except taking up space on the bench or, less frequently, the floor... Improved career free-throw accuracy, but still shot only .524 from line... Started 26 games and averaged only 17.5 minutes... Could fall by wayside this season, after making $150,000 in 1985-86... Mavericks picked him No. 30 overall in 1983, out of Old Dominion... Born Nov. 5, 1960, in Ft. Campbell, Ky.... Grew up in Petersburg, Va., Moses Malones's original stomping grounds... Size and strength could keep him in league, but he'll have to score more than 4.2 ppg.
Relevant Stats:
4.2 ppg, 54.1 FG%, 4.8 rpg
6-10 225 Center
Just sort of hangs around, not doing much except taking up space on the bench or, less frequently, the floor... Improved career free-throw accuracy, but still shot only .524 from line... Started 26 games and averaged only 17.5 minutes... Could fall by wayside this season, after making $150,000 in 1985-86... Mavericks picked him No. 30 overall in 1983, out of Old Dominion... Born Nov. 5, 1960, in Ft. Campbell, Ky.... Grew up in Petersburg, Va., Moses Malones's original stomping grounds... Size and strength could keep him in league, but he'll have to score more than 4.2 ppg.
Relevant Stats:
4.2 ppg, 54.1 FG%, 4.8 rpg
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Edgar Jones
Cleveland Cavaliers
6-10 225 Forward
"EJ," the DJ, the incredible talking machine... He'll score on you, then talk you down and on his face there's never a frown... Decided the best way to get a reputation after spending five mediocre seasons in the NBA was to become his own PR man, a la World B. Free... So he issued outlandish, sometimes unfathomable quotes and had the time of his life... Had he not missed 29 games with injuries, his output would have been better... Never as confident as he was last season... Born June 17, 1956, in Ft. Rucker, Ala.... Grew up in Newark, N.J.... Bucks drafted him No. 31 overall in 1979, out of Nevada-Reno... Cavs got him from Spurs for Jeff Cook in December 1984... Scored a point every 1.97 minutes... Earned $235,000 last season.
Relevant Stats:
9.7 ppg, 50.6 FG%, 3.9 rpg
6-10 225 Forward
"EJ," the DJ, the incredible talking machine... He'll score on you, then talk you down and on his face there's never a frown... Decided the best way to get a reputation after spending five mediocre seasons in the NBA was to become his own PR man, a la World B. Free... So he issued outlandish, sometimes unfathomable quotes and had the time of his life... Had he not missed 29 games with injuries, his output would have been better... Never as confident as he was last season... Born June 17, 1956, in Ft. Rucker, Ala.... Grew up in Newark, N.J.... Bucks drafted him No. 31 overall in 1979, out of Nevada-Reno... Cavs got him from Spurs for Jeff Cook in December 1984... Scored a point every 1.97 minutes... Earned $235,000 last season.
Relevant Stats:
9.7 ppg, 50.6 FG%, 3.9 rpg
Saturday, August 13, 2005
John Bagley
Cleveland Cavaliers
6-0 185 Guard
His scoring was up and accuracy was down in rollercoaster year... Averaged 9.4 assists, ranking fourth in league... Made 70-foot shot against Nets to spark victory for Cavs... Earned $300,000 on contract he won before last season after becoming free agent... Observers no longer ridicule his selection as No. 12 overall in 1982... Born April 30, 1960, in Bridgeport Conn.... Most onlookers felt he made big mistake by leaving Boston College and entering draft after junior season... Scores in streaks... His lack of height works against him.
Relevant Stats:
11.7 ppg, 42.3 FG%, 9.4 apg
6-0 185 Guard
His scoring was up and accuracy was down in rollercoaster year... Averaged 9.4 assists, ranking fourth in league... Made 70-foot shot against Nets to spark victory for Cavs... Earned $300,000 on contract he won before last season after becoming free agent... Observers no longer ridicule his selection as No. 12 overall in 1982... Born April 30, 1960, in Bridgeport Conn.... Most onlookers felt he made big mistake by leaving Boston College and entering draft after junior season... Scores in streaks... His lack of height works against him.
Relevant Stats:
11.7 ppg, 42.3 FG%, 9.4 apg
Friday, August 12, 2005
Phil Hubbard
Cleveland Cavaliers
6-8 205 Forward
May have turned out to be the most significant player for Cleveland in his absence... No one filled in adequately at his small-forward spot after he went down with knee injury 23 games into season... Made $225,000 last season, his option year, and then became franchise agent... Physical condition hurt his bargaining power... Was most consistent Cavs in previous seasons... Had prior serious knee injury while at Michigan, robbing him much of his prior mobility...197 U.S. Olympian... Pistons chose him No. 15 overall in 1979, after he had left college a year early... Born Dec. 13, 1956, in Canton, Ohio... Acquired from Pistons with Paul Mokeski and two draft picks for Kenny Carr and Bill Laimbeer in February 1982.
Relevant Stats:
11.4 ppg, 47.0 FG%, 5.2 rpg
6-8 205 Forward
May have turned out to be the most significant player for Cleveland in his absence... No one filled in adequately at his small-forward spot after he went down with knee injury 23 games into season... Made $225,000 last season, his option year, and then became franchise agent... Physical condition hurt his bargaining power... Was most consistent Cavs in previous seasons... Had prior serious knee injury while at Michigan, robbing him much of his prior mobility...197 U.S. Olympian... Pistons chose him No. 15 overall in 1979, after he had left college a year early... Born Dec. 13, 1956, in Canton, Ohio... Acquired from Pistons with Paul Mokeski and two draft picks for Kenny Carr and Bill Laimbeer in February 1982.
Relevant Stats:
11.4 ppg, 47.0 FG%, 5.2 rpg
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Ben Poquette
Cleveland Cavaliers
6-9 235 Forward
Gentle Ben isn't so gentle... Deserves better fate than his career has wrought -- one playoff appearance in nine seasons... Great role player... It seems foolish a team like the Nets didn't try to make deal for him as a backup to Buck Williams... Grabbed a rebound every 4.01 minutes on floor... Central Michigan star was chosen No. 36 overall by Pistons in 1977... Born May 7, 1955, in Ann Arbor, Mich.... Earned $284,000 last year before becoming free agent... Has great corner jump shot... Considering that he has averaged double figures in only one season, it's a tribute to his all-around game that he has lasted as long as he has... Cavs purchased him from Jazz prior to 1983-84... Still has a few good years left, if he can play for contending team.
Relevant Stats:
5.0 ppg, 47.7 FG%, 4.6 rpg
6-9 235 Forward
Gentle Ben isn't so gentle... Deserves better fate than his career has wrought -- one playoff appearance in nine seasons... Great role player... It seems foolish a team like the Nets didn't try to make deal for him as a backup to Buck Williams... Grabbed a rebound every 4.01 minutes on floor... Central Michigan star was chosen No. 36 overall by Pistons in 1977... Born May 7, 1955, in Ann Arbor, Mich.... Earned $284,000 last year before becoming free agent... Has great corner jump shot... Considering that he has averaged double figures in only one season, it's a tribute to his all-around game that he has lasted as long as he has... Cavs purchased him from Jazz prior to 1983-84... Still has a few good years left, if he can play for contending team.
Relevant Stats:
5.0 ppg, 47.7 FG%, 4.6 rpg
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Keith Lee
Cleveland Cavaliers
6-10 230 Forward
Another guy who goes to dinner table better than he goes to his left... Reported to camp out of shape and became a rookie flop... Cavs regret 1985 draft-day trade in which they sent Calvin Duncan and Charles Oakley to Bulls for Lee and Ennis Whatley... Seems a lot of scouts were right when they advised their teams to pass on him, allowing him to slip to 11th overall after he had been projected as a top five selection... Born Dec. 28, 1962, in West Memphis, Ark.... Set six records at Memphis State, including rebounds (1,329) and points (2,398)... Averaged a foul every 5.9 minutes last season... will earn $301,666 this season.
Relevant Stats:
7.4 ppg, 46.6 FG%, 6.0 rpg
6-10 230 Forward
Another guy who goes to dinner table better than he goes to his left... Reported to camp out of shape and became a rookie flop... Cavs regret 1985 draft-day trade in which they sent Calvin Duncan and Charles Oakley to Bulls for Lee and Ennis Whatley... Seems a lot of scouts were right when they advised their teams to pass on him, allowing him to slip to 11th overall after he had been projected as a top five selection... Born Dec. 28, 1962, in West Memphis, Ark.... Set six records at Memphis State, including rebounds (1,329) and points (2,398)... Averaged a foul every 5.9 minutes last season... will earn $301,666 this season.
Relevant Stats:
7.4 ppg, 46.6 FG%, 6.0 rpg
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Lonnie Shelton
Cleveland Cavaliers
6-8 285 Forward
In the past, he was a shadow of his present self... How big is he?... He's so big he can play the weak side and strong side at the same time... He can be stationed in the paint, but you won't know it, because when he's in it, you can't see it... Weight took its tool on his knees and he played only 44 games, second-fewest total of 10-year NBA career... Knicks drafted him No. 25 overall in 1976 as hardship case... Starred in Oregon State... Born Oct. 19, 1955, in Bakersfield, Cal.... Cavs got him from Sonics for second-round pick and cash prior to 1983-84... Earned $420,000 last season and then became free agent... May have eaten himself out of a job.
Relevant Stats:
4.5 ppg, 48.9 FG%, 3.25 rpg
6-8 285 Forward
In the past, he was a shadow of his present self... How big is he?... He's so big he can play the weak side and strong side at the same time... He can be stationed in the paint, but you won't know it, because when he's in it, you can't see it... Weight took its tool on his knees and he played only 44 games, second-fewest total of 10-year NBA career... Knicks drafted him No. 25 overall in 1976 as hardship case... Starred in Oregon State... Born Oct. 19, 1955, in Bakersfield, Cal.... Cavs got him from Sonics for second-round pick and cash prior to 1983-84... Earned $420,000 last season and then became free agent... May have eaten himself out of a job.
Relevant Stats:
4.5 ppg, 48.9 FG%, 3.25 rpg
Monday, August 08, 2005
Mel Turpin
Cleveland Cavaliers
6-11 265 Center
"Dinner-Bell Mel" jiggled his girth up and down the court last season, again failing to live up to expectations... Gund brothers, who own Cavs, must be shuddering as they contemplate paying him $900,000 this season... Can shoot, but that seems to be the only thing that interests him -- other than eating... There's no truth to the rumor that when 342-pound Geff Crompton was cut by the Cavs two years ago, he left this guy a list of his favorite eating places around the league... If he ever took the game seriously enough to really get in shape, he could be a serious force... Bullets picked him No. 6 overall in 1984, out of Kentucky... Was involved in draft-day, three-way trade that cost Cavs Cliff Robinson and No. 1 pick... Born Dec. 28, 1960, in Lexington, Ky... Pays for the privilege of overeating, because he has weight clause in contract.
Relevant Stats:
13.7 ppg, 54.4 FG%, 7.0 rpg
6-11 265 Center
"Dinner-Bell Mel" jiggled his girth up and down the court last season, again failing to live up to expectations... Gund brothers, who own Cavs, must be shuddering as they contemplate paying him $900,000 this season... Can shoot, but that seems to be the only thing that interests him -- other than eating... There's no truth to the rumor that when 342-pound Geff Crompton was cut by the Cavs two years ago, he left this guy a list of his favorite eating places around the league... If he ever took the game seriously enough to really get in shape, he could be a serious force... Bullets picked him No. 6 overall in 1984, out of Kentucky... Was involved in draft-day, three-way trade that cost Cavs Cliff Robinson and No. 1 pick... Born Dec. 28, 1960, in Lexington, Ky... Pays for the privilege of overeating, because he has weight clause in contract.
Relevant Stats:
13.7 ppg, 54.4 FG%, 7.0 rpg
Sunday, August 07, 2005
World B. Free
Cleveland Cavaliers
6-3 185 Guard
Was robbed when Eastern Conference coaches didn't vote him to All-Star team... Average of 23.4 ppg was his best since 1982-83, when he began season with Warriors, then was traded to Cavs for Ron Brewer in December... Made 42 percent of three-point field-goal attempts to finish fifth in league and third among players who took more than 100 of them... Was one of main protagonists in lengthly drama that led to firing of coach George Karl... Born Dec. 9, 1953, in Atlanta.. Drafted No. 23 overall by Philadelphia in 1975, out of Guilford College... He and former Celtic M.L. Carr led college team to NAIA title... Shoots from the hip, with a ball in his hand or a phrase on his tongue... "I put basketball on the map here," he said... Book on his life being prepared by suburban Cleveland writer... Earned $675,000 last year and Cavs held option on this season at price of $725,000.
Relevant Stats:
23.4 ppg, 45.5 FG%, 4.2 apg
UPDATE: Real name used to be Lloyd B. Free.
6-3 185 Guard
Was robbed when Eastern Conference coaches didn't vote him to All-Star team... Average of 23.4 ppg was his best since 1982-83, when he began season with Warriors, then was traded to Cavs for Ron Brewer in December... Made 42 percent of three-point field-goal attempts to finish fifth in league and third among players who took more than 100 of them... Was one of main protagonists in lengthly drama that led to firing of coach George Karl... Born Dec. 9, 1953, in Atlanta.. Drafted No. 23 overall by Philadelphia in 1975, out of Guilford College... He and former Celtic M.L. Carr led college team to NAIA title... Shoots from the hip, with a ball in his hand or a phrase on his tongue... "I put basketball on the map here," he said... Book on his life being prepared by suburban Cleveland writer... Earned $675,000 last year and Cavs held option on this season at price of $725,000.
Relevant Stats:
23.4 ppg, 45.5 FG%, 4.2 apg
UPDATE: Real name used to be Lloyd B. Free.
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