Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Eastern Notes: Bulls, Cavs, Stephenson

July 31st, 2016 at 3:30pm CST by Will Joseph

Despite signing Rajon Rondo, who is 30, and Dwyane Wade, who will turn 35 in January, the Bulls did actually get younger this summer, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune details. Chicago will enter training camp with 10 players 25 or younger, compared with five last season, as Johnson points out. Wade’s presence should particularly help the maturation of Jimmy Butler, Johnson writes. Both Wade and Rondo have said the Bulls are Butler’s to lead.

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

The Pacers do not appear close to re-signing unrestricted free agent Lance Stephenson, per Mark Montieth of NBA.com, who echoes earlier reports. The Pacers were looking for a point guard to fill their final roster spot and Aaron Brooks fit their needs better than another wing player like Stephenson, Montieth writes in a mailbag response.
Kay Felder impressed during the summer league and his emergence makes him one of the more intriguing rookies to watch this season, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe writes. With Matthew Dellavedova no longer on the Cavs, Felder, who is a 5’9″ point guard, has a decent shot at a backup role, Washburn adds. Felder’s size, however, does put him at a disadvantage, but, as Washburn points out, the Cavs thought highly enough of him to pay $2.4MM for his rights.

Cavs Allow Trade Exceptions To Expire

July 30th, 2016 at 8:10pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Cavaliers allowed two trade exceptions to expire, Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net reports. The exceptions were created when they dealt Mike Miller and Brendan Haywood to the Trail Blazers last summer. The exception created by trading Miller was worth $2.8MM, while Haywood’s exception was originally $10.5MM. There was only $2.3MM remaining on Haywood’s exception, as the Cavs used the bulk of it to acquire Channing Frye from the Magic at the trade deadline.

Cavaliers Release Dahntay Jones

July 30th, 2016 at 5:19pm CST by Arthur Hill

5:19pm: Cleveland may re-sign Jones to a veteran’s minimum deal, tweets Chris Reichert of Upside and Motor.

4:30pm: The Cavaliers have released veteran swingman Dahntay Jones, tweets Jason Lloyd of The Akron Beacon Journal. Jones’ full $1,551,659 salary for next season would have become guaranteed Monday if he had remained on the roster.

Cleveland signed the 35-year-old swingman April 13th, and he appeared in just one game before the regular season ended. Jones made it into 15 playoff contests, mostly in a mop-up role, averaging 1.1 points in 3.3 minutes per night. His most notable moment was a one-game suspension for hitting Toronto’s Bismack Biyombo in the groin.

Jones was selected by the Celtics in the first round of the 2003 draft and traded to the Grizzlies on draft night. He has also played for the Pacers, Nuggets, Mavericks, Clippers, Hawks and Kings in his 13-year NBA career.

Salary Guarantees To Watch This Weekend

July 29th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, the Pacers announced that they’d parted ways with Shayne Whittington, placing the big man on waivers. The timing of the move seemed odd at first glance, but it made sense when considering the language in Whittington’s contract — his full salary for the 2016/17 season would have become guaranteed if he’d remained on Indiana’s roster beyond August 1.

As our list of upcoming salary guarantee deadlines shows, Whittington isn’t the only player who will either make some money or lose his roster spot within the next few days. Six other players will have some or all of their ’16/17 salary guaranteed if they remain on their respective teams’ rosters beyond August 1.

Here’s a closer look:

Jonathon Simmons (Spurs): Full $874,636 salary to become guaranteed
- Simmons’ guarantee date is actually on Saturday, rather than Monday, but it shouldn’t make much of a difference. After averaging about 15 minutes per game in 55 regular-season contests for the Spurs in his rookie season, Simmons may be in line for a bigger role in 2016/17, as we heard earlier this month.
Michael Beasley (Rockets): Full $1,403,611 salary to become guaranteed
- Beasley, who played the role of mentor for the Rockets during Summer League action, will be kept beyond his guarantee date, according to a Houston Chronicle report from early July.
Dahntay Jones (Cavaliers): Full $1,551,659 salary to become guaranteed
- Jones appeared in 15 playoff games for the NBA champions in the spring, but his most memorable moment may have involved earning a one-game suspension for hitting Bismack Biyombo in the groin. There has been no indication yet whether the Cavs, who will likely be back in tax territory in 2016/17, intend to keep Jones — he’s a candidate to be cut.
Rodney McGruder (Heat): $150,000 of $543,471 salary to become guaranteed
- The Heat just signed McGruder about three weeks ago, so it seems unlikely they’d waive him already, especially since only a small portion of his 2016/17 salary will become guaranteed on Monday.
Josh Richardson (Heat): Full $874,636 salary to become guaranteed
- In the wake of Dwyane Wade‘s departure, the Heat will be going younger this season, and Richardson figures to be a big part of that youth movement. He’s not going anywhere.
Glenn Robinson III (Pacers): Full $1,050,500 salary to become guaranteed
- When the Pacers announced Whittington’s release without cutting Robinson as well, it was a sign that the former Wolverine should be safe. Assuming that’s the case, he’s a good bet to earn a regular-season roster spot for Indiana.

And-Ones: NBPA, Monroe, Murray

July 28th, 2016 at 10:26pm CST by Eddie Scarito

On Wednesday, the NBPA announced in an unprecedented move, that it will now fund health insurance for all retired players who accrued three or more years of service time in the NBA (h/t RealGM). This program will be the first of its kind among North American professional sports, the release noted. “The game has never been more popular, and all the players in our league today recognize that we’re only in this position because of the hard work and dedication of the men who came before us,” said Chris Paul. “It’s important that we take care of our entire extended NBA family, and I’m proud of my fellow players for taking this unprecedented step to ensure the health and well-being of our predecessors.”

Here’s more from around the league:

The Bucks are still looking to find a taker for Greg Monroe and it sounds like they’ve spoken to the Pelicans about him this offseason. “I think [the Bucks] got closer than maybe has been reported with New Orleans during either the draft or free agency,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe said during today’s episode of The Lowe Post podcast (54:25 mark for the relevant portion). “Monroe’s a New Orleans native,” ESPN’s Marc Stein added. “I think that’s where he wants to end up.” Neither Lowe nor Stein suggested that a deal between the Pelicans and Bucks is currently in the works, but Stein expects the big man to eventually be moved, and those two clubs also discussed Monroe prior to this year’s trade deadline.
Richard Jefferson‘s contract with the Cavaliers is for three years, not for two as was previously reported, notes Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). The veteran will earn $2.5MM in each of the first two seasons, with the final season worth a non-guaranteed $2.6MM, Pincus adds.
Add former NBA player Flip Murray to the list of veterans considering making a return to the league, as he told Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. “I would definitely bring a lot of veteran leadership because I know the game of basketball,” Murray said. “The way the game is now, I feel like I could fit perfectly in. I could be someone who comes off the bench and produces for the team. I’d also like to mentor the young guys and pass on some of the experiences and lessons I learned from playing against some of the guys I matched up against during my time. If I come in right now, I could bring a lot of veteran leadership and still be able to produce on the court.” The 36-year-old last appeared in the NBA during the regular season in 2009/10.

Cavs Re-Sign Richard Jefferson

July 28th, 2016 at 12:46pm CST by Eddie Scarito

JULY 28, 12:46pm: The Cavaliers have officially re-signed Jefferson, the team announced today in a press release.

“RJ’s versatility on the court and leadership off it were core parts of our identity and success last year,” GM David Griffin said in a statement. “In many respects, his impact was greater as the stakes got higher. His NBA Finals performance is a testament to his dedicated, steady approach and his presence in our locker room throughout the year and postseason cannot be overstated. We’re very thankful he decided to continue his career and we know that his teammates appreciate what he brings to this team at a very deep level.”

JULY 6, 10:12pm: The contract will be worth $5MM over two seasons, Chris Mannix of The Vertical tweets.

9:59pm: The Cavaliers and veteran Richard Jefferson have agreed to a deal that will see the player remain in Cleveland, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). It will be a two-year arrangement, according to the scribe, but the dollar amount is not yet known.

This certainly comes as a reversal for Jefferson, who told reporters that his career was done after the Cavs won the NBA Finals, adding that it was a “hell of a way to go out.” A few days later, the veteran forward admitted that his decision to retire was hardly set in stone, adding that his Cavaliers teammates were trying to talk him out of it, and that it was “still up for debate.”

Jefferson appeared in 74 games for Cleveland in 2015/16, averaging 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 17.9 minutes per contest. The small forward shot .458/.382/.667 from the field on the campaign.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Cavs Interested In Forward Kenny Gabriel

July 27th, 2016 at 5:50pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Cavaliers have expressed interest in forward Kenny Gabriel, who has received an invitation to attend training camp with the team, Antonis Stroggylakis of Eurohoops.net relays. If Gabriel decides to remain overseas, he’s likely to sign with the Russian club, Lokomotiv Kuban, Stroggylakis notes. He appeared in 51 games last season for Pinar Kasiyaka, also in Russia, notching averages of 11.4 points and 5.7 rebounds on 47.1% shooting. The 27-year old was a member of Cleveland’s squad in the Las Vegas Summer League this year, where he averaged 7.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Update On Unsigned 2016 Draft Picks

July 27th, 2016 at 9:02am CST by Luke Adams

Over a month has passed since the 2016 NBA draft, and most of the 60 players selected in June – including first overall pick Ben Simmons – have been signed by their NBA teams, or have lined up overseas deals. Still, there are several players whose immediate futures have not yet been determined.

As our list of draft pick signings shows, there are still five first-rounders who have yet to either sign a contract with their NBA team or to strike a deal with an international club. Of those players, four were top-11 picks, so it’s likely just a matter of time until they sign their rookie-scale contracts. Only 15th overall pick Juan Hernangomez is a question mark — a recent report suggested he’d probably join the Nuggets immediately, but it’s not set in stone yet.

In the second round, eight of 30 draftees have unresolved situations, and many of those outcomes are more difficult to predict. Celtics draftee Abdel Nader, for instance, could end up signing with Boston, being joining the team’s D-League affiliate, or heading overseas as a draft-and-stash prospect.

We’ll pass along updates on 2016’s draft picks as they become available. For now, here’s the full list of players whose situation for the 2016/17 has yet to be resolved:

First Round:

Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram, SF (Duke)
Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown, SF (California)
Milwaukee Bucks: Thon Maker, PF (HS)
Oklahoma City Thunder: Domantas Sabonis, PF/C (Gonzaga)
Denver Nuggets: Juan Hernangomez, F (Estudiantes)

Second Round:

Milwaukee Bucks: Malcolm Brogdon, SG (Virginia)
Utah Jazz: Joel Bolomboy, PF (Weber State)
Cleveland Cavaliers: Kay Felder, PG (Oakland)
Utah Jazz: Marcus Paige, PG (North Carolina)
Oklahoma City Thunder: Daniel Hamilton, SG (UConn)
Boston Celtics: Abdel Nader, F (Iowa State)
Sacramento Kings: Isaiah Cousins, SG (Oklahoma)
Utah Jazz: Tyrone Wallace, PG (California)

Cavs, Tyronn Lue Agree To Five-Year Extension

July 26th, 2016 at 12:22pm CST by Dana Gauruder

JULY 26: The Cavaliers have officially issued a press release announcing Lue’s new deal.

“Ty took over our team under very trying circumstances and his calm, confident approach was invaluable as we found our way to success,” GM David Griffin said in a statement. “His vision, leadership and tactical acumen were fundamental to us reaching our goals. We couldn’t be happier to have Ty continue to lead our group into the future.”

JULY 25: Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue has agreed to a five-year, $35MM extension, league sources informed Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.

Lue was named head coach after David Blatt was fired on January 22nd. Cleveland went 27-14 the rest of the regular season under Lue’s guidance, then made history by winning its first championship. Lue was instrumental in keeping the team focused after it trailed the Warriors 3-1 in the Finals, then made its historic comeback to claim the title.

Lue had been Blatt’s associate head coach since the summer of 2014, when Blatt got the head job over him.

Lue became the league’s top-paid assistant at that time with a four-year deal worth $6.5MM. After he was named head coach, the Cavs and Lue’s representatives came to a verbal agreement on a renegotiated deal that would have paid him $3MM prorated for last season and $3MM this season, with a team option for a third year at $3.5MM with a buyout.

However, Lue reportedly didn’t sign that deal and there were no performance standards or stipulations that would have kept the verbal agreement valid after the season.

Former Center Sasha Kaun Retires

July 25th, 2016 at 10:42pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Center Sasha Kaun has retired after playing one season with the Cavaliers, according to Gary Bedore of KUSports.com. The 31-year-old Kaun played sparingly with Cleveland, appearing in 25 games. He was traded to the Sixers earlier this month, then waived. He played seven seasons with CSKA Moscow after completing his college career at Kansas. “I was very blessed and fortunate to play as long as I have,” he told the Journal-World from Colorado.