Cleveland Cavaliers

Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson are attached at the hip again, but only for a moment. At least for now.

We've known the exes have been spending time together while co-parenting True over the past several weeks -- but at a friend's birthday party they looked very cozy again ... with no kid in sight.

In the vid, posted by Tristan's old teammate, Jordan Clarkson ... Khloe and Tristan are standing right next to each other while singing and holding up their phones. Notably, it looks like his arm is around her.

It's not as earth-shattering as those pregnancy rumors -- which were false -- but for these 2, any news is big news. Our sources say the party was going down at Tristan's home in L.A., but despite appearances, they're not back on as a couple.

We're told Tristan sees Khloe and their daughter every day ... and the pandemic has simply given them a chance to hang out more and work on their friendship.

Our sources say they still live separately, though, and insist there's no change to their relationship status ... still just friends and co-parents.

They are together on one thing, though -- we broke the story, Khloe and Tristan threatened to sue a woman for lying and defamation after she made claims he was the father of her child. Their lawyers say that's been proven false, and Tristan did eventually sue her.

Andre Drummond says he's learned a very important lesson about the NBA -- "there's no friends or loyalty."

The 6'11" All-Star -- who's been with the Detroit Pistons since he was drafted in 2012 --ripped the team moments ago after learning he was just traded to the woeful Cleveland Cavaliers, the 2nd worst team in the NBA.

"If there’s one thing I learned about the NBA, there’s no friends or loyalty," Drummond said.

"I’ve given my heart and soul to the Pistons, and to be have this happen with no heads up makes me realize even more that this is just a business!"

Drummond added, "I love you Detroit. You will always have a special place in my heart! But on to the next @cavs hope your ready! Let’s finish the year off the right way."

The 26-year-old center is a stud -- he's a 2-time All-Star who's currently leading the league in rebounds. In fact, he went off Wednesday night against the Suns scoring 31 points and 19 boards in that game.

Chase Young -- one of the top prospects in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft -- got a taste of the Hollywood life Tuesday ... hanging with some serious power players at the Clippers game.

The former Ohio State defensive end -- likely the #2 overall pick -- was sitting courtside Tuesday at Staples Center, right next to Klutch Sports founder Rich Paul, the guy who reps LeBron James.

20-year-old Young also posed for a picture with UTA talent agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer ... while sitting in spitting distance from Disney head Bob Iger and Hollywood legend Billy Crystal.

In other words ... welcome to the A-List, Chase!

As for the game, the Clippers beat the hell out of the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers ... the Cavs' second blowout loss this week!

On Monday night, the Cavs got smacked by the Lakers at Staples Center while Kim Kardashian heckled Tristan Thompson from her courtside seats.

Kim later said it was all in good fun and she didn't mean any harm.

Cavaliers coach John Beilein was forced to apologize to his players Wednesday after he says he accidentally called them "thugs" during a team meeting.

Here's the deal ... the 66-year-old was reportedly praising his Cleveland squad during a film session when he told them they were no longer "playing like a bunch of thugs."

Obviously, the term has an offensive connotation ... and, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, players were "stunned" by their head coach's comment.

But, Beilein attempted to clear the air after Cavs general manager Koby Altman brought the situation to his attention ... with the coach saying he meant to say "slugs," not "thugs."

"I didn't realize that I had said the word 'thugs,' but my staff told me later I did and so I must have said it," Beilein told Wojnarowski on Wednesday night. "I meant to say slugs, as in slow-moving. We weren't playing hard before, and now we were playing harder. I meant it as a compliment."

Beilein said he already had personally talked to eight of his players over the alleged mix-up, adding, "they are telling me that they understand."

It's been a rough start to Beilein's NBA coaching career ... after being hired this past offseason, the ex-Michigan coach has struggled to adapt to the pros.

He's just 10-27 this season ... and has reportedly riffed with team star Kevin Love throughout his short tenure in Cleveland.

Beloved Cleveland Cavaliers play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod died suddenly Monday night ... after reportedly suffering a heart attack. He was 67 years old.

McLeod had been calling Cavs games since 2006 alongside Austin Carr ... and was a fan favorite in Cleveland.

The team released a statement Tuesday morning, saying, "The entire Cavaliers organization mourns the loss of their great friend and teammate."

"Fred’s deep love for Cleveland and the Cavaliers was clearly evident in everything he did in and around the community and on-air during his more than 1,000 Cavalier game broadcasts."

One of Fred's most legendary calls came in 2016 when the Cavs won the NBA title against the Golden State Warriors to end the city's championship drought ... screaming, "Goodnight, Oakland. It's over! The 52-year drought is over!!"

"He was a true, heart-felt ambassador for the team, fans and entire greater Cleveland community," the team said.

McLeod was preparing for his 14th straight year as the Cavs announcer on Fox Sports Ohio.

LeBron James -- who is currently vacationing in Portofino with his family -- took a moment to share his condolences ... saying "Man WHAT!!!!??? OMG this is extremely sad. @CavsFredMcLeod May you rest in Paradise my friend! @BethHMcLeod my prayers sent up above to you and your family!! #RIPFred"

Kevin Love added ... "Shocked and saddened to hear about the loss of Fred McLeod. He was a student of the game."

"He loved the CAVS but even more so the fans...Fred worked his ass off for the city of Cleveland and the NBA. Praying and sending my best to his wife Beth and kids."

"The Cavaliers extend our deepest condolences to Fred’s entire family, including his wife Beth, mother Marilyn, sister Lynn, and his three children, Sean, Jenna, Molly and each of their families."

Kevin Love just copped a custom diamond Stone Cold Steve Austin pendant for his neck ... and the piece is AWESOME!!!

The Cavs superstar has been a huge fan of Austin 3:16 for years ... so he hit up Greg Yuna & Jason “J-FROST” Adams in NYC to get his love for the wrestler memorialized in a new chain.

We're told the drip -- which was made in the guys' shop in the Diamond District -- features 7ct VS D color stones and 14kt white gold.

All total -- we're told the ice cost around $15,000.

Of course, it's a small price to pay for Love -- who's a big wrestling buff -- 'cause the guy just inked a 4-year, $120 MILLION deal with Cleveland!!!

As for Stone Cold, he approves of the bling ... writing on his social media page, "Glass shattering across the universe."

Khloe Kardashian claims Tristan Thompson went overboard in showing remorse after he confirmed he cheated on her with Jordyn Woods ... to the point where he threatened to kill himself.

On Sunday's episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," Khloe was telling Scott Disick about Tristan's text messages to her after she confronted him about his fling with Woods.

She says she got her questions answered, but then her baby daddy bombarded her with messages of regret and sorrow ... including threatening suicide.

Khloe told Disick ... "He's like, 'I can't stop thinking about you and what a mess I have caused.'" She added, "He's doing this to get a reaction out of me. Oh, so I'm just allowed to say 'I'm going to kill myself' at any time? That's crazy."

Despite her disgust over Tristan's behavior, Khloe apparently asked his friend to check on him to make sure he was okay ... which Disick said "just goes to show that Khloe is an unbelievable person that loves so hard and so much."

Scott added ... "Somehow she just keeps getting the short end of the stick, and it's unfair and it's hurtful and it's really hard to me to sit and watch."

As you know ... Jordyn and Tristan's cheating scandal broke in February, and Woods explained her side during a 'Red Table Talk' interview shortly afterward, claiming she wasn't a homewrecker and there was just one kiss.

Cleveland Cavaliers owner and billionaire businessman Dan Gilbert has been released from the hospital after suffering a stroke 3 weeks ago ... his company announced on Thursday.

Gilbert had a stroke while receiving medical treatment at a Michigan hospital on May 26. He underwent a catheter-based procedure and later moved to the Intensive Care Unit for recovery.

According to Jay Farner, CEO of Quicken, Gilbert is doing much better ... and was finally able to leave the hospital on Wednesday.

"The Gilbert family is thankful for the tremendous outpouring of support they have received," Farner says.

"Yesterday, Dan Gilbert was discharged from the hospital and will now continue focusing on his recovery at an in-patient rehabilitation center."

Gilbert bought the Cavs back in 2005 ... and is worth nearly 7 BILLION dollars.

Khloe Kardashian hit back against allegations she cheated with Tristan Thompson at the expense of his baby mama, Jordan Craig.

Khloe says she was reluctant to continue seeing Tristan when he confessed to a pregnant ex ... but believed him when he and his people told her he and his ex were done.

"He pleaded with me that the relationship was over before we met," Khloe says. She claims he showed her evidence ... and had her talking to his lawyer, mother and friends to convince her they were through.

"This is MY TRUTH," Khloe says, insisting she truly believed Tristan was single when they started dating ... and if he wasn't, she is "so completely and utterly sorry," but pins the blame on those who lied to her.

"I pray my truth is in fact that," she wrote. "Lord knows I pray but now, I really don't know what to believe."

Jordan Craig claimed in court documents obtained by Radar Online she found out Tristan was cheating just a month after discovering she was pregnant ... and said Tristan had denied even knowing Khloe before she saw them together in paparazzi pics.

Khloe, of course, would face a similar experience with Tristan on the heels of giving birth and after.

Bill Laimbeer wants to hand Michael Jordan one more "L" ... 'cause the NBA legend says LeBron James is the greatest of all time "every day of the week!!!"

Bill knows what it's like to beat MJ -- the "Bad Boys" Detroit Pistons defeated the Chicago Bulls on their way to back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990 ... and he had his fair share of tense moments with Jordan.

But, Laimbeer ain't saying this because he's still got a grudge against MJ ... telling Fox Sports Radio's "The Odd Couple" his reasoning behind his choice.

"[LeBron] came into the league involving his teammates from the start, at 18 years old," Laimbeer says.

"He understood how to play team basketball, both offensively and defensively, from day one. Jordan had to learn that."

"No one has single-handedly done what LeBron's done," he added ... noting LBJ has taken some awful teams to the NBA Finals (we're looking at you, 2007 Cavs).

As for how LBJ would fare in Laimbeer's era ... the dude is not backing down, saying straight-up, "If he was in our generation, he would've been by far the greatest that you've saw in your entire, whole world."

Jordan Clarkson is following up on his passionate nightclub speech on the late Nipsey Hussle with a more permanent tribute ... honoring the slain rapper with a tattoo on his body.

As we previously reported ... the Cleveland Cavaliers guard gave an emotional tribute to Nip at a Scottsdale nightclub hours after Hussle was murdered ... calling for an end to gang and gun violence.

Clarkson decided to go one step further to show love for Nip ... getting the rapper's face tattooed on his left arm on Wednesday ... along with "TMC," for Hussle's "The Marathon Continues" slogan.

JC already has a bunch of body art -- he's almost fully covered now -- but this one has to mean a lot to the baller, hitting up Canada-based artist Steve Wiebe for the job.

You've probably seen Wiebe's work before -- he also works with stars like Future, Kelly Oubre Jr., Rita Ora and P.J. Tucker.

Clarkson joins fellow NBAer J.R. Smith with the permanent tribute to Nip ... who also paid homage with body art.

#RIP

"N****s killed my motherf**kin' uncle, n****. F**k that. Why we doin' this s**t? Why we doing it? Why we killing each other? Why we killing black people, n****?"

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson is completely fed up after Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed on Sunday ... grabbing the mic at a Scottsdale nightclub to give a heartfelt speech about gun and gang violence.

"Why the f**k we doing that s**t? Why we hating on all the black people that's successful? F**k that s**t. That's my motherf**kin' uncle," Clarkson yells to the crowd.

Clarkson and the Cavs are in town for their game against the Suns on Monday ... and the 26-year-old hit up International Boutique Nightclub on Sunday night, just hours after the rapper was killed.

Of course, the NBAer played for the Lakers from 2014-2018 -- and says he was close to the L.A. rapper. The 2 have exchanged props on social media in the past as well.

Clarkson added ..."I bang with all the sets. you got me f**ked up n****. Real talk, n****, that's on gang. Dont f**k with that s**t, bro, real talk."

TMZ broke the story ... the rapper was shot to death Sunday afternoon in front of his store, The Marathon Clothing, in L.A.'s Hyde Park neighborhood. Paramedics tried to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital. He was just 33.

Tristan Thompson suffered the consequences of hooking up with Jordyn Woods, and this time it was on the hardwood of L.A.

Tristan was at Staples Center Saturday night, where the Cleveland Cavaliers got creamed by the Clippers.

The video is amazing ... as Tristan stands at the free throw line during the 4th quarter, the crowd loudly chants, "Khloe, Khloe, Khloe!!!" They clearly got in his head, because he missed both shots.

The crowd booed him the entire game, and it worked. The Clippers trounced the Cavaliers 108 to 132.

There is a serious rupture in one of the most enduring relationships in Hollywood, because Jada Pinkett Smith has made a move signaling what could be the end of her relationship with longtime, close pal Kris Jenner, as well as Kim and Khloe Kardashian ... TMZ has learned.

Jada has JUST unfollowed Kris, Khloe and Kim on Instagram, and our sources say it's all over the fallout involving Jordyn Woods.

As you know, Jada and Will are all but family to Jordyn ... she calls Will her Uncle. Jordyn broke her silence over the Tristan Thompson scandal by appearing on Jada's "Red Table Talk" show, and Jada was sympathetic.

We're told Jada has made it clear to a number of people ... she feels everyone should put it behind them, but clearly, the Kardashians are still angry, as you can see from the promo for the new season of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." In the promo, you hear Khloe say Jordyn "ruined" their family.

As you know by now, after Jordyn hooked up -- in some form -- with Tristan last month, she became persona non grata with the Kardashian family. Jordyn had been living in Kylie's guest house but was almost immediately declared unwelcome. She hasn't even come back to pick up her stuff.

Jada and Kris have been tight for many, many years ... even vacationing together.

We're told the conflict goes way beyond Instagram ... the relationship itself is severely fractured.

It's interesting ... Khloe initially blamed Jordyn for the hookup, tweeting, "You ARE the reason my family broke up!" But, later she backtracked, saying, "But Jordyn is not to be blamed for the breakup of my family. This was Tristan's fault."

Jada is still following Kylie and Jordyn. We're told Jada is a strong source of support for Jordyn.

Tristan Thompson isn't moving on from Khloe Kardashian just yet, because he's NOT dating the hot chick he's been hanging with in NYC, but they are getting to know each other through a mutual friend ... one of his NBA teammates.

We've learned Tristan's new friend is Karizma Ramirez ... and sources close to her tell us they met last week through Jordan Clarkson.

As you know, Tristan and Karizma were photographed inside Nobu in NYC Tuesday night ... after being spotted together last week at another dinner in the Big Apple. That sparked dating rumors, obvi, since it came directly on the heels of Khloe kicking Tristan to the curb.

But, the sources close to her say Karizma and TT are insisting there's nothing romantic going on between them.

We're told they've only hung out at the 2 dinners, which were both group situations -- where Tristan was flying solo, and Karizma was Jordan's guest.

We got Tristan out in New York last week, but he was silent on Khloe and his cheating scandal with Jordyn Woods.

As for Karizma, we're told she's NOT dating Jordan either, they've known each other forever through his family. BTW, she used to kick it with Chris Brown, but nothing serious.