2024-25 Regular Season

[JujitsuFlip]

Lauri signed so the last of the MLE+ capspace teams are off the board.

$47.6 million AAV, that man got paid!

Thankfully that domino finally fell. Should see the Okoro situation resolved soon.

Which opens up a huge what-if we'd been able to hold on to Lauri and sent someone else to the Jazz in the Mitchell trade. Would he have still broken out under Bickerstaff? If so, how would we make his salary fit our plans?

At least, we'd have an asset we could trade...

Nah, he was the 4th or 5th option here, he never woulda broken out. Going to the Jazz saved his career.

[JujitsuFlip]

The rights to Travers will either be traded (maybe in a package with Okoro) or he signs some kind of contract with the Cavs.

Cavs are the only team to not sign a player to a two-way contract yet, so maybe they finally use one of those slots.

[JujitsuFlip]

https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/news/report-tristan-thompson-won-t-return-to-cavaliers-next-season-01j4pvnpfhth

Well, no TT next season.

[toooskies]

https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/news/report-tristan-thompson-won-t-return-to-cavaliers-next-season-01j4pvnpfhth

Well, no TT next season.

This is SI aggregating Amico who is aggregating Fedor who at least in today's podcast still sees TT as a possibility. So, uh, take it with a grain of salt

[JonFromVA]

https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/news/report-tristan-thompson-won-t-return-to-cavaliers-next-season-01j4pvnpfhth

Well, no TT next season.

This is SI aggregating Amico who is aggregating Fedor who at least in today's podcast still sees TT as a possibility. So, uh, take it with a grain of salt

Yeah, I've been noticing SI running a lot of crap articles lately, I guess they need the page hits to stay in business too rather than doing their own actual reporting. What's next? The AP?

[toooskies]

https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/news/report-tristan-thompson-won-t-return-to-cavaliers-next-season-01j4pvnpfhth

Well, no TT next season.

This is SI aggregating Amico who is aggregating Fedor who at least in today's podcast still sees TT as a possibility. So, uh, take it with a grain of salt

Yeah, I've been noticing SI running a lot of crap articles lately, I guess they need the page hits to stay in business too rather than doing their own actual reporting. What's next? The AP?

Well, SI is just a brand that has been passed around a bunch and is now paying the lowest common denominator, even trying to use AI to write stories. It is definitely not legitimate journalism.

[JujitsuFlip]

These are both Fedor so the conversation in theory shouldn't be sidetracked by the source lol

https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2024/08/will-luke-travers-join-cavs-this-season-hey-chris.html

Looks like Travers most likely ends up on a 2way but going to Europe or even a standard contract are options too.

Side note, Bates probably back on a 2way because of his QO, a team would have to sign him to a standard contract to steal him away.

https://cavaliersnation.com/2024/08/09/report-cavs-could-look-to-sign-a-player-with-ties-to-kenny-atkinson/amp/

Now that the Olympics are over, Cavs can ask Kenny who he wants in the 14th and final roster spot.

[toooskies]

These are both Fedor so the conversation in theory shouldn't be sidetracked by the source lol

https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2024/08/will-luke-travers-join-cavs-this-season-hey-chris.html

Looks like Travers most likely ends up on a 2way but going to Europe or even a standard contract are options too.

Side note, Bates probably back on a 2way because of his QO, a team would have to sign him to a standard contract to steal him away.

https://cavaliersnation.com/2024/08/09/report-cavs-could-look-to-sign-a-player-with-ties-to-kenny-atkinson/amp/

Now that the Olympics are over, Cavs can ask Kenny who he wants in the 14th and final roster spot.

Yabusele!

Travers might make the full roster if the Cavs only have room for a rookie minimum (~$1m) as opposed to a veteran minimum (~$2m on the cap, up to $3m+ in actual cash) under the tax. Depends on Okoro.

[JujitsuFlip]

https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2024/08/cavs-to-open-preseason-with-back-to-back-home-games.html?outputType=amp

All division rivals for the 4 preseason games.

[JujitsuFlip]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-cavs-close-eye-brazil-star-during-olympics

Cavs should sign him, even if just a non guaranteed deal or a partial guarantee.

[toooskies]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-cavs-close-eye-brazil-star-during-olympics

Cavs should sign him, even if just a non guaranteed deal or a partial guarantee.

He's on the list of guys to look at (I'd prefer Yabusele), but it really comes down to what happens with Okoro.

If the Cavs convince Okoro to sign a deal for $8.5m in year 1 (for however long with maximum increases), the Cavs fill the last roster spot with a rookie minimum to stay out of the tax. That may be Travers, although I'm not 100% sure whether two-ways count as years of NBA experience for minimum contracts. If they don't, Nance, I.Mobley, and Bates might also be eligible.

If Okoro demands and gets a LITTLE more, maybe the Cavs dump Jerome with a 2nd in order to sign Caboclo/Yabusele/TT/MM/etc to a minimum. (I don't think Yabusele comes over for a minimum given the size of his buyout.)

If Okoro won't sign a deal and takes the QO, the Cavs need to dump $3.2m AND fill a roster spot, so that's $4.4m to $5.3m they need to dump. That's dumping Wade or Niang. Niang in particular would free up space for a contract in the $5m/year range for roster spot #14, or minimums for #14 and #15.

If the Cavs rescind Okoro's QO, they're back to $9.7m for 2 or 3 spots and the full MLE to sign people into, which probably gives you the pick of whoever's out there.

[jbk1234]

If the Cavs are truly prepared to let Okoro play on the QO, then they have to trade Niang. If they're not prepared to trade Niang, then they should pull the Q.O. and hope Tyson/Travers are passable defensively at SF.

Personally, I'd prefer to bring Cedi back (on a discount) before relying on Travers.

[JujitsuFlip]

If the Cavs are truly prepared to let Okoro play on the QO, then they have to trade Niang. If they're not prepared to trade Niang, then they should pull the Q.O. and hope Tyson/Travers are passable defensively at SF.

Personally, I'd prefer to bring Cedi back (on a discount) before relying on Travers.

I'm all way out on Cedi.

[JujitsuFlip]

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/luke-walton-joins-pistons-coaching-staff-as-lead-assistant-under-j-b-bickerstaff-per-report/

Did you all see Luke Walton went to the Pistons? I missed that.

[jbk1234]

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/luke-walton-joins-pistons-coaching-staff-as-lead-assistant-under-j-b-bickerstaff-per-report/

Did you all see Luke Walton went to the Pistons? I missed that.

Luke Walton is a good coach and a really complimentary coach for JB. The injuries were unfortunate in the post season.

[JujitsuFlip]

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/luke-walton-joins-pistons-coaching-staff-as-lead-assistant-under-j-b-bickerstaff-per-report/

Did you all see Luke Walton went to the Pistons? I missed that.

Luke Walton is a good coach and a really complimentary coach for JB. The injuries were unfortunate in the post season.

Wiki has him labeled as lead assistant but i can't find anything else that says that.

[JonFromVA]

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/luke-walton-joins-pistons-coaching-staff-as-lead-assistant-under-j-b-bickerstaff-per-report/

Did you all see Luke Walton went to the Pistons? I missed that.

Luke Walton is a good coach and a really complimentary coach for JB. The injuries were unfortunate in the post season.

I was hoping for more when Luke joined JBB, but I suppose there's a lesson there. I'm just not sure yet what it is.

[JonFromVA]

If the Cavs are truly prepared to let Okoro play on the QO, then they have to trade Niang. If they're not prepared to trade Niang, then they should pull the Q.O. and hope Tyson/Travers are passable defensively at SF.

Personally, I'd prefer to bring Cedi back (on a discount) before relying on Travers.

Well, if the cut off for the luxury tax is after the deadline as has been the case in the past, we've got time to decide if we want to get under it. And technically we don't have to get under it, especially if there's a plan to reset it at some point in the future or if the next CBA changes things.

It's best to be under the luxury tax from the get go, but it all depends how much they value Isaac, Niang, and the cost to dump salary.

[jbk1234]

If the Cavs are truly prepared to let Okoro play on the QO, then they have to trade Niang. If they're not prepared to trade Niang, then they should pull the Q.O. and hope Tyson/Travers are passable defensively at SF.

Personally, I'd prefer to bring Cedi back (on a discount) before relying on Travers.

Well, if the cut off for the luxury tax is after the deadline as has been the case in the past, we've got time to decide if we want to get under it. And technically we don't have to get under it, especially if there's a plan to reset it at some point in the future or if the next CBA changes things.

It's best to be under the luxury tax from the get go, but it all depends how much they value Isaac, Niang, and the cost to dump salary.

I just don't like leveraging yourself like that for so little upside. Once Okoro signs that Q.O., he's got veto rights over any trade. While I'm all for a 3-4 year deal that keeps the Cavs out of the tax this season, I struggle seeing Okoro signing one.

Assuming the tax is calculated at the deadline, and you have to get off of Niang's deal, potential trading partners are going to try to extract a premium.

If Ty Jerome proves useless or perpetually injured, then they can dump him for a second and cash, but if he actually gives us useful minutes, we're not in a position to just give him away.

So I come back to what's the worst case scenario if we withdraw the QO and offer him a two-year deal with a P.O. that keeps us just below the tax line? He signs for a fraction of that with another playoff team out of spite? He signs for roughly the same amount with the Pistons?

[JonFromVA]

If the Cavs are truly prepared to let Okoro play on the QO, then they have to trade Niang. If they're not prepared to trade Niang, then they should pull the Q.O. and hope Tyson/Travers are passable defensively at SF.

Personally, I'd prefer to bring Cedi back (on a discount) before relying on Travers.

Well, if the cut off for the luxury tax is after the deadline as has been the case in the past, we've got time to decide if we want to get under it. And technically we don't have to get under it, especially if there's a plan to reset it at some point in the future or if the next CBA changes things.

It's best to be under the luxury tax from the get go, but it all depends how much they value Isaac, Niang, and the cost to dump salary.

I just don't like leveraging yourself like that for so little upside. Once Okoro signs that Q.O., he's got veto rights over any trade. While I'm all for a 3-4 year deal that keeps the Cavs out of the tax this season, I struggle seeing Okoro signing one.

Assuming the tax is calculated at the deadline, and you have to get off of Niang's deal, potential trading partners are going to try to extract a premium.

If Ty Jerome proves useless or perpetually injured, then they can dump him for a second and cash, but if he actually gives us useful minutes, we're not in a position to just give him away.

So I come back to what's the worst case scenario if we withdraw the QO and offer him a two-year deal with a P.O. that keeps us just below the tax line? He signs for a fraction of that with another playoff team out of spite? He signs for roughly the same amount with the Pistons?

Your analysis is likely spot on, but we can only guess at how the Cavs are seeing things and planning things and what opportunities may pop-up or evaporate week to week. Everyone's assuming once the Cavs enter the tax they won't be coming back out of it until the repeater tax forces them to, but maybe they have some contingencies in mind.

I at least hope they've got an outcome in mind with Isaac that makes sense.