CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – As the first few days of NBA Free Agency wind down we have seen three teams in the NBA\u2019s Eastern Conference make big-time moves to get better- Philadelphia (Jaylen Brown), Miami (Giannis) and Toronto (Kawhi Leonard). The Cavs? We\u2019re still waiting and still wondering.<\/p>\n
The waiting is a bit understandable, not everything happens quickly. The wondering is where can start to scratch your head. What kind of moves can they actually make? <\/p>\n
One answer here is the one you\u2019ve probably already muttered under your breath while reading this- LeBron James. Could they get him? Yeah. <\/p>\n
If they could actually get him to agree to the mid-level exception, which would be around $15-million, that could work. The team is now under the second apron after James Harden declined his player option for next season. As it stands they are actually $29-million under the first apron, but they are aiming to bring Harden back, so that cap space is a bit spoken for.<\/p>\n
The team has created more cap space by saying good bye to Dean Wade and Keon Ellis, Wade was a bit more surprising there. The team could also find a way to trade Max Strus and his $19-million salary, but Strus is one role player that would be hard to lose. You need guys that bring what he brings to a team- toughness, intensity and shooting.<\/p>\n
So what if they cannot get LeBron? Unfortunately, the splash acquisitions just are not there if he\u2019s off the board- unless there is some disgruntled star player out there we have not heard about yet.<\/p>\n
The best remaining free agent is Detroit\u2019s Jalen Duren.<\/p>\n
No thanks. He\u2019s good, but he Cavs already have Jarrett Allen.<\/p>\n
After that? Denver\u2019s Peyton Watson is a good, ascending player, and he would help the Cavs, but nobody would say he\u2019s the guy that puts them over the top. <\/p>\n
They need to get over the top. Their owner said as much after the season. Don\u2019t forget Dan Gilbert\u2019s \u201cwe are nowhere near where we need to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is the \u201crun it back\u201d strategy actually viable? It is a legitimate gripe that the team did not have a lot of time to gel with Harden, but I am not sure it\u2019s legit enough to explain away everything. Harden was straight bad at times in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
It seems like they have three hands to play-<\/p>\n
Run it backRun it back with LeBronAltman has an ace up his sleeve nobody sees coming<\/p>\n
Number 3 would make Cavs fans feel like they could get over the top. <\/p>\n
Number 2 might get \u2018em there as well and would be a lot of fun along the way. <\/p>\n
Number 1? That\u2019s going to be a tough sell, to the fans and maybe to Gilbert.<\/p>\n
Philly, Miami and Toronto all got a lot better.<\/p>\n
The New York Knicks are the champs.<\/p>\n
The Cavaliers are playing the waiting game, while the rest of us do the wondering. <\/p>\n
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