Joe Vardon
@joevardon
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Covers NBA for @TheAthletic . The white line’s getting longer and the saddle’s getting colder. jvardon @theathletic .com
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Joined November 2010
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Pinned Tweet
Forget Paris: The unusual and confounding tale of how badminton — yes, badminton — is moving LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Victor Wembanyama 150 miles away from the Eiffel Tower for the first week of the Olympics,
@TheAthleticNBA
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The Cavs traded Kyrie Irving. Kevin Love missed two months. Ty Lue missed two weeks. Isaiah Thomas missed two months. They ripped up half the roster in February. LeBron’s played every game. And they’re going back to the Finals
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Caris LeVert just walked into the arena in Cleveland, having just been told he was traded to the Cavaliers. He’s in the Pacers’ locker room now, talking on the phone to his new president of basketball ops, Koby Altman
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LeBron James’ agent informed the Cavs he will not exercise his $35.6 million option and thus will become an unrestricted free agent, sources told
@clevelanddotcom
... Story coming
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Rich Paul has been an NFL agent for ten minutes. Two of his clients (Young, Okudah) went second and third in the draft
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Kyrie changed the course of history in Cleveland, because he was done with LeBron. Then Irving calls, two seasons later, to apologize? For Cleveland, this is like the worst Last Two Minute report ever.
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LeBron James and Kevin Love were out to dinner. LeBron pulled out his phone to show him a missed call. It was Kyrie Irving. Scenes from an Italian LA restaurant where LeBron and Love were improbably together as Kyrie called to apologize
@TheAthleticNBA
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Sources close to LeBron: He didn't text KD and his going to the Lakers would not be sealed (or doomed) by whether or not they trade for Kawhi. ... Man, we'll all be better when this is over, one way or the other
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JR Smith will no longer be actively with the Cavs, a league source tells me. He is working with the team to trade him, and in the meantime will work out on his own
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Steve Nash said he does not know why Kyrie Irving won't play tonight against the Sixers, as in, he is unaware of what KI's personal issue is. Nash said he reached out to Kyrie and did not hear back
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Tristan Thompson is going to the Celtics on a two-year, $19 million deal, a source tells the
@TheAthleticNBA
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Anthony Davis’ agent Rich Paul tells me Davis is not being traded today
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You know what’s interesting about Trump ripping LeBron now? For the first part of his presidency, LeBron lives in Ohio, which Trump needs. Now Bron lives in Cali, which Trump doesn’t need because he can’t win there. Thus, Trump rips LeBron for the first time tonight
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For those wondering, there is no “who has LeBron’s locker’ in the new Cavs’ room. Totally revamped
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The Cavaliers are trying to acquire Caris LeVert from the Pacers ahead of next week’s deadline. For a little twist, Indiana is on its way to Cleveland today for a game tomorrow,
@TheAthleticNBA
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I don’t think LeBron has even played two full seasons of games for the Lakers yet, and he’s already 12th all time in assists for LA
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The Clippers are playing their guys tonight against the Lakers. LeBron and AD are out
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The Cavs’ Jordan Clarkson changes agents and signed with Klutch Sports and Rich Paul
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May want to tune in to TNT tonight for Game 6. If the Bucks beat the Hawks, and therefore end the Eastern Conference finals, this will be Marv Albert's last game as a broadcaster. Like tuning in for Vin Scully's last game with the Dodgers.
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The Cavs have been the worst team in the NBA over the last two seasons, and twice ended up with the No. 5 pick
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New: Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer's brother died in a car accident during the Milwaukee-Heat series,
@TheAthleticNBA
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You know, if Nikola Jokic had to play all 82 games against a healthy, focused Warrior team, without two of his best teammates…I bet he wouldn’t have picked up so many MVP votes.
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LeBron James opened a Starbucks this morning in Akron. There is no coffee shop like it in the world. To understand why, go back 12 years to the 2011 NBA Finals, when he said something he shouldn’t have,
@TheAthleticNBA
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OK LeBron is playing peak-a-boo with daughter Zhuri during this timeout
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Hi everyone. LeBron has a no trade clause, does not want to be traded from the Cavs, and will more likely finish his career here than not.
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The Cavs traded half their team. Got younger. More flexible. Better defensively. And they kept the Brooklyn pick
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JR Smith agreed to push his guarantee date to August 1st, giving the Cavaliers more time to try and trade him — a league source said
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When LeBron said: 'Every player doesn't want to compete for a championship and be in a position where every possession is pressure,' to whom was he referring?
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Richard Jefferson, a former Cav still under contract in Denver, just hanging out at Cavs practice, is what’s cool about this team
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LeBron is a crazy person. He was standing in the hallway at United Center for several minutes of halftime, watching Ohio State's comeback, yelling at the TV
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When he walks the 150 feet down the hall to the Cavs’ locker room, Caris LeVert will rejoin former Nets teammate Jarrett Allen. Man, did the Cavs make out in the Harden trade …
Caris LeVert just walked into the arena in Cleveland, having just been told he was traded to the Cavaliers. He’s in the Pacers’ locker room now, talking on the phone to his new president of basketball ops, Koby Altman
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Derrick White just mouthed ‘cramps’ to a concerned party in the Boston crowd. He’s been grabbing his hamstring.
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For the first time in his career, Tyronn Lue just criticized the officials.
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LeBron’s agent Rich Paul expects to speak with Cavs GM Koby Altman right around now as free agency begins. They spoke yesterday when Paul informed him LeBron was declining his option
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Wow, the Cavs and their fans just honored LeBron for passing Karl Malone on the all-time scoring list. Thunderous applause. We are a long, long way away from 2010.
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Fred McLeod cared as much about the Cavs as any player they ever had. I can’t believe this.
It's with extreme sadness we share news of the unexpected passing of a beloved member of our Cavaliers family.
RIP
@CavsFredMcLeod
❤💛
We extend our deepest condolences to Fred’s entire family.
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Barring a last-minute trade, the Cavs are expected to waive JR Smith today, a league source said.
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LeBron James’ legacy isn’t his triumphs with the Lakers or the Cavaliers, it is these kids. Spent a day inside LeBron’s I Promise School in Akron. What I saw could change how we educate in inner cities
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LeBron James, Little Tikes partner to make hoops for children
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Collin Sexton signed an endorsement deal with Nike, a source said
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I saw Joe Harris get out of an SUV yesterday and walk unimpeded into a Charlotte restaurant in the middle of All-Star melee. Those days could be nearing an end for him
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I’m sitting here on the couch thinking about his crazy ass season and remembered Kevin Love bended over to hand the ball to Isaiah Thomas during a game
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It’s worth repeating: J.B. Bickerstaff is doing a great job with the Cavs this season
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The Milwaukee Bucks are one the verge of staging a historic boycott of a basketball game, due to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, sources tell
@ShamsCharania
and I. I’m on the scene and will update this developing story
@TheAthleticNBA
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The Raptors’ starters begged Nick Nurse not to pull them, and booed him when they did. Then, in this 12-point game, someone yelled toward the Blazers: ‘y’all quiet down there.’ Melo responded: ‘Get the f*%^ outta here. Ain’t tryin to hear that shit.’ He laughed and they laughed
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Laker GM Rob Pelinka, in a Kobe jacket, talking about, oh, who could guess, with Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry
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Former Blazer Meyers Leonard just strolled in to watch his old team play its biggest game of the season
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Kyrie Irving threatened to sit out with knee surgery if the Cavaliers didn't trade him
@clevelanddotcom
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Meanwhile, I see back at home, the Cavaliers finally have their signature win -- a dismantling of Giannis, Jrue, Middleton, and the defending-champion Milwaukee Bucks. Incredible. Cleveland is tied for the East lead with 30 wins
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Cavaliers expected to trade or release Kevin Porter Jr. after outburst, with me,
@ByJasonLloyd
@kelseyyrusso
@ShamsCharania
@TheAthleticNBA
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At 22, the Cavs’ Ochai Agbaji is older than Evan Mobley and Isaac Okoro and the same age as Darius Garland.
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LeBron never loses at cards. Ever. He eats ‘like shit.’ And when no one’s looking, he sends strangers to drug rehab: A collection of his untold stories w/
@ByJasonLloyd
and I. Hope you enjoy
@TheAthleticNBA
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Sheesh…touching moment here in Cleveland. Cavs game ops played a video from the 2016 championship season, and then showed Ty Lue, now the Clippers coach, on the video board. Crowd went nuts, Kevin Love came over and hugged Lue, and he patted his chest in thanks
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Things on my mind about Cavs:
1. Collin Sexton’s on his fourth coach in 1 1/2 seasons.
2. John Beilein never really liked this job.
3. He lost the locker room a long time ago.
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You had to source this? 😂
They’ve suspended work on taking the LeBron banner down because of heavy rain and a thunder and lightning storm. It is expected to be finished by tomorrow, per a source.
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As an aside, players sometimes go to the locker room to pee during the anthem. Happens every night in the NBA
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The day Cavs trades Kyrie, LeBron was adamant on call with GM Altman not to trade him to the Celtics. According to four sources (Cavs deny this), LeBron was then told trade wouldn’t happen. Then, 15 mins later, it did
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For what it's worth (damn it, I'm on vacation), three sources close to LeBron said this latest tweet about him is 100 percent false
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JR Smith, done for the night, returns to Cavs bench with a coffee
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Allie Clifton to serve as color analyst on Cavs-Suns broadcast in rare role for women
@clevelanddotcom
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Folks, the Cavs are going to beat Philly and then the Rockets on consecutive nights
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Story: LeBron James will be a free agent for the third time since joining the Cavs. They can pay him more money than anyone, but this time he may not come back
@clevelanddotcom
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The Greeks are going to hold on against New Zealand, so set your alarms for Saturday morning. Giannis against Team USA
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That's it. Spain 95, Australia 88 in double OT. Marc Gasol scores 33, looks to play for World Cup after winning Finals with Raptors
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No one has drawn more techs over the last five years than Draymond Green. Each one costs him $2K. He wants to know where the money goes. We traced it, all the way to a little girl in Baltimore who needed a winter coat.
@TheAthleticNBA
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Andre Drummond suggested it was either him or me. Songs with the word ‘thug’ blaring within earshot. And a coach aghast at what he found when he arrived. Inside the John Beilein failure in Cleveland, with
@ShamsCharania
and
@ByJasonLloyd
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Fantastic reaction from Dan Gilbert. Proclaims LeBron's jersey will be retired in Cleveland and thanks him
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The Cavs also have Andre Drummond, Kevin Love, Larry Nance, JaVale McGee. Chance/likely they aren’t done
Sources: Full current trade:
Rockets: Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, 3 BKN first-rounders (22, 24, 26), 1 MIL first (22, unprotected), 4 BKN 1st round swaps (21, 23, 25, 27)
Nets: James Harden
Pacers: Caris LeVert, 2nd-rounder
Cavs: Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince
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Sources: Dwyane Wade leaning heavily toward Cavs, may have already picked LeBron reunion
@clevelanddotcom
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Rich Paul, agent to LeBron James, is meeting with the Sixers today in Los Angeles. LeBron won’t be there, though he is at his LA home
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This is not a surprise, but, JR Smith said he’d like to be traded from the Cavs
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The Cavs are singing Dreams and Nightmares in the locker room right now
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Me: This is the first time I’ve ever seen you wear the same shoes two days in a row.
LeBron: cuz those shoes deserve to be worn twice. But the shits I’m wearing tonight, they ain’t never been seen before ... There’s your Cavs update from shootaround in Miami
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The Cavs are indeed bringing back Channing Frye, signing him to the vet minimum. They still have their mid-level exception. h/t
@ShamsCharania
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Rick Carlisle says Cavs-Pacers trade for LeVert has been agreed to in principle.
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Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman have just about closed out the Pistons on their own. Kevin Love isn’t out there. They’ve come a long, long way since January
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LeBron just mentioned competing for a championship. Can’t remember the last time that happened
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Collin Sexton has 25 points and 7 assists today; Cavs by 17
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Cavs’ Austin Carr on the Knicks: ‘If you look at their players, they’re rejects from other teams.’
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Watching the replays of the block/charge on LeBron again on The Jump. LeBron was so far in front of the charge line that Mauer's explanation for the trigger is unacceptable. And, LeBron was moving and it was a block.
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LeBron announces his All-Star team is playing for the young adults going to Kent State University, on scholarship, through his Family Foundation
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Breaking story in the NBA: The League says data no longer supports 'load management' -- a huge break from virtually everything previously said about why players miss so many games. w/
@sam_amick
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Kawhi said no to LeBron. Paul George said it last year and Kyrie the year before. Anthony Davis tells me why he said yes to Laker partnership, which he called ‘special’
@TheAthleticNBA
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Wait, hold on. All the Angels wore 45 last night, to honor Tyler Skaggs. His mom threw out the first pitch. And then, THEN, they throw a staff no hitter? With all the pitchers (and players) wearing 45? I can’t
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Cavs owner Dan Gilbert giving NBA championship rings to janitors, food vendors, police at The Q
@clevelanddotcom
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Things are even worse on the Cavaliers than they seem. Vets expect to be traded. Growing disillusionment with Collin Sexton. Mixed messages from management. Players backing Drew’s contract request. Final Thoughts
@TheAthleticNBA
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LeBron was playing with a right hand bruise and had an MRI this morning. You saw him clutching his hand all night
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Ricky Rubio was upset when he was traded to the Cavs. The Warriors were hoping he’d negotiate a quick buyout. Instead, he bought into Cleveland, and is at the center of a budding renaissance. W/
@kelseyyrusso
@TheAthleticNBA
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George Hill was excused from practice today to attend his own college graduation at IUPUI
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Isaiah Thomas is running full court and shooting at both ends
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Kyrie Irving is not expected to join the Nets on their flight to Memphis tonight, per a source. ‘He’s not coming’ is what I was told. BKN plays the Grizzlies Friday
@TheAthleticNBA
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You couldn’t believe Bruce Brown took that shot at the end of Game 3. The Nets’ center thought all about it, too. His life story, and Kyrie Irving, told him he should’ve tried to dunk on Brook Lopez instead.
@TheAthleticNBA
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Kevin Love made the All Star team and was invited to participate in the 3 point contest, per league source. Story coming
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LeBron James passed Zydrunas Ilgauskas (5,904 rebounds) as the Cavs' all time leader. He is now one of three players to lead a franchise in points, rebounds, and assists (MJ - Bulls; KG - Wolves)
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