Rookie Kyrie Irving scored six points and hardly played like the No. 1 overall pick as the Toronto Raptors spoiled the Cleveland guard’s NBA debut with a 104-96 season-opening win over the Cavaliers on Monday night.

Irving, who played just 11 games at Duke before turning pro, finished just 2 of 11 from the field — he made a meaningless 3-pointer in the final minutes — with seven assists and one turnover in 26 minutes. The Cavs are counting on the 19-year-old to turn around a team that won just 19 games last season.

Toronto, which went only 22-60 last season, won its first game under coach Dwane Casey, who was an assistant last season for the champion Dallas Mavericks.

article courtesy of Newsnet5.com/ClevelandCavs.com

The NBA season is all but over after the players rejected the league’s latest offer and announced they’re dissolving their union.

So what does all this mean to Cleveland?

Before Monday NBA Commissioner David Stern refused to even talk about the possibility of canceling the NBA season but Monday everything changed and businesses neighboring the “Q” are bracing for the impact.

Without the Cavs to draw people downtown the city and surrounding businesses are taking it on the chin.

According to some estimates, the NBA can account for up to 35% of downtown restaurants’ annual revenue.

The following NBA cities have estimated their losses: Portland would lose $59 million;  Oklahoma City $60 million; and San Antonio a whopping $90 million.

We asked the Mayor Frank Jackson if he’s getting concerned. Has he considered calling Commissioner Stern to tell him “get the deal done!”

“Well not really, if I thought it would make a difference, maybe I would, then it would be a matter of calling the players union too and say the same thing to them,” said Mayor Frank Jackson.

For the bars and restaurants around the “Q”, a canceled season would be a huge loss.  NBA crowds are their bread and butter, it’s why they pay their rent to be here, and now they’re already talking about ways to make up for the loss.

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article courtesy of 19ActionNews.com

Kyrie Irving didn’t know if he was going to be the No. 1 pick until NBA commissioner David Stern called his name.

“I was as surprised as anyone,” he said.

You’re going to Cleveland, kid.

Moving further away from LeBron James’ maddening departure, the Cavaliers selected Duke’s versatile point guard with the top pick in Thursday’s draft, an expected-and-safe selection for a franchise that had to endure a 63-loss season after being abandoned last July by James short of a championship.

Irving played only 11 games last season for the Blue Devils because of a toe injury, but that didn’t scare off the Cavaliers, who strongly considered Arizona forward Derrick Williams before settling on the 6-foot-2 Irving, the class of what is considered one of the weakest drafts in years.

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article courtesy of Wkyc.com

Nick Gilbert, son of Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, turned on smiles across America on Tuesday night when he was interviewed at the NBA Draft Lottery.

“You’re the ambassador for the National Children’s Tumor Foundation and you’ve been dealing with a nerve disorder since you were born,” began ESPN reporter Heather Cox. “Your dad called you his own personal hero. How’s that make you feel?”

Fourteen-year old Nick, in his Buddy Holly-style glasses and bow tie, seemed to be taking the question very seriously before answering.

“Well, I mean, what’s not to like?” he replied with a wry grin.

Dan Gilbert and others in the crowd were shown laughing. It was a statement that cut through the tension of waiting for which NBA team would be awarded the top pick in next month’s draft.

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article courtesy of Newsnet5.com

The Cavs have agreed in principle to send Mo Williams and Jamario Moon to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Baron Davis and the 2011 first-round pick, according to multiple reports.

By agreeing to the trade, the Cavs could potentially have two top-10 picks this year because the Clippers are also likely to be a lottery team. The pick is unprotected, meaning the Cavs get it regardless of where it is, and the Clippers currently have the seventh worst record in the NBA.

The potential for two top-10 picks was the key part of the trade for the Cavs.

Williams reacted on Twitter to the trade Thursday morning, tweeting, “I wanna say thank you to all Cavs fans. It’s been great. We’ve had some really good yrs and memories. I will never forget u guys.”

He also tweeted a message to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, saying, “I love u man.

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article courtest of Newsnet5.com

The Cavs stunned the LA Lakers in Cleveland 104-99. Ramon Sessions had 32 points off the bench.

It was a game that was a joke on paper. Just ask the folks that write the promotions on ESPN Radio in Los Angeles. They ran a promo talking about the Lakers having an organized practice in Cleveland, before the all-star break. The last laugh is on them.

But, they had a reason to feel confident. One month ago the Lakers beat the Cavs by 55 in Los Angeles.

Even Cavs guard Anthony Parker told FSN Ohio’s Jeff Phelps after the game the players knew about talk that the Lakers were having an organized practice tonight in Cleveland.

The Cavs played as hard as they have all season long. They are the last NBA team to reach the 10 win plateau. Cleveland is now 10-46

The Lakers have been away from home for the past week because of The Grammys. The last three games of the road trip L.A. suffered losses to Orlando, Charlotte, and Cleveland.

The Cavs held the Lakers to 42% shooting.

Pau Gasol lead the Lakers with 30 points and 20 rebounds. Antawn Jamison had 19 points, Anthony Parker 18 points.

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According to the New York Post Ted Williams, a panhandler with a voice made for radio was offered a job by the Cleveland Cavaliers to do voice over work. Williams, who is a native of Brooklyn, NY will also get a house in the deal.

“The Cleveland Cavaliers just offered me a full-time job and a house! A house! A house!,” repeated a stunned Williams, 71, on a local radio station.

Just yesterday Power107.5 In Columbus posted a video of Williams showcasing his radio-ready announcer’s voice as he solicited change from passersby.

According to the New York Post Ted Williams, a panhandler with a voice made for radio was offered a job by the Cleveland Cavaliers to do voice over work. Williams, who is a native of Brooklyn, NY will also get a house in the deal.

“The Cleveland Cavaliers just offered me a full-time job and a house! A house! A house!,” repeated a stunned Williams, 71, on a local radio station.

Just yesterday Power107.5 In Columbus posted a video of Williams showcasing his radio-ready announcer’s voice as he solicited change from passersby.

LeBron James’ return to Cleveland early Thursday morning was not without some drama.

NewsChanell5 cameras caught Miami’s team plane flying very low over Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, and an airport worker and Cleveland police confirmed that the plane circled a few times after the pilot reported a flap issue with the aircraft. Airport fire trucks were scene with emergency lights on outside of their station, but did not respond.

After the plane circled the airport for 15 minutes,  it made a safe landing.

When the team exited the plane, a few players had blankets covering their heads, including James, who was  wearing tan pants and carrying a backpack.

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article ccourtesy of Newsnet5.com

Cleveland Cavaliers broadcaster Joe Tait was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at the Cleveland Clinic after suffering chest pains and dizziness.

Representatives of the Cleveland Clinic told NewsChannel5 that Tait is in stable condition at the Clinic’s ICU.

Tait is scheduled to undergo heart surgery at the Clinic later in the week.

Tait has been in and out of the hospital in recent weeks, recovering from pneumonia and chest pains. The health issues have kept him from broadcasting, and he is hoping to return to action after January 1.

Prior to the start of this season, Tait said that he expected the 2010-11 season to be his last as the Cavs play-by-play man.

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article courtesy on Newsnet5.com

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After speaking with six teams last week, King James says his new court will be with the Heat.

During a prime-time interview with ESPN’s Jim Gray Lebron said being recruited by six teams was been a humbling experience for him.

Lebron also said he did not make up his mind until Thursday after speaking with his mother.

After announcing that he’s going to Miami Lebron said his heart will always be in Cleveland, but “the greatest challenge is to move on.”

Mayor Frank Jackson released this statement after Lebron’s decision:

Lebron James has brought so much to the City of Cleveland on and off the court and we thank him. Akron/Cleveland will always be his home and I wish him well with the next phase of his career. Though we will miss him in a CAVS uniform… we must remember that Cleveland is a great city today and will continue to be great in the future.
Mayor Frank Jackson

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article courtesy of 19Actionnews.com