But the more time you spend wallowing in the murkiness of luck, lethargy, and the tantalizing siren song of the NBA Draft Lottery, the more you realize it’s not a scene you really want to be a part of. As much as I love seeing Nick Gilbert proudly represent the city of Cleveland and the Cavaliers franchise, I’d be perfectly content if I don’t see him on TV again until it’s on a podium holding a trophy.

And thus, shortly after Nick Gilbert told the national audience that he, too, was tired of being there, the Cavaliers won the #1 pick in the draft. And in doing so, the Cavaliers opened the door to a world of options and opportunities. The team may or may not be in the lottery again next year, but you have to believe that at worst Nick Gilbert will be sitting in the top row instead of his usual front-left spot on the stage.

That’s the fun part of this. Thinking about all the options and potential for roster improvement is exciting. But the reality is, with so many options in front of him, choosing the right move is an enormous responsibility for GM Chris Grant.

Of course, there’s also a darker reality to this situation. The truth is, this is the worst draft to have the #1 pick since 2006. There’s no real, clear-cut choice at #1. The decision of who to pick at #1 will require weighing factors such as team need, injuries, immediate impact, long-term upside, etc. In most drafts, there’s an easy choice at #1. This year, it feels a little like picking the lesser of two evils.

The good news for Cavs fans is that Chris Grant has done this before. It’s easy to forget already, but just 2 years ago, Kyrie Irving wasn’t the obvious #1 pick that everyone makes him out to be today. There was a lot of debate back then about whether taking Derrick Williams first and someone like Brandon Knight 4th wasn’t the better route for the Cavaliers. Thankfully Grant and Company made the right move then, and the hope is that they make the right move now.

But what is the right move for the Cavaliers? That’s a tricky question. In some ways, winning this lottery almost feels like a cruel joke, because the best fit for the Cavaliers right now, at this moment in time, is probably Otto Porter. Porter, of course, would be considered a reach at #1. But Porter fits the biggest immediate need. As a SF, he is a solid two-way player who can help space the floor a bit on offense while buying in to Mike Brown’s defensive scheme. But does Porter have the highest long-term upside? Probably not.

The player with the most potential and brightest future might be Ben McLemore. But McLemore isn’t a need for this team right now. Drafting a SG in the top 4 of the draft in back to back seasons is a bitter pill to swallow, even if McLemore is the best player available and the smartest pick ¹ .

The consensus #1 prospect, however, seems to be Nerlens Noel. With Anderson Varejao getting older and constantly being considered in trade rumors, selecting the center of the future is appealing. And Noel’s raw defensive ability is mesmerizing. But his wire-thin frame is an enormous concern. I’m uncomfortable with the amount of footage I’ve seen of Noel being abused in the post by NBA prospects like Mason Plumlee and Alex Len. Preying on mediocre collegiate talent by using your superior athleticism is one thing, but banging in the post with the NBA’s elite centers when you weigh 206 pounds is a completely different beast. And then there’s also Noel’s surprisingly abysmal offensive skillset. Noel may be most observers’ favorite for the top pick in this theoretically weak draft, but that doesn’t make him a lock to be a long term impact player for the Cavaliers.

Of course, all of this is assuming the Cavaliers use this pick. One of the options the Cavaliers have is to trade this pick (and/or other picks/players). In my opinion, if the Cavaliers had their way, they would trade this pick. I think the front office would absolutely love to bundle picks and/or players to acquire an impact player, preferably a young-ish player with star potential. If we take Dan Gilbert at face value, then making the playoffs is the worst-case scenario goal for next year. Drafting Noel or McLemore doesn’t necessarily improve the odds of that happening this season. But trading for an established player does.

Of course, every team in the NBA realizes this is a weak draft at #1. Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports recently quoted an NBA GM as saying nobody is worthy of the #1 pick this year. Another GM told Goodman that he wasn’t sure he wanted the top pick. If this line of thinking is pervasive throughout the NBA, then the Cavaliers may have a tough time trading out of the spot.

And that’s where things will get interesting. If Otto Porter really is the player the Cavaliers liked going into the lottery, will Chris Grant pull the trigger on a “reach” at #1 to take a player he might like more? Grant has shown in the past two drafts that he’s confident in his scouting staff and they will take the player that they like, not the player the draft experts think he should take. It served them well in drafting Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters, it might serve them well in drafting Otto Porter.

Of course, that philosophy also opens the door to Ben McLemore. Everyone assumes there’s no way the Cavaliers will take him because they took Dion Waiters last year. But Chris Grant took Tristan Thompson when they already had Anderson Varejao. I believe there’s a real chance McLemore is the player the Cavaliers end up taking, using Waiters as high-impact 6th man who can also run the offense when Kyrie Irving is resting. I think if Grant feels McLemore is the best player, he’ll be comfortable with taking him and letting Mike Brown figure out how to make the rotations work.

Speaking of Mike Brown, though, I have to believe that Coach Brown will be begging Chris Grant to take Nerlens Noel. The prospect of having that kind of defensive presence anchoring his system has to have Brown salivating. And ideally, Zydrunas Ilgauskas could be around to help Noel develop some of his offensive game. Drafting Noel is probably the safest move and perhaps the move that makes the most sense overall when you factor in all considerations.

The bottom line is, this isn’t likely to be an easy decision for the Cavaliers. The team has a lot of options and could take this draft in at least 6-7 different directions, depending on trades and valuations. But at the end of the day, this is a great “problem” to have. The Cavaliers alone get to dictate how they want this to play out. They don’t have to see what other teams do in the draft, they don’t have to cross their fingers that their guy is there when they pick. The decision is the Cavs’ and theirs alone. And if they make the right moves with these assets, it will hopefully be a little while before the Cavaliers have to make this kind of decision again. And that’s really the only outcome that matters.

______________

Image Source: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

___________________________________

1. I’m not saying he definitely is the best player, just that if Chris Grant feels that he is, then McLemore has to be considered here

Hearing from multiple sources that Mavs likely to trade the No. 13 pick. Want to save cap space for Dwight Howard run …

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) May 22, 2013

“Multiple sources told ESPN.com’s Chad Ford that the Mavs are likely to trade the pick to help create the cap space necessary to make a run at Dwight Howard in free agency. The 13th overall pick has a cap hold of $1,655,300.” [ESPN Dallas]

The first round draft picks come with a cap hold. That means that any player the Mavericks draft at number 13 would count $1.66 million against the cap. If they were to trade that pick for any pick in the first round, they would have at least an $880K hit against the cap. (The Cavaliers’ 19th pick has a cap hold of $1.22 million.)

However, in the second round they could draft any player they wanted from Europe, keep their draft rights and it wouldn’t count a dime against the cap until they came over to the states to play.

Here’s why that is particularly interesting to the Cavaliers- Cleveland owns the 1st and 3rd picks in the second round.

Truth be told, these picks might hold the most value to a club looking to take a chance on a European, letting them develop overseas. And the Cavaliers have two of the first three.

Could anyone offer Dallas a better deal for pick number 13 that wouldn’t include a player counting against the cap? Maybe. But then again the Cavs could also offer a future draft pick, which they have plenty of. There is the infamous Sacramento pick in the Hickson/Casspi trade. The protections on that pick might make it worth flipping now. They also have extra first round picks in 2015 from Memphis and Miami.

What’s the big deal about getting the #13 pick?

That’s a good question. First, if the Cavaliers choose to use the pick on a player, Chad Ford’s updated mock draft has UCLA swingman Shabazz Muhammad going in that range. Actually number 14 to Utah. The Cavs could add whoever they want at #1 and potentially get a dynamic wing scorer of the future at #13. Then they still have the 19th pick.

Of course, they could always package the 13th pick with the 19th in order to move up, possibly into the top 5-8? Then they get 2 of the top say 6 players in the draft. Sound familiar?

Who knows what Chris Grant could do with picks #1, 13 and 19? He also has a few trade chips. Varejao and the first pick for an established young player? Zeller and number 13?

Endless possibilities. But they all start with a phone call to Dallas.

It was another nice night down at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario as the Indians, winners of 18 of 22, welcomed their Central Division rival Detroit to town. The Tigers have led the division most of this young season, but have been overtaken by the Tribe during this three weeks of baseball heaven here in Cleveland. With a two and a half game lead entering this short two-game set, no matter what happens, the Tribe will stay in first.

While the Tigers payroll is near the top of the league, the two teams are pretty evenly matched. The Tigers rotation is superior to the Tribe’s, there is no doubt about that. However, the Indians pen dwarfs Detroit’s. Both teams have loaded lineups, but it is not hard to see where the Tigers trump the Indians there. Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder hit third and fourth. It is a 1-2 punch that is the envy of all of baseball.

Once again, Cabrera would be the difference maker.

The game started out well enough for the Indians. In the first, Michael Bourn and Asdrubal Cabrera singled against hard-throwing Max Scherzer. Michael Brantley lined a sac fly scoring Bourn to put the Tribe on top 1-0.

Corey Kluber’s night was off to a tremendous start as well. With a heavy fastball load working, the Tribe’s fifth starter retired 12 of the first 13 men he faced. In the fifth, former Indians Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta opened with back to back singles, but Kluber came back strong with a big strikeout of Matt Tuiasosopo. He then retired Alex Avila and Omar Infante to end the threat.

Kluber was rolling, but Scherzer was one-upping him.

After Asdrubal’s one out single in the first, the Tribe didn’t touch Scherzer. An offense that has been so good for the last three weeks, looked overmatched. Scherzer would retire 22 in a row, including striking out the last three Indians he saw in the eighth inning.

He left after 118 pitches, giving up just the one run on two hits, striking out seven.

“That was a dominant performance,” Francona said. “His last pitch was 98. When you’re up around 115-120 pitches and you have that left in the tank, that’s saying a lot. That was impressive.”

Kluber was close to matching him, but in the sixth inning, he had to face that top of the Tigers order a third time around. Andy Dirks took a fastball and deposited it into the seats in right field, which tied the game at one. Torii Hunter followed that Dirks blast with a double to the gap in right-center. It seemed that danger time was upon us. Cabrera came to the plate with the lead run on second and first base open. I said at the time I would never pitch to this guy unless I absolutely had to. I know that Cabrera is right-hander and the left-handed hitting Fielder was on deck, but with the way Cabrera is swinging the bat, I would rather take my chances with Prince.

Manager Terry Francona decided to let Kluber go after Cabrera. It didn’t end up working out how either of them had planned.

The reigning AL MVP and Triple Crown winner took Kluber deep to center for a back-breaking two-run homer.

“If you walk him, and you have first and second and nobody out, you’re asking for trouble,” Francona said. “You’re putting your pitcher in a tough spot.”

What Francona said is true, but as good as Fielder is, Miguel Cabrera is on another level right now. He is hitting .384/.455/.667/12 HR/49 RBI in 43 games.

“I missed my spot,” Kluber said. “And it was kind of right where he wanted it.”

Kluber would settle back in by striking out Fielder to end the sixth. He would depart with one out in the seventh and finished the night giving up those three runs on eight hits, striking out eight without walking anyone. You would sign up for your fifth starter putting up those numbers every time out.

The game was still close at 3-1 and Scherzer would not be coming out for the ninth. Tightrope walking closer Jose Valverde was going to get the ball and a two-run lead with him can be dicey. This made Francona’s decision to pitch David Huff in a close game a bit of a head-scratcher.

A one time starting pitching prospect for the Tribe, Huff seems to have nine lives in this organization. He has been here for years and keeps coming back for more punishment. Huff was designated for assignment before the season and went through waivers unclaimed. With Nick Hagadone struggling and the need for a long man last week with so many games without a day off, the Tribe gave him another shot, this time as a reliever.

There is no doubt Huff needed some work, not having pitched in eight days. But in a two-run game against the team right behind you in the standings, this was probably not the time to bring in a guy that nobody else wanted on their 40-man roster and could have had for free.

After Cody Allen struck out the side in the eighth, Francona turned to Huff for the ninth. He would walk the under .200 hitting Avila, which would lead to back to back singles from Infante and Dirks. Avila scored to extend the Tigers lead and brought Francona out of the dugout to lift Huff. Matt Albers gave up a two-out RBI single to Fielder (after Cabrera was intentionally walked to load the bases with two out).

It was just one of those nights for the Indians. Valverde put two on in the ninth, but neither would come across as the Tigers took the first game of the series 5-1.

Tonight’s series finale will be another tough one for the Tribe hitters as they will be facing Tigers ace Justin Verlander (4-4, 3.17 ERA). The Indians will counter with Ubaldo Jimenez (3-2, 5.31 ERA)

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak) 

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst points out that, while a top pick has not been dealt in 20 years, the stars are aligned for the Wine and Gold to pull the trigger in the event an offer presents itself.

“The Cavs are in a favorable position to make a deal,” writes Windhorst. ”The team has more than $20 million in salary cap space, the No. 1 pick plus the No. 19, No. 31 and No. 33 picks, and a roster with young prospects that could be used in a deal.”

The 2013 NBA Draft, like several that came before it, is widely considered to be a weak draft in terms of star potential. Kentucky center Nerlens Noel (who is presently pegged to go to the Cavaliers in the event the team keeps the selection) is coming off of ACL surgery and is very raw offensively. There are several wing players who could go within the top five, and two of the better frontcourt players not named Noel—UNLV’s Anthony Bennett and Maryland’s Alex Len—are presently nursing injuries of their own.

Rumors have circulated that link the Cavaliers to deals with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trailblazers. Nothing concrete has been reported, however, outside of a report that the Blazers and Cavaliers had been discussing a trade that would send forward LaMarcus Aldridge to Cleveland.

“You want to look at all your options and make the best decision for your team,” Cavs general manager Chris Grant said following the lottery. “This is a valuable asset that we can add to the group, whether it’s in trade or keep it and add a player.”

[Related: Dear NBA Lottery, I think we should see other people]

“Yes, the Cavs grabbed the No. 1 pick in the lottery, but it’s a lousy draft. OK, it is a lousy draft … so would you rather have the No. 6 pick in a bad draft? That was the worst the Cavs could have finished in this lottery. Nope, if you’re a fan, you should be thrilled that your team has the top pick.” [Pluto/Cleveland.com]

—-

“Last season the team experienced some chemistry issues unlike anything we ever experienced under Mike Brown. Though the team largely seemed to get along with each other, near the end of the season there seemed to be a rift between Byron Scott and many of the players. Word leaked to the media that many players were unhappy with the way people were being played and how practices and shootarounds were being conducted. Players speaking out against the coach to the media shows a crumbling of team unity and culture that could eventually destroy an entire team’s play and trust in one another.

Mike Brown’s teams in Cleveland were very close knit (except arguably near the end of his tenure if you believe the Delonte West rumors) and showed a real understanding for playing together. Hopefully this is a culture that he can bring back to Cleveland now. I have high hopes that this team will avoid the pitfalls of the last few squads in terms of their maturity and grit in critical moments.” [Bednarczuk/The Bottom Up]

—-

“The Indians were 30-15 when “Mike and Mike” came to Cleveland in 2011, then went 50-67 the rest of the way. Last year, Greenberg and Golic arrived with the Tribe at 17-12 — they finished 51-82. Through 43 games this season, the Indians are 26-17 and in first place of the American League Central by 2 1/2 games entering their series with division-rival Detroit.

“I really hope that we are not about to destroy their season,” Greenberg said before Tuesday’s game.” [Bastian/MLB,com]

—-

“Wide receiver Bo Dever posted a photo of the Wolverines new footballs and while they are made in the USA (wooo, patriotism), they are not manufactured in Ohio. See, it says so on the ball. Because a Michigan man would never, ever be caught playing with a football that was produced in that God forsaken state… Or so I’m told.

Personally, I’m not above finding this sort of pettiness between “The School Up North” and “Ohio” entertaining. Branding footballs is mildly ridiculous, but it will no doubt solicit an equally ridiculous reaction from Ohio State.” [Watson/Dr. Saturday]

—-

A closer look at Browns new WR Bess- “After breaking down and watching his film, I am confident The Browns were able to land a dominate slot receiver with their trade during the draft. Bess has shown consistency vs good defenses; great route running ability; quickness; termendous hands; field awareness and balance; toughness; power; and play making ability. These will all be welcome additions to the field on Sundays for Browns fans and our offensive gameplan.

Let’s start with a double whammy. Let’s take a look at our new WR, Davone Bess absolutely tear up the Steeler secondary for a 26 yard TD with the “icing on the cake” being a very clear illustration of the Steerler’s head hunting ways. You can watch the NFL.com video of this exact play HERE.” [Krupka/Dawgs by Nature]

Before the lottery results were revealed, Cavs representative Nick Gilbert stated that this would be the team’s final visit to the lottery and that a playoff push was in the immediate future. Cleveland general manager Chris Grant is widely considered to be coveting an upgrade to either the small forward or center positions, but has gone on record to say that they are going to take the best player available (per their draft board) rather than reaching for need.

Kentucky center Nerlens Noel is forecasted to be the first player off of the board in many mock drafts. “It’s a great organization and I’m really looking forward to the possibility of playing in Cleveland,” said Noel following the lottery.

The 2013 NBA Draft will be held on June 27 in New York City.

[Related: Dear NBA Lottery, I think we should see other people]

“The decision to deactivate my Twitter account was a personal choice I made in order to maintain the greater focus on the success of the team this season and our shared goals moving forward.

We have an extremely positive and supportive group of players, coaches and staff members in our clubhouse and I want to participate in activities and routines that contribute positively to the culture we’re building here.

Out of respect for my teammates, I want to minimize any potential off-the-field distractions so this is the only time I will comment on this topic. Thank you for your understanding.”

Perez deleted his account following Cleveland’s 10-8 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday afternoon. The two-time All-Star allowed his third home run in two consecutive outings which led to a slew of personal attacks via the microblogging platform.

[Related: Indians 10 Mariners 8: Yan Freaking Gomes and the Mariners Defense – a Lethal Combination]

Maysonet was originally signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2013. He spent three seasons at Stony Brook University (2010-12) after transferring from Hofstra University (2009). While at Stony Brook, he was a two-time Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Year and totaled 4,725 career rushing yards on 695 carries (6.8 average) with 48 touchdowns.

As a senior, Maysonet rushed for 1,964 yards and 21 touchdowns. Born December 13, 1989, the 5-10, 210-pound Maysonet is a native of Riverhead New York, where he attended Riverhead High School.

In addition, the club waived running back Jamaine Cook.

[Related: Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden and what it all could mean]

The Browns also confirmed the release of S Eric Haag, as well as linebacker Ryan Rau and running back Robbie Rouse.

The club did sign RB Brandon Jackson, as well as two undrafted free agents, wide receiver Michael Edwards and defensive back Kenronte Walker.

Here is the team released biographical information on Edwards and Walker:

“Edwards was initially signed by the Browns on April 30, 2013, and was waived on May 13 after participating in the team’s rookie minicamp. He was a two-year starter at the University of Texas-El Paso (2011-12) after transferring from Mt. San Antonio College (2010) in Walnut, California. He recorded 101 career receptions for 1,477 yards and 11 touchdowns in two seasons at UTEP. Born December 14, 1989, the 5-11, 200-pound Edwards is a native of Glendora, California, where he attended Glendora High School.

A two-year letterman at safety at the University of Missouri (2011-12), Walker appeared in 25 games, recording 115 tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, one pass defensed and three defensive fumble recoveries. Walker redshirted the 2010 season after transferring from City College of San Francisco, where he notched 36 tackles, five pass breakups, two sacks and one interception in two seasons (2008-09). Born July 28, 1990, the 6-0, 210-pound Walker is a native of Fayetteville, N.C., where he attended Westover High School.”

Brandon Jackson of course was with the Browns since 2011.

[Related: Browns to waive safety Eric Haag]

Browns to waive FS Eric Hagg today, per source.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) May 21, 2013

Last season Haag started four games for the Browns. Haag (6’1″) was the tallest defensive back on the roster. Converted cornerbacks Tashaun Gipson and Johnson Bademosi have reportedly been getting reps at FS alongside T.J. Ward. The Browns are astonishingly thin at safety at the moment. Recently drafted Jamoris Slaughter, UDFA Kent Richardson and Ward are the only ‘natural’ safeties on the roster.

The Browns are expected to announce the signing of RB Brandon Jackson to take the roster spot of Eric Haag.

[Related: Hoyer, Weeden and what it could all mean]

Here are the hat and back of the jersey:

The Indians have worn hats emblazoned with camouflage and red white and blue on Memorial Day in years past.

This year’s rendition includes a completely camo hat with the block red C. Any Indians fans out there dying to get their hands on any of these? I will admit to not being a huge fan of the camo influence on baseball uniforms.

Today, I’m looking at several split offensive statistics where the Tribe has shined thus far in 2013. They show a lot of the biggest strengths of the Terry Francona’s squad:

Batting 1st – .316 batting average, #1 in AL (avg: .265)
Batting 8th – .491 slugging percentage, #1 in AL (avg: .386)
Vs. LHP – .480 slugging percentage, #1 in AL (avg: .409)
When ahead – .534 slugging percentage, #1 in AL (avg: .433)
With 2 outs – .856 OPS, #1 in AL (avg: .732)
RISP, 2 outs – .304 batting average, #1 in AL (avg: .248)
RISP, 2 outs – .549 slugging percentage, #1 in AL (avg: .404)
Runners on – .476 slugging percentage, #1 in AL (avg: .420)
Innings 1-3 – .847 OPS, #2 in AL behind TBR (avg: .756)

Now, for full disclosure, here are a handful of notable caveats to the statistics above:

• Obviously, the Indians already rank 1st in slugging and 1st in OPS in the American League. So these splits shouldn’t be all that shocking. But these are some of the most significant ones I could find.
• The Indians rank 5th in the American League with a .309 BABIP. While this isn’t absurdly high, it’s probably especially higher over the past four weeks. So possibly, this will fall back down to earth, affecting all of the team’s offensive statistics.
• As noted yesterday, the Indians started the season with a .207 batting average with RISP in the first 17 games. That just shows how ridiculously good they’ve been in this split ever since.
• Going back to the topic I covered in The Diff recently: The Indians have won lots of blowouts, but also have had some stinkers too. Their slugging percentage is more than 100 points better than the AL average when ahead in games. Thus, when the team is behind, their OPS (.699) is actually below the AL average (.715).
• Finally, you didn’t see me mention on-base percentage very much at all above. Mostly, that’s because the Indians have not been that elite in that category; their OBP of .335 ranks T-3rd in the AL this season, and doesn’t shine through in any split.

[Related: Indians 10 Mariners 8: Yan Freaking Gomes and the Mariners Defense – a Lethal Combination]

With the utmost respect to Sacramento ¹ and Charlotte and New Orleans and Phoenix and Detroit and Washington, you represent a crowd with whom I no longer want to be associated. The NBA, try as they might, have a way of making the annual lottery show an event. A half-hour show, the actual revelation of which team will have the top spot in the upcoming draft takes all of a minute.

We watch as a team which was supposed to be toward the bottom of the list suddenly has their name passed over, signaling that they defied the odds and will have their name among the top three slots. We watch as Nick Gilbert, the son of Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, sits hunched over on the team’s podium, bow tie and all. We watch as we will be one step closer to finding out where, exactly, the Cavaliers will be selecting come this summer thus tightening the speculation on who, exactly, the Cavaliers will (or should) draft. But in the end, the night will serve as a reminder that the Cavaliers, entering the third year of their rebuilding process, were once again one of the worst teams in the National Basketball Association.

This year, I avoided the Not-so-Big Boards. While I watched many collegiate basketball games, focusing on players more than the teams for which they represent, it was increasingly difficult to muster any sort of excitement for the impending summer. Two years ago, the Cavaliers needed to win the lottery, ultimately landing their cornerstone in All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving. Last spring, the excitement surrounded who Irving would be paired with—the Westbrook to his Durant, says the narrative—as the team continues their ascent. This time around, despite my forecast of just 27 wins for the season (a total that would undoubtedly land the Wine and Gold in the lottery), I’m done. I’m done donning a party hat with the hopes that my team gets to take the next calculated risk. If the Cavaliers land the top spot and queue up their marketing department for High-top Fade Night at Quicken Loans Arena ² , I’ll be the happiest Cavs fan you will find ³ . But in the end, all it will be is a reward for perpetual poor performance.

In 1997, the San Antonio Spurs won the lottery and the chance to pair Tim Duncan with David Robinson. In 2008, the Chicago Bulls stunned the world by winning the lottery and selecting Derrick Rose, subsequently surrounding him with talent selected later in drafts and free agency. Both teams are now perennial title contenders. The Cavs, who finished (once again) with the third-worst record in the league, have a 15.6 percent chance of winning the No. 1 slot. Their odds of drafting second or third are very similar, falling in at 15.74 percent and 15.58, respectively. Unfortunately, given the potential for any of the teams below them to leapfrog the pack (as they did in 2011), they have a 22.56 chance of dropping to No. 4, and a 22.48 chance of falling to No. 5. The worst the Cavaliers can draft is sixth. Flying smack in the face of math is history, which is on Cleveland’s side—the third spot has won the NBA lottery the most times, last year just being the most recent.

The good news is that there isn’t much of a perceived drop-off from the third spot to the sixth. The bad news, once again, is that this draft is largely considered to be weak from a talent pool perspective ⁴ .

Andrew Sharp penned a pretty poignant piece over at Grantland yesterday, discussing the perils of selecting high in the lottery and the hindsight involved when a player your team passed on succeeds with his postseason-bound pals. The poster boy for the story was San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard, the big-handed, tough-nosed, defensive-minded forward who suits up for Greg Popovich and buries three-balls in the eye of Dion Waiters. It’s easy to say that he should not have been passed on by the several teams who selected others instead, but it’s easier to say that his career arc would have been substantially different had he been forced into a larger role with a more toxic environment. Same can be said for Klay Thompson or Serge Ibaka or Paul George ⁵ . If Cody Zeller falls to Philadelphia and flourishes while Nerlens Noel collects a bigger paycheck and turns into the next Tyrus Thomas, it doesn’t make one a mistake and the other rooted in genius. Pardon me for not rallying around such a crapshoot.

Certainly, much of sport is laced with luck. If everything was based on paper, they wouldn’t play the games. It’s what makes each game exciting, it’s what history-based channels like ESPN Classic are founded upon. As the four-digit combinations are revealed and the representative stands on the stage holding their team logo in one hand and the No. 1 in the other, 13 teams and their respective fans will have a greater sense of closure as they head into the draft on June 27. Me? I won’t be attending the Cavs’ lottery party. I’ll likely just switch back to the Indians game and hope for the days where, instead of watching the lottery, I can pen a column on an upcoming contest within the Eastern Conference Finals. I’m done celebrating despair.

–

(Image created via my first and only lottery machine attempt. Why ruin a good thing?)

___________________________________

1. Seven straight seasons in the lottery. Gross.
2. Held after Christmas, of course
3. I’ll mostly be shocked due to the fact that the conspiracy theories all but have the Sacramento Kings and their recent tribulations locked as the winner.
4. This is the third straight year that the draft has been given such a negative connotation. Count me in as concerned for the quality of the league in a few years when the upper class starts to age and this generation is expected to take over.
5. Who also grew two inches after being drafted…

Howard is expected to entertain the free-agency process and hear competing offers from Houston, Dallas and others, multiple sources told ESPNLosAngeles.com. Cleveland and Atlanta are teams that will also be vying for Howard, among other suitors.

If I was making the book in Vegas, I’d say there’s a 80% chance that the Cavaliers talk to Howard or his people this off-season, because you kind of have to when you have the cap space and a player of that caliber is a free agent. The idea that it would get past the talking stage and Howard would come join the Mike Brown-led Cavaliers has to be at 5% or less I would think.

We don’t know exactly how Dwight Howard feels about Mike Brown, but in Howard’s first season with Brown, the coach was fired after only five games. At minimum, it would appear that familiarity or some personal connection would be somewhat unlikely to benefit the Cavaliers should they even truly be in pursuit of the big man.

[Related: Cavalier NBA Draft Film Room: Shabazz Muhammad]

“Well, last year Cleveland’s hot start was done with smoke and mirrors; they were outscored on the season, even when the Tribe was standing in first. That ain’t the case this year, as Cleveland is above average in run scoring and run prevention. The Indians’ offense has been a real juggernaut so far. They are first in the AL in slugging percentage, second in homers, third in on-base percentage, fourth in doubles, triples, and batting average—yeah, they are hitting pretty darn well. In fact, their team OPS+ is a comically high 121.

Strangely, Cleveland ranks just sixth in runs scored, though. It isn’t as bad as it sounds, as there is a tight pack at the top. If you shift to runs per game, the Indians are tied for third in the AL. Still, to date their bats have been at their worst when it matters most, with lousy numbers when batting in close-and-late situations, as well as when the bases are loaded. Odds are that should improve as the year goes on. Then again, they won’t keep a 121 OPS+ all season long.” [Jaffe/Hardball Times]

—-

Jason Kipnis interviewed on MLB’s The Rundown. [MLB.com]

—-

“I believe bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. when he says this team has that “’95 style. You just come to the ballpark expecting to win and never say die.” I also believe Alomar when he compares this club to ones of recent past and says, “We have more depth. When you give guys a rest, you’re not losing anything. That’s the big difference between the past and now. You’ve got guys with track records — like Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn and Jason Giambi — who have been in winning situations before and can help the young guys stay on the path and keep from collapsing.”

I believe that feeling rubs off on guys like Ryan Raburn and Yan Gomes and helps them make the most of their limited playing time. I believe the Indians are not one injury away from a complete collapse at any given moment, as they were in ’11 and ’12.” [Castrovince/MLB]

—

“Otto Porter – Tall small forwards rate as the NBA’s most-productive two-way players. Who stood tallest of the 2013 small forward class? Of course, Otto Porter, also the draft’s most productive 19-year old. I see a strong NBA career, despite middling athleticism tests…which aren’t consistently reflective of NBA success or failure for a small forward, anyways (actually, most of those correlations were negative).” [Hetrick/Cavs the Blog]

—-

“When asked to assess the 2013 NBA Draft, one general manager said he liked it just fine. He just wouldn’t want to possess the first or second pick. That particular GM doesn’t need to worry. His team made the playoffs and has no chance of winning Tuesday night’s draft lottery. Everyone else … well, they too may be praying to end the evening with the rally cry of, “We’re No. 3!”

Not that finishing first is a nightmare. You can always trade the pick. Or you can keep it and draft a guy who hasn’t played since February and isn’t expected to take the court again until around Christmas.” [Amico/FSO]

Like the great Mr. Skin says, “Let us fast forward right to the good parts.”

The Indians carried a 6-5 lead into the eighth inning and turned it over to resident set up man Vinnie Pestano, who was activated off the DL Friday. Vinnie is still trying to work himself back into a groove and showed some immediate signs of rust. Kyle Seager hit a rocket shot, no-doubter to the seats in right field to tie the game before Pestano could record an out. The 19,390 fans in attendance sat in stunned silence. However, the Indians still had two more shots to finish off the sweep.

“With this lineup, you can go back in the dugout look guys in the eyes and say, ‘Come on, boys pick me up,’ ” said Pestano. “And they’re all in. It’s not deflating by any means. It’s like, ‘OK, let’s go back to work.’ “

After Oliver Perez and Carter Capps disposed of the Indians in order in the bottom half of the frame, manager Terry Francona called on his closer Chris Perez to pitch the ninth.

The last time we saw CP, he had given up back to back homers in a blown save Saturday, which the Indians eventually came back and won.  It seemed like just a blip on the radar. Mariners skipper Eric Wedge called for pinch hitter Endy Chavez, a slap hitter with 26 homers in 999 career at-bats coming in. Naturally, Chavez took a 0-1 93 MPH fastball over the wall in right-center to put the Mariners on top 7-6. Perez’s long weekend turned longer. The boos didn’t cascade down on him the way he did Saturday, but later we would learn how vicious some so called “fans” can be towards the embattled closer. Perez would walk two before retiring the side.

“It’s a slump — a little slump, mini-slump,” said Perez.  ”It happens once or twice a year and you just have to keep grinding, keep trying to make good pitches and get through it.”

The Tribe needed to get to Tom Wilhelmsen if they were going to continue their winning streak. The Seattle closer carried a sparkling 0.50 ERA into the game and hadn’t blown a save in 11 chances. With one out, Jason Kipnis beat out an infield single. After Asdrubal Cabrera struck out, Nick Swisher hit a flair into right field which got down for a hit, moving Kipnis to third. It would be up to Carlos Santana, who has quietly dropped in production over the past three weeks. The Tribe’s catcher/DH/1B has hit just .190 in May with three RBIs. His roller to first base looked like the end, but Justin Smoak’s flip to Wilhelmsen covering the bag was dropped. When I tell you it was an easy play, I mean it was a play that is made 999 out of 1,000 times. The Indians are just that hot. Everything seems to go their way these days.

With new life, they moved onto extra innings. The Tribe bullpen, which had already seen two scoreless innings from Matt Albers in relief of Scott Kazmir, two more from Bryan Shaw, and an inning apiece from Pestano and Perez, turned to their last top tier bullet, Joe Smith. Smitty easily retired the first two men he face but then out of nowhere, Smoak, who had just two homers on the season, tattooed a pitch into the mezzanine seats in right, again putting Seattle on top by a run.

So let me get this straight, the Indians three-headed monster, which has been dominant for close to two and a half years now, was touched up for solo homers in the eighth, ninth, and tenth innings? This was the first time that this has ever happened to them in the same game. And the offense was supposed to come back from this again? I mean, how unlikely would this comeback win be?

“You don’t look up very often and see your opponent score in three straight innings and you win,” Francona said. “That was interesting.”

That is why baseball is the best.

Wedge had already used his closer Wilhelmsen, so he turned to lefty Charlie Furbush for the third time in the series to face the bottom of the Indians order. He started by falling behind in the count against Michael Brantley and watched as Dr. Smooth delivered his second hit of the game. Drew Stubbs, brought into the game as a defensive replacement for Ryan Raburn (who hit a three-run homer in the second), was sent up to the plate to bunt. He did so, dropping one in front of home plate where Furbush fielded it, bobbled, and fired to first in an attempt to get the speedy Stubbs. Stubbs may have beaten the throw, but it didn’t matter, because Smoak dropped the ball.

It was the umpteenth time the Mariners defense let them down over the four games in Cleveland.

So up to the plate stepped Yan Gomes, the Tribe’s backup catcher and newly minted cult hero. The Yanimal already was 2-4 with a homer in the game while gunning out two Mariner baserunners on steal attempts. With men on first and second and nobody out, Gomes was up there to bunt. He tried not once, but twice. Both times, he failed. He eventually worked the count full. And then, this happened.

The Yanimal’s three-run walk-off homer finished off a game that nobody who was there will ever forget. Just when the Mariners thought they finally had the Indians beaten, the Progressive Field magic took over.

“Moments like that, you just want to get back to your teammates,” said Gomes, “just run around and make sure you don’t miss a base. It was exciting. You just don’t know what to do with your hands. I was like, `Wow, this game’s done.”

Gomes finished the day with three hits and four RBIs. Someone is going to have to explain to me how the organization is going to keep him off this roster in favor of Lou Marson. The Yanimal is here to stay folks, and is a huge part of the deepest Tribe bench in years.

The Indians swept the Mariners in a four-game series which featured three walk-off winners. Three. That is pretty amazing when you think about it and extremely deflating for the Mariners. The Grinder must have been thinking to himself  ”this had to happen here of all places? ”

“Best game I’ve ever been a part of,” said Perez. “It was the craziest, most fun … obviously, it stunk to give up a home run, but it was still fun.”

It was the Tribe’s fifth straight win and their 18th in 22 games, extending their first place lead over Detroit to two and a half games as they welcome the Tigers to town for a quick two-game set beginning Tuesday night.  They have won 13 of their last 15 home games and have outscored their opponents 85-45. Tribe fans would love to see more of that against the Tigers, who have their two best pitchers lined up, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. The Indians will counter with Corey Kluber and Ubaldo Jimenez.

( photo via Chuck Crow/PD)

Perez, a two-time All-Star with the Indians, has become a bit of a target on the microblogging platform following his comments last season regarding fan support. On Tuesday afternoon, Perez gave up his third home run in what was his last two outings, forcing the Indians to come from behind via the heroics of reserve catcher Yan Gomes.

When Perez allowed two home runs this past weekend, he tweeted out that one of the most useful tools on Twitter was the “block” feature that allows him to not receive messages from select fans. On Tuesday, the closer seemingly had enough of the tasteless barbs being thrown his way, oftentimes anonymously.

Despite saving 90 percent of his chances (81-for-91) since becoming the Tribe’s closer in 2011, a cabal of Indians “fans” have decided to carry along a narrative that Perez “always” blows saves and—despite being just a few saves shy of long-time Indians reliever Doug Jones—has provided no benefit as the anchor of one of the best bullpens in the major leagues. More importantly, he’s a human being.

Look everyone, it’s @chrisperez54!!! twitter.com/Sinatra1979/st…

— Chris Gibilisco (@Sinatra1979) May 20, 2013

@chrisperez54 You’re terrible.I wonder how many times you can cost me money in one year.Get a haircut loser.

— Steve Latkovic (@StevoBG23) May 20, 2013

As far as I’m concerned, @chrisperez54 is more of an enemy to Cleveland than LeBron. At least LeBron won us games…

— John David(@Son_of_George77) May 20, 2013

Hey @chrisperez54 please leave Cleveland. Sincerely, EVERYONE.

— Jason Bailey (@13J_Bay) May 20, 2013

Release @chrisperez54 right now @markshapiro HE SUCKS! #tribetown #indians #bringbackjosemesa

— carlosetres (@carlosetres) May 20, 2013

@chrisperez54 Worthless piece of shit

— Michael Barone (@MedinaHockey96) May 20, 2013

@chrisperez54 you dumb fat ass, we should trade your nasty ass beard ass bitch ass to the fucking cubs or pirates. We DONT need you #asshole

— Nate Testa (@TheRealGord) May 20, 2013

Perez often used Twitter to interact with fans, hand out free tickets to games, and reveal his “song of the day” each and every morning. It appears that the costs associated with his profile, at this stage, far outweighed the benefits. Tough to imagine why…

[Related: Indians exemplifying “next man up” thus far]

“Masterson went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 20 strikeouts and five walks in 16.0 innings pitched over a pair of starts to claim his first

career A.L. Player of the Week Award and the first for a Cleveland hurler since CC Sabathia in 2008. Justin is the second Indian to be

tabbed with a weekly honor this month after teammate Ryan Raburn won for the week ending May 5th. Among pitching leaders,

Masterson was tops in the Majors in strikeouts and was tied for first overall in wins, ERA and innings pitched.”

The Indians are the hottest team in the majors right now, and Masterson is certainly the anchor of the starting rotation. Justin pitched a masterpiece against the Yankees on Monday allowing just four hits and struck out 9 on his way to another 1-0 shutout. Yesterday, Masterson had another brilliant pitching performance striking out 11 without allowing a run.

[Related: Indians exemplifying 'next man up' so far]

Brian Hoyer’s 2-year deal w/the Browns is worth $1.965M. $250k of his $715k ’13 base salary is GTD. There’s a ’14 base salary escalator.

— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) May 20, 2013

Brian Hoyer’s ’14 escalator could be similar to Jason Campbell’s ’14 escalator worth up to $2M. It’s likely that only of them will earn it.

— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) May 20, 2013

So, as you can see, regardless of whether or not Michael Lombardi thinks Hoyer can start in the NFL or not, nobody, including Hoyer’s representation was holding out for starter-level cash. Far be it for me to look down upon on a couple million bucks, but with only $250k guaranteed in 2013, he’s by no means a lock to be on this team as the Browns easily retained flexibility in the deal to move on whenever they deem it appropriate.

Also keep in mind that Jason Campbell’s deal was for two years and $3.75 million.

[Related: Scott Raab on Chris Perez, Browns vs. Klosterman, NHLinCLE and relationships with editors – WFNY Podcast – 2013-05-20]

Still, Muhammad showed that he is a dynamite scorer who will pack some instant offensive punch for whoever selects him next month.

First, as usual, let’s take a look at what others are saying around the web.

NBADraft.net:

“Fierce competitor with a scorers mentality … Displays a killer instinct missing from many other prospect’s games … Uses screens to create catch-and-shoot opportunities well … Quick lefty release, solid mechanices with range out to three point territory … Can use his body to create space and get shots off near the basket … Length (6-11 + wingspan) helps him get his shot off and create post-up opportunities against smaller wings … Not afraid of contact and has the ability to get to the line at a high rate. Has trouble creating his own shot off of the dribble, shooting percentage plummets when he puts the ball on the floor … Not a fluid athlete.”

DraftExpress.com:

“Muhammad’s style of play is highly unconventional, as he rarely scores in isolation or pick and roll settings in the half-court, seeing just 6% of his offense in these situations. Instead, he gets most of his points leaking out in transition, moving off the ball, as a spot-up shooter, posting up relentlessly, crashing the offensive glass, and coming off short curls in the mid-range area where he’s only forced to put the ball on the floor once or twice to get all the way to the basket. He gets to the free throw line nearly seven times per-40, which is a testament to his aggressiveness and scoring instincts more than anything, as well as his ability to overpower opposing players.”

Goodman/CBSSports:

“Was regarded as a possible No. 1 overall pick entering the season, but there are questions. He’s been able to physically overpower guys in high school and in college, but that won’t work in the NBA. He’ll still be a solid pro due to his work ethic, but he needs to improve his lateral quickness and ability to put the ball on the floor.”

Hoopshype:

Shabazz had a rough ending to the season with the report coming out that he’s actually 20 instead of 19 as his father had purported. He also struggled in UCLA’s tourney loss to Minnesota shooting 6-for-18. But he’s still one of the most talented prospects in this year’s draft with a killer instinct and high-level scoring ability. He has turned living with Tourette Syndrome into a positive as he plays with a chip on his shoulder exerting a high level of intensity at all times. Detractors point to his less than 1 assist per game, labeling him one dimensional and even a “ball hog”, but in a draft devoid of talent, don’t expect him to fall very far. His character and abilities on the court could ultimately be undervalued by the time the draft takes place.

Chad Ford/ESPN:

“A great athlete with NBA strength, Muhammad can score from anywhere. Although he appears to be more of a one-dimensional player, he plays hard on every possession. Muhammad’s not an elite defender or a great rebounder and doesn’t really get others involved, but he’s a guy who can get you 20 points a night.”

Videos:

YouTube – DraftExpress

YouTube

Stats:

17.9 PTS, 5.2 RBS, 0.8 AST, 0.7 STL, 1.6 TO, 44.3% FG, 37.7% 3PT, 71.1% FT

Past film rooms:
Alex Len
Nerlens Noel

Alright, enough with the formalities. Let’s dive into the film. I actually studied two of Shabazz’s games this past season, at Arizona and the Minnesota tournament game, but I’m only going to use the Arizona game as it gave me a good snapshot of everything I needed.

We begin with a look at Shabazz’s greatest strength, scoring the basketball. We see one-dimensional scorers all throughout the league, from the J.R. Smiths to the Jamal Crawfords to the Marcus Thorntons. Shabazz Muhammad, in my opinion, is going to be one of those players that scores and does little else. Here, we see Muhammad begin  on the left side in the low post (#15 in blue).

This is a commonly used set by UCLA (at least in this game). The ball gets reversed out top, and Muhammad uses a screen to the run the baseline and curl around into the paint.

Shabazz looks a tad small for a small forward (measured 6’6 1/4″ at the combine), but he plays big inside (6’11″ wingspan) with an ability to post up strong, finish inside, and grab the occasional offensive board. He uses his left as he curls toward the middle.

Shabazz lets the left-handed half hook fly and buries it from 13 feet. Muhammad is left-handed.

Next, we’ll see Muhammad running the baseline again. Once more, he starts on the left side, cutting to the right side. This of course allows him to make effective use of his left hand dribble. You’ll rarely see Muhammad attack from the left side with his right hand, unless it’s in transition.

One of Shabazz’s greatest attributes is his skill with finding an opening and getting open when many other players can’t or won’t.

This time, instead of curling, Muhammad continues his flash all the way out to the right wing. Notice the Wildcat defender overplaying the wing pass. That’s respect for Shabazz’s three-point shooting ability.

Eventually, however, after the pass out top is denied, Muhammad goes back into the post.

Muhammad is very comfortable with backing players down in the post. He uses his body well down there, and he rarely turns the ball over, even with the attention of the opposing team’s best defender and usually another set of eyes.

As mentioned, the second Arizona defender moves over to help prevent Muhammad from going middle. Shabazz uses a powerful stride with his right leg to plant to set up his next move.

Instead of turning the corner to drive to the goal, Shabazz uses a turnaround fadeaway from about 10 feet and drills it. There are not that many players in the association that are effective shooting shots like that. If he can carry that with him to the next level, he will always be able to get shots off without fear of being rejected.

Another facet of Muhammad’s game that plays a big role is his work in the open court. Muhammad is quick in space and either finishes the hoop or gets to the line. Here, the Bruins get a turnover and Shabazz is running along the left side of the floor at the top of the shot.

Muhammad catches and immediately looks to shake his man on a drive to the hoop. His mid-range game demands that the defender not give him space.

Here, we see a step through from as he cuts across the face of his defender on a line to the hoop.

Shabazz finishes off balance with his left with two in the vicinity. After watching 6-8 games of Muhammad’s this year, I can say that the most electrifying aspect of his game is what he can do inside and outside on the break.

Muhammad’s defensive tendency is to hang far too close to his man. In Mike Brown’s defense, he would have a lot to learn (as do most of the Cavaliers, in truth) with respect to helping his teammates on dribble penetration and in the post. Here’s one scenario where Shabazz went Alonzo Gee and jumped the passing lane out top.

Muhammad is a blur, throwing the ball out in front of him as he lunges for it on the steal. This starts a 1-on-1 sprint to the goal.

Shabazz does get caught as he gathers to go up, and he goes to the foul line after missing this layup with contact. Muhammad goes to the line nearly six times per game, though he converted just 71% of his attempts.

I mentioned Shabazz’s spot-up three point game, and here is an example. We see the drive and kick by the UCLA point to Muhammad, who has all day to setup in the corner here.

Muhammad’s shot is one that does not have that many moving parts. He can get it off quickly, and there’s not an ounce of shyness about chucking it up.

Muhammad has all day in this instance, but he’s also comfortable shooting with a hand in his face and confident enough to knock it down. Muhammad connected on nearly 38% of his three pointers and made just over one per contest.

One defensive possession where Shabazz got caught not giving enough effort is highlighted below. Shot goes up from the right wing, and Muhammad fails to get in front of his man (#44 in white, Solomon Hill).

Making matters worse, it’s a long rebound, and somehow Hill goes out and grabs it.

Hill then squares up Muhammad before taking him to the rack, splitting two UCLA defenders and laying it in with ease.

Shabazz doesn’t get squared up to take a charge or at least provide resistance. Right on through, Mr. Hill!

In short, the scoring ability that Shabazz has is great (14 of 32 games, he had 20+ points and just 1 game with out double digit scoring numbers). He can score in space, he can create his own shot, he can make you pay from beyond the arc, and he has some very unique moves that I believe will translate at the next level. He’s probably going to go somewhere in the Top 10, and I don’t think that team will be disappointed with him. He won’t be a superstar, but I could see him averaging 18 points per game in the NBA at some point.

Now, notice what I didn’t focus on a whole lot here. Shabazz may be able to create looks for himself, but he doesn’t look for others enough (5.8% assist percentage). His assist numbers are painfully low for a perimeter player. His defense has issues both due to size/frame/height and bad or lazy habits. Shabazz can get tough on the offensive glass (9.9% offensive rebounding percentage, top 400 in the nation) and grab the occasional offensive board, but he’s far from a good defensive rebounder. There are far too many 20 points, 3 rebound, 1 assist type games on his game log resume.

If the Cavs wound up at five or six after Tuesday’s lottery, Shabazz could be the choice. It certainly fills a need at small forward. However, I consider that far less likely than I did a few months ago. Remember, he’s already 20, and he’ll be 21 within two weeks of the season starting. His ceiling has got to be a little bit lower than these 19 and 20 year olds. I’m also not crazy about some of his body language, and I wonder if he can accept being the second or third guy on a team (he took nearly 31% of the team’s shots when he was on the floor this year) that is going to have Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters who need the basketball as well. Then again, given the way he scores is different from Kyrie and Dion (isos and pick and rolls versus curls and spot-ups), maybe they could coexist offensively with success. The talk of late, however, is that Shabazz could be in a freefall in this draft.

Shabazz Muhammad really struggling so far. Shots not falling and couldn’t create much in the one on ones. Did compete defensively, though.

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 16, 2013

Until next time, the film room is closed!

(Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)