The Lakers’ hiring of former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown last month was surprising enough as it was. Mainly because the two-time defending champs — heading into 2010-11, at least — appeared to have a ready-made replacement for former boss Phil Jackson already in hand in Brian Shaw, Jackson’s self-styled follow-up. Shaw didn’t get the gig, though. Which wouldn’t be that big a deal, had Shaw been informed about his loss in an appropriate way. And not via the airwaves.

Shaw, who was recently introduced as the Indiana Pacers’ associate head coach, had to find out that he wouldn’t be a Laker anymore by people who didn’t work for the Lakers. Nicely done, Lakers.

Here’s Shaw, speaking to ESPN Los Angeles, the other day:

“I wasn’t really told anything. Unfortunately, I found out about not getting the job and who was getting the job on ESPN. I didn’t really talk to anyone for about three weeks after that. At that point, just from all the speculation and what I’d heard, it felt like the powers that were making the decisions felt like the team needed a change of culture and a new voice, and to head a new direction. That’s what I was told. I thought that was kind of peculiar, because in the 12 years that I had been there, and I know the 11 years that coach Jackson had coached, all we had done was go to the championship seven times, and won five championships. I just felt like there were 29 other teams in the league that would love to have that kind of culture and that kind of direction.

["]But there’s been a change in power, I guess to say, in terms of who’s calling the shots from this point on and that’s the direction they wanted to head in. I can accept that … I didn’t expect anything to be handed to me.”

You don’t have to read between the lines or even read the rest of the interview (though you should) to realize that Lakers “GM” Mitch Kupchak isn’t really running things these days in Los Angeles. Though it is not a given (or even a likelihood) that Kupchak would have hired Shaw if given the power, it appears as if Jim Buss (son of owner Dr. Jerry Buss) is calling the shots — reaching deep into his long and storied career of being Dr. Jerry Buss’ son to pounce on and act upon his basketball instincts.

Here’s Shaw’s take on Mitch Kupchak’s “role,” these days:

” [...] I understand in his position there’s only so much that he can do, even. He has people over his head that he has to follow directions, and do what they say do. [...]“

Yeah. So … everyone welcome Jim Buss! Head of your Los Angeles Lakers!

(And everyone wish Brian Shaw well in Indiana.)

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Read More: nba schedule, 2011-12 cavs schedule, J.J. Hickson (F – SAC), Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers

The NBA released the 2011-12 schedule on Tuesday afternoon with a triple-header of action on opening night – November 1 – that includes the World Champion Dallas Mavericks hosting the Chicago Bulls and the Oklahoma City Thunder traveling to Los Angeles to face the Lakers.

One team NOT included in the opening night festivities are the Miami Heat.  They open the season on Wednesday, November 2 with a trip to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks.

The Cleveland Cavaliers also open their 2011-12 season on the road, heading to Boston to face the Celtics.  Cleveland will take on the Toronto Raptors in the Home Opener at The Q on Friday, November 4.  Cleveland won’t spend long at home, however, taking their first trip to the West Coast starting November 6.  The Wine and Gold will play 3 games in 4 nights against the Los Angeles Clippers(11/6), Denver Nuggets(11/7) and Sacramento Kings(11/9) in the first meeting between the Cavaliers and J.J. Hickson.

What about the Miami Heat, you ask?  

The Cavaliers and Heat will play four times next season, with the Heat coming to Cleveland on Friday, November 18, a game that will be televised on ESPN.  The Heat will also be at The Q on February 17, 2012 while the Cavaliers will head to South Beach on March 7 and April 6.

The Novemeber 18th matchup is the only time the Cavaliers are scheduled to be on ESPN/ABC or TNT all season.  Cleveland will play 13 games in November, with 6 at home and 7 on the road.

Check out the complete 2011-12 NBA Schedule;  Cavaliers site Fear The Sword talk about the Cavs schedule as well!

The NBA released the 2011-12 schedule on Tuesday afternoon with a triple-header of action on opening night – November 1 – that includes the World Champion Dallas Mavericks hosting the Chicago Bulls and the Oklahoma City Thunder traveling to Los Angeles to face the Lakers.

One team NOT included in the opening night festivities are the Miami Heat.  They open the season on Wednesday, November 2 with a trip to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks.

The Cleveland Cavaliers also open their 2011-12 season on the road, heading to Boston to face the Celtics.  Cleveland will take on the Toronto Raptors in the Home Opener at The Q on Friday, November 4.  Cleveland won’t spend long at home, however, taking their first trip to the West Coast starting November 6.  The Wine and Gold will play 3 games in 4 nights against the Los Angeles Clippers(11/6), Denver Nuggets(11/7) and Sacramento Kings(11/9) in the first meeting between the Cavaliers and J.J. Hickson.

What about the Miami Heat, you ask?  

The Cavaliers and Heat will play four times next season, with the Heat coming to Cleveland on Friday, November 18, a game that will be televised on ESPN.  The Heat will also be at The Q on February 17, 2012 while the Cavaliers will head to South Beach on March 7 and April 6.

The Novemeber 18th matchup is the only time the Cavaliers are scheduled to be on ESPN/ABC or TNT all season.  Cleveland will play 13 games in November, with 6 at home and 7 on the road.

Check out the complete 2011-12 NBA Schedule;  Cavaliers site Fear The Sword talk about the Cavs schedule as well!

CLEVELAND, Ohio — St. Edward basketball coach Eric Flannery loved the Cavaliers’ selection of Tristan Thompson with the No. 4 pick in the recent NBA draft.

“I think they hit a home run,” Flannery said. “I really do.”

Flannery coached Thompson in the 2010 McDonald’s All-American game in Columbus. Thompson, a 6-8, 225-pound forward who went on to play one season at Texas, had eight points and five rebounds in the West’s 107-104 victory, but Flannery was as impressed with his personality as he was with his basketball skills.

“The greatest thing about Tristan — when people get to know him they will realize this — is that he is going to be a fantastic locker-room guy,” Flannery said. “He is a wonderful human being. I enjoyed coaching him as much, if not more, than anybody I’ve coached in a situation like we had.

“He’s just a great, great kid, great personality, very upbeat, a ‘yes sir, no sir’ kind of kid. First and foremost, the Cavs are getting a great human being, which obviously is a big plus.”

Two weeks after the McDonald’s game, Thompson, a Canadian, also had a good showing in the 2010 Nike Summit. Much has been made of Enes Kanter’s record-setting 34-point performance in that tournament, but Thompson had 14 points, making five of six field goals and — interestingly — all four free throws in the 101-97 loss to the United States. He tied Nikola Mirotic as the second-leading scorer for the world team behind Kanter.

Flannery, a longtime member of the USA Basketball Developmental National Team Committee who coached the U.S. team at the 2010 Young Olympic Games in Singapore last summer, helped put together the team for the Nike Summit but definitely took note of the opposition.

“Tristan had a great game that year,” Flannery said.

In his one season at Texas, Thompson averaged 13.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots per game. He shot 54.6 percent from the field but a puzzling 48.7 percent from the line.

“Defensively, blocking shots, instincts for the game, instincts for the ball, he’s as good as any player I’ve seen at his level,” Flannery said. “Offensively, obviously, he needs some work, but it’s not like he’s a raw individual who has no touch. He’s got a nice shot. He’s got great touch around the rim. His free throws were a mystery when I saw him in college, because I didn’t think they were that bad when he was playing with us.”

Though most observers had the Cavs taking Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas with the No. 4 pick, Flannery didn’t think the Cavs could pass on Thompson.

“You take in the whole picture, how can you take somebody else?” he said. “If you’re taking a chance on somebody else, either character or skill set, I thought he was right there and definitely worth it … I thought he’d be a perfect fit.

“My personal opinion is, and I mean this sincerely, I think he’s the steal of the draft.

“You can’t go wrong on the human side of things as far as being a great person. I know that’s not what everybody looks at. But I think the basketball side is a lot better than people think.”

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Is the TNT studio big enough to hold former Cavalier Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley? NBA fans are going to find out.

TNT announced Thursday the recently retired O’Neal will join the network as an analyst on the Emmy Award-winning studio show.

Already nicknamed “The Big Analytical” by colleague Kenny Smith, O’Neal is looking forward to joining Smith, Barkley and host Ernie Johnson on what he called his favorite show.

“We are going to make it very fun,” O’Neal said in a conference call. “We are going to make it more exciting for the fans to watch. . . . [The] good thing about this show, everyone has their own opinion. Kenny has his opinion from a guard’s point of view, Charles has his opinion from a forward’s point of view and I have my opinion from a center’s point of view. I know it will work out very well.”

O’Neal said he did not think the transition to criticizing players he recently competed with and against would be difficult.

“I don’t think it will be hard,” he said. “Some people give unfair criticism. Some people give fair criticism. I have the ability and backing to give fair criticism. The only time I have a problem with people giving criticism is when they haven’t walked that walk. I have walked many walks in my 19-year career. I think any criticism I give should be fair.

“I’m just going to try to be charismatic, funny and very professional. My favorite analytical guy is Bryant Gumbel. I love him. He’s so smooth and he’s intelligent. Hopefully, I can get to that level one day.”

Wilcox promoted: Cavaliers director of player personnel Wes Wilcox was named general manager of the Cavs’ new NBA Development League franchise in Canton, Cavs GM Chris Grant announced Thursday.

“Having Wes in this role is another reflection of the synergy and connectivity that owning and operating our own D-League team in Canton provides,” Grant said. “As Wes has been an integral member of our staff for the past eight years, it enhances the opportunity for us to extend our team and organizational culture further into the player development process.

“Wes has been intricately involved in the D-League evolution over the last several years and the Canton franchise has already and will continue to, greatly benefit from his knowledge and experience.”

Wilcox will oversee all of the Canton team’s basketball operations elements, as well as all team personnel and activities. He will also continue in his role as the director of player personnel for the Cavaliers.

Irving signs with Nike: Cavs rookie Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 pick in June’s NBA Draft, announced his new deal with Nike via Twitter on Thursday.

Tweeted Irving: “Feels good to officially be a part of @nikebasketball! Can’t wait to meet all the family I’m going to be a part of. Dreams really do come true!”