Length, athleticism, versatility, and shooting are the traits that the Cavaliers will be prioritizing as they consider potential roster moves this offseason, Chris Fedor writes in a mailbag for Cleveland.com. A secondary ball-handler will be at or near the top of Cleveland’s wish list, whether that player is a point guard or a play-making wing, Fedor adds.
The Cavaliers don’t project to have cap room this summer, but intend to be “aggressive” with their mid-level exception, which should be worth nearly $10MM. Free agent point guards T.J. McConnell and Alex Caruso will be among the team’s top targets, according to Fedor. Both will be unrestricted free agents and are tough defenders who could be attainable with the MLE.
Here’s more on the Cavs:
- One of the free agents Fedor mentions as a possible target for Cleveland is Josh Hart. Fedor, who notes that Hart is one of Larry Nance Jr.‘s best friends, hears from sources that the Pelicans wing may be seeking a fresh start. However, Hart is eligible for restricted free agency, so the Pelicans will have the ability to retain him if they so choose.
- Addressing the Kevin Love situation, Fedor says that some people in the front office view the idea of waiving and stretching Love’s remaining salary (two years, $60MM) as a non-starter. There have also been no buyout talks so far, according to Fedor, who gets the impression that the Cavs would only be open to going down that path if Love initiates those discussions and gives up enough salary to make it worthwhile.
- Fedor confirms Michael Scotto’s report that Cavs big man Isaiah Hartenstein will likely turn down his player option in the hopes of signing a multiyear deal with Cleveland.
- The 2021/22 season isn’t viewed as a “playoffs-or-bust” year by Cavs leadership, but everyone feels the team will need to show “discernible on-court progress and take a few steps forward” in the fourth year of its rebuild, says Fedor. In a separate article for Cleveland.com, Fedor suggests that historical precedents show the Cavs’ rebuild is on schedule.
Wish Sixers would have the space for Hart. He would be a nice fit.
When Caruso and McConnell are your top targets, you know your franchise is a dumpster fire
Lakers are willing to offer Caruso $13 million per season
Lakers will pay the luxury tax for
Schroeder
Tucker
McConnell is a great player.
You exposed yourself
Sure, he’s a great backup PG and an excellent defender.
In comparison to a “regular guy”, McConnell is a great player. To an NBA player, he’s a good, solid, Eric Snow player (MAYBE!)… far from great. Right place/right time. Not a ton of difference between him and Aaron Craft. Hell, there’s guys in the summer TBT money tournament better than both of them!
But, good for him… make millions and owe no apologies!
When these are their targets, that means they have faith in their rebuild.
Compared to the Suns 10 year rebuild, or the Magics rebuild post Dwight, or Sam Hinkies 76ers draft-3-centers-in-a-row rebuild, or the never ending Kings rebuild, the Cavs are doing just find timing-wise.
Read the last article link. It explains it all.
Rebuilds are really tough man, especially when your a small city and {don’t luck into a superstar via draft).
Doesn’t help that it seems society wants an ALL or nothing approach at everything these days . Making the Conference finals only seems to open up “What’s wrong with this team” talk.
Saying all that, you got some really good Rebuild representatives from the mighty West this year- Denver Utah and Phx all deserve A+ for their efforts on this slow cooking stew they’ve been brewing for awhile
It’s a breath of fresh air to read comments from real NBA fans that get it. It takes time to build into greatness unless you are in a huge market or luck out on a great superstar (i.e. Utah-Donovan, Suns-Booker, Nuggets-Jokic) or high draft pick.
Luckily, Cleveland fans are used to the process and sucking in sports. So as a Cavs fan, all of these “dumpster fire comments” make me laugh. Cavs will be fine. Everyone is commending the Pistons for their rebuild, but (although I’m bias) you can’t convince me Garland-Sexton-Okoro-Allen aren’t better than all of their players except Grant and he is 4 years older than any of them. Yet everyone says we are a mess and they are doing great. Again we will be fine, patience is key. (Sorry to pick on the Pistons, just wanted to drive home my point).
I think as a small market team it is almost necessary to have to extend your rope farther, have thicker skin, and ofc have ultimate patience.
It is probably frustrating to hear Lakers and Warriors fans complain about their problems (We do have Ours too)
I hate the doom and gloomers as well. Front offices are everchanging, also LUCK goes so much into things as well along the way (Espeically the draft/lottery)…Just b/c you crap out 3 picks in a row doesn’t mean your doomed moving forward. Lotta gambler fallacy involved from the casuals
Mil is looking horrible, I was really looking forward to a Utah Mil finals to give hope to the little guys, think Utah makes it, Mil looking grim
There isn’t money for more, given they want to keep Jarrett Allen, who is the top target.
Personally I am thrilled Caruso & McConnell are targets. It’s like the FO reads my posts!
Wolves should trade for Love？
No?
Go CAVs!!!
Centerpiece of sign and trade is current first round picks
Caruso and 22nd pick for a good player
Kelly Oubre and 14th pick for a good player
Teams generally don’t waive and stretch guys without an immediate purpose, like freeing up cap space (or avoiding tax) in connection with another transaction. Of course, the Knicks did with Noah, but I don’t think any other team should be looking to follow that as a template.
I would totally think you {would be correct}, the thinking is certainly on point, but we have seen a couple players recently get some very odd b/o
I didn’t understand the need for Batums last year, sure, they needed a couple of extra bucks for Hayward but I think a small tweak (Trade) coulda not only have had all Batums money off today but he was actually good last year
Deng and Noah made beyond 0 sense as Lakers and Knicks were historically bad and should have just ate those contracts a while ago – Deng will still haunt Lakers next year for one last time
*The ineptitude of Lakers/Knicks was pretty staggering considering where they are today and it was only 5 years ago (16′ Summer of Mozgoz)
I forgot about Deng. Now I remember them wanting to open up 2 max slots, but they only ending up using 1 (LBJ). They could have housed Deng on the roster until they knew. I’m sure they did something with the space, but nothing so valuable it justifies dead money 3 years later. Knicks had 73 mm vs 61 mm of cap space in the 2019 off season by W&S Noah (vs taking the hit that year), and had little use for any of it beyond overpaying some guys on short term deals. Decisions like this require no special basketball knowledge, just a working knowledge of math and some patience.
Yea I think they know the math but it’s the patience part that’s the problem –
Perhaps too much MJ fire for Cha who doubled down when the pass line was sitting at 4 only
Too much market pressure coupled with bad FO LAL/NWK at the time, but agree still pretty inexcusable today
Still, odd, as basketball is the one sport out of the 3 major (baseball/football) that fans accept a little extra losing in the now for future dreams to materialize. Also the most important to keep a square ledger moving forward
I think fans see the outsized importance of superstars in basketball (vs other sports, at least the way they’re played at the professional level), and how few there are out there and how hard it can be to get one, and they kind of adjust their expectations accordingly. Follow a good team caught in the middle of the league for a decade, and see the ceiling they keep bumping up against, and you become more open or patient to taking some steps back for the chance to break through it. The way the NBA determines slots at the very top of the draft doesn’t help. Forget tanking, even if it’s all on the merits, is it really a good idea (that’s fair for all the franchises and fanbases) that the very worst teams are given a monopoly on the finite superstar talent that comes out every year, when having that talent is likely a prerequisite to championship contention.
In this case, the “fan problem” is a lack of faith in Altman/Gilbert based on past experience. Indeed most fans wish Gilbert had started the rebuild earlier.
The theory behind the extension to Love was that if the Cavs play rookies at rookie contracts, then there wiil be money available. But roster flexibility matters too.
I’ll add that I think fans are probably a little more patient with rebuilds in basketball, as opposed to baseball and football, because you’re always essentially one guy away from being in the conversation. Which I don’t think is the case in the NFL or MLB.
But in the NBA you can always put faith in being terrible one year and then picking the next Duncan, LeBron, Durant, Curry, Giannis, Embiid, et al.
Wth. My comment didnt post earlier?
Cavs are a joke if those are their 2 top targets. They have zero need for a 10M backup pg. They need an upgrade at SF, depth at PF and depth at C. They shouldn’t be looking to cut minutes for Okoro, Garland, Sexton. Can’t rely on Kuminga being there.
Yeah you know nothing about the Cavs man. We have no point guard besides Garland now that Delly is a FA on our roster and not having a backup PG was a problem this year. Sexton can’t play the point. He is amazing at scoring, but that is unfortunately it, he can’t create for others reliably.
Okoro has shown that he is the SF of the future. Taurean was a solid backup and although not worth his current contract is a serviceable backup. We don’t need to add another wing with Windler, Prince, Okoro, Osman, Stevens occupying that spot.
PF we definitely need to upgrade but we will do that in the draft probably. Otherwise it isn’t worth spending on a FA here with Nance and Love here rn.
Hartenstein is the future of our backup center spot, besides fouling he has shown great potential. Nance and Love also slide to center in small ball. No need to spend money on a FA here either.
Kuminga isn’t the only option. Give us Scottie Barnes any day of the week. There are a lot of other options in the draft this year.
1. I agree Scottie Barnes would be a better fit. 2. They shouldn’t force Okoro into the starting lineup he isnt effective offensively and isnt up to speed defensively. They need a longer wing 3&D as the LT fit. 3. Hart may or may not reup, he will opt out, but other teams could poach him as the backup. 4. Plenty of veteran guards on the FA market to not spend 10M on. Jeff Teague would be a good pro to help this back court. 5. I don’t know if Nance stays in Cle, may get dealt. So that’s why I’d be focusing on front court depth.
Yeah I really like Barnes. But Okoro averaged 15.7ppg, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists his last 13 games. If you look at stats, he is already ahead of where Jimmy Butler was in his development in his first 2 years. He looks like he has great potential as a slasher, and his shooting will improve hopefully. He defended the best player PG, SG, SF every night and he is 19. He probably picked up a lot this season. Obviously the season is over now, but keep an eye on him next season. He looks like all the tools are there and more. He is the longterm fit.
But why not spend the mid-level exception on a solid backup PG? Unless they spend a lottery pick on a PG, having a leader on the second unit is huge and we are missing that biggg time. (Pass on Jeff Teague, I don’t know what it is about him but I just think he wouldn’t bring what the cavs need atm)
I only see that backup PG as a 10-12m post. You want that vet who has been on a bad team that turned into a good team, been in the playoffs that’s why I think Teague would be a good steward and he would be cheap. Depends on who they take in the draft too. If they end up in the Top 4 you’re taking a PG/SG or Mobley and you don’t even look at those spots for that MLE.
I think Otto Porter is going to have a competitive market and he isn’t a guy that’s should get more than 10M from a team, if he is healthy he would be an upgrade of Cedi and limit Okoro’s SF minutes, and he’d play more 2 guard where I think hed be better or play SF in a small ball lineup with Porter at the 4.
Aside from the disaster that is Kevin Love and his contract, the rest of this rebuild has been moving in the right direction, assuming they don’t blow the Jarrett Allen situation this offseason.
I’m with phillyballers in that they need depth at forward, but they should still be focusing on the draft. Once they suffer through another year of Kevin Love, he’ll be a massive expiring that can be paired with their prospect(s) and picks. They also have Prince on an expiring this year they can deal.
Like lovesexland said, there’s no reason to force a move like the Kings (or Knicks) and mess it up now when they could be the Hawks in a few seasons.
Well said
I’m probably one of the few on this board (or in general) who doesn’t think Love is fried. I think he’s been injured and unfortunately is on a team that makes no sense for him to be on. Could see him reviving his career for a season or two if they move him.
Either way, they essentially have one more season with him, then he’s an expiring they can buyout of salary dump on someone.
The rest of the roster … I’m probably in the middle of the comments here. Cavs have some nice prospects, but I’m not sure I’d be that excited about building around SexLand + Allen. I’m a huge proponent of the SexLand trademark, just don’t think building around two 6-1 guards has a high ceiling. Allen is great but he’s a center in an era where centers are on the verge of extinction. Okoro is a coin flip to me at this point.
Then again maybe they grab someone significant in this year’s draft.
I’d love McConnell on the Bulls we need a legitimate PG who can run the offense. Our problem last year was, too many late set plays in the shot clock and it led to questionable shot selection. A guy like CP3 did wonders for a young team in Phoenix. I’m not expecting CP3 to come here, but a guy with his basketball IQ and floor general game with his leadership can help our young guys. Another guy I would have loved but it won’t happen is Mike Conley. He always makes teams better and he’s drama free and all about the team. But if they settle for Kemba, Dennis Schroeder or Elfrid Payton I’m going to give up on life then. None of them solve our problem which is a PG who can coach this team on the floor and also initiate the offense.
McConnell would put the Bulls in the playoffs. It would be a solid fit.
We all agree. He would be a perfect fit.
Love for Kemba?
Nope. Indifference.
Typical example of greed, Kemba is!
He was adored in CHA & just for a few extra $$$ he left to go to BOS & look now he is one of the least wanted player in the league!
As I always say, you happy somewhere & they want you & love you there, why mess it all up just for extra $$$?
Greediness is the cause of a lot of legends falling to the mud!
Knees doesn’t begin with a G
Really like Josh Hart and I actually think Cleveland could be a fit. He’s Mayes with Larry, he would get good minutes for a change and he would be a solid defender.
However if he wants to play less of a role and be on a more successful team he should look at the Blazers. It’s very likely CJ is getting traded, Norman Powell and DJJ are both set for FA, Simons is more of a 1 cause of his lack of defence, which leaves a possibility for Hart to get a role. Portland needs a 2 that can defend and hit shots from time to time, Hart is also young and they may value that. Plus I think he would fit in well with Dame, Roco and Melo
Assuming Powell is leaving is a big assumption. No need for POR to spend on both.
The Cavs may not have money for Hart, nor a starting job or even a priority— Okoro was being tried as the 2! That does not look like a good pick.
Assuming they don’t blow it up, I think Portland will almost have to re-up Powell at whatever number. Even if they renounce him, I’m not sure they would have the cap space to sign Hart.
Love can still help a team. No need to buy him out. I’m just not sold on Sexton. Rumors seem to be true about him. How can you have him as a leader. I would move him and go from there. A top 5 pick this yr is a team changer. But Kuminga plays same position as Okoro. A healthy Love and Allen make up a solid big tandem. A yr of Love to get rebuild right. Isn’t a bad idea. He should be no problem moving on expiring contract. I’d sure love to have Kuminga on Knicks. But I’d take Okoro for Toppin. Kuminga is a nice addition to Allen. He’s a big SF who plays both ways, has big upside. Im not sold on Sexton. I’d want a more traditional PG with size. Sexton I believe has value. This is the draft to get extra picks.
SEXTON DOES NOT PLAY PG
Never really has; assists are not his job or specialty.
What Sexton rumors are you talking about?— or just rambling. There hasn’t been enough Sexton talk around the league. Talk about spark off the bench; he has extra motor.
Try watching a Cavs game sometime.
Agree Sexton doesn’t seem to be a PG. But isn’t that a bit of an issue, considering he’s 6-1? Is he destined for the Lou Will slot off the bench?
It seems like if Sexton is going to be Cleveland’s #1 option, then you can’t have Garland at 6-1 as your full-time PG , and if Garland is going to be there PG of the future then Sexton has to go to bench or to the trade block?
Curious to know your opinion, as I generally watch a limited amount of Cleveland games during the season.