WaitingForNextYear

While We’re Waiting aims to be the round-up of the recent WFNY-esque information for your morning viewing. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email in the sidebar.

The Big Veto? “During [Shaquille O'Neal and Steve Kerr's] midseason conversations Kerr never raised the possibility of a trade with Cleveland, according to O’Neal, who said he asked Kerr to not deal him to Portland because the Blazers weren’t close to winning a championship.  “They have a young team, and their team is pretty good the way it is,” O’Neal said of the Blazers. “When he called me, he didn’t mention (Cleveland). He said, ‘Portland is really making the move for you.’ And I said, `I don’t really want to go to Portland.”‘ [Ian Thomsen/SI.com]

–

The Big Canadian? “Watched Class AA Akron play Wednesday night and was blown away by outfielder Nick Weglarz, whose .265 batting average (through Friday) seems underwhelming. But his OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) is .902.  More revealing, he was 5-of-56 (.089) in April. In May, it’s .329 and it’s .324 in June. He has 11 HR and 52 RBI, and Wednesday the left-handed hitter crushed a 400-foot homer off a left-handed reliever. Weglarz is 6-3, 255 pounds and only 21.” [Terry Pluto/Plain Dealer] 

–

The Big Waste of Money? “Clearly [the Cavs] realize the marketing goldmine that’s just landed in their laps — Shaq gear is featured prominently on a splash page as you go to cavs.com as well as front and center once you reach the team shop’s site. They’ve had a little over two days to think of something to take advantage of the tidal wave of Cavs fans wandering on over in a fit of Shaqcicity wanting to hand over their hard-earned dollars for something with the big man’s image on it. And this is the best they could do?” [Vince Grzegorek/'64 and Counting]

–

The Big Old Point Guard Who Can’t Shoot? “Dallas can offer the most money, but it’s going to be hard to convince Kidd that Dallas is close to a championship. Cleveland would be a nice option, but unfortunately the addition of Kidd’s ego alongside LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal would create some sort of rift in the space-time continuum resulting in the complete destruction of the known universe. And that can affect your team chemistry.” [Matt Moore/NBA FanHouse]

–

The Big QB Debate? “Make no mistake: those around the team know the single biggest decision they will make as they embark on their first year in Cleveland is who will be starting under center. And that’s precisely why this will be a pure competition come summer; Mangini and his staff want to be absolutely certain, have every last bit of data, before finally settling on a starter. They won’t be rushed or pressured by outside factors or feelings into making a decision before they are ready and certain. (Translation: neither the fans nor the media will play any role in the decision-making process.)” [John Taylor/The OBR - SR]