The Cavaliers were in desperate need for a shooting guard. They decided to sign a player who knew their system and was riding an incredible high in the D-League.
Guard Manny Harris was signed to a 10-day contract on Tuesday. Harris, 22, who played 54 games with the Cavs last season, was named D-League Performer of the Week with the Canton Charge.
The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder averaged 41 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.5 steals in two games last week. That included his 46-point outburst against Rio Grande Valley last Thursday, the second-highest total in the D-League this season.
"He had unbelievable numbers," Charge coach Alex Jensen told the Canton Repository. "He's the one guy who can change the course of a game by himself, and not just offensively. He's one of the few guys who can rebound it, bring it up and score it."
Harris didn't play in Tuesday's 101-100 victory over the Detroit Pistons. He hopes to get some playing time on Wednesday in the Cavs home game against New Orleans.
He became the 27th player called up from the D-League this season. He will wear No. 6 for the Cavs. In 17 games (12 starts) with the Charge this season, Harris averaged 21.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals in 32.9 minutes per game. He shot 47 percent from the field. Harris was ranked third in the D-League in scoring.
He averaged 5.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 54 games (15 starts) with the Cavs last season. He shot just 37.4 percent from the field and turned the ball over too much for the Cavs' liking.
He had quite a tumultuous preseason. He was sidelined with a foot ulcer on his right foot that occurred in a workout at Nike headquarters in Portland, Ore., in November. He missed all of training camp.
That led the Cavs to keep undrafted free agent Mychel Thompson instead of Harris coming out of training camp. Harris was waived on Dec. 22. Thompson, though, wasn't the answer, either, and was waived on Feb. 6.
The Cavs' roster now stands at 15.
The timing on the signing of Harris is a bit peculiar, since four days of his 10-day contract will be eaten up by the All-Star break.
The signing was first reported by Cavs owner Dan Gilbert on Twitter.
NOTES, QUOTES
Irving excited to participate in Skills Challenge
--G Kyrie Irving said he was honored to be one of six players selected for the Skills Challenge on Saturday in Orlando, Fla., during All-Star weekend. The rest of the field includes Golden State's Stephen Curry, the defending champion, San Antonio's Tony Parker, Washington's John Wall, Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook and New Jersey's Deron Williams. Irving becomes the third player in Cavs' history to be invited to participate in the skills challenge. The others were Mo Williams (2009) and LeBron James (2006 and 2007). "It's a great honor to be picked in my first year," he said. "I'm excited to be a part of Saturday night. It's a great group. I'm surprised I'm the only rookie in there. I thought Ricky (Rubio) would do it." With the way he played on Tuesday, he could make a case for being in the All-Star game. He had 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter of the Cavs' 101-100 win over Detroit.
--Coach Byron Scott said he's returning to Los Angeles for the All-Star break. His daughter, LonDen, is having a baby shower on Sunday. Scott is going to be a grandfather in April. He's already bought $1,000 worth of baby clothes. He said he'll also get in a few rounds of golf while he's home.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think the more you dribble the ball at the free-throw line, the more you think. Just go up there, get it, do your little routine and shoot the ball so there's less thinking. He's done better." -- Cavs coach Byron Scott, on altering Tristan Thompson's delivery at the foul line.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Daniel Gibson returned to the starting lineup for the Detroit game on Tuesday. He had missed the previous two games with a sprained left ankle. Gibson had eight points, four rebounds and three blocks in the Cavs' 101-100 win over Detroit on Tuesday.
--G Anthony Parker (strained lower back) wasn't as fortunate. He won't return until after the All-Star break.
--G Ben Uzoh's 10-day contract expired on Sunday and he won't be brought back at this time. Cavs scouts thought he was the best point guard available in the D-League. He didn't really get to show what he could do with the Cavs. He appeared in just two games. He averaged 2.0 points and 2.0 assists. He'll likely return to the D-League's Rio Grande Valley.
--Even though C Semih Erden has been hot and cold since moving into the starting lineup, there's been no talk about making a move to F-C Tristan Thompson. "Semih's doing great as our starting center," Thompson said. "He's a big body. He defends, rebounds (and) plays hard. I'm not worried about that." The Cavs want to see more of the 7-foot Erden. Also, coach Byron Scott hints that Thompson isn't quite ready for starter's minutes. Scott also doesn't want to mess with prosperity right now. "(The Kings game) was one of his better games," Scott said. "I thought he did a lot of good things for us, especially in the rebound department. He's just got to continue to be aggressive on that end of the floor." Neither Thompson nor Erden were very effective on Tuesday against Detroit. Erden took an elbow above his right eye and had four stitches. He had five points and three rebounds in the Cavs' 101-100 win over Detroit. Thompson was held scoreless in 20 minutes, but did have seven rebounds.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--C Anderson Varejao (broken right wrist) was injured in the Milwaukee game on Feb. 10. He'll miss four to six weeks.
--G Anthony Parker (strained lower back) has yet to practice after his back injury on Jan. 29. He practiced with the team on Monday. They hope to get him back after the All-Star break.
