While We’re Waiting… Friday grab-bag

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

“Someone WILL give J.R. Smith in excess of $10 million. Someone might even give Josh Smith a max deal (though, I don’t think it’s collusion to suggest that NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND SHOULD). None of these people will be Chris Grant, though. The Cavs’ free agent targets should look a bit more in-focus now with Brown and his organizational philosophy entrenched. In fact, their free agent targets will be very much in line with their draft targets: long, versatile wing players and bigs who can defend and protect the rim. Remember these three key words: Defense, Length and… well, Defense. These are the “Mike Brown Guys.” As the off-season progresses, we’ll talk about restricted free agents and who the Cavs might target with trades, but, for my initial run at being Chris Grant’s personal shopper, here’s a look at the Unrestricted Mike Brown Guys…” [Attenweiler/Cavs the Blog]

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Checking in on Lindor– “Cleveland Indians prized shortstop prospect, Francisco Lindor, just wrapped up an impressive April hitting .341, with a home run, 10 RBI, seven stolen bases and .911 OPS in 24 games.

That is about as impressive a showing a top prospect can have, making his High-A debut and as one of the youngest players in the league at 19 years of age. Then again, nothing he does should come as a surprise, because he is that talented and barring injury he is on the road to future stardom in the major leagues.” [Lastoria/Fox Sports]

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“Finds Talent: Satisfactory. Pass rusher Barkevious Mingo joins free agent Paul Kruger on what should be a scary front seven. Safety Jamoris Slaughter gets high marks for his ability to play all over the field and come up in option run support, which is needed in the post-Kaepernick landscape. Pass rusher Armonty Bryant of East Central sounds like an interesting duck (top athlete with lots of injuries, transfers and weed in his background), and small-school experts say he is an athlete worth taking a chance on.

Meets Needs: Needs Improvement. The Browns need a quarterback, whether they care to admit it or not, and they ignored the position in a draft where developmental starters were available in the fourth round. They also needed a cornerback with higher upside than Leon McFadden, a Senior Bowl standout whose size will limit him in the NFL. Mingo made a strong front seven stronger, which is great, but the Browns do not want to be the Jets of the Cuyahoga.” [Tanier/Sports on Earth]

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Now that we don’t have to root for them to win anymore (draft pick secured), is it time to enjoy the demise of the Lakers? “This is the current state of the NBA’s biggest franchise: They were just swept out of the first round for the first time since 1967 (i.e. season five of Mad Men) . They’re carrying a staggering $100 million in salary in a league where the salary cap is around $58 million. Their talismanic star is a 34-year-old who just suffered a season, perhaps career, ending Achilles injury. And a succession struggle akin to the war of the roses rages behind the scenes. All of which is to say: the Lakers have some work to do, and not a lot of time or options with which to do it. Presenting, for your schadenfreude, the GQ Lakers-franchise power rankings—your character guide to the most fascinatingly fucked-up team in sports.” [Concepcion/GQ]

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Finally, a must-watch story on Ohio State Alumni David Mellor, Fenway’s groundskeeper. Unbelievable what he’s gone through. [E:60]