UNDER CONTRACT: F-C Anderson Varejao, F Luke Walton, G Kyrie Irving, G Daniel Gibson, F Tristan Thompson, F Alonzo Gee, F Omri Casspi, F Luke Harangody, G-F C.J. Miles, G Kelenna Azubuike, F Jon Leuer, G Jeremy Pargo, C Micheal Eric, F Kevin Jones
DRAFT PICKS: G Dion Waiters, C Tyler Zeller
FREE AGENTS: None
MOVES: The Cavaliers did very little in free agency, partially because they were tangientally involved in the Dwight Howard trade talks and partially because Cleveland is not a preferred destination, even with nearly $20 million of cap room. GM Chris Grant was smart not to bite on Cleveland’s end of the potential deal sending Howard to New Jersey. It would have been Kris Humphries, Quentin Richardson, Sundiata Gaines and a first-round pick, which sounds a lot like Humphries and a first-round pick. Cleveland’s biggest splash was signing swingman C.J. Miles to a two-year, $4 million deal, giving rookie Dion Waiters a somewhat reliable veteran backup. After plenty of back-and-forth, the Cavs also re-signed restricted free agent Alonzo Gee to a three-year, $10 million deal. Gee, who changed agents during the process, is one of just three returning double-digit scorers for Cleveland. Everything else the Cavs have done has been minor: They got Luke Harangody’s signature on his $1.1 million qualifying offer, acquired backup point guard Jeremy Pargo, a 2014 second-round pick and cash from Memphis for D.J. Kennedy, claimed Jon Leuer off waivers from Houston and signed undrafted free agent center Micheal Eric. Late in the offseason, the Cavs also added undrafted rookie Kevin Jones.
TO-DO LIST: Cleveland’s limited activity hasn’t been for a lack of trying. The Cavs did chase Brandon Roy and showed interest in Anthony Tolliver. They also missed out on another Howard deal that would have landed Andrew Bynum, which must have had owner Dan Gilbert drooling at the idea of a quick rebuild around Bynum and Kyrie Irving. You get the sense that Grant is not done because he has to get to the salary floor and has some roster flexibility. There are a handful of veteran free agents still out there who could help stabilize a locker room that will have at least eight players 24 or younger. However, anyone added before training camp likely would have to take a one-year deal because Grant has even more cap room next summer.
PROJECTION: Despite Irving’s brilliance, this will be a tough team to watch because it has so many young players who have no idea how to win. When they are able to keep games close, the Cavs will put the ball in Irving’s hands and hope he can get them a W. But those occasions will be too few and far between. It appears that the slow rebuilding effort will continue, and Cleveland will be one of the worst teams in the league.
(RELATED: What grade did the Cavs get?)
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Wow. I’m amazed at the uninformed statements I come across relating to the Cavs. People need to realize the Cavs are in a REBUILDING process, which means building though the draft. This is not the time to take a shortcut and try to get Bynum. Has everyone completely forgotten that this guy had two major knee surgeries and is at risk of having another before he turns 30. Why do you think the Lakers are hellbent on trading for Howard? Because they know Bynum’s legs can give out on him at any point. He is 24 with the mobility of a 32 yr old. I’d much rather see what Zeller can do this year, because his ability to run the floor will cause problems for the teams like the Lakers and their two slow-footed 7-footers. Watching him and Thompson run the floor might be one of our biggest advantages. But the number one reason not to involve ourselves with this Howard trade is that Bynum will certainly be a UFA next year, so if we really want him we can sign him outright without giving up any assets. It would be idiotic to do a trade. Thats just another reason GM’s don’t pay attention to fans because of their illogical sense of the NBA.
the Cavs have done OK so far, a 2nd rd pk for DJ. Kennedy, good move, there is or athletic backup point guard, the signing of C.J. Miles, a good pick up, he can play the 2, or 3 spot, but there lack of moves really puts pressure on their draft picks from this yrs draft. For the Cavs, I hope it pans out.
The Cavs NEED to go after Barbosa or Pietrus…I do not see why they haven’t already?
Only if its a one year deal… And it will need to be after the olympic since he is there… The key for the Cavs is to gain more Cap space so they will get a big all star and a med also with about 30-35 million Cap space going into the free agents next year…
I think that we just need to give the draft picks to Orlando Majic. I think we should keep Anderson V, because they are not interested anyways, and if Bynum walks next year we will be hurting for a strong presence. I mean Big people don’t come around the corner all the time. Anderson doesn’t cost us a fortune, so let’s play it safe and keep him. Bynum is injury prone, so we need to keep a strong presence. Also, anyone would like to come to Cleveland if you have good pieces around Kyrie Irving. He’s a classy and mature kid, and lets not wait until he’s ready to leave to put the pieces around him. That’s what hurt us with LeBron! Also one last point, we want A. Gee, just throw a 2-year contract totaling about 8-10 million and sign the kid.