Trouble from within the Cavaliers franchise has spilled out all season, from failed team meetings to trade rumors. As recently as last week, reports surfaced saying that star Kyrie Irving and perpetual pain Dion Waiters were the source of several team issues.

It was clear that a shakeup was coming to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but it appeared it would be more based in the roster or coaching staff, because much of what we knew included player dissension and a lack of respect for Mike Brown.

Grant, who was hired in 2010, replaced Danny Ferry as general manager as the team tried its hardest to appease LeBron James. Their home-state star would bolt for the Miami Heat, anyway, leaving Grant in charge of a rebuilding effort. 

Over the past four seasons, Grant has made few solid decisions, but one of them was to choose Irving with the No. 1 pick. Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller have also turned out to be solid choices, but Waiters and Anthony Bennett have both been troubling in different ways.

Grant fired Byron Scott and made deals over his time as general manager, and some turned out better than others. Bottom line, though, is that the Cavaliers didn't have a winner. Since James left the Cavaliers they are 61-136 and were 16-33 this season at the time of Grant's firing.


 


MCGEE STATUS


The Denver Nuggets could be without center JaVale McGee for the remainder of the season, according to Yahoo! Sports report.

McGee has been out for much of the season because of a stress fracture in his left leg, an injury that has yet to heal properly. He has continued to get medical attention for the injury, but final word on whether he will play this season should come soon, according to the report.

This season McGee played in only five games before it was revealed that he had a stress fracture and would need to sit out. He is one of a number of Nuggets players out with injury, as Danillo Galinari and Nate Robinson are both done for the season as they recover from ACL injuries.

While he was in the lineup, McGee put up 7.0 points and 3.4 rebounds. McGee has more than two years left on his contract, which will pay out more than $23 million over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.


NO SWAG


Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young is out for two weeks with a non-displaced fracture of the patella and a bone bruise, the team announced.

Young twisted his knee during the Lakers' 119-108 Thursday win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was one of several Lakers to go down with an injury in that game, a circumstance that led to an interesting result.

Once center Robert Sacre fouled out, there were no players left on the Lakers bench and he had to stay in. The catch was that any foul Sacre committed was ruled as a technical foul. Also, Chris Kaman took a nap.

The Lakers have had injury troubles all season, and Young has served as a rare bright spot. He's averaged 16.9 points and 2.7 rebounds over the season, as Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash have spent most of the season out for injury.


LILLARD'S PLAN


Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard will embrace his first All-Star Weekend as a participant in the big game, with plans to become the first player in history to hop in all five events from Feb. 14-16.

A 23-year-old second-year player, Lillard isn't worried about the concept of exhaustion as he prepares to compete in the BVCC Rising Stars Game, Skills Challenge, 3-point and dunk contests and the All-Star Game.

When Jason Quick of The Oregonian asked if Lillard will wear himself out throughout the weekend, Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, asked a poignant question: "Worn out how?"

Lillard is of the AAU generation, during which players became accustomed to hitting the court for five games in a day. Five events over the course of two days should not pose much of a problem. There are definitely some events that hold more importance, however.

"The three-point contest is more important than anything else,'' Goodwin said. "He wants to shoot.''

Lillard has proved that he has the skills to excel in every event, because his ball handling, leaping ability and shooting from three are all at a high level.


THE DUNKERS


The NBA dunk contest field at All-Star Weekened is set, and the list is impressive.

Unlike previous years, this dunk contest will feature players who participate in the big game on Sunday, with the dunkers including Paul George, Damian Lillard and John Wall, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes and Sacramento Kings rookie Ben McLemore also will be in the dunk contest, along with defending champion Terrence Ross of the Toronto Raptors, rounding out one of the more exciting lists of players to participate in the event in recent years.

The official list of players involved with the dunk contest was confirmed late Thursday on TNT.

Contributor: DeAntae Prince