DRAFT PICKS:
Christian Eyenga, G-F, 6-6, 210, Republic of Congo (first round) -- Very athletic wing player might be a few years off from stepping foot in the NBA. Might have been the biggest surprise pick in the first round. Danny Green, G-F, 6-6, 210, North Carolina (second round) -- The Cavs have liked Green for at least two years. He's the same exact size as Eyenga, but has a great pedigree and an NCAA championship ring with the Tar Heels.
Emir Preldzic, G-F, 6-9, 205, Turkey (second round) -- The Cavs bought this pick from Phoenix. He's under contract in Istanbul, where he'll stay for a while. The Cavs like his versatility and ability to play some point guard, shooting guard and small forward.
PLAYER NEWS:
--G/F Anthony Parker signed a free agent contract with the Cavaliers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Parker averaged 10.7 points and 3.4 assists for the Raptors last season.
--Cavs GM Danny Ferry said it's possible C Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be shifted to the second team with Shaquille O'Neal on board.
"I think it's conceivable that Z would come off the bench," the GM said. Ferry said that would be a decision for Coach Mike Brown. But it's obvious O'Neal is not coming off the bench.
--The Cavs thought C Shaquille O'Neal could be in town perhaps on Monday, June 29, to meet with the Cleveland media. He said on ESPN, though, that he'd come to Cleveland in a "few weeks." So, basically, no one seems to know. Their probably won't be a parade, however, like the one in Miami a few years ago when he was traded to the Heat.
--If the Shaquille O'Neal trade had broken down, the Cavaliers had other options. One of them apparently was New Orleans C Tyson Chandler. The Hornets reportedly made him available in trade talks with several teams. Sources said they also might have talked to the Los Angeles Clippers about F/C Marcus Camby and C Chris Kaman.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F/C J.J. Hickson (back spasms) will likely be held out of the Las Vegas Summer League. The 6-foot-9, 242-pounder was shut down at the end of the season for almost a month. Whenever he works out and gets on the court, he experiences back spasms.
"We're waiting for the pain and swelling to go down," agent Andy Miller said. "There's been some swelling and it's been uncomfortable. He's had an MRI."
At the appropriate time, Hickson will get back on the court and start the process again.
"There's no need for surgery," Miller said.
