Complete 2018 NBA Free Agency primer for OKC Thunder and all 30 teams
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Free Agents:
- Jose Calderon (UFA)
- Jeff Green (UFA)
- Rodney Hood (RFA)
- LeBron James (UFA -James informs Cavs of opt-out, removing sign and trade possibility for now)
- London Perrantes (UFA)
New story: The Cavs are picking up Kendrick Perkins’ option, sources tell ESPN, as a potential contract added to a trade as the team continues to explore ways to improve ahead of LeBron’s decision https://t.co/gogHdcNfiX
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 27, 2018
Team Profile and Ranking:
Key Ranking Stats to end season:
- Offense: 5th (110.7)
- Defense: 20th (109.5)
- Net: 13th (plus +1.2)
NBA Power Ranking at 2017-18 season end: 7th
ESPN Power Ranking post playoffs: 17th
Vegas odds to win 2018-19 title as of June 26: 24 to 1
Committed Salary: $137,976,709.00 as of June 30th
Average attendance: 20,562
Attendance rank: 2nd
Arena: Quicken Loans Arena-Management:
General Manager: Koby Altman – 2017
Head Coach: Tyronn Lue – 2016
Salary Profile:
Despite picking up Perkins option $2,445,085 remains non-guaranteed. Okaro White also has $1,544,951 of non guaranteed salary. As for exceptions the Cavaliers own a $5.3 million mid-level exception and several trade exceptions picked up via their revolving door last season.
| Sala | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Age | 2018-19 | Signed Using | Guaranteed |
| Kevin Love | 29 | $24,119,025 | Bird Rights | $46,761,375 |
| George Hill | 32 | $19,000,000 | Cap space | $40,000,000 |
| Tristan Thompson | 27 | $17,469,565 | Bird Rights | $52,408,695 |
| J.R. Smith | 32 | $14,720,000 | Bird Rights | $32,350,000 |
| Jordan Clarkson | 26 | $12,500,000 | Cap Space | $37,500,000 |
| Kyle Korver | 37 | $7,560,000 | Bird Rights | $18,000,000 |
| Cedi Osman | 23 | $2,775,000 | MLE | $8,325,000 |
| Ante Zizic | ,21 | $1,952,760 | 1st Round Pick | $3,597,960 |
| Larry Nance | 25 | $2,272,391 | 1st Round pick | $3,743,773 |
| Kendrick Perkins | 33 | |||
| Team Totals | $137,976,709 | $282,929,701 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/29/2018.
Draft 2018:
Round 1:
With the 8th pick, the Cavaliers (from Nets via Celtics) select Alabama guard Collin Sexton.
Rookie Profile: Collin Sexton draws intriguing pro comparison
LeBron James, free agent. pic.twitter.com/kmCdBsadZ7
— ESPN (@espn) June 29, 2018
Free Agency – Offseason Mandate:
With LeBron James lowering the boom on Friday the first shoe dropped. By opting out of his contract, he at the very least made a sign and trade extremely unlikely. That takes a ton of teams out of the mix as potential landing spots. Who Cleveland remains in the picture by virtue of holding his bird rights and the Lakers as well as the 76ers remain viable options.
Depending on who you ask and what day you’ll get a different answer as to where the King will play next season. There are those firmly in the Lakers camp. But, given the flurry of activity in La La land to get a trade for Kawhi Leonard working it seems that isn’t such a certainty. There are equally mixed feelings on whether LeBron requires another star lined up prior to putting pen to paper. Some feel it doesn’t matter because the ‘Field of Dreams’ will inevitably follow LeBron.
I’ve maintained all along the fit just doesn’t seem right in Philly or in Houston. The latter would be seemingly off the table now with the opt-out. The Lakers at least have young talented assets and most importantly cap space. And, while it may not make financial sense to work for the team I feel he is best suited to excel with is the Pelicans because the combo of LeBron and the Brow (and Jrue Holiday) not only makes great court sense the marketing opportunities with branding boggle the mind.
.@KingJames' next stop? pic.twitter.com/cm44tlC3C8
— ESPN (@espn) June 29, 2018
What is clear after the sweep in the postseason is without LeBron it’s doubtful the Cavaliers are competing for higher than the eighth seed. Rodney Hood is just as frustratingly inconsistent in Cleveland as he was in Utah and Jordan Clarkson has zero basketball I.Q.’
Still, it’s not definite James won’t re-sign however it’s doubtful he extends beyond a one plus one opt out if he does.
Regardless of what Decision 3.0 is. the Cavaliers desperately need to shore up their depth, find players who aren’t allergic to the spotlight and join the current era of positionless players who are equally adept at both ends of the floor.