NBA AM: Dream Unfulfilled, What’s Next For Cavs?

What’s Next for the Cleveland Cavaliers?

The injury ravaged Cleveland Cavaliers put up one of the most spirited battles in NBA Finals history, but in the end the firepower of the Golden State Warriors was too much to overcome. Playing without injured All-Stars Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, Cleveland was a huge underdog, but four-time MVP LeBron James unexpectedly led a cast of role players to a closely contested series against the league’s best team.

The image of the Warriors wildly celebrating and hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy on Cleveland’s home court will undoubtedly stay with the Cavaliers all summer. But before thoughts of revenge can be entertained, the franchise has a plethora of decisions to make when it comes to the roster before heading into training camp.

On the surface, the team has just $26 million in guaranteed salaries on the books for next season. However, this figure is misleading as the club has roughly $48 million tied into player options for James ($21.5 million), Love ($16.7 million), J.R. Smith ($6.4 million),  and Mike Miller ($2.8 million). The Cavaliers hold a $4.9 million team option on center Timofey Mozgov for next season.

It’s hard to envision a scenario where James would bolt the franchise again in free agency, so maxing him out is a no-brainer as soon as the free agency period opens. All signs point to James waiting until 2016, when the salary cap increases, to sign a long-term deal though. Now, the Love situation is one worth watching. The forward struggled at times to fit in with the Cavaliers’ culture and there have been numerous reports over the past few months indicating his willingness to look around the league, despite his public allegiance to Cleveland.

After a strong NBA Finals showing, the team will likely exercise its option on Mozgov in order to solidify their interior. Mozgov averaged 14 points and 7.5 rebounds versus the Warriors in a gutsy effort. Smith, a former Sixth Man of the Year, has indicated he will opt-in to the final year of his deal, but players have been known to have a change of heart once the season ends. The veteran Miller is way past his prime physically, but serves as a solid locker room presence and is an outlet on the roster James fully trusts. Of course, retirement could be an option for Miller but leaving $2.8 million on the table before hanging up the laces for good isn’t likely.

This just covers the player / team options for the front office to deal with.

Cleveland also must handle the looming free agency status for forward Tristan Thompson and guards Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova.  After a strong playoff showing while replacing Love in the lineup, there has been plenty of buzz about Thompson seeking a max-level deal in July. This immediately begs the question, can the Cavaliers afford to pay both Love and Thompson eight-figure salaries in 2015-16? The club will likely let the market set the value for Shumpert this summer and then decide whether to match an offer sheet based on the long-term financial implications.  Dellavedova was an early Finals hero, but couldn’t keep up the magic against Golden State. He will also have an opportunity to test free agency in order to seek a more lucrative deal.

Expect the club to waive or trade veteran center Brendan Haywood, who is owed $10.5 million next season on a non-guaranteed deal. This is a no-brainer, as the veteran appeared in just 22 regular season contests.

In regard to unrestricted free agents, veterans James Jones, Shawn Marion and Kendrick Perkins all have expiring contracts. Marion is headed toward retirement, Jones has hinted at retirement numerous times over the past few years and Perkins has a shot to return to the club depending on the financials.

Depending on how the Cavaliers’ front office plays this out, the team could find itself deep into the luxury tax before even filling out the rest of the supporting cast.

Cleveland came up short in their quest for a title this season, but must to be encouraged at how close they came with a roster nowhere near full strength. While the Warriors celebrate a well deserved title, Cleveland heads back to drawing board with plenty of roster decisions to make this summer.

Pelicans’ Eric Gordon Willing to Test Free Agency?

The relationship between Eric Gordon and the New Orleans Pelicans franchise has been unsteady since the union began. Gordon was the centerpiece acquisition the Pelicans received in the Chris Paul trade from the Los Angeles Clippers, but from the start the guard seemingly had no intention of playing in New Orleans long term.

This season, the relationship seemingly improved as the club reached the playoffs for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign. The franchise centerpiece is now forward Anthony Davis and Gordon is entering the final year of his current deal. But the guard has a player option worth $15.5 million for the 2015-16 campaign.

While most expect Gordon to opt-in to the final year of his deal, a RealGM report indicates the guard is evaluating all of his options in the market before committing fully to the Pelicans.

According to the RealGM report: “Gordon has expressed excitement about the Pelicans’ future, which includes the hiring of Alvin Gentry and his own likely return. The head coach led in the Phoenix Suns’ recruitment to sign Gordon to a free-agent offer sheet in 2012. In weighing the league landscape, Gordon has looked into four- or five-year contract possibilities with other teams, a source said.”

Gordon averaged 13.4 points, 3.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds this past season in 61 appearances. While Gordon has always been a solid scorer, the guard hasn’t played 70 games in a season since his rookie campaign in 2008-09. Nagging injuries have kept Gordon from reaching the level most expected of him as a professional.