“How patient are you? Have you thought about that with so many young guys? “I have. I have really good talks with the management, with [GM] Neil [Olshey]. We don’t feel like this process is going to be that long. We feel like one year for guys to get better, for myself to also get better. We feel like we should have enough next year to be one of those top teams again. We can always add some good guys through free agency next year.” Are you best power forward in the game? “If I didn’t say I was, then it would be weird.” Is there a difference between saying that and truly believing it? “I’m a realist. I do feel like I’m the best power forward in the game. But I do also know that I have to be an overall better rebounder. I think that’s going to come this year. I still do feel like I’m the best power forward in the game.”
Dion Waiters should be in the starting lineup for the upcoming season, according to Bob Finnan of The News-Herald: “Cavs coach Byron Scott said he wanted to have his starting lineup and rotation intact for the last two preseason games. Their 113-99 loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday was their next-to-last game. The following are some impressions from the preseason: — Judging from the last two games, Scott will start rookie Dion Waiters at shooting guard — ready or not. Waiters has been ordinary in the preseason. Much improvement is needed from the ex-Syracuse guard. He’s averaging 8.0 points and 2.2 assists and is shooting 36 percent from the field. There are some things to like about Waiters. His outside shooting isn’t one of them. His strength is as a facilitator. Unfortunately, the Cavs need his potential scoring in a big way. There’s a lot of pressure on Kyrie Irving to almost do it all. The development of Waiters could trigger the Cavs’ potential ascension in the Eastern Conference.”
- The Cavaliers picked up some third-year options on Friday, from Ken Berger of CBS Sports:
Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony are doing great so far in practice, something they hope will translate into games. Marc Berman of New York Post has the story: “We’re doing great in practice right now, communicating, figuring it out,’’ said Anthony, averaging 20 points in 22 minutes on 44-percent shooting (57-percent from 3-point land). This is the first full training camp Stoudemire and Anthony have shared as teammates. Both have pointed to not having one in their prior two seasons as factors in failing to mesh. Now they get four preseason games to make hay before the Knicks invade Brooklyn for the season opener Nov. 1. “It’s been great, it’s been beautiful, to have a full training camp and go through preseason and build chemistry,’’ Stoudemire said. “It’ll be nice,’’ coach Mike Woodson said. “Amar’e is anxious to getting back playing. He had the layoff with his knee. He’s had a good practice. He’ll be ready.’’
Vince Carter will take over the sixth man role vacated by Jason Terry for the Mavericks, from Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: “But if Vince Carter has anything to say about it, the Mavericks won’t miss Terry’s instant offense off the bench. “I’m down for it,” Carter said when asked if he wanted to be the new sixth man. “I’ll come in and help the team, remain verbal — I do that well. I just try to keep us going forward and not regress. When the second unit comes on the floor, they have to keep it going. I just try to do a little bit of everything to help the team.” Carter has all the requirements of a good sixth man. He can shoot the 3-pointer. He still has the capacity to get to the rim and he’s not afraid to do other things besides score, as his seven rebounds in 19 minutes against Phoenix on Wednesday suggest. But he also had 15 rapid-fire points in his time on the court. That sort of production looks and sounds sixth-man worthy.”
Landry Fields had mixed emotions about not being re-signed by the Knicks, from Berman of New York Post: “I really didn’t know,” Fields said in the Canadiens lockerroom. “I knew it was a large sum. It was kind of bittersweet. It was sad because it was the end of two great years in my opinion in New York. But it was also new beginnings in Toronto.” When asked if he needed a change after his drop-off in play coincided with the Melo trade, Fields said, “I think so. It was a fresh start and couldn’t have come at a better time for me. It was a accumulation of things. I lost some confidence in myself.’’
- Kevin Durant is opening up his own restaurant, according to The Mars Reel: “Plans for NBA Superstar Kevin Durant’s restaurant gets seal of approval. The restaurant will be located in lower Bricktown between Earl’s Rib Palace and Toby Keith’s. The Oklahoma City urban renewal authority approved plans for the restaurant Wednesday morning. Architects say the restaurant will feature a patio overlooking the Bricktown Canal and contemporary elements. They hope this will make the building an iconic spot in Oklahoma City’s growing entertainment district.”
- In case you forgot about former MVP Derrick Rose, here is The Return of D Rose episode 5 called “Drive”:
- A number of players have been warned about flopping during the preseason, according to Lowe of Grantland: “Jarrett Jack got a bit of publicity when he tweeted earlier in the week that the league warned him about flopping in a preseason game as part of its new anti-flop crackdown. But he’s far from the only one. A league source tells Grantland the NBA flop czars have already warned “about 10” players for preseason floppage, though the league won’t publicly release their names. (That will change once the season starts and the shaming begins.) But it’s clear already the league is taking this seriously, and an aggressive early push wouldn’t be a surprise.”
Lakers look to acquire LeBron James in 2014