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2020 Offseason

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Fedor adds Patrick Williams, LaMelo Ball, and Anthony Edwards to the private workout list.


Much like 2013, I expect there will be several big surprises in the top 4 because there is just no one in this draft that seems developed enough to have a great sense of what they will be at the next level.
 
Just listened to Fedor's latest podcast - not much there that he hasn't put in his columns. He did say the front office has directed the coaching staff to pay special attention to five players on the Cavs' "short list"; Toppin, Okongwu, Avdija, Wiseman, and Okoro. They don't expect Edwards or Ball to be there and Fedor added there's a growing belief around the league that Wiseman won't last past #3.

So if Ball, Edwards and Wiseman all go in the top four that means the Cavs will have their choice of three of the remaining four: Toppin, Okongwu, Avdija, and Okoro assuming one of them also goes in the top four.
 
I still am in favor of making a package with the#5 pick. There are no impact players available at 5. Of the players mentioned, Avdija has the most interest to me, and even he will most likely be gone.
Even if we do get Avdija, it would probably mean less playing time for Windler, who I am dying to see play.
 
Just listened to Fedor's latest podcast - not much there that he hasn't put in his columns. He did say the front office has directed the coaching staff to pay special attention to five players on the Cavs' "short list"; Toppin, Okongwu, Avdija, Wiseman, and Okoro. They don't expect Edwards or Ball to be there and Fedor added there's a growing belief around the league that Wiseman won't last past #3.

So if Ball, Edwards and Wiseman all go in the top four that means the Cavs will have their choice of three of the remaining four: Toppin, Okongwu, Avdija, and Okoro assuming one of them also goes in the top four.
Most likely to be gone, in no particular order is Edwards, Ball, Avidja, & Wiseman. That would leave the Cavs to choose from among Toppin, Okongwu, or Okoro.
 
I still am in favor of making a package with the#5 pick. There are no impact players available at 5. Of the players mentioned, Avdija has the most interest to me, and even he will most likely be gone.
Even if we do get Avdija, it would probably mean less playing time for Windler, who I am dying to see play.


Unless,you're telling me the Cavs are getting a young good wing back I don't see how trading away the 5th pick make this team any better.
 
The Athletic has a question-and-answer column with their NBA salary cap expert about the Cavs. Here's the exchange about TT.

What could a realistic deal look like for the Cavs to re-sign Thompson this offseason? Could the uncertainty surrounding next season and the cap figure affect the type of deal they could strike?

For me, the focus will be on duration rather than salary. While I see non-premium centers as pretty replaceable, it feels like Thompson will get something around the $9 million non-taxpayer MLE, especially since there are so few cap-space teams. As such, expect the 29-year-old to try for a longer contract because it could be the last big one of his career since centers are in such ridiculous supply right now.

While I personally would not go longer than a single season at a salary higher than $5 million, my prediction would be something in the range of three years, $27 million, possibly with some partial guarantees on that final season if Thompson cannot generate as much leverage.


The laws of supply and demand as well as the decreasing importance of the center position, especially "non-premium" centers, may limit TT's options and he may end up staying put. It appears there will definitely not be a bidding war for his services. The Cavs seem to really value Thompson's leadership and work ethic with so many young players on the team and they may be willing to pay more than other teams in order to keep him around for another couple of years.
 
More from The Athletic column, this time on Drummond.

So, let’s say he opts into this season. Is there enough value in his expiring contract that the Cavs could trade him at some point next season if they decide not to offer him an extension? Do you think there are teams looking to clear cap space for free agency in 2021 that would take on his expiring contract?

There may be an opportunity, but getting value for Drummond could be a challenge for a few different reasons. First, it is fair to assume that $28.8 million is more than the 27-year-old would get on the open market because, otherwise, he would opt out and just become a free agent. Furthermore, since so many teams are maintaining cap space for 2021, there are fewer general managers interested in trading for Drummond and simply re-signing him next offseason using Bird rights. With a massive $43 million cap hold, any acquiring team would have to be sure they were staying over the cap and also confident that was the best way to add Drummond.

However, there is a path along the lines of what you said at the end: the Cavs using his expiring salary as a way to add a longer contract in exchange for assets. The surprising problem there is that at the moment, there just are not that many truly burdensome, long deals on teams’ books. Unfortunately for Altman, some of the teams with desire do not have the sweeteners to make a salary dump worth it for Cleveland. For example, the 76ers would presumably love to find a taker for Al Horford but owe their 2020 first-rounder to the Nets and do not have a ton of young talent either. Would the Cavs take on a talented player owed $27 million in 2021-22 and $14.5 million guaranteed in 2022-23, especially with Love and Nance Jr. still on their roster? It feels like the answer is no unless the return is strong, and there are not that many other terrible contracts out there right now.

It is possible that changes by the trade deadline, but generally speaking there are not as many options there as most seasons, something that will change after teams spend aggressively in 2021. But Drummond will already be a free agent by then.
 
One more excerpt from The Athletic column, this one more general in nature.

Looking ahead to the next few years and considering their salary cap situation, how do the Cavs get back into playoff contention? What is their pitch to veteran players to join their roster, and when is the best time for them to strike?

With $50 million owed to Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr. and Cedi Osman in 2021-22, the Cavs will only have limited flexibility. Without inking any multiseason contracts this fall, Cleveland could have $30-35 million under the cap next offseason, but that does not include any money for Drummond, so any money Altman pays him in an extension or new contract cuts that $30 million down.

The Cavs’ sales pitch will likely have to be a combination of playing time and money, which can work for some players but can be hard for elite free agents, especially if the team is still limited at that point. That said, Cleveland could be a great place for talented players who cannot get the contract they want if they can offer a starting spot and touches, so it depends on position. Also, Altman could invoke Marcus Morris’ experience on the Knicks by indicating that if the season does not go as that player hopes, the front office will try to find a good home for them. It is not the greatest sales pitch in the world but a potentially viable one in 2021 or 2022.

Another potential avenue if playoff contention is really a priority would be moving young players and/or picks for players more ready to contribute. I am actively against skipping steps for just about every team but especially those who need significant time to build back up, but general managers often turn that way if they are feeling the heat, which may happen to Altman at some point in the future.


So the big question after this season is do they attempt to sign Drummond to a medium or long term deal which would eat up a big chunk of that $30-35 million or do they let him go (assuming they have not traded him during the season) and use that money on another player or players. If the target is "talented players who cannot get the contract they want" but would come to Cleveland because they could start here, then I think this would be a good spot with a core of talented and emerging young players like Sexton, Garland, Porter, Windler, and our draft pick this year.
 
Thursday's Pro Day for draft prospects Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Maxey will be televised on ESPN2.
These unprecedented times call for adjustments to be made, and in the case of Edwards and Maxey the adjustment is to go through their pro day paces on national television. Edwards is projected by many draft analysts to be a high-lottery pick next month, with a shot of hearing his name called first overall. Minnesota holds the first overall pick, with Golden State, Charlotte, Chicago and Cleveland rounding out the top five. As for Maxey, he's projected to be a mid-first round selection with that portion of the draft expected to be chock full of options at both point guard and on the wing.
 

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