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The Cavaliers offseason has been drama filled to say the least. From the never ending trade rumors to the team letting go of David Griffin just days before the NBA Draft. The Cavs have been a mess this summer.
Coming off a disappointing NBA Finals appearance, the Cavaliers needed to make some moves this summer to try to catch up with the juggernaut out west in Golden State. However, the big moves that everyone was expecting didn’t happen as of yet, and doesn’t look like they will happen anytime soon. Let’s take a look at what has happened so far this summer in Lake Erie Land, and how the moves will impact the team going forward.
The team re-signed shooting guard Kyle Korver to a three-year, $22 million dollar contract. Bringing back Korver was a big win for the Cavs. He found his rhythm during the latter parts of the season and into the playoffs, although he did have a disappointing Finals debut. However, with a full year in a wine and gold uniform, Korver should give the Cavs much needed floor spacing and outside shooting this season, and I believe he will play better in the Finals this year (if the team makes it that far again). Korver is one of the greatest three point shooters of all time (a career 43% three point shooter which ranks seventh all time, according to Basketball Reference), and is a constant professional. His presence should help the Cavs next year.
The Cavs also brought in journeyman Jeff Green for a one-year, $2.3 million deal. Green gives the Cavs another reliable scorer off the bench (he averaged nine points last year on the Magic, and 13.5 points a year for his career, according to ESPN), and is a guy that should be able to create his own shot off the bench. He’s not the greatest three point shooter (only shot 33% from three for his career), but on the Cavs he should get a lot of open looks, so hopefully by the time the playoffs start, that number can go up.
In what might be the most important move the Cavs made this summer so far, Cleveland added veteran point guard Jose Calderon for the veteran minimum of one-year, $2.3 million. Calderon can score off the bench, and can shoot the three ball well (career 40% three point shooter according to ESPN). He should be able to come in for starting point guard Kyrie Irving, and keep the offense running smoothly. His defense isn’t good, but the Cavs will take his offense and shooting chops to go with Korver and Green coming off the bench.
All-in-all, the Cavs did probably the best they could this offseason. They still are looking to find a new GM and President of Basketball Operations now that Griffin is gone, and Chauncey Billups removed himself from the running due to a reported “low ball offer” by owner Dan Gilbert. Yes, they were in the hunt for Jimmy Butler, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul George, but all of those proposed trades seemed like a long shot anyway, and giving up either Kevin Love or Kyrie Irving to get one of those guys might not have been worth it. The Cavs are capped out, and with every vet minimum deal they make, the tax hit increases exponentially (as of July 10, the number is $48.7 million), so the Cavs need to pick and chose who they sign on. By keeping Korver, and adding scoring veterans in Green and Calderon, the Cavs helped their bench from last season, which was terrible when LeBron was not on the floor. More smaller moves will still need to be made, and eventually they will need to get their front office in order, but for now, the Cavs are keeping it afloat.