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INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Cleveland Cavaliers have re-signed guard Anthony Parker.

Parker averaged 8.3 points in 72 games last season. The 36-year-old veteran is a candidate to be Cleveland’s starting shooting guard. Parker originally signed with the Cavaliers prior to the 2009 season.

What are your opinions.

We haven’t quite reached the point in Scott Raab’s, The Whore of Akron, when LeBron James decides to spurn Cleveland fans and, in effect, become “The Whore of Akron.”

But we have read Raab’s observations that LeBron ruled the Cleveland Cavaliers’ throne like a rightful king.

Decisions went through him. Everyone knew it. Including his fearful owner.

Let’s begin with the team’s general manager, Danny Ferry. After listening to a Ferry press conference about the team’s acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal, Raab observed this:

“Truth 1: The Cavs are essentially owned by LeBron. The beat writers who cover the team clearly believe this – and they are a vastly more accurate gauge of reality than anything Ferry’s likely to say.”

“Truth 2: Danny Ferry is so resentful of Truth 1 that he’d prefer not to acknowledge it.”

Ferry wasn’t the only one acting in deference to the team diva. Raab sat down with the team’s owner, Dan Gilbert, to share his feelings on a worrisome pattern he’d noticed in Cavaliers coach Mike Brown. To which Gilbert agreed.

“I’m worried about Mike Brown,” Raab said to Gilbert. “I’m tired of hearing him say how honored he is to coach LeBron. Gilbert winces, ‘I don’t like hearing that either,’ [Gilbert] says.” 

The idea that LeBron didn’t listen to his coach or care for what Brown had to say has only been amplified by Shaquille O’Neal’s upcoming book. An excerpt from Shaq Uncut notes that Brown often failed to call out his star player when the tape proved otherwise. 

Which led to teammate Delonte West telling Brown to stop “pussyfooting around” and that “everyone has to be accountable.”

The information trickling out shouldn’t really shock anyone. Wherever LeBron goes, he’s treated like a mythical being. What made you think Cleveland would be any different?

But these revelations beg more questions. One, has Pat Riley found a way to curb LeBron’s actions? And, two, how could Mike Brown’s career with the Los Angeles Lakers possibly fare well with a dominant personality like Kobe Bryant?

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NORTH CANTON, Ohio — Rick Majerus isn’t thrilled with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the timing of their hiring of his lead assistant coach at Saint Louis University. To emphasize his disgust, Majerus turned the name of the franchise’s departed superstar into a verb.

“I was Lebron-ed by the Cavs,” Majerus told ESPN in reference to LeBron James’ decision to leave Cleveland for Miami last season.

The Cavaliers introduced Majerus’ former assistant, Alex Jensen, on Tuesday as Development League coach of the Canton Charge. The 33-year-old Jensen was named to the job on Oct. 11, four days before Billikens’ practice began.

“I told them I’ll drive Alex to Cleveland in March and pay his salary, but I couldn’t lose him now, not when he was in with three recruits and four days before the season,” Majerus said.

Jensen learned of Majerus’ remarks late Monday and addressed them at his introductory news conference. He lauded his former SLU boss and coach at Utah. They were part of the Utes team that reached the 1998 NCAA title game.

“[Majerus] thanked me and he wished me well,” Jensen said. “The timing of it was unfortunate, but it was a job I could not pass up.”

The Cavaliers purchased the D-League team in July and relocated it from New Mexico. Charge General Manager Wes Wilcox said the Cavs dedicated a “couple months” to the coaching search. Jensen said he kept his mentor posted from the time he learned of his candidacy. Majerus was the first person he called after taking two or three days to weigh the offer.

Majerus hired former Army and Evansville coach Jim Crews to replace Jensen.

“It caught [Majerus] off guard,” Jensen said. “The first thing we talked about is the season starts real soon.”

Majerus also has a history of unexpectedly leaving programs. In 2004, he resigned as interim coach at USC after just five days, citing health reasons. 

The Cavaliers’ emphasis on defense jibes with what Majerus imparted upon Jensen.  Jensen has spoken with Cavaliers coach Byron Scott and the Charge will follow the same philosophies being taught by the parent club.

He admits being “skeptical” at first about taking the job because of his experience playing in the Continental Basketball Association. But Jensen soon realized, he said, the Charge would not be lacking in funding or facilities. The Charge opens its season Nov. 25 at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

“It was a gut feeling,” Jensen said of his final decision. “The more I talked to Wes and others it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. You are an extension of the Cavaliers.”

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CANTON - The Cleveland Cavaliers today announced that Alex Jensen has been named the first-ever head coach of their new NBA Development League franchise in Canton. Canton General Manager Wes Wilcox made the announcement. Per team and league policy, terms of the contract were not released.

“Alex is a great fit for our team and organization and what we want to develop and accomplish in Canton. He has a very successful and diverse background that is rooted in strong defensive principles and learned from one of the best coaches and basketball teachers in college basketball in Rick Majerus,” said Wilcox. “Alex is also a strong communicator, has natural coaching instincts and understands the importance of building a team with a strong defensive foundation.  We are very excited for him to get started.”                 

Jensen, 35, brings a wide range of experience and success to Canton. He earned such on-court honors as being named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year (2000) at Utah and the All-FIBA Europe Cup Defender of the Year (2004) while playing in Turkey. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach at Saint Louis University under his former collegiate coach, Majerus. During his time with the Billikens, Jensen helped lead St. Louis to their first postseason appearance since 2004 in 2009-10 with a 23-win season, and last season, he aided in Saint Louis allowing only 62.4 points per game. 

“I would like to thank Saint Louis and especially Coach Rick Majerus, who has taught me so much, first as a player and later as a coach on his staff. He is one of the best in basketball and I will always be very grateful for the many, many things I have learned from him,” said Jensen. “This is a rare and unique opportunity to be part of a great organization. I’m honored to be selected as the first coach in Canton franchise history and excited to get to work.”

Jensen played professionally overseas in Turkey for seven seasons (2000-07) and also spent one season (2002-03) with the Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA, where he led the Sun Kings to the CBA title. He was named the All-FIBA Europe Cup Defender of the Year and to the All-FIBA Europe Cup First Team in 2004 after averaging 11.6 points and 11.8 rebounds in 10 games during the FIBA Europe Cup with Tuborg Izmir.

A native of Utah, Jensen starred at the University of Utah under Majerus. He helped lead the Utes to the NCAA Championship game in 1998 after earning NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team honors as a sophomore. As a junior, Jensen was named Western Athletic Conference Tournament MVP after leading the team to the conference tournament championship. He earned the 2000 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors as a senior, averaging 13.1 points on .542 shooting and 7.5 rebounds in 32 games. While at Utah (1994-95 and 1997-00), his teams compiled a 109-24 (.820) record, finished in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today top 10 on two occasions (1997-99) and ranked among the nation’s elite defensively, finishing in the top 25 in opponent points per game all four seasons, including top-5 finishes in 1997-98 (4^th) and 1998-99 (4^th). From 1995-97, Jensen went on a two-year LDS church mission to England.

He was named the 1994 Utah Mr. Basketball and selected Utah Gatorade Player of the Year by USA Today while at Viewmont High School. 

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That’s all the news for today.

The Portland Trail Blazers are still looking for a general manager to replace the fired Rich Cho and ESPN reports that two more names have been added to the team’s list as possibilities.

Sources tell the site that the Blazers are interested in both Cleveland Cavaliers vice president of basketball operations David Griffin and Los Angeles Clippers vice president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that Oklahoma City Thunder executive Troy Weaver had already interviewed and that the Blazers are also interested in ESPN analyst Chris Mullin, formerly vice president of basketball operations for the Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Dennis Lindsey.

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Source: ESPNYahoo! Sports

Related: Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs

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CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers have named Wes Wilcox general manager of their new NBA Development League franchise in Canton, Ohio.

Wilcox will remain as the Cavs’ director of player personnel while overseeing all of the basketball operations, personnel and team activities for Canton, which will begin play this fall.

Before joining the Cavs in 2003, Wilcox served as the video coordinator for the New Orleans Hornets. He was Cleveland’s advance scout for four seasons and then served as the team’s college and pro personnel scout for three seasons. He was named director of player personnel in 2010.

That’s all for today.

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) – The Cleveland Cavaliers announced on
Thursday the purchase of the inactive New Mexico Thunderbirds franchise and
its relocation to nearby Canton.

Cleveland becomes the fifth NBA franchise to operate its own affiliate, after
Golden State, the LA Lakers, Oklahoma City and San Antonio.

“Having the ability to own and operate a D-League franchise in Canton once
again illustrates our ownership’s outstanding commitment to creating a culture
of success,” said Cavs general manager Chris Grant. “Player development is at
the core of our process and being able to operate our own franchise so close
to home will place us in the most strategic position to take an active part in
the player development process.”

The Cavaliers had shared an affiliate, the Erie BayHawks, with the Toronto
Raptors.

Canton will become the NBADL’s 16th team when it begins play for the 2011-12
season.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio — J.J. Hickson had just one word — although it was a long one — when he heard the news that Shaquille O’Neal had announced his retirement on Wednesday afternoon.

“Nooooooooo!!!!” Hickson tweeted in tribute to his former teammate.

Daniel Gibson’s Twitter response was the same word but three times that long and concluded with, “Say it ain’t so Big Homie! Say it ain’t so!”

O’Neal, 39, announced his retirement on the new social media tool Tout, a real-time video messaging service: “We did it. Nineteen years baby. I want to thank you very much, that’s why I’m telling you first, I’m about to retire. Love you, talk to you soon.”

A four-time champion, 15-time All-Star and three-time NBA Finals MVP who was the 2000 NBA MVP and the 1993 Rookie of the Year, O’Neal is fifth on the all-time scoring list with 28,596 points. According to ESPN, he is the only player to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game for 13 seasons.

“Shaq is one of the NBA’s all-time great players and ambassadors,” said Cavs General Manager Chris Grant. “He will truly be missed for not only all he accomplished on the court but also the impact he made in every community in which he played.”

O’Neal, who spent this past season with the Boston Celtics, spent just one season with the Cavaliers — 2009-10 — which ended not as he or his teammates had hoped. The Cavs finished the regular season with a league-best 61-21 record, but lost to the Celtics in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, leaving O’Neal far short of the fifth championship ring he sought.

Limited to 53 regular-season games because of injuries, O’Neal averaged just 12 points and 6.7 rebounds in the regular season and 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 11 playoff games.

Obtained by the Cavs on June 25, 2009 from Phoenix in exchange for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round pick in 2010 and cash, O’Neal did a masterful job of toning down his big personality in order to fit into a team he clearly saw as LeBron James’.

From Miami, James tweeted, “What a career for Shaq Diesel!! The most dominating force to ever play the game. Great person to be around as well. Comedy all the time!! He will be missed!!”

O’Neal has called a press conference for Friday at his home in Isleworth, Fla., outside Orlando, but he told ESPNBoston.com’s Jackie MacMullan that a persistent and painful Achilles injury led to his decision. He told MacMullan he had more than five cortisone shots, over the objections of team physician Brian McKeon, in order to try and play against the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs last month.

O’Neal said he rejected the notion of surgery, which could require up to nine months to recover, virtually wiping out the second year of his contract with the Celtics.

“I didn’t want to let people down two years in a row,” he told MacMullan. “I didn’t want to hold Boston hostage again.”

As great as his basketball career was, O’Neal also built a second career in entertainment, including music, movies, television shows and commercials, and he also was active in community service and charity work, much of which went unpublicized.

“I tried to make people happy,” he told MacMullan, “and I tried to have fun. I think I did both.”

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Here’s the link to Shaq’s video announcement.

Cinesport video: Shaquille O’Neal retires

For more Cinesport video on cleveland.com, go here.

What are your opinions.

It looks like another former employee of the Cleveland Cavaliers could find himself in a new gig.

There are several reports that former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown will become the coach of the Lakers.

And now reporter Mike Monroe of MySanAntonio.com writes that the Portland Trail Blazers are interested in Danny Ferry.

Ferry, former general manager of the Cavaliers, is now vice president of basketball operations of the Spurs. Ferry is at the top of Portland’s list of candidates to replace recently fired general manager Rich Cho.

From the story:

Any team that wants to put together a championship-contending roster should consider Ferry, a smart executive whose experience as general manager of the Cavaliers makes him uniquely qualified.

During his five years in Cleveland, Ferry worked for a billionaire owner with a big ego, Dan Gilbert. He also dealt with a superstar, LeBron James, who had a team of sycophants behind the scenes second-guessing and undercutting the GM. Still, Ferry built a team that made it to one NBA Finals and posted the NBA’s best regular-season record in back-to-back seasons.

But the big question, writes Monroe, is why would Ferry want to work for multi- billionare and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen , who is the the NBA’s version of George Steinbrenner – without the championship rings?

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The Lakers have put together a deal to hire former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown as their new coach, an NBA official who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter said late Tuesday.

If Brown agrees to the deal, he’ll sign a contract worth between $4 million and $4.5 million per season, the official said. Brown would sign for three years, with a team option on the fourth season that would give him partial pay if he was not retained.

Brown, 41, became the front-runner because Jim Buss, the team’s executive vice president of player personnel, was impressed with his defense-minded style.

Former Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman also was in the mix for the job and will remain a candidate to replace Phil Jackson if Brown turns down the deal from the Lakers.

Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw also was considered for the head position.

The Lakers had to wait until General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Buss returned from pre-draft camps in Chicago and Minneapolis on Tuesday night before they could get a deal done.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss did an interview with Sirius XM Radio on Tuesday, saying the team was “very close” to filling its coaching vacancy.

It now appears as if Brown is that person, something that could be announced in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Brown was with the Cavaliers for five seasons until he was fired in 2010, leaving with a 272-138 record.

He was named the NBA’s coach of the year in 2009 for leading the Cavaliers to a 66-16 record.

Brown led the Cavaliers to a 61-21 record during the 2009-10 season, another league-best record.

But after the Cavaliers lost to the Orlando Magic in the 2009 Eastern Conference finals and to the Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals in 2010, Brown was fired.

Brown led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007, but Cleveland was swept by the San Antonio Spurs.

Brown coached one of the NBA’s superstars in former Cavalier LeBron James.

In his radio interview Tuesday, Jerry Buss said that he expected the Lakers’ core roster to return next season, with a “tweak … here or there.”

Buss was interviewed by Playboy Radio’s Michael Eaves and Bonnie-Jill Laflin.

Buss did say there would be changes in the Lakers’ offense.

“We’re not going to continue exclusively with the triangle,” Buss said. “Certainly, there will be facets of the triangle incorporated into any modern offense.”

Various Lakers, including Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Luke Walton, have publicly endorsed Shaw to be the next coach, in part because of his familiarity with their personnel.

Not much else going on in the NBA world today.