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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services Missing girl's family, friends, want more info from police Couple's creativity and hard work fuel Kid Time! preschool expansion LNG project: Where the gas would flow, so would the money Time for a little winter prospecting Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Missing girl's family, friends, want more info from police Emergency Services Suspect in high-speed chase still unaccounted for Emergency services Politics and Elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means Education Traveling artist sets the stage for Ruch School amphitheater Ruch school class focuses on the natural environment Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU St. Mary's plays host to youth robotics tournament Environment Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock Jackson County holds back on enforcing GMO ban for now No fish, no funding for problem dams State News Oregon missionary deported back to U.S. faces molestation charges Poverty rate in Oregon schools jumps since 2007 Northwest poultry producers fear bird flu outbreak may hurt exports John Day loggers, conservationists cut a deal to save a mill Seaside man accused in child's death Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Patricia Ann Burton Alan Leslie Kenmoen Sharon Kay Boldt David A. Schneider Dovie Mae Stout Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Harbaugh, 49ers agree to part ways Beavers' Andersen hires offensive coaches No. 10 Beavers fall to No. 8 Vols Falls comes up big for South Medford UCLA isn’t looking back after Kentucky shellacking Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers' Andersen hires offensive coaches No. 10 Beavers fall to No. 8 Vols UCLA isn’t looking back after Kentucky shellacking No. 1 Kentucky holds off No. 4 Louisville Winston is in his 'sanctuary' at Rose Bowl Pro Sports Harbaugh, 49ers agree to part ways Raptors halt Clippers' home streak NBA’s trading season has started early Ryan cleans out office, awaits his fate Garrett refused to give up on Cowboys Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape Business Latest Stories LNG project: Where the gas would flow, so would the money Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center opens in Medford Silvio Calabi: GLA250 is a Merc for the masses Blog: The Holidays Have Arrived Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Real Estate News Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate More sales, but no change in residential housing median price People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 Transportation Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Opinion Latest Our View: Council is barking up the right tree Letters to the Editor, Dec. 28 Another View: Jeb Bush's Republican primary hurdles Dana Milbank: Larry Klayman's legal massacre Robert Samuelson: The best stats of 2014 Editorials Our View: Council is barking up the right tree Other Views: Roseburg VA director sets the right goals Our View: Thanks to four departing leaders Other Views: Yes, Virginia ... Our View: Small post offices no longer practical Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 28 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 26 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 25 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 24 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 23 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Time for a year-end memory workout This local dog has his say Blog: BOOK IT! Friday: Last 3-Team Parlay of 2014 Keeps the Empties in the Garage Longer Community blog: Why New Year�s Resolutions Don�t Work and What to Do Instead Fishing report: Friday, Dec. 26 Food Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Kitchen Call: The comfort of creamy soups Community blog: Baking contest finalists combine cookies, candies Community blog: 'Cookbook Book' digests genre's past 300 years Community blog: Liver pat� an easy nosh for Hanukkah and beyond Home and Garden Dear Monty: Can a rookie real estate agent be a good choice? Bathtub or shower: What’s best for you? Home Help: Home safety tips for a safe and happy winter season How NOT to install drywall Dear Monty: Siblings dispute inherited real estate Health Community blog: Why New Year�s Resolutions Don�t Work and What to Do Instead Community blog: I Get It. Took a While. Health Watch: Small diet changes can make a big difference Community blog: Removing Barriers Is Good Insurance Health Watch: Change up your treadmill workout Hiking Biking Faith (No heading) Churches, synagogs host seasonal events Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Milestones and Achievements Pear Blossom queen has open heart surgery Hundreds enjoy Christmas dinner, gifts at St. Vincent de Paul SinceYou Asked: SBA would work with Mt. Ashland Ski Area about loan Fans, friends and family welcome home victorious SOU team at airport Wedding: Boldt-Mahon Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews SugarBeats headline an all-ages dance party at Historic Ashland Armory In the Pocket releases 'I Got News' Live Music in Local Clubs Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Theater ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Music SugarBeats headline an all-ages dance party at Historic Ashland Armory In the Pocket releases 'I Got News' Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present 'The Holly and the Ivy' Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Community Events Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dancing People Company celebrates the solstice Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Dining Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Coffee shops roll out holiday-inspired drinks Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Council is barking up the right tree ... Suspect in high-speed chase still unaccounted for ... Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center opens in Medford ... Our View: Council is barking up the right tree ... Suspect in high-speed chase still unaccounted for ... Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center opens in Medford ... COMMENTARY NBA's trading season has started early Comment By Jason Lloyd Akron Beacon Journal MailTribune.com By Jason Lloyd Akron Beacon Journal Posted Dec. 27, 2014 @ 7:30 pm By Jason Lloyd Akron Beacon Journal Posted Dec. 27, 2014 @ 7:30 pm » Social News The NBA landscape today looks an awful lot like the real estate market: Location is everything. That’s particularly true in Cleveland, where location has twice blessed the NBA franchise that resides here. Simply being the birthplace of LeBron James (or close to it) was enough to entice the world’s best player to come home; and being east of the Mississippi has provided the Cavs with precious time to help find their footing in their first year as contenders. The Cavs entered the weekend 18-11 and comfortably secure as the fifth seed in the East. That same record in the West would give them a slim hold on the seventh seed and very much fighting just to make the playoffs. But the clock is speeding up on all teams this season — East and West — and the Cavs are about to get caught in the vortex. Anderson Varejao’s season-ending Achilles injury has intensified the team’s need for a big man. It’s too early to say if Varejao’s injury will increase the price on available big men, but the Cavs are trying to stay patient and assess what they have before spending. They might not be able to wait long. The competitiveness of the West is hastening the market. “You’re going to see more activity ahead of the trade deadline this year,” one rival head coach predicted recently. “Teams in the West can’t wait. If you’re .500 [in the West] and you wait until the trade deadline, you might be too late.” Evidence of that is already surfacing. Rajon Rondo was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, Corey Brewer was dealt to the Houston Rockets and now Josh Smith has signed with the Rockets — all within the last 10 days. Two of those three moved to the West from the East, further widening the gap between the haves and have-nots. The imbalance between the conferences seems to expand every year. The eighth seed in the East has averaged between 38 and 39 victories in the past 10 full (non-lockout) seasons. A total of 10 teams in the past decade have made the playoffs with a losing record. Eighth seeds in the West, conversely, have averaged 46 wins the past 10 years. Twice 50-win teams had to settle for an eighth seed and that doesn’t include the Mavericks, who needed 49 wins just to hold off the Phoenix Suns for the final playoff spot last season. The lower half of the East is in a constant rebuild. A couple of teams (the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics) in contention to make the playoffs aren’t even trying to win. The Celtics entered the weekend just 1 1/2 games behind the Brooklyn Nets for a playoff spot and they will move anything not nailed down. One rival front office executive recently predicted Jeff Green will follow Rondo out the door and there have already been whispers the Celtics would be open to moving Brandan Wright, whom they just acquired in the Rondo deal. The Indiana Pacers are struggling through an identity crisis after the loss of Paul George and the Charlotte Bobcats are a dysfunctional mess after making the playoffs last season. Yet both teams entered Friday with 10-19 records and only three games out of the final playoff spot. The Nets, who currently hold the eighth seed, are on pace to win just 36 games. That would be the lowest win total for a playoff team since 2004 when the Celtics made it in with 36 victories. All of which means the Cavs have plenty of time to figure out their defensive woes, and judging by recent performances, they’re going to need it. Compile a list of all big men making $5.2 million or less (the value of their trade exception) and the Cavs were calling all of them to check the price and availability long before Varejao’s injury. “We’re not that good right now,” James said following the Cavs’ Christmas Day loss to the Miami Heat. “We’ve won some really good games, we’ve lost some games, but we’re not that good right now.” He doubled down when asked about it again on Friday: “We’re nowhere near championship ball,” he said. Yet the Cavs have something the Rockets, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors can never obtain: Time. They’re one hot streak from challenging the Toronto Raptors for the best record in the East, yet even if they continue to sputter, it’s hard to see them slipping beyond the fifth seed. It’s clear at this point the Cavs are not a completed product. This is still a flawed roster despite a Big Three. And although the schedule or East standings won’t force them to move quickly on Varejao’s replacement, the market might. Buyers in the West are already lining up and closing deals. The same that is true of the ultra-competitive West can also apply to the Cavs in a supply-and-demand sort of way: If they wait until the trade deadline, it might be too late. By Jason Lloyd Akron Beacon Journal MailTribune.com By Jason Lloyd Akron Beacon Journal Posted Dec. 27, 2014 @ 7:30 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Week 17 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Dec. 28, 2014 at 10:00 am Last-Minute Outlook for Fantasy Flex Players Dec. 28, 2014 at 9:00 am Last-Minute Fantasy Advice for Week 17 Dec. 28, 2014 at 7:00 am Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 17 Dec. 27, 2014 at 12:00 pm Final NFL Week 17 Odds Projections and Fantasy Stars to Watch Dec. 27, 2014 at 10:00 am Fantasy Football Daily League Guide to Week 17 Dec. 27, 2014 at 8:06 am calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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