Interview Ecke » long way from NBA title contenders.On

CLEVELAND - Another trade and another loss. And LeBron James wont be back for another week.The Cavaliers appear to be a long way from NBA title contenders.On Wednesday, the Cavs addressed their biggest need — a rim-protecting big man — by acquiring centre Timofey Mozgov from the Denver Nuggets for two first-round draft picks.The Cavs announced their second major trade in three days during the first half of a 105-93 loss to the Houston Rockets. Cleveland, which has underachieved while enduring a rash of injuries, sent two protected 2015 first-round picks — one acquired in 2013 from Memphis, the other from Oklahoma City this week — to Denver for the 7-foot-1 Mozgov and a 2015 second-round pick.Mozgov averaged 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in 35 games this season for the Nuggets. The Cavs feel he can fill the large hole they had in the middle after starting centre Anderson Varejao was lost for the season with a torn Achilles.Cavs general manager David Griffin had targeted Mozgov for months and was finally able to land him — at a steep price.His numbers didnt need to be flashy, Griffin said. Weve got three guys that are top 20 players in the NBA. Those guys can be flashy. We need guys that do the dirt work. ... It fits our needs.Mozgov played for Cavs coach David Blatt on the Russian national team, and their relationship should make the five-year veterans transition a little easier.James, who has missed six straight games with a strained back and left knee, said Mozgov is a welcomed addition.Its something that we need, James said. Its something that once Andy went down, it was something obviously we needed to get bigger in the interior and adding a guy like that who can protect the rim, it will help our team as well.The trade for Mozgov was Clevelands second significant move this week. On Monday, the Cavs dealt guard Dion Waiters to the Thunder and acquired guards J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert from the Knicks. Smith gives the Cavs a proven scorer off the bench and Shumpert is a strong defender, whom Blatt described as willing to take on the opponents top scorer.We need a guy like that, he said.Shumpert is recovering from a dislocated left shoulder and wont be ready to play for at least two more weeks.Smith comes with some baggage. While there is no denying his basketball skill, Smith hasnt always been regarded as a team player, but Griffin said the Cavs have no major concerns about him.His issues have never been as a teammate, Griffin said. J.R. comes to battle, he competes on a consistent basis.Smith went scoreless in his Cleveland debut, missing five shots, including four 3-pointers, in nearly 18 minutes.Last season, Smith was fined $50,000 for untying the shoelaces of three players, including his new Cavaliers teammate Shawn Marion, who felt the incident was blown out of proportion by the media.He should have paid half of it (the fine) then, Smith said, laughing. That was way overblown. Ive been doing it so long. It was surprising they caught it that year. It seemed like one thing after another. Ive been playing against Shawn a long time. It was nothing personal. I didnt try to hurt guys. It was a joke that got taken too far.Smith, who has known James since high school, has no doubt that hell be able to fit in nicely with the Cavs. It wont take him long to figure out Blatts offence.I try to space the floor as much as I can, Smith said. When worst come to worst, my motto is, When in doubt, shoot the ball. Hopefully that wont catch anybody off guard.___AP Sports Writer Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis contributed to this report. Joseph Noteboom Jersey . The question is how many minutes will be available to them and can any of their defence or goaltending provide value? Top Picks: Following a down year in 2011-2012, Matt Duchene rebounded with his highest points-per-game (0. Discount Rams Jerseys . Toronto ended an 0-4-0 skid with Sundays shootout win over visiting New Jersey, but the club could have a difficult time making it two victories in a row tonight. The Maple Leafs have dropped three straight and 11 of the last 12 regular- season meetings against Boston overall and the Bruins have claimed six straight in Beantown. http://www.cheapramsjerseyschina.com/micah-kiser-jersey/ . - The Detroit Lions have 13 takeaways this season — three less than all of last season — and the defence isnt the only unit pleased with the performance. Rams Jerseys Outlet .Y. - Referee Ed Hochuli referred to replay official Tom Sifferman by his nickname Jungle Boy, which was heard on the in-stadium microphone during the Arizona Cardinals-Carolina Panthers NFC wild-card game Saturday. Trevon Young Jersey . "If we could score a six in every game, obviously I would be pretty excited," Jones said. "Its a long week but a short week. Its a pretty short round robin from what were used to so you dont want to get behind the eight ball early.TORONTO -- After missing over three weeks with an infected left foot, Peter Holland finally feels like hes getting back to game shape. Holland setup two goals, including the game winner, as the Toronto Marlies extended their win streak to four games with a 4-2 win over the Binghamton Senators in American Hockey League action Wednesday. It was Hollands first two assists since he was re-assigned to the Marlies by the Maple Leafs last Saturday. "Obviously with a month off there, not playing or practising was pretty tough," said Holland. "Getting back in the first game, timing was a little off, I felt a little better today, in the second one. "(The foot) was very infected and I was in the hospital for about four or five days in a row having an IV and antibiotics. (I was) on crutches for a couple days." Mike Duco scored the winner, giving the Marlies a 3-1 lead at 7:18 of the second by putting a rebound off a Holland shot past Nathan Lawson while crashing into the Senators goalie. "I knew (Duco) was driving the net, the goalie looked like he was cheating over a little bit to the short side, I didnt know if my shot was maybe going to beat him," said Holland of the play. "But I knew Duco was going to be there if he kicked out the rebound." Josh Leivo added an empty netter with 14 seconds remaining in the third. Jerry DAmigo and Kenny Ryan had the other goals for the Marlies (32-17-4). Matt Puempel and Mark Stone scored for the Senators (33-17-4). Drew MacIntyre made 34 saves for his 24th win of the season while Lawson made 26 saves in the loss. After Ryan opened the scoring late in the first, the two teams combined for four second-period goals. DAmigo gave Toronto a 2-0 lead 46 seconds in on a power play, beating Lawson blocker-side frrom the faceoff dot for his 15th of the season.dddddddddddd. DAmigo now has eight goals and three assists in nine games this month. The Senators got on the board 33 seconds later as Puempel one-timed a Stone feed past MacIntyre for his 20th of the season. After Duco gave the Marlies a 3-1 lead, Binghamton pulled to within one before the second was over as Stone tapped in a Puempel feed on a two-man advantage for his 13th of the season. "We took some penalties that were uncharacteristic of us," said Marlies head coach Steve Spott. "The No. 1 criteria or No. 1 goal on our board today was not to take penalties against this team and we did. We paid for it. We allowed them to stay around." Ryan opened the scoring with 14 seconds remaining in the first taking a feed from DAmigo and beating Lawson glove-side for his third of the season. Ryan now has a goal and three assists in two games. The second, and final meeting, between the two teams goes April 16 in Binghamton. Following the game, Spott had a lengthy meeting with the Maple Leafs brass, including General Manager, Dave Nonis. With Dave Bolland potentially nearing a return to the Leafs lineup, Spott is expecting bodies to fall to his club. "It depends, theyre going to have some roster spots that are going to have to open up," Spott said. "David Bolland seems to be coming back in the near future. Hopefully that will have some sort of an affect with the Marlies. Well have to see how that all plays out." Notes: Toronto goalie Christopher Gibson (back) and forward Sam Carrick (upper body) both received medical clearance and will be available to the team Saturday when the Marlies host the Hamilton Bulldogs. If Gibson returns, Garret Sparks will likely be reassigned to the ECHL. 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