19-year old point guard Kyrie Irving has locked down the starting job for the Cavaliers and he is playing really well.  He has played in 9 games (all starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 26.8 minutes, 15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.  At some point the Cavs will likely start giving Irving more minutes if he continues to excel.  20-year old power forward Tristan Thompson is also playing well off the bench for the Cavs.  The rookie has played in 9 games (0 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 18.1 minutes, 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game.  23-year old rookie shooting guard Mychel Thompson has only played in 1 game for the Cavs so far this year in which he played 2 minutes and had 1 rebound.  The Cavaliers have to be happy with their rookie class so far this year.

19-year old point guard Kyrie Irving and 20-year old power forward Tristan Thompson are off to fast starts for the Cavs.  Irving has not shot the ball too well (33.3%) as he is 7 of 21 from the floor, but, he is still playing solid overall basketball.  Irving has played in 2 games (both starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 23.0 minutes, 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  He won’t likely see an increase  in playing time any time soon because Ramon Sessions has been outstanding for the Cavs off the bench so far this year.  Tristan Thompson is backing up Antawn Jamison at power forward and he brings a lot of energy to the second unit for the Cavaliers.  Thompson has played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 21.0 minutes, 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game so far this year.  He is also shooting 64.3% from the floor so far this year as most of his shots come close to the basket.  He also is an emphatic dunker.  Thompson will eventually replace Antawn Jamison as the starter at some point this season.

While the 2010-11 season didn’t go the way the Cavaliers wanted it to, it gave them a chance to get a good look at some rookie players.  21-year old small forward Christian Eyenga wasn’t very consistent but he had his share of highlight plays.  He played in 44 games (18 starts) for the Cavs this year and he averaged 21.5 minutes, 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  He could develop into a starter down the road, but even if he doesn’t, he will be a good energy player off the bench.  22-year old undrafted power forward Samardo Samuels impressed me this season.  He played in 37 games (10 starts) for the Cavs this year and he averaged 18.9 minutes, 7.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  Samuels should get his share of P.T. off the bench for the Cavs next year.  21-year old undrafted shooting guard Manny Harris had his moments this year but he wasn’t very consistent.  Harris played in 54 games (15 starts) for the Cavaliers this year and he averaged 17.3 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game despite only shooting 37.4% from the floor.  23-year old power forward Luke Harangody came over to the Cavs during the year after they acquired him from the Celtics.  He played in 21 games (0 starts) for the Cavaliers this year and he averaged 19.0 minutes, 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  Harangody played in 49 games (0 starts) for the Celtics and Cavs this year and he averaged 13.1 minutes, 3.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game despite only shooting 38.3% from the floor.  Byron Scott likes the way Harangody hustles, so look for him to get his minutes next year.  24-year old center Semih Erden came over from the Celtics in the same deal as Harangody did.  Erden was banged up with the Cavs and he only played in 4 games (1 start) with them in which he averaged 16.0 minutes, 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  Erden played in 41 games (8 starts) for the Celtics & Cavs last year and he averaged 14.5 minutes, 4.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  Erden shot 55.9% from the floor last season and the Cavs need help inside, so look for Erden to get his fair share of minutes this year.  Hopefully these guys learn from the rough lessons they got this year.

This season is already a lost cause for the Cavaliers so they might as well get a really good look at the five rookies they have on the roster.  22-year old power forward Samardo Samuels has moved into the starting lineup in Antawn Jamison’s (broken finger) place.  In his two starts so far, Samuels is averaging 32.5 minutes, 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game as he is shooting 55.6% from the floor.  He has now played in 25 games (2 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 15.8 minutes, 6.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  That’s not too shabby for a undrafted rookie.   21-year old small forward Chrisitan Eyenga has shown a lot of potential for the Cavs so far this year.  He has played in 25 games (18 starts) for the Cavaliers so far this year and he is averaging 24.6 minutes, 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.   Eyenga might just be the most athletic player on the Cavs’ roster right now.  21-year old shooting guard Manny Harris has seen sporadic P.T. so far this year for the Cavs.  He has played in 39 games (14 starts) so far this year for the Cavaliers and he is averaging 18.4 minutes, 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  23-year old power forward Luke Harangody has made a good first impression on the Cavs.  He has played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Cavs since coming over from Boston as the trade deadline and he is averaging 15.0 minutes, 10.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  Harangody has now played in 30 games (0 starts) combined for the Cavs & Celtics and he is averaging 9.0 minutes, 2.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  He’s going to get a much bigger opportunity to play in Cleveland then he ever would have gotten in Boston.  24-year old 7-foot, 240-pound Semih Erden is nearing his debut for the Cavs.  When he was traded over to Cleveland last week he was a little dinged up with the bad shoulder.  He’s almost all healed up and ready to go.  Erden played in 37 games (7 starts) for the Celtics earlier this year and he averaged 14.4 minutes, 4.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game on 59.8% shooting from the floor.  He’s going to get consistent P.T. for the Cavs as soon as he’s ready for action.

The Cavaliers are finally starting to get a look at their trio of rookies.  21-year old SG/SF Christian Eyenga was the Cavs’ first round pick in 2009 but he played in Spain that year.  He has played in 5 games (1 start) for the Cavaliers so far this year and he is averaging 21.0 minutes, 7.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  Eyenga seems to have a lot of talent and I like the fact that he hustles on both ends of the basketball court.  21-year old shooting guard Manny Harris has been playing a lot more since Daniel Gibson’s injury and he has had some solid games.  Harris has played in 18 games (6 starts) so far this year for the Cavaliers and he averaged 16.8 minutes, 5.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game on 38.9% from the floor.  Harris has earned more minutes going forward for the Cavs.  22-year old forward Samardo Samuels has played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 11.3 minutes, 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.  But, he is only shooting 32% from the floor so far this year.  With all of the injuries the Cavs have along the front line, Samuels is going to get the time needed to show what he can or can’t do the rest of the year.  The Cavaliers really need this trio to step up.

21-year old, undrafted rookie shooting guard Manny Harris is stepping up for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  With Daniel Gibson out for this road trip, the Cavs needed someone to step up at shooting guard and Harris has been that guy so far.  In his last two games, Harris is averaging 38.5 minutes, 21.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  Harris has now played in 16 games (4 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 13.8 minutes, 4.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.  He is only shooting 37.7% from the floor but I think that will improve with more playing time.  This season looks lost for the Cavaliers so they need to keep giving Harris minutes to see what they have in him.

The Cavaliers drafted 21-year old shooting guard Christian Eyenga in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft with the 30th overall pick.  Eyenga decided to play in Spain in 2009 but he signed on with the Cavaliers for 2010.  He is finally getting into the action for the Cavs.  He has played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Cavaliers so far this year and he is averaging 23.7 minutes, 8.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  Eyenga is shooting 50% from the floor so far but he’s only 1 of 10 (10%) from three point range.  Eyenga plays will a lot of energy and he can really get out in front of a fast break.  The Cavaliers have nothing to lose in giving Eyenga solid minutes going forward as long as he continues to produce as they need all the help that they can get.

The Cavaliers have sent rookie forward Samardo Samuels to the D-League.  Samuels played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Cavaliers so far this year and he was averaging 4.5 minutes, 3.3 points and 1.0 rebound per game.  The Cavaliers wanted to get Samuels some P.T. instead of being nailed to the bench.  I think he will be back with the Cavaliers at some point this season when they decide to go young.

The rookies of the Cavs have been sitting at the end of the bench so far this year.  If the Cavaliers don’t start to improve soon though I think they will start giving these guys more of a look.  21-year old guard Manny Harris is likely first in line for P.T.  He has played in 9 games (0 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 11.3 minutes, 3.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  21-year old power forward Samardo Samuels has looked good in his limited opportunities so far this year.  He has played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 5.7 minutes, 4.3 points and 1.0 rebound per game.  21-year old rookie SG/SF Christian Eyenga has yet to play in any games this year for the Cavs but he was their first round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

The Cavaliers worked hard to try to find some nuggets among the players that didn’t get drafted last June. They think they might have found a couple in 21-year old shooting guard Manny Harris and 22-year old power forward Samardo Samuels. Harris has played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he is averaging 8.8 minutes, 3.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. He looks like he has some game but he will have a hard time getting minutes unless the Cavs suffer injuries. Samardo Samuels has played in 1 game (0 starts) for the Cavs so far this year and he has worked 7 minutes in which he scored 7 points. Samuels also will need injuries in the Cavs’ frontcourt to start getting minutes. Harris & Samuels look like they might be nice finds for the Cavs but only time will tell.