Cavs: the Podcast

Elijah Kim and Chris Francis reflect upon the biggest NBA news of the weekend, the Cavs trading hometown son and de facto team leader Larry Nance, Jr. to the Portland Trailblazers in a three team trade that brings over the sharp shooting big Lauri Markannen, who fell out of favor with the Chicago Bulls and their new front office regime.

Eli and Chris cover all aspects of the trade, what the Cavs lost, what did the Cavs gain... leaving both CtBers wondering if there could possibly be more moves on the horizon? The duo also hits on the other "big" NBA news of the weekend, the buyout standoff between NBA champion Kevin Love and the Cavs front office. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Love has no interest in a buyout. Chris Fedor of cleveland.com reports that the Cavs are also uninterested in any buyout without Love giving back significant money. Eli and Chris venture some guesses as to what these reports mean as we approach the beginning of the 2021-22 NBA season.

And since CtB traditions are sacrosanct, Eli and Chris pitch some of their favorite things, with Chris name dropping his favorite tequila to drown his Larry Nance Jr. trade sorrows and Eli checking in with the Cavs fandom of South Korea.

Nate Smith and Adam Cathcart make a Transatlantic connection for this week's podcast to go over all the latest Cavs news. First we take on Chris Fedor's "maybe trade Larry" Article on Cleveland.com, and examine Nance's role on the Cavs. Then we go through the Central Division and see if the Cavs can go better than 4-8 next year. We discussed the Cavs' surprising success against the Knicks, Hawks, Sixers, and Nets last season(7-5!) and if they can repeat it this coming year. 

We talked about Chris Fedor's Dylan windler article, talked through any last takes on the Cavs' summer league, teased Tuesday's Evan Mobley article by a mystery writer returning to CtB, said goodbye to Taurean Prince and hello to Ricky Rubio, lamented the Cavs lack of free agents (again), talked Collin Sexton extension (again), and surveyed the landscape of Cavalier beat writers.

It's a fun escape during the dog days of summer!

Wednesday night, Evan Mobley, Isaac Okoro, and the Cavs earned their first victory of the summer with a dominant third quarter performance to put away the Jalen Suggs led Orlando Magic 94-84. The ole ball coach Nate Smith made the call to the bullpen and brought Elijah Kim and Chris Francis off the bench to do a deep dive on the young Summer League Cavaliers now that they've reach the halfway point of schedule.

Eli and Chris cover all aspects of the game, waxing poetic about the virtuosity of Evan Mobley's passing, the feats of strength of Isaac Okoro, the rock solid play of Lamar Stevens, and the Cavs' bench mob stepping up big time. The CtB duo also surveyed the lay of the NBA Summer League land and the latest Cavs' news/rumor about the a possible Collin Sexton extension??? And to top it all off, Eli takes Cavs the Podcast international with a glorious shout out to the Cavs fans of South Korea!

Nate rounds up CtB vets Eli and Chris for a draft/free agency spectacular! The Evan Mobley pick, the Ricky Rubio trade, the Jarrett Allen signing, NBA free agency, they cover it all… including a free agency signing of their own!

That's right, CtB is joining the Fansided podcast network and Minute Media! We celebrated by going deep on the Cavs penchant for centers and guards as if they're trying to exploit some market inefficiency that no one else knows about. We also lamented the Cavs' lack of productivity in the free agency market. Then we went around the league to go over our favorite and least favorite offseasons. Let's get it started, and as always, go Cavs.

The ole’ ball coach Nate Smith rounds up Eli and Chris for a Cavs the Podcast double album entitled, “Larry Nance: if he’s not a Cav, what’s the point?” Nate’s stirring soliloquy on the virtues of Larry Nance Jr. will melt even the most jaded of Cavs fans’ hearts.

On a slightly more serious note, the trio also covers everything else under the basketball sun at the CtB “beach side” podcast studio including Evan Mobley draft buzz, trade rumors, the Olympics, and even a coda on the 2020-21 NBA Season with the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship. If you are starved for content, they won’t leave you wanting.

Elijah Kim and Chris Francis stole the keys to the CtB Podcast lair, which led promptly to a 2021 NBA Draft extravaganza!

With the ole' ball coach Nate Smith in Dan Gilbert/Wizard of Oz mode, CtB veterans Eli and Chris take charge to check in with a live update on Team USA's final game against Spain before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Then they break down the Bucks' victory in Game 5 of the NBA Finals and pay homage to one of the greatest in the game today, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Then for the main course, the guys reveal their 2021 NBA big boards. Eli has the scoop on all the consensus top picks, while Chris demonstrates the beginning of a possibly unhealthy obsession with finding the elusive unicorn, "two way playmaking wing."

So sit back and relax with your favorite beverage, and get all the info you need about the 2021 NBA Draft... GO CAVS!

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On this hot midsummer night, with only two weeks until the 2021 NBA Draft, Nate Smith, Elijah Kim, and Chris Francis gathered in the global CtB bunker to process the Cavs’ news which seems to be the current hot topic among NBA circles: are the Cavs trading Collin Sexton? According  to reports, the Cavs and Knicks seemed to have serious discussions on trading the 22 year old guard but the talks broke down. Eli is on top of  the case, giving everyone a break down of possible destinations.

Chris starts to get onboard with Nate’s “Cade Cunningham and Josh  Giddey” draft agenda as the CtB crew touches on all the Team USA and  FIBA basketball action with more than a few current and former Cavs  enjoying the FIBA spotlight. Eli has the scoop on Jonathan Kuminga and  Evan Mobley, who apparently have just had private workouts with Cavs’  brass. Also for your listening pleasure, Nate gives everyone a few  choice shows that should be on the binge list. So sit back and relax, and kvetch.

Cavs-mas came late in the evening as the Cavs were able to move up to the third pick in a loaded 2021 NBA draft. Nate Smith gathers Elijah Kim and Chris Francis to Santa's studio to break down the monumental night. They dive into the possibilities which are seemingly endless. They also continue a fantastic discussion regarding Ben Simmons, with a hat tip to CtB veteran Ben Werth. They also break down the winners and losers, and the surprises we might see in the playoffs and offseason.

So sit back, relax, and join in on the conversation below. GO CAVS!!!!!!!!

'Twas the night before Cavs-mas...

Yes, Virginia, the draft lottery  has really been the Cavalier Christmas over the last couple years. As such, Nate, Eli, and Chris gathered in Santa's podcast studio, hoping to cook up some Cavs-mas magic on Cavs-mas eve. The trio discussed their hopes and fears for the draft, the prospects they have their eyes on, and the possibilities that exist should the Cavs' luck take a fateful turn.

For the second half, Nate and Chris chat by the fireside and reminisce about what has been an exciting and mind boggling NBA playoffs. Have we witnessed the obliteration of four franchises in this past couple of weeks? Are we witnessing the emergence of a changing of the guard among the NBA's elite? Is building a superteam of stars the only way to a ring? Nate and Chris also pay tribute to the greatest championship in NBA history, the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers (RIP to the late, great Fred McLeod).

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the Pod before Cav-mas Eve, and be sure to leave some milk and cookies for Adam Silver.