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NBA free agency started Wednesday at 12:01 a.m., but James clearly isn’t going anywhere, and while power forward Kevin Love might entertain a couple of offers, odds are he’s also staying in Cleveland.
Why wouldn’t Love stray? Because he’s going to get $100 million and only an idiot would leave a LeBron-led team of his own will, right? Having been a Cavs fan since about the third grade (that’s more than a couple of years ago), I really want to believe Love isn’t an idiot.
And, yes, rebounding savant Tristan Thompson will be in Cleveland, as will anyone else LeBron wants, like sharp-shooting Mike Dunleavy of the Bulls or Mo Williams, the former Cavalier who reportedly wants to come back.
And don’t discount the possibility of point guard Norris Cole. The Dayton native and former Cleveland State standout won two NBA titles with LeBron in Miami before Pat Riley traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans last season. He’s a restricted free agent, meaning the Pelicans can match any offer.
Cole was in Cleveland during the Finals and guested on one of those ESPN daytime shows. He looked and sounded happy to be there, and while he's not a star in the league, his best basketball still could lie ahead. He's steady, and he defends.
Chaos? Hardly. Seems more like an orderly, albeit costly, assembly taking place in Cleveland. Nothing to worry about.
Now watch Love wind up with the Lakers.
A Yorman Rodriguez sighting
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Yorman Rodriguez, who signed out of Venezuela for $2.5 million at age 16 and is spending his age-22 season at Class AAA Louisville, was named International League batter of the week, the first Bat so honored in three years.
After getting his feet wet with the Reds last September, it will be interesting to see if Rodriguez gets an earlier call this year after the trade dust, if there is any, settles.
He hit .444 over a seven-day stretch, leading the IL with 12 hits and 12 RBIs. In 72 games he’s batting .273 and tops the Bats in hits (74), doubles (13), home runs (8), RBIs (37) and runs (39).
Rodriguez was a key player for the Dayton Dragons in 2011, the last time they made the Midwest League playoffs. Several graduates of that team, including Billy Hamilton, Josh Smith, Pedro Villarreal, Tucker Barnhart, Donald Lutz and Daniel Corcino, have worn big-league uniforms.
That 2011 team stayed together for most of the season and set records. But that's the exception. As staff writer Marc Pendleton reported, losing players is an occupational hazard for the Dragons and all minor league teams.
Brownsburg, Ind., scores again
Jeff Rhodes will play soccer at Wright State after transferring from San Diego State, coach Bryan Davis announced.
The midfielder started 12 of 19 matches for the Aztecs in 2014 and scored three goals.
More interesting is that he hails from Brownsburg, Ind., which produces far more than its share of high-level athletes for a town of about 21,000.
The roll call from Brownsburg: Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart, St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn, Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen and Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward.
Rhodes was born in Santa Cruz, Calif., and relocated to Brownsburg when he was 8. Still counts.
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