Knicks 'also receiving votes' in annual National Basketball Association GM survey

LeBron James, Cleveland - 6.9%. The Cavs still need him to penetrate and create, and it will be interesting to see if Irving can be as productive playing differently.

So it is with that in mind you should evaluate what has been an nearly flawless pre-season for the re-tooled Raptors and - on paper anyway - a disastrous October for the defending Easter Conference champions. We will, of course, constantly consider what his physical state is. "I know that it would be good for the players and I also think it would be good for the fans". That's going to come with time. I'm guessing we know who Doc Rivers didn't vote for.

Almost 29 percent of National Basketball Association GM's believe that this 6-foot-10 big man is the best worldwide player not now suiting up in the states.

"We've got to change that".

But until he's back the Cavaliers will carry on, business as usual, confident that they can get where they want to go when their injuries heal, and confident that time is on their side. Love was also in the lineup against the Mavericks.

Love dislocated his left shoulder midway through the first quarter after getting tangled up with Boston's Kelly Olynyk as both players pursued a loose ball.

"The East has gotten better", he said, "and I understand not to put too much into the beginning of the season, but I'm a guy who is all about chemistry and camaraderie on the floor". "Body felt better than it has in a long time, so it was a good first step".

It was a quiet night for DeRozan and fellow starter Kyle Lowry.

Love opted out of the final year of his contract to become a free agent, but returned to Cleveland by signing a five-year, $113.2 million contract in July.

Jonas Valanciunas scored 12 points and Cory Joseph had 11 points and six assists for the Raptors. Williams is a great scoring guard and will be a suitable backup for Irving, and Jefferson is a decent small forward with great mid range shooting.

Klay Thompson issued the Warriors' response to that one, saying he "wanted to play the Clippers previous year, but they couldn't handle their business".

"I thought he was solid". The Cavaliers home opener is on October 30 against Dwyane Wade and James' former team, the Miami Heat.

He's so highly regarded in National Basketball Association circles that multiple teams have made a play for him over the past several years. Then again, the Warriors earned 3.8 percent of the vote last season, and the Spurs received 46.2% but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Considering they are still the odds-on favorites out west, that also means the likes of Kevin Durant and James Harden likely won't be able to challenge James for the award.