Cavaliers Free Agency Primer

As Chris Grant reminded us last night- free agency starts Sunday. The Cavaliers have several players with expiring deals that they need to make decisions about, as well as evaluate the roster and see who they may want to pursue. Chris Grant said the Cavaliers will be ‘active’ in free agency. Let’s be sure to temper any excitement about that statement. Resigning Anthony Parker was ‘active’ to the Cavaliers last season.

On the Roster- Player (signed through)

Kyrie Irving (2015/16)

Anderson Varejao (2013/14- team option for ’14/15)

Tristan Thompson (2015/16)

Luke Walton (2012/13)

Omri Casspi (2013/14)

Daniel Gibson (team option for this season $4.8 million)

Dion Waiters (draft pick)

Tyler Zeller (draft pick)

Kelenna Azubuike (team option for this season $.9 million)

Restricted Free Agents

Semih Erden

Alonzo Gee

Luke Harangody

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Manny Harris

Samardo Samuels

Donald Sloan

D.J. Kennedy

The Cavaliers have several decisions to make about their own players. Azubuike was the player that Dallas included in the trade for Tyler Zeller. He has had terrible injuries throughout his career, and it wouldn’t be a big surprise if the Cavs let him go.

Semih Erden has done nothing to warrant a spot on the roster other than being tall. Will that keep him around another season? It could, but it is doubtful that the Cavs keep Harangody, Erden and Samuels. One of the three will most certainly be let go. Despite his hustle and great attitude, it could easily be Luke.

Alonzo Gee is going to get offers from other teams. The Suns have made it clear they will pursue him. It will become a numbers game. Alonzo was a great story last season. He certainly has value on this Cavaliers team. Coming off the bench providing energy and scoring is a great role for him. The Cavaliers would love to keep him, but I can’t see them overpaying for anyone at this point.

Who is Available

We can all dream, but the Cavs aren’t going after Deron Williams, Roy Hibbert or Tim Duncan. They need at least a wing player, possibly a back-up point guard or an upgrade from the Erden/Samuels/Harandody grouping.

Small Forwards (Player, team, last year’s salary, type of FA)

Matt Barnes, L.A. Lakers – $1.9 million – Unrestricted

Nic Batum, Portland Trail Blazers – $2.2 million – Restricted ($3.2 million Qualifying Offer)

Derrick Brown, Charlotte Bobcats – $0.9 million – Restricted

Chase Budinger, Minnesota Timberwolves – $0.9 million – Team Option ($0.9 million)

Rasual Butler, Toronto Raptors – $1.2 million – Unrestricted

Devin Ebanks, L.A. Lakers – $0.8 million – Restricted

Jeremy Evans, Utah Jazz – $0.8 million – Restricted

Jeff Green, Boston Celtics – $4.5 million – Restricted ($7.2 million Qualifying Offer)

Donte’ Greene, Sacramento Kings – $2.0 million – Restricted ($3.0 million Qualifying Offer)

Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns – $6.5 million – Unrestricted

Dahntay Jones, Indiana Pacers – $2.7 million – Player Option ($2.9 million)

Dominic McGuire, Golden State Warriors – $0.9 million – Unrestricted

Jamario Moon, Charlotte Bobcats – $0.1 million – Unrestricted

Eduardo Najera, Charlotte Bobcats – $2.8 million – Unrestricted

Andres Nocioni, Philadelphia 76ers – $6.7 million – Unrestricted

Steve Novak, New York Knicks – $1.0 million – Unrestricted

Diamon Simpson, Houston Rockets – $0.1 million – Restricted

James Singleton, Washington Wizards – $0.2 million – Unrestricted

DaJuan Summers, New Orleans Hornets – $0.8 million – Unrestricted

Anthony Tolliver, Minnesota Timberwolves – $2.1 million – Unrestricted

Gerald Wallace, Brooklyn Nets – $9.5 million – Unrestricted

Bill Walker, New York Knicks – $0.9 million – Unrestricted

Damien Wilkins, Detroit Pistons – $1.1 million – Unrestricted

Chris Wright, Golden State Warriors – $0.5 million – Restricted

Sam Young, Philadelphia 76ers – $0.9 million – Restricted

Point Guards

Blake Ahearn, Utah Jazz – $0.1 million – Restricted

Gilbert Arenas, Memphis Grizzlies – $0.4 million – Unrestricted

D.J. Augustin, Charlotte Bobcats – $3.2 million – Restricted ($4.4 million Qualifying Offer)

Leandro Barbosa, Indiana Pacers – $7.6 million – Unrestricted

Jerryd Bayless, Toronto Raptors – $3.0 million – Restricted ($4.2 million Qualifying Offer)

Chauncey Billups, L.A. Clippers – $2.0 million – Unrestricted

Earl Boykins, Houston Rockets – $0.2 million – Unrestricted

Aaron Brooks, Phoenix Suns – $2.0 million – Restricted ($3.0 million Qualifying Offer)

Anthony Carter, Toronto Raptors – $1.3 million – Unrestricted

Baron Davis, New York Knicks – $1.3 million – Unrestricted

Keyon Dooling, Boston Celtics – $2.2 million – Unrestricted

Goran Dragic, Houston Rockets – $2.1 million – Unrestricted

Jerome Dyson, New Orleans Hornets – $0.1 million – Restricted

Jordan Farmar, Brooklyn Nets – $4.0 million – Player Option ($4.3 million)

Raymond Felton, Portland Trail Blazers – $7.6 million – Unrestricted

Jonny Flynn, Portland Trail Blazers – $3.4 million – Unrestricted

Derek Fisher, Oklahoma City Thunder – $3.4 million – Unrestricted

T.J. Ford, Golden State Warriors – $1.1 million – Unrestricted

Courtney Fortson, Houston Rockets – $0.2 million – Restricted

Randy Foye, L.A. Clippers – $4.3 million – Unrestricted

Sundiata Gaines, Brooklyn Nets – $0.9 million – Restricted

Terrell Harris, Miami HEAT – $0.5 million – Restricted

George Hill, Indiana Pacers – $2.1 million – Restricted ($3.1 million Qualifying Offer)

Kirk Hinrich, Atlanta Hawks – $8.0 million – Unrestricted

Royal Ivey, Oklahoma City Thunder – $1.2 million – Unrestricted

Mike James, Chicago Bulls – $0.6 million – Unrestricted

Armon Johnson, Brooklyn Nets – $0.1 million – Restricted

Carldell Johnson, New Orleans Hornets – $0.5 million – Restricted

Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks – $8.6 million – Unrestricted

DeAndre Liggins, Orlando Magic – $0.5 million – Restricted

Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks – $0.8 million – Restricted

John Lucas, Chicago Bulls – $0.9 million – Unrestricted

Roger Mason, Washington Wizards – $1.1 million – Unrestricted

Andre Miller, Denver Nuggets – $7.8 million – Unrestricted

Patty Mills, San Antonio Spurs – $0.3 million – Restricted

Darius Morris, L.A. Lakers – $0.5 million – Restricted

Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns – $11.7 million – Unrestricted

Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic – $7.8 million – Player Option ($7.8 million)

Jannero Pargo, Atlanta Hawks – $1.1 million – Unrestricted

A.J. Price, Indiana Pacers – $0.9 million – Restricted

Ronnie Price, Phoenix Suns – $1.1 million – Unrestricted

Walker Russell, Jr., Detroit Pistons – $0.4 million – Restricted

Ramon Sessions, L.A. Lakers – $4.3 million – Player Option ($4.6 million)

Ishmael Smith, Orlando Magic – $0.5 million – Restricted

Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks – $10.7 million – Unrestricted

Jamaal Tinsley, Utah Jazz – $1.2 million – Team Option ($1.3 million)

Ben Uzoh, Toronto Raptors – $0.2 million – Restricted

Delonte West, Dallas Mavericks – $1.1 million – Unrestricted

Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets – $16.4 million – Player Option ($17.8 million)

Mo Williams, L.A. Clippers – $8.5 million – Player Option ($8.5 million)

That is an absurd amount of free agent point guards. There will be 29 unrestricted free agent point guards. That’s only one less than there are teams in the league. The Cavaliers have a reported interest in signing Jonny Flynn, which is a move I could get behind.

The Cavs also have tremendous flexibility. They will be well under the salary cap, plus have a very attractive asset in Andy Varejao. They Cavaliers also have their own first round pick next year, plus the Miami Heat’s first round pick (top 10 protected), the Sacramento Kings’ first round pick (top 13 protected) and the right to swap any of those picks for the Lakers’ first rounder (top 14 protected). They also own Orlando’s second round pick.

It should be an interesting summer.