HoopsHype.com Rumors

Marc J. Spears: Lakers player development Phil Handy interviewing for job to join new Cavs coach Mike Brown's staff in Cleveland today. Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Phil Handy 

KSTP-AM 1500 in Minnesota is reporting the Timberwolves might target shooting guard O.J. Mayo in free agency. The Cavs might kick the tires on Mayo, as well. He's expected to opt out of his contract with Dallas. News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency 

If the Cavs obtain Georgetown small forward Otto Porter (6-8, 200) with their first pick in the draft, they might go big with the No. 19 pick they got from the Lakers. They could package Nos. 19, 31 and 33 and try to move up five or six spots in the draft. News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Draft, Otto Porter 

Anderson Varejao has been working out steadily and recently was taken off the blood thinner he was taking after developing a blood clot following surgery last winter. He'll be ready for training camp. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Injuries, Anderson Varejao 

The Cavaliers were granted permission from the Los Angeles Lakers to interview Phil Handy for Mike Brown's coaching staff, the Lakers confirmed on Thursday. Handy was Brown's player development coach with the Lakers. Akron Beacon Journal

Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Phil Handy 

The Los Angeles Lakers have confirmed that the Cavaliers have received permission to interview developmental coach Phil Handy, who was hired by Mike Brown during his first season in L.A. in 2011-12. Mark Medina of InsideSoCal.com had the story first. The Cavs have not confirmed the report. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Phil Handy 

Handy is the first known candidate the Cavs plan to interview. Brown would seem to have at least two openings on his coaching staff after the Cavs cut ties with Paul Pressey and Joe Prunty in the wake of Byron Scott's firing. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Joe Prunty, Paul Pressey, Phil Handy 

Porter is the perfect fit for Cleveland, and according to sources he is the No. 2-ranked player on the Cavs' board right now. With two dynamic scorers in their backcourt and good size up front, they need a wing like Porter who can excel without having the offense run through him. ESPN.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Otto Porter 

Melbourne-born NBA superstar Kyrie Irving looks set to visit his home town in July for a series of coaching clinics. Simon Mitchell, head of basketball operations for the Frankston and District Basketball Association, today confirmed clinics by the young star of the Cleveland Cavaliers were "in the works" and he was awaiting final confirmations. "It's not signed off on yet but we are very close," said Mitchell, who played alongside Irving's father Drederick in the SEABL with Bulleen Boomers. The Courier-Mail

Cleveland Cavaliers, Australia, Kyrie Irving 

Marc J. Spears: Cavs have asked & received permission to talk to @lakers player development coach Phil Handy. Cavs coach Mike Brown hired Handy with Lakers. Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Phil Hardy 

Sam Amick: Also on coaching front, Cleveland assistant Nate Tibbets will have his Charlotte interview on Thursday. Mike Dunlap was fired after season. Twitter @sam_amick

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Nate Tibbetts 

The Cavs can be as much as $18 million under the salary cap on July 1. A couple free-agent signings could go a long way in reshaping their rebuilding project. They appear to have some interest in Memphis shooting guard Tony Allen, an unrestricted free agent. News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Free Agency, Tony Allen 

Would the Cavs go for broke with free agents like Utah center Al Jefferson or Minnesota center Nikola Pekovic? The 6-10, 289-pound Jefferson made $15 million this season. Pekovic, a 6-11, 290-pounder, had a breakthrough year in 2012-13 with 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds. He made $4.6 million this season, and could vault up to the $8 million-$10 million range. The Cavs probably won't take on that kind of commitment from either player, even though they desperately need scoring from the post. They might pursue free-agent role players like Matt Barnes or Corey Brewer to round out the roster. News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Free Agency, Al Jefferson, Matt Barnes, Nikola Pekovic, Corey Brewer 

Will ex-Cavs coach Byron Scott be on the sidelines this year? If he decides to take a year off, he'll be paid handsomely to play golf — more than $4 million. If Vinny Del Negro is not brought back by the Clippers — it might be a 50-50 proposition at this point — Scott might have some interest. News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Byron Scott, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching 

Clifford becomes the sixth known candidate to fill the opening created when the Bobcats fired Mike Dunlap last month. The others: Former Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry and four assistants: Nate Tibbetts (Cleveland), Kelvin Sampson (Houston), Jeff Hornacek (Utah) and Elston Turner (most recently with the Suns). Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson, Alvin Gentry, Jeff Hornacek, Elston Turner, Nate Tibbetts 

he list of known candidates for the Charlotte Bobcats head-coaching job is at five and probably growing. Various news sources have identified four current NBA assistants, plus Shelby native Alvin Gentry, who has been a head coach with four NBA teams. The assistants (in alphabetical order): Jeff Hornacek (Utah Jazz), Kelvin Sampson (Houston Rockets), Nate Tibbetts (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Elston Turner (most recently with the Phoenix Suns). Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson, Alvin Gentry, Jeff Hornacek, Elston Turner, Nate Tibbetts 

Mary Schmitt Boyer/Jodie Valade: Charlotte has asked for permission to talk to Cavs assistant coach Nate Tibbetts Twitter @PDcavsinsider

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Nate Tibbetts 

The Bobcats place a priority on player-development and Tibbetts got high marks in that regard from Cavs All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving. The day Irving was named rookie of the year last spring, he singled out Tibbetts for the constant attention and advice Tibbetts delivered. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Kyrie Irving, Nate Tibbetts 

Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Utah and Cleveland are interested in Scotty Hopson, currently playing for Israeli team Hapoel Eilat. Hopson could play the Summer League with one of these teams. Walla Sport

Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Summer League, Scotty Hopson 

The Cavs own a team option on swingman C.J. Miles' $2 million contract for next season. It's not cut-and-dry that they pick it up, like once thought. News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Free Agency, CJ Miles