Cavaliers sign top picks Irving, Thompson

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson.

The team said it finalized the contracts for the Nos. 1 and 4 picks in this year's draft on Friday before the first training camp practice. Financial terms on the deals were not immediately known.

Irving, who left Duke after just one injury-shortened season, is expected to take over as the club's starting point guard. The Cavaliers are trying to decide what to do with veteran guard Baron Davis, who reported to camp amid speculation the team may use the new "amnesty clause" in the collective bargaining agreement to waive him and clear room under the salary cap.

Earlier, coach Byron Scott said he - and not Davis - is the perfect mentor for the 19-year-old Irving.

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Cavaliers Acquire Erden and Harangody from Boston for Future Second Round Pick

(NBA) The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired center Semih Erden and forward Luke Harangody from the Boston Celtics in exchange for a second round pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today. The Cavaliers also waived forward Leon Powe.

“Semih and Luke are two young players that we’ve liked dating back to their respective drafts. Each has worked hard, continued to grow and proven themselves on the court this season,” said Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant. “Luke and Semih also understand what winning culture is about and we’re happy to have them as part of our team. We look forward to their continued growth with us.”

Erden, 24, has played in 37 games (seven starts) this season, averaging 4.1 points on .598 shooting and 2.9 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game. The 7-foot, 240-pound rookie from Turkey was selected with the 60th overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft. He has seven seasons of international experience, playing the last five seasons (2005-2010) with Fenerbache Ulker Istanbul of the Turkish League.

With the Celtics during the 2010-11 season, he scored in double figures on four occasions and grabbed seven or more rebounds in five games this season. Semih Erden (pronounced SEM-ee Err-DEN) posted a season-high 14 points on a perfect 5-5 shooting and added seven rebounds in 30 minutes versus Utah on Jan. 21st.

Harangody, 23, is averaging 2.3 points on .394 shooting and 2.0 rebounds in 8.6 minutes per game in 28 games (zero starts). He was selected with the 52nd overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft after receiving All-American honors and being an All-BIG EAST First Team Selection in three consecutive seasons (2008-2010), including being named BIG EAST Player of the Year in 2008, in four seasons at Notre Dame. The 6-foot-8, 246-pound power forward recorded his first NBA career double-double with 17 points on 8-11 shooting (.727) and 11 rebounds versus Toronto on Jan. 7th.

The 2013 second round pick headed to Boston was acquired by the Cavaliers from Minnesota on July 26, 2010 along with Ramon Sessions and Ryan Hollins in exchange for Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West.

Powe has played in 34 games (five starts) for the Cavaliers since being signed as a free agent before the 2009-10 season and averaged 4.4 points on .463 shooting and 2.9 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game. “We thank Leon for his contributions on and off the court and our entire organization wishes him and his family the best in the future,” said Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant. 

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Cavaliers stun Celtics in first game without LeBron

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - The Cleveland Cavaliers began the post-LeBron James era with a stunning 95-87 victory over the heavily favored Boston Celtics Wednesday.
Making the victory all the sweeter for jilted Cavaliers fans was the fact that their season-opening win came over the Celtics, something James and his new team the Miami Heat were unable to do in the NBA curtain-raiser Tuesday.
When James announced in July that he was "taking his talents to South Beach" to form a super team in Miami with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, it left Cavaliers fans crushed fearing a return to the bottom of the standings without the twice league MVP.
But for one night at least, the Cavaliers looked every bit a championship contender and the sellout crowd agreed erupting in wild celebration as the final buzzer sounded and confetti rained down from the rafters.

J.J. Hickson

"I'm very proud of my guys tonight, there were times in this game when we got down double-digits and they could have just mailed it in but they didn't," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott told reporters.
"This is how we've got to play basketball. We played really hard all night long.
"We're going to enjoy this victory because it was big time for us, for us to win this game at home, to start the season off this way."
"TRUE STRENGTH"
The Cavaliers had trailed by as much as 11 points but showed their mettle in the final minutes, taking an 86-84 lead on a J.J. Hickson layup.
Hickson led the Cavaliers with a game high 21 points while Daniel Gibson provided 16 points and eight assists coming off the bench.
Ramon Sessions chipped in with 14 points while Jamario Moon, who took over James locker and his starting place in the lineup added 10.
The Celtics, arriving in Cleveland off an emotional win 24 hours earlier, appeared to run out of steam down the stretch.

newly acquired cavs ramon sessions and reserved forward jamario moon who took over lebron james starting place

"I think their true strength is playing together," said Celtics Kevin Garnett. "They don't have the one go to guy but they do play well together.
"They play hard and when you don't match that you find yourself in trouble."
Rajon Rondo had 18 points and nine assists to pace the Celtics while Paul Pierce added 13 and Garnett contributed nine points and 15 rebounds.

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