Cleveland Cavaliers Trying to Acquire the 2nd Pick, Too?

Report: Cleveland, OH - After landing the 1st and 4th overall pick in this years draft, rumors are flying that the Cavs are attempting to move up to secure the top two picks in an attempt to rebuild their franchise just a year after the departure of LeBron James.  In the potential deal, the Detroit Pistons would trade SG Rip Hamilton and the 8th overall pick to Cleveland, who can absorb his contract with the $14.7M trade exception they received after the sign and trade of LeBron James last summer.  Cleveland is then expected to buy out the remaining $25,000,000 on his contract.  The Timberwolves, then, will act as a third party and trade the 2nd overall pick to Cleveland in return for the Cavs 4th pick and the newly acquired 8th pick from Detroit.  

If the trade does go through, Cleveland is expected to take Duke PG Kyrie Irving with the first pick and Arizona PF Derrick Williams with the second.  This influx of youth and athleticism will certainly create the much needed 1-2 punch that has been lacking in Cleveland for years.  The Timberwolves, supposedly, may be worried that Derrick Williams does not fit into their already PF heavy roster with Kevin Love and Michael Beasley.  By moving back to get a top-5 and top-10 pick, the Wolves may get the opportunity to add two players at other positions such as C Enes Kanter and PG Kemba Walker. 

More details as they come...

Season in Review: Anthony Tolliver's perspective

Wolves forward Anthony Tolliver

What are some memorable moments you have had this year, what does it mean to play some of your former teams?

This was my first full season in the NBA so this year will always be special to me. Playing well against my former teams (GSW, New Orleans, and San Antonio) this year definitely stick out as memories that I wont forget.

How has the team improved since the beginning of the year? the chemistry?I think that the team has learned how to adjust to one another very well on the offensive end. At times this year we played and competed against the best teams in the league.

What the biggest challenge you have faced during the season?The biggest challenge has been dealing with losing so many games. I have never lost so many games in one season in my life so that has been tough.

What have you improved the most during the 2010-11 NBA season?I think I have really become comfortable with my role as a backup power forward, coming off the bench and bringing energy to the game on the defensive end.

Who has given you the best advice during your basketball career, what advice did they give?My mother always would tell me to let my game do the talking instead of talking smack to other players.

Why do you think Kevin Love doesn’t get much “Love” from NBA fans?What fans don’t notice Kevin Love? Haha. If you understand the game you notice Kevin Love because he is a phenomenal rebounder.

When out of town, what is your favorite thing to do in an off day?I like to relax and watch movies.

Where's the Love?

Yesterday the NBA announced the reserves for this season's NBA All-Star Game.  While players such as Blake Griffin and Kevin Garnett have been planning their trip to Los Angeles for weeks, one player, Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love, was nearly forced to make vacation plans.  Amazingly, despite having one of the more impressive resumes in the NBA, Love was not chosen by league coaches to represent the Western Conference this season...at least right away.  Fortunately for Love, he was selected today as an injury replacement for Rockets center Yao Ming.  Yet the initial snub still leaves me wondering, by what standards can Love not be considered an All-Star?

Yes, he plays for a Minnesota team that is just 11-37, and is lacking significant talent around him, but that hardly negates what he has done on the court this season.  Averaging 21.4 PPG and 15.5 RPG, Love is on pace to be the first 20-15 player since Mosas Malone in the 1982-83 season.  He leads the league in double-doubles and is just 3 shy of Kevin Garnett's NBA record 37 in a row.  He's shooting .563 from the field and is 6th in the league in PER.  For comparison, Mavericks PF Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds per game and is 8th in PER while Amar'e Stoudemire is putting up 26.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest.  Thats not to say that Love is just as naturally talented and athletic as those players, he's not, but his combination of hard work, natural ability and 'never quit' attitude gave him stats superior to those players.

In my opinion, lots of things can get you into the All-Star Game.  As mentioned earlier, Love could break a record currently held by a future Hall of Famer.  He's putting up over 20 a game and is easily the leagues best rebounder.  Regardless of what team you are on, those stats don't lie.  Kevin Love is an all star.

It's Luck Like This That Keep the Timberwolves So Awful

Wolves center Darko Milicic scores 2 points in a recent matchup against the Washington Wizards.  Only problem, he scored it off the jump ball tip...for the Wizards.  Take a look...