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The Cleveland Cavaliers want to ensure they make it to the top of the mountain in 2016. In order to do that, they will need to make the correct moves in free agency. More importantly, they must sign players who can help LeBron James get back to the NBA Finals. For that reason, they are prepared to take the unorthodox approach of having James be directly involved in all of the organization’s free agency discussions.
Essentially, James will be asked which players should the Cavaliers keep and which new players should they purse on the open market. The organization wants the superstar’s input because they know that might be the only way they win their first championship in franchise history. James is not the entire team, but it is no secret he must be able to get along with the supporting cast in order for Cleveland to go the distance and emerge victorious.
With Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Tristan Thompson, Matthew Dellavedova, Iman Shumpert,and James most likely to hit free agency, the Cavaliers have a few big decisions to make regarding which players they should retain.
James, who has a player option for next season, is expected to opt out of his contract and sign a two-year deal that includes another player option on the second year. It is also believed that Smith will follow in James’ footsteps and opt out of his contract. Even though he may not get the same deal, it is widely expected Cleveland will re-sign him to a new contract in free agency.
Being the leader that he is, James was very vocal in wanting Thompson to be re-signed to a long-term deal.
“Tristan should probably be a Cavalier for his whole career,” James said after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, according to ESPN. “There’s no reason why he shouldn’t.”
“This guy is 24 years old. He’s played in 340-plus straight games, and he’s gotten better every single season,” James continued. “It’s almost like what more can you ask out of a guy, even though we ask for more out of him.”
The Cavaliers would be wise to re-sign Dellavedova and Shumpert to reasonably priced contracts, especially when considering their production in the playoffs.
Of course, the biggest decision in all likelihood will surround Love. The big man has made it clear he wants to return to Cleveland and help the Cavaliers win a title. Sitting on the bench only to watch his teammates play in the Eastern Conference championship and NBA Finals made him hungrier. He also knows that Cleveland gives him the best option of winning a ring. Even though James advocated for the Cavaliers to trade for Love last summer, it will be interesting to see if he feels the same way this time around after the two struggled at times together.
Allowing James to have his input directly affect what Cleveland does in the offseason is a wise decision by the organization. Making sure he has the correct assets around him to win is the only way the Cavaliers will bring home the Larry O’Brien trophy. And, the best way of knowing who is a perfect fit is by asking the man himself.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
