Cleveland Cavaliers fans have been through the proverbial ringer this offseason with various trade talks and the departure of former general manager David Griffin. It’s only right that a spot of good news comes down the wire just before free agency commences on Saturday at 12:01 a.m.
According to Joe Vardon of cleveland.com, the Cavs are expected to extend an offer to veteran sharpshooter Kyle Korver when this year’s free agency whirlwind begins. Vardon reports that the Cavs are heading into free agency with Korver as one of their top priorities.
Korver, a 36-year-old former NBA All-Star who was traded to Cleveland from the Atlanta Hawks in February, led the league in three-point field-goal percentage last season at 45%. In his 35 games with the Cavs last season, Korver averaged 10.8 points per game and shot 49% from beyond the three-point line off the bench. While it’s true he was less effective in the playoffs (5.8 points per game on 39% shooting from beyond the arc), there is no doubt that the Cavaliers would like to bring Korver back into the fold.
Since the Cavs traded for Korver last season, they are allowed to go above the salary cap to re-sign him. As it is today, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert‘s payroll for next season is already set at $128 million — a number well above the NBA’s $99 million salary cap and $119 million luxury-tax threshold. Obviously, that complicates the matter.
There will be other teams interested in Korver’s services as well, including the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks. However, it is unclear what sort of contract a player of his caliber will demand in the free agent market.
Korver, who made his first trip to the Finals last season, has previously stated that he would like to stay with the Cavaliers.
“I mean, who wouldn’t want to play with the best players in the world?” Korver told cleveland.com in February.
Korver made $5.2 million last season, and is the only free agent the Cavaliers can pay without restriction or penalty. As for the remaining free agents on the team, Vardon reports that the only way for Deron Williams, Derrick Williams, James Jones, and Dahntay Jones to come back would be by way of a taxpayer’s mid-level exception to the salary cap ($5.1 million), or a veteran’s minimum deal.
We’ll just have to wait and see if Gilbert pulls the trigger on a deal for Korver.