Feb 2, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Marreese Speights (15) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Marreese Speights needs to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers long term, and he proved that Monday night by making all 10 of his first-half attempts from the field. He totaled 21 points and five rebounds in that same time frame, as he started in place of the ill Tyler Zeller.

Although it would have been nice to see the Cavaliers come away with a victory, Speights showed the Wine and Gold on Monday night why they should lock him up for this season. Even though he was held to four shot attempts in the second half, Speights was extremely effective in both phases of the game early on. His jumper was perfect and he got physical down low by drawing and-one calls.

Speights is averaging 12.6 points and 6.2 rebounds, while shooting 76.5 from the free throw line and 46.0 percent from the field since joining the Cavs. He also provides the spark of energy that has been lacking since Anderson Varejao went down for the season.

Since Wayne Ellington and Speights joined the Cavaliers, the tides have turned tremendously. The team has gone 9-8 in the 17 games that Speights and Ellington have donned the Wine and Gold. Many were saying that the Cavaliers are finally starting to get it together, and they credit it to the additions of two great role players.

In my opinion, Speights is the player you want to try and lock up first. After seeing both of them play on Monday night, Speights adds so many dimensions to the Cavaliers’ game plans. We all know that he can hit from anywhere inside the arc and that he can finish games well, but the former Memphis Grizzlies power forward was involved in moving the ball on most offensive possessions that ended in scores. Luke Walton and Kyrie Irving were the same way, but Speights brought chemistry to an unfamiliar territory in no time. I can’t say that same about Ellington.

Even though I would take Ellington over Daniel Gibson, I would not take him over a player like C.J. Miles – a player who is extremely streaky in two ways None of these players are locked in as permanent fixtures in the future of the team, but I think a guy like Speights is being considered in the mix. A strong last month and a half will only help his cause.

Shaun Livingston is a player who might be worthy of earning a contract next season as well. He has been the most consistent backup point guard to Kyrie all season, outlasting guys like Jeremy Pargo. Livingston’s stats may not show it, but he plays smart basketball and makes the players around him better.

Since joining the Cavs he has played about 21 minutes in his 28 games (three of which are starts), is shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 82.6 percent from the charity stripe and is averaging 5.9 points, 3.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds. These aren’t terrific stats, but his impact on the game reaches levels both on and off the court. He’s a valuable player to have around; at least until we find a long-term backup to the injury-riddled Kyrie.

Dec 16, 2011; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trailblazers center Greg Oden (52) poses for a photo during media day at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat seem to be the only two teams in the race for former Ohio State center Greg Oden. According to The Plain Dealer, Oden’s agent, Mike Conley Sr., says that the former Ohio State star would love to stay instate and play for the Cavaliers. This could be a best-case scenario for both parties, as Oden is trying to rebuild his resume after a first failed attempt at playing in the NBA – and Cleveland is a good team to find minutes to achieve that goal.

Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports reported on Tuesday that the leaders in the Oden sweepstakes – if that’s what you want to deem it – are the Cavaliers and Heat. His last, and also third, microfracture knee surgery was in February 2012, and he hasn’t played in the NBA since December of 2009. According to the Associated Press, the Cavaliers are considering signing Oden, but it all depends on the health of the troubled center.

Grantland writer Mark Titus had a good one-on-one interview experience with Oden, who averaged 15.7 point, 9.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks, while shooting 61.6 percent from the field in one season as a Buckeye. There has always been controversy surrounding the seven footer, such as leaked naked pictures, three microfracture surgeries – totaling 338 missed games – an injured wrist, problems with alcohol and an untrustworthy medical staff.

Oden was picked No. 1 overall in the 2007 draft over Kevin Durant, but has not at all panned out in the NBA. In two seasons and 82 games with the Portland Trial Blazers, Oden averaged 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. The pressure of always being compared to Durant and the eagerness people displayed when rushing him back from a surgery make these numbers look insignificant. After not being able to recover fully from rehab due to coming back too soon from surgery, Oden’s NBA career stalled on March 15, 2012 after the Trail Blazers released him. He decided to move back to Columbus for rehab on his knee and to work at a degree at Ohio State, but not attempt an NBA comeback until the end of the 2012-13 season. It seems that he is early on his projection, as he should be signing with a team any day now.

Going to the Cavaliers would make sense if Oden wants to have the best chance to revitalize his career, but if he wants to compete for a championship and possibly get lost in the star-studded Heat roster, than there’s always the latter option as well. Even though the addition of Marreese Speights added much needed depth to Cleveland’s frountcourt, having another big man like Oden on the bench could give starters Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller more rest and would keep Walton from filling in for the big man role from time to time. Cleveland did move power forward Kevin Jones to Canton again. That is a tactic that they used when dealing with the Memphis Grizzlies to free up room on the roster. Jones being sent down could mean that the Cavs are about to deal once again or sign a free agent such as Oden. We will keep you updated as much as possible as more information is made available to us at Right Down Euclid.

November 7, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Samardo Samuels (24) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) during the first quarter at ORACLE Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Samardo Samuels hasn’t seen much action throughout the first 30 games of the NBA season. He has seen time in just over half of the games that the Wine and Gold have been apart of thus far, logging on average 10.9 minutes in the 18 games in which he has played in. For now, Samuels will be assigned to the Canton Charge and will play in the game against the Tulsa 66ers, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s D-League team, on Friday per Cavs General Manager Chris Grant.

Grant will also be attendance in Friday night’s game, which will take place at the Canton Memorial Civic Center with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. This will be the first of back-to-back games against the 66ers, who boast rookie Perry Jones III and second-year players Jeremy Lamb and Reggie Jackson on their roster. Grant being in attendance and assigning Samuels to the Charge could be an attempt to test the three young players and see them compete up close.

Ever since Anderson Varejao started the season with a slew of impressive rebounding and scoring efforts, trade rumors involving the Brazilian star intensified. The Thunder was once one of those teams that surfaced in those reports. Varejao, who has missed the last four games and will miss both games this weekend, is currently averaging 14.1 points and 14.4 rebounds.

Jones, Lamb and Jackson have all contributed greatly to Tulsa’s success through 11 games this season. The most recent assignee, Jackson has averaged 28.0 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds in three D-League games while shooting 60 percent form the field. Jones, who has played one more game with the 66ers than Jackson, is averaging 11.5 points and 5.3 rebounds. Lamb, who has contributed in seven Tulsa games, is averaging 23.0 points, while shooting 35.7 percent from three. Grant will be keeping an eye on these three players as possible trade pieces in a Varejao deal.

Samuels will look to get back to where he was at during Summer League play, when he averaged 12.2 points and 6.8 rebounds. In his time with the Cavs this season, he has only managed to average 3.2 points and 1.6 rebounds. Granted he has seen limited playing time and the quality of play between Summer League squads and the NBA is immeasurable, I still thought that Samuels would see more action than Coach Byron Scott has utilized him in so far.

Dec 12, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Wizards point guard Shaun Livingston (14) dribbles against the Houston Rockets during the fourth quarter at the Toyota Center. The Rockets won 99-93. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

On a different note, the Cavaliers displayed a perfect example of how tough of a business the NBA can be at times. Point guard Donald Sloan was waived on Christmas in order to pick up former Washington Wizards point guard Shaun Livingston, who was waived on December 23. I would assume that Sloan will be picked up by the Charge relatively soon, but it has to be tough getting that call on Christmas day.

Livingston, who suffered one of the most excruciating knee injuries ever to happen in an NBA game in 2007, has been trying to make a comeback ever since going down. Things haven’t gone as the former No. 4 overall pick would have liked, but at least he is giving an effort. His addition adds much-needed size to the Cavs roster, as he is a 6-7 guard who can run the point. In 17 games this season, he has averaged 3.7 points, 2.2 assists and 2.2 rebounds with the Wizards. He has yet to see any action with the Wine and Gold thus far since being added to the roster.

We will see what comes of Samuels and Livingston this weekend as far as playing time goes, when the Cavs host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and travel to face the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.