The Cavaliers waived forward Jason Kapono on Saturday and signed shooting guard Manny Harris for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.

Harris most recently completed a second 10-day contract with the Cavs on March 11. He has appeared in just three games this season.

Kapono was acquired on Thursday, along with forward Luke Walton, the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick this summer and cash in exchange for guard Ramon Sessions and guard/forward Christian Eyenga.

The money acquired from the Lakers was probably enough to pay off what was left on Kapono’s contract (approximately $400,000).

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (19-24) 115, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (16-25) 105
Bradley Center
Wednesday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs dropped two games behind the Bucks for the No. 8 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It might be difficult to catch up to the Bucks. They've got better players and more of them, especially after their trade on Tuesday when they added Monta Ellis, Kwame Brown and Ekpe Udoh from the Warriors.

The Bucks have taken on the identity of their hard-nosed coach, Scott Skiles. Like Byron Scott, he's not easy to play for.

The Bucks have had some injury problems, most notably to center Andrew Bogut. They took care of that problem on Tuesday when they traded the 7-foot center and malcontent Stephen Jackson to Golden State. None of the Bucks players were active on Wednesday, and they didn't need them.

They outscored the Cavs, 58-50, in the second half to leave them in their dust. The difference in the game was center Drew Gooden, who recorded his second career triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and matched his career high with 13 assists.

The former Cavs forward/center now has two career triple-doubles, both against the Cavs. The 6-foot-10, 250-pounder has become a very efficient player, who now passes like a point guard. He also had two blocks and a steal.

The Bucks, of course, aren't the only team the Cavs must leapfrog if they are to snag the eighth spot in the East. New York is also ahead of them. The Knicks started the night at 18-24, and now have a new coach in Mike Woodson. They parted ways with Coach Mike D'Antoni on Wednesday, which may or may not help their playoff cause.

The Cavs could change radically in the next 24 hours with the trade deadline looming. GM Chris Grant is certainly trying to get something done. Guard Ramon Sessions is rumored to be traded to the Lakers.

They have their hands in several possible deals right now. It still remains to be seen if they can get a first-round pick in return. They are certainly trying. My guess right now is that they can't.

I've been hearing Daniel Gibson's name floating around, as well. He was 5 of 8 from the 3-point arc against the Bucks en route to 18 points, one off his season high.

Guard Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 28 points, but he also committed eight of the Cavs' 14 turnovers.

The Cavs have allowed 30 offensive rebounds in the last two nights, both losses. They got decked on the boards against Milwaukee, 49-34. Their leading rebounds on the night were Alonzo Gee and Antawn Jamison with five apiece. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs host Atlanta at 3 p.m. Sunday at Quicken Loans Arena. 

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Tobias Harris (6-8, 226)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Ersan Ilyasova (6-10, 235)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Drew Gooden (6-10, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Carlos Delfino (6-6, 230)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Brandon Jennings (6-1, 169) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, F Luke Harangody 
Bucks - C Kwame Brown, G Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh 
OFFICIALS
Michael Smith, David Jones, Kevin Scott

TORONTO RAPTORS (14-28) 96, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (16-24) 88
Quicken Loans Arena
Tuesday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs definitely owe one to the Raptors, but they'll have to wait until April 6 in Toronto.

The Raptors have won three games against the Cavs by a combined 31 points this season.

It's mostly a matchup problem. The Raptors score so effortlessly against the Cavs.

Coach Byron Scott said he can't understand the relative ease in which the Raptors have beaten the Cavs this year.

"There are always teams that have your number," Scott said.

It starts with power forward Andrea Bargnani, who does whatever he wants against Cavs power forward Antawn Jamison on the defensive end. Jamison outscored him, 20-19, but failed to grab a rebound.

There were several numbers that jumped off the box score: 14 offensive rebounds for the Raptors, 38.2 percent shooting from the field for the Cavs and 20 percent from the 3-point line.

The Cavs lucked out with point guard Jose Calderon's ankle injury. Jerryd Bayless fired in 20 points and dished out seven assists in the starting lineup. One could make a case that he was the best player on the court.

It certainly wasn't Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving, who shot 5 of 17 from the field. He said the rookie wall is a myth. Then in his next breath, he said he hasn't hit it yet.

There was no fourth quarter magic for Irving on this night. He missed all five of his shots in the fourth and had two points. He came into the game averaging 9.1 points in the fourth quarter of his previous 17 games.

Overall, Irving has been struggling a bit. In his last four games, he's shooting just 31.8 percent from the field (14 of 44). 

UP NEXT: The Cavs will travel to Milwaukee at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bradley Center. 

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. James Johnson (6-9, 248)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Andrea Bargnani (7-0, 256)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Amir Johnson (6-9, 210)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. DeMar DeRozan (6-7, 216)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Jerryd Bayless (6-3, 208) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, F Luke Harangody
Raptors - G Jose Calderon, G Anthony Carter 
OFFICIALS

Michael Smith,

David Jones,

Kevin Scott

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (16-23) 118, HOUSTON ROCKETS (22-20) 107
Quicken Loans Arena
Sunday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs have now won three in a row, but all the talk after the game was the trade deadline. We're only days away from the deadline. Will the Cavs trade Ramon Sessions or Antawn Jamison?

Point guard Kyle Lowry, once signed to an offer sheet by the Cavs, is in the hospital with a stomach problem. His absence made a big difference for the Rockets, even though they dished out 25 assists.

Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving did play, but not as well as fans have been accustomed. But once the fourth quarter arrived, he was his normal self. He scored 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Guard Manny Harris' second 10-day contract expired after Sunday's game. The Cavs didn't suppress the news. Harris sat down in his locker and said he had been let go.

He said he's not sure what he's going to do, other than wait until after the trade deadline to make a decision. Heck, the Cavs could bring him back at a later day, but they'd have to sign him for the rest of the season.

The Cavs like the fact that they have an open roster spot in case they pull off a two-for-one deal at the deadline. Harris said he might return to the D-League Canton Charge at a later date. I wish they could have given him more of a chance. He played only three games during his two 10-day contracts.

My guess is the Cavs are going to do something tradewise. They are trying really hard to get another first-round pick. They aren't having any luck. They could acquire a young player with their cap space.

Hornets center Emeka Okafor's name has been kicked around. It sounds like they might have some interest in absorbing his massive contract. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs host Toronto at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena. 

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Chandler Parsons (6-9, 227)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Luis Scola (6-9, 245)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Samuel Dalembert (6-11, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Kevin Martin (6-7, 185)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Goran Dragic (6-3, 190) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, F Luke Harangody
Rockets - G Terrence Williams, G Kyle Lowry 
OFFICIALS
Tom Washington, Sir Allen Conner, Mark Lindsay

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (15-23) 96, OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (31-9) 90
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Friday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: If anyone can figure out this team, please let me know. After losing six games in a row and looking like it was ready to go belly-up, the Cavs went on the road and beat Denver and Oklahoma City.

The Thunder had won 14 in a row at home. They also had an NBA-best 17-1 record at home. So, the Cavs come in and just take it to the Thunder.

It was perhaps their biggest win of the season. Some numbers just jump off the box score: The Cavs had 13 steals. They outrebounded Oklahoma City, 51-32. The Cavs had 21 offensive rebounds. Kyrie Irving had a career-high 12 assists.

These came against a team that could emerge from the Western Conference this season and make it to the NBA Finals. The Thunder not only have size, athleticism and talent, they have depth. They are also well-coached by Scottie Brooks.

It adds up to a team that could win the NBA championship.

The Cavs are now 7-11 on the road. It's not much worse than they are at home (8-12).

One reason they won was Alonzo Gee's defensive performance against Thunder All-Star Kevin Durant, who came into the game averaging 28.1 points per game, second only to Kobe Bryant in the NBA scoring race. KD must have felt as if Gee was glued to him all night. Durant finished with a game-high 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. But he had two or three baskets late after the game had already been decided.

The Cavs also got good games from shooting guard Anthony Parker (14 points) and center Ryan Hollins (11 points, six rebounds). Also, forward/center Tristan Thompson snapped out of a mini-slump with five points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

When the Cavs come out and decide they want to play hard, they are quite competitive. They also won without a big offensive game from Irving, who had just nine points. He did have three steals and six rebounds. He made just 4 of 12 from the field.

In Irving's last 17 games, he's averaging 8.7 points in the fourth quarter - tops in the NBA. He was limited to just five in the fourth quarter on Friday.

In the last three minutes this season, he's averaging 3.4 points, third most in the league.

Forward Antawn Jamison, though, is on quite a roll for the Cavs. He's averaging 23.5 points and 8.2 rebounds in his last 10 games.


UP NEXT: The Cavs host Houston at 6 p.m. Sunday at Quicken Loans Arena. 

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Kevin Durant (6-9, 235)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Serge Ibaka (6-10, 235)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Kendrick Perkins (6-10, 270)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Daequan Cook (6-5, 210)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Russell Westbrook (6-3, 187) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, F Luke Harangody
Thunder - G Eric Maynor, G Thabo Sefolosha 
OFFICIALS

James Capers,  Matt Boland,  Tony Brown

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (14-23) 100, DENVER NUGGETS (22-18) 99
Pepsi Center
Wednesday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: This was one of the most exciting games of the season. Remember, the Nuggets have had the Cavs' number over the years. They came into Wednesday's game having won four in a row over the Cavs in the lopsided series, as well as eight of their last 10.

They pounded the Cavs twice last season and averaged 122 points in the two games. Denver scored 80 points in the first half of the Jan. 15, 2011, game, a franchise record for a Cavs' opponent.

The Cavs have never matched up well against the Nuggets. Never have and probably never will. They didn't compete very well when LeBron James was on the team. It must be the high altitude.

So, what happens on Wednesday? The Cavs came out ready to play. were actually aggressive and played rugged defense. It's about darn time! I have a feeling it was because of some guy that had No. 2 on his jersey.

Cavs coach Byron Scott made two significant moves to his starting lineup. He didn't have many more buttons to push. It was up to the players to start earning their money, and they did.

They snapped a six-game losing streak. Forward Antawn Jamison was fantastic with a game-high 33 points, one off his season high. He made 11 of 21 from the field.

He's right on guard Kyrie Irving's tail for the team's scoring lead, 18.6-18.3.

Irving, once again, was great in the fourth quarter. He scored the winning basket with 4 seconds left, and then defended Ty Lawson on an ill-fated layup attempt at the final buzzer. He was playing with five personal fouls, too.

He ended with 18 points, five rebounds, eight assists and three steals. he was 8 of 16 from the field. This kid has made a major impact on the Cavs.

Forward Alonzo Gee, in his third game as the starting small forward, added 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a game-high four steals and one block. He is definitely a keeper.

Part of the Cavs' recent problem is at shooting guard where none of their players can seemingly make a shot. That's not a good thing. Anthony Parker and Boobie Gibson are slumping. Manny Harris should be given a chance. Do you really want to see more minutes for AP? This is his last year with the team - we're assuming - and possibly in the NBA. Harris could be someone you want to bring back next year. He has some future in the league, but it won't be realized sitting on the bench.

Some new blood is needed at shooting guard in the worst way.

That takes us to the center position. Ryan Hollins, Semih Erden and Samardo Samuels can't get the job done. Clear them out. Give them a one-way ticket out of town after the season.

I have to tell you, I don't like how Irving has been starting games. He tries to get his teammates involved instead of just coming out firing. This team is so inept offensively, he's one of the few players who can score. What's he trying to do, get AP or Hollins going? C'mon. Shoot the ball and get to the basket. That's the only way the Cavs will have a chance. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Oklahoma City at 8 p.m. Friday at Chesapeake Energy Arena. 

STARTERS

SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Corey Brewer (6-9, 188)

PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kenneth Faried (6-8, 228)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Nene (6-11, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Aaron Afflalo (6-5, 215)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Ty Lawson (5-11, 195) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, F Luke Harangody
Nuggets - G/F Rudy Fernandez 
OFFICIALS

Derrick Stafford,  Eric Lewis,  Tre Maddox

UTAH JAZZ (18-19) 109, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (13-23) 100

Quicken Loans Arena
Monday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Jazz are the last-place team in the Northwest Division. The Cavs appear to be heading there unless they find a way to right the ship. They have lost six in a row and are starting to show their blemishes.

Coach Byron Scott made two significant changes to the starting lineup. The new starters are Alonzo Gee at small forward and Ryan Hollins at center. It's hard to figure just what's next.

This team looks like it could go belly-up. Something drastic needs to happen to snap them out of this tail spin.

They went into the game knowing they had to hold down the Jazz's two frontcourt brutes - Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. But both big men did what they wanted. Jefferson had a game-high 25 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. Magnificent night.

He got little resistance from Hollins, who finished with three points and four rebounds in 27 minutes. This team needs to find another quality big either in the draft, free agency or via trade. It probably won't happen at the trade deadline, just nine days away.

They are expected to be sellers and not buyers at the deadline, if they do anything at all. I have serious doubts they can get a first-round pick for Ramon Sessions, but it could happen.


The Jazz knocked off the Cavs on Jan. 10, 113-105. Jefferson had 22 of his season-high 30 points in the second half when the Jazz held off the Cavs.



UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Denver at 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Pepsi Center.

STARTERS

SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Josh Howard (6-7, 210)

PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Paul Millsap (6-8, 253)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Al Jefferson (6-10, 289)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Raja Bell (6-5, 210)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Devin Harris (6-3, 192) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, C Anderson Varejao 
Jazz - F DeMarre Carroll 
OFFICIALS

Ron Garretson,  Scott Wall,  Zach Zarba