HoopsHype.com Rumors

Tate Moore will be on a private jet this afternoon with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert as part of the team’s traveling party for tonight’s NBA draft lottery in New York City. Moore, 20, a 2011 Wadsworth High graduate, won a contest Gilbert held on Twitter in which Cavs fans were asked to submit a 30-second video detailing why they should be selected to attend the lottery, which will be held at ABC Disney’s Times Square Studios. “He tweeted it at noon Friday and the contest was only open for seven hours,” Moore said Monday evening. “I was sitting at my parents’ home in Wadsworth doing nothing, so I thought I had as good a shot as anyone.” Medina County Gazette

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Dan Gilbert, Tate Moore 

Howard is expected to entertain the free-agency process and hear competing offers from Houston, Dallas and others, multiple sources told ESPNLosAngeles.com. Cleveland and Atlanta are teams that will also be vying for Howard, among other suitors. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

The Knicks-Pacers game on Saturday was the lowest rated and least viewed primetime ABC playoff game since Cavaliers-Hawks in 2009 (which drew a 3.2 rating and 5.0 million viewers). Five of the seven ABC NBA playoff games from this year have been down in both ratings and viewership to games last year in a comparable window. Awful Announcing

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Media 

David 'Dubi' Pick: Cleveland coach Mike Brown, impressed by 7-3 Greg Somogyi during '12 Lakers training camp, invited the Hungarian center to Cavs mini camp. Twitter @IAmDPick

Cleveland Cavaliers, Free Agency, Mike Brown, Greg Somogyi 

I also hear the Cavs are still considering 7-foot Greg Oden, the former Ohio State center who has not played in an NBA game since December 2009. He was the top pick in the 2007 draft, but he's played just 82 NBA games -- averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds for Portland. The real problem is Oden having three microfracture knee surgeries. (Two such surgeries may have ended the career of Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore.) So Oden's a gamble, and a signal the Cavs are looking for a defensive center. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

The Lakers' cap situation is atrocious. Don't be shocked if they trade forward/center Pau Gasol, who is recovering from a knee procedure and needs another 10 weeks of rehabilitation. The 7-footer is entering the final year of his contract and will earn $19.28 million next year. The Cavs might be open to a deal like that, adding a veteran player to the group of youngsters on the roster. Another name could be Celtics forward Paul Pierce. News-Herald

Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Paul Pierce, Trade, Pau Gasol 

The Cavaliers head into the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday with the third-best odds for the No. 1 pick. There's a 15.6-percent chance they'll get the top selection. If they land the first pick, like most teams, they'll likely select Kentucky forward/center Nerlens Noel (6-foot-11 3/4, 206 pounds). News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Nerlens Noel 

Cavs coach Mike Brown has put his Los Angeles-area home on the market for $3.75 million. The Mediterranean-style house in the gated Anaheim Hills community features 9,503 square feet of living space with six bedrooms and 7 1/2 bathrooms. It was built in 1990 and later remodeled. Brown moved his family into the home he purchased in Westlake. News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Mike Brown, Real Estate 

Jamal Franklin sprained the ankle May 4 while working out in Las Vegas. Elfus said the protective boot is precautionary and Franklin should be full speed within a week. His first workout is expected to be June 3 at Dallas. Other teams in the mix: Atlanta, Brooklyn, Cleveland and Milwaukee. UTSanDiego

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Draft, Workouts, Jamal Franklin 

Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni gave Phil Handy a great recommendation. An NBA source told The Plain Dealer on Friday that Handy has been hired by the Cavaliers, but the team said nothing is official yet. Handy was a player development coach for the Lakers under Mike Brown and D'Antoni, who replaced Brown earlier this season. "He's really good at developing players, a good workout guy with a great work ethic," D'Antoni said Friday. "He'll do a super job for Mike, for sure." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Phil Handy 

What exactly is the difference between a player development coach and assistant coach?"It's more just area of responsibility," D'Antoni said. "It's the same thing. One guy might [prepare] defense against Detroit. Another guy might develop players. It's just a different area. "He can do whatever. His specialty was working guys out, making them better. Especially for a young group of guys he's good for them. I don't what he's going to do for Cleveland, so I don't know where he fits in. But wherever he fits in, he'll be good." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Phil Handy 

Jason Lloyd: Maryland center Alex Len will meet with #Cavs today Twitter @JasonLloydABJ

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Alex Len 

Sam Amico: Cavs GM Chris Grant says he doesn't think this is weak draft. Also, expect Cavs to try to be bigger players in free agency than recent years Twitter @SamAmicoFSO

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Chris Grant 

Joe Kotoch: Early indication in Chicago is that Cleveland really likes Nerlens Noel and Otto Porter with their top pick. Twitter @Probballdraft

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Nerlens Noel, Otto Porter 

Chris Mannix: Kansas's Ben McLemore says his first three interviews were Cleveland, Minnesota and New Orleans. Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Draft, Ben McLemore 

Mary Schmitt Boyer/Jodie Valade: Kansas' Ben McLemore said he interviewed with the #Cavs on Wednesday Twitter @PDcavsinsider

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Ben McLemore 

Mary Schmitt Boyer/Jodie Valade: Nerlens Noel said he has not interviewed with the Cavs and doesn't know if he has interview scheduled Twitter @PDcavsinsider

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Nerlens Noel 

Chris Mannix: Lot of teams looking to talk to Lehigh's CJ McCollum. 15 total interviews scheduled. Thunder, Magic, Nuggets and Cavs already talked to him Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Draft, CJ McCollum 

Mary Schmitt Boyer/Jodie Valade: Nick Gilbert will represent #Cavs on stage at the lottery for the 3rd straight year. Why not? Kid is batting .500. No word on bow tie Twitter @PDcavsinsider

Cleveland Cavaliers, Draft, Nick Gilbert 

Chris Mannix: Otto Porter has interviewed with Charlotte, Phoenix and OKC. Says he looks at Cleveland, Phoenix and Orlando as being the best fit. Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Draft, Otto Porter