There’s a better chance that the Cavaliers bring mid-season trade acquisition Kyle Korver back for 2017/18 than buyout season bargain Deron Williams, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. In response to a reader’s question, Vardon broke down the circumstances of their respective pending free agencies.
Because they gave up a first-round pick to acquire him, the Cavaliers hold Korver’s Bird Rights. That means, of course, that they can go above the salary cap to retain him, something outright inevitable given that they’re operating with the league’s highest payroll. Bringing Korver – who led the league in 3-point percentage at age 36 – back is a cost effective way of keeping offensive weapons on board for next season.
Williams, in contrast, will be limited in the size of contract he can land with the Cavaliers, a figure certainly less than what he drew on the open market with the Mavs last offseason. Despite his having been waived by Dallas in February, his eventual playoff struggles with Cleveland and the staggering fact that he’ll make $5.5MM for the next three years thanks to a stretch provision dating back to his time with the Nets, Vardon says he’s “unlikely” to sign with the Cavaliers for just their $5.1 exception.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- The Bucks worked out a handful of guards Friday, including Donovan Mitchell (projected to be drafted at No. 14 by NBADraft.net) and Justin Jackson (No. 19). A report on Milwaukee’s official website has the details.
- The Pistons spent time Friday working out a number of deep sleepers, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com tweets. The scribe notes facetiously that the names aren’t likely candidates to go 12th overall. With no second-round pick, Detroit could be auditioning eventual free agent options.
- The Pacers will bring John Collins (projected to be drafted at No. 13 by NBADraft.net) and Harry Giles (No. 22) in for a workout Saturday, the team writes on its official site, as well as several others.
- A combination of age and limited financial flexibility could make it difficult for the Cavaliers to improve this offseason, Bobby Marks of The Vertical writes. Marks notes that even if the club looked elsewhere than Kyle Korver and Deron Williams, they’d only have minimum contracts and the mid-level exception at their disposal.
I always felt it was silly and very shortsighted to judge a player by what they do in a short stretch of games in the playoffs vs what they did over the course of a year. That being said, I’d like to bring Korver, Deron and even Derek back. I feel Lue did a horrible job of using his bench. Even during the regular season he stopped going to Derek Williams on a daily basis as a replacement to LBJ when he needed rest. The guy shot .505/.404/.696 and seemed to have fresh legs, brought energy and showed effort on defense. Yet he had 10 DNPs in the playoffs and only came in for garbage time. Lue has to learn to trust his bench throughout the playoffs. I felt he’s the perfect back up to LBJ at the SF position. Not saying what he would’ve done but it would have been nice to see what Derek may have been able to do vs KD. Even if he didn’t slow him down he could’ve been on the floor with LBJ just to take that responsibility away from LBJ.
They should let Deron walk. In his prime he was at best an average defender and he’s regressed there. He’s no longer capable of carrying an offense or being the centerpiece (not that he would be in Cleveland anyway). So you’re talking a point guard with an injury history who is a below average defender and an average offensive player who will likely get paid because of what he did when he played for the Jazz (i.e. a long time ago). If Cleveland can get him for the minimum then it wouldn’t hurt too much, but they shouldn’t settle for him as Kyrie’s backup. They need a guy who can run the offense when Kyrie/LeBron need to rest and Deron Williams isn’t that guy.
I’m not sure if you had a chance to watch many games but Deron was a great back up last year, aside from the GSW series. In fact, he anchored a back up squad that really helped us make comebacks this year and had the one big game vs Miami where he started and scored 35 with 9 assists. Overall his 46/41/84 line was pretty good. Of course his ask has to be in line with his age. But I’d gladly bring him back just to know that we have him as a solid back up giving Irving’s history past. Not sure if there’s a better back up on the market.
Lebron and Kyrie would handle the ball in every lineup and Shumpert will handle the. All when they are not on the court. Deron don’t really get any touches and Cavs better off having s defensive pg.
They really missed Delly. They need scrappiness in a bad way. There were times when Varajoa and Delly would be on the floor and you just knew every loose ball was going to the Cavs.
Korver is a prolific shooter, but they need a defensive tenacity from that spot. I like Iman, but not when he shoots threes with 18 seconds left on the shot clock. I don’t even trust his mid-range jumper.