As the Warriors took control of the NBA Finals, it became crystal clear why the Cavs were going to lose. 1.) The Warriors had Kevin Durant. 2.) The Cavs were not getting enough help from their bench. Kevin Durant and the Warriors are poised to get better, as their young players mature into their prime years. The Cavaliers on the other hand, appear to be hand-cuffed from making significant improvements in the near future and here is why.
Salary Cap Issues
Kyle Korver and Deron Williams were two key additions that bolstered the Cavs bench this season. Korver and Williams were big contributors at times in the regular season, but their presence did not have a significant impact during the Finals. Both players can leave in free agency, and Cleveland only has a $5.2 million mid-level exception to use to sign their replacements. 37 year-old Richard Jefferson, Iman Shumpert, and Channing Frye are all under contract for next season, but they were severely outplayed by the Warriors bench that was younger, faster, and longer.
To make matters worse, Cleveland will be in the luxury tax for the 4th straight year with $125 million in salary, which means they will be considered a repeater tax team. That designation means that if they decide to bring back Kyle Korver at $8 million and use their $5.2 million mid-level exception on another player, they will pay a tax bill of $84 million for a team that would likely lose again to the Warriors.
Draft Pick Woes
Cleveland’s luxury tax issues will make it tough to sign new players, so maybe there is hope in the NBA Draft? — the answer is not for a while. The Cavs don’t have a first or second round pick this year and can’t trade for a first round pick until 2021. Cleveland does have three trade exceptions totaling $8.3 million, but they cannot be combined to sign players and each exception will add to their luxury tax bill. Cleveland also owes Atlanta a top 10 protected first round pick in 2019 and cannot trade a first round pick until Atlanta receives a first round pick. Essentially, the Cavs cannot improve through the draft in the immediate future with clock ticking on LeBron’s age and impending free agency.
This is all leading to speculation on another LeBron decision in 2018. Paul George and LeBron James will be free agents at the same time, and there are reports about the two joining forces in Los Angeles after next season. Cleveland built a short-lived championship roster by spending a lot of money on players there are not named LeBron James, and sacrificing draft picks to acquire trade assets. Now the reality of those short-term decisions are taking shape and Cleveland must find a way to counter the Kevin Durant Warriors with limited resources. Good Luck.