Some news, notes and, you guessed it, random dribbles on the Cavaliers:
1. It's usually not big news when the Milwaukee Bucks come to town. OK, it's still not big news -- but the Bucks will be here Tuesday and they are two games better than .500. That right there actually is news. After all, the Bucks were awful last season and sport a young roster with a new coach.
2. I won't bore you with too many details. But second overall draft pick Jabari Parker is one reason to watch. He hasn't been spectacular in averaging around 12 points per game, but he has already proven to be capable of big nights and understands how to win. That's showing with the Bucks, and Parker should be a nice player in this league for a long time.
3. Of course, the Bucks also made perhaps the most controversial coaching hire in league history this past spring -- when they reached what was basically a secret-handshake agreement with Jason Kidd, the coach of the Brooklyn Nets at the time. The Kidd hiring just felt dirty -- enough that Bucks ownership felt the need to apologize. But other than that, this has gone well. Kidd has led the Bucks to a 10-8 record, including a respectable 5-5 on the road.
4. Kidd on the Bucks: "For us, every week is tough. There is no light game or no light week. It's a time to get better, and we've got Cleveland coming up next."
5. Milwaukee is 10th in the NBA in points allowed (98.3), meaning any success the Bucks have experienced is mostly the result of defense. Offensively, they still aren't too impressive -- although Kidd does have the Bucks moving the ball. They are ninth in the NBA in assists (22.2 per game).
6. Kidd also seems to have really reached point guard Brandon Knight. Not a surprise, considering Kidd was one of the league's premier point men. Knight, drafted several spots after top overall pick Kyrie Irving in 2011, is putting together his best season yet. He is averaging team-highs in both points (17.0) and assists (5.9), as well as a respectable 4.7 rebounds.
7. As for the Cavs, center Anderson Varejao (rib contusion) returned to practice Monday. He is expected to play vs. the Bucks. As far as I can tell, he will return to his starting role and Tristan Thompson will return to his reserve role. Cavs coach David Blatt said Matthew Dellavedova (knee) could return later this week as well.
8. I'm not really sure why the Cavs waived Will Cherry and re-signed A.J. Price. I thought Cherry played well. Plus, the Cavs waived Price several weeks ago. But it's one of those things where you just have to shrug your shoulders and say, "This is why I'm not an NBA general manager. I know nothing."
9. Plus, we're talking about a third-string point guard here. And I liked Price in the preseason. So when it comes to a guy at the end of the bench, I trust the Cavs know what they're doing.
10. Price appeared in 10 games for the Indiana Pacers after the Cavs waived him Nov. 1. He actually played pretty well, scoring 10.7 points with Indy. Why the Pacers let him go, again, is beyond me.
11. Blatt on Price: "He knows our system and he knows us so it was an opportunity to not lose a whole lot and bring in a quality player. That's the nature of this business sometimes. A.J. went on a little trip, did a great job and he's coming back to us happy and so are we."
12. The Cavs have placed a bid to host the 2018 All-Star Game. Bidding is just that -- there are no guarantees, and NBA officials consider multiple factors that they don't really specify. The Northeast Ohio Media group first reported news of the bid.
