Lucas finds salvation in motivation

Lucas, who will turn 48 next month, knows he will have his hands full with the Cavs when training camp opens Tuesday morning. Before he decided to leave his job as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets and take his third head coaching position in the NBA, he talked to everybody even remotely connected to the team, including most of the players. He knows the Cavs rank third in popularity among the top three pro sports in Cleveland, and he knows they're not ready to contend for the championship.

But he says this is not his biggest challenge. Asked the toughest job he ever had, Lucas paused for a long moment and then said quietly, "Staying inside my skin. Being me."

Via

Cleveland Cavaliers

Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets

Agent: Ketner to likely sign

MARISSA SILVERA of the Miami Herald reports: Six-foot-nine forward/center Lari Ketner will ``probably sign [today],'' with the Heat according to his agent, Mark Bartelstein.

In other News, Dwight Manley, the agent for Jazz free agent center Olden Polynice, said Thursday afternoon he was still waiting to hear from Heat general manager Randy Pfund. He didn't seem concerned about the possible signing of Ketner.

``That doesn't sound threatening to the situation,'' Manley said. ``I left a message for Randy. It seems like Olden is a perfect fit in Miami.''

The Cleveland Cavaliers said the Heat no longer seems interested in trading its $3.3 million trade exception to the Cavaliers for free agent center Chris Gatling. Without a trade, the most Miami could offer Gatling is $1 million.

Via

Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers

Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets

Slow return for Ilgauskas

Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas might wear size-16 shoes, but he says he's taking ``baby steps.''

Ilgauskas played in a fullcourt game yesterday for the first time since breaking his left foot in December. During an informal workout at Gund Arena that included four other Cavs players, head coach John Lucas, assistant Keith Smart and three local players, Ilgauskas struggled

Via

Cleveland Cavaliers

Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets