While We’re Waiting… Moreyball, Free Agent Shooting Guards, And Trent Richardson

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

For all the praise that Chris Grant has received for acquiring assets during his time as Cavaliers GM, this article was an interesting cautionary tale depicting what Houston GM Daryl Morey has done, “And so you get Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin clashing with their coach, or you get Luis Scola denying that the trade to the Hornets had any effect on him as he submits his worse season to date, or you get an infuriated Marcus Morris basically being redshirted for his entire rookie year. And as feelings are hurt and anger accumulates, there goes Daryl Morey, keeping on gathering assets, except they are all combo forwards or mid first rounders and nothing makes sense anymore.” [Hardwood Paroxysm]

All you Buckeye hoops fans can take comfort in Aaron Craft’s procedure on his ankle going well. He spoke to Eleven Warriors, “‘I can walk and everything,” Craft told Eleven Warriors, ‘I just can’t run.’ Craft has dealt with the issue since he was in high school, but has played through the pain. The problem became evident to the public toward the end of last season, when Craft began to limp. He battled through it, though, and was a major contributor both offensively and defensively in Ohio State’s run to the Final Four.” [Eleven Warriors]

Mel Kiper recently addressed key questions that remain for AFC North teams. This is some of what he had to say about the Browns, “Greg Little had a pretty solid rookie year, with 61 catches and more than 700 yards, when you consider how average this pass offense was in 2011. While he had some consistency issues, that’s not unexpected from a guy who didn’t play a down in 2010. The question is whether he and Mohamed Massaquoi are enough for Weeden. If Little doesn’t take the next step, wide receiver becomes a big need headed into the 2013 draft.” [Chris Pokorny/Dawgs By Nature]

Brendan Bowers at Stepien Rules takes a stab at some potential free agent targets at shooting guard for the Cavaliers. Former Cavalier draft pick bust (at least for us) Shannon Brown, anyone? “The next name will look very familiar with Cavs fans; Shannon Brown. And why not? He may come decently priced, and this past season in Phoenix he played pretty well. He averaged a repeatable 11 points per game and shot a decent 3. We all know the kind of athlete he is and I think he never really had a fair shake in Cleveland to show what he could do. With Brown, he’s another guy who could provide instant offense off the bench. If the Cavs decide to run a small lineup, the trio of him, Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters could be very intriguing. Just a thought. ” [Stepien Rules]

Trent Richardson was asked the other day on ESPN 850 WKNR about who were the most intimidating guys on the team. His answer for one of those may surprise you, “Listening to the interview, I started wondering, “man, who is this O’Neal guy we have in camp?” The host then surprisingly asked, “really? Oniel Cousins?” Richardson said that this is his first year seeing Cousins, but that teammates were making comments like, “Man, look at Oniel this year” and “What’s gotten into ‘Big Oniel’?” Richardson said he can’t wait to run behind someone like that on gameday.” [Chris Pokorny/Dawgs By Nature]