WEDNESDAY, 12:36pm: The signing is official, the team announced. The Cavs refer to it as a multiyear arrangement, which jibes with McMenamin’s report that it includes a team option for next season. Cleveland didn’t have the cap space or exception necessary to give him a contract that goes past next season, so it’s two-year deal.
12:51pm: The pact is to include a team option for next season, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com.
TUESDAY, 12:08pm: The Cavaliers will sign Jordan McRae to a deal that covers the rest of the season after his 10-day contract expires tonight, reports Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The team was eligible to sign him to one more 10-day, but the sides have evidently decided to skip ahead to the next step. McRae has totaled just 14 minutes in three appearances so far, but the Cavs have been impressed with the positional versatility he’s shown in practice, Haynes writes.
The deal would give the 6’6″ rookie, who turns 25 later this month, about $100K, depending on when the official signing takes place. It would cost Cleveland about $850K in combined payroll and projected taxes. Still, the Cavs saved about $10MM in their deadline deals, theoretically giving them the flexibility to reinvest that money. Cleveland has an open roster spot even with McRae aboard.
McRae, the 58th pick in the 2014 draft, is already on his third NBA team since October after splitting last season between Australia and the D-League. He signed the required tender the Sixers had to offer this past summer to retain his draft rights, but Philadelphia waived him just before opening night, forfeiting those draft rights. The Suns later signed him to a pair of 10-day contracts, the last of which was actually a 12-day deal because it bridged the All-Star break. He averaged 5.3 points in 11.7 minutes per game for Phoenix, but he didn’t stick with the Suns, who turned to Phil Pressey instead.
Are the Cavs wise to add younger players like McRae, or should they target veterans instead? Leave a comment to share your thoughts.
They shouldn’t have gotten rid of Perkins. I know he didn’t do much but they replaced him with Kaun. At least Perk was a Bertram presence. Kaun doesn’t do anything. Not even a vocal leader in the locker room.
Are players in the NBA not wanting to play with LeBron? And asking this as a serious question because I really do not know. The Cavs (if you believe rumors) went after Johnson, Martin and Thorton. All these players choose to play for other teams that are far less likely to make the NBA finals in comparison to the Cavs (even the Spurs). Why would players choose equal money on teams that have no chance to compete. Do some of these solid players simply see LeBron or the Cavs as horrible opportunity?
Doubtful since Lebron can easily make mediocre players players look great and get them a nice payday.
I think Dorell Wright will be a good fit for the cavs
I think it is more about the amount of money the Cavs can offer.