State of the Cap: Cleveland Cavaliers
Grade: C
2009-10 Payroll: $79.98 Million
Anthony Parker
Highlights: Just like on SportsCenter, all highlights in Cleveland begin and end with LeBron James. The reigning MVP will make less than $16 million next year. While that's a lot of money, it's not enough for a guy that averages 28 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and leads his team in almost every statistical category. However, this season will be the last of his career in which LeBron is underpaid; he has the option to become a free agent at the end of the year, and it's almost a certainty that he'll do so with several teams around the League prepared to do anything to sign him.
Next, we move onto the Big Highlight. Why is he a highlight? For starters, his presence in the starting lineup gives this team some much needed low-post scoring. With Shaq, they are legitimate title contenders rather than the posers they were last year. Second, Shaq's $20 million comes off the books at the end of the season, giving the Cavs precious cap space for Summer 2010. And if they fall short this year, don't discount the possibility of Shaq taking a major paycut to stay with LeBron for another run at a title. Getting #5 is more important to Shaq than ever since Kobe got his fourth.
Big Z is the other center on the roster, and he'll make $11.5 million this year. As a backup center, he is quite old and expensive. Yet, he averaged almost 13 points and 8 rebounds per game last year, which are pretty good numbers. He's not worth all that money, but like Shaq, his contract expires at year's end. One more year of solid contributions for one more run at a title, and then the Cavs can let Z go or re-sign him at a discount.
I'm a huge fan of the two moves they've made in free agency this summer. Both Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon bring length and athleticism to the wings, things the Cavs have been sorely lacking. Making these acquisitions even better, both of those guys will make less than $3 million per year for the next two seasons. Guys like Moon and Parker will make it easier for the Cavs to match up with teams like the Lakers, Magic, and Celtics.
Lowlights: The Cavaliers made an inexplicable, inexcusable mistake with the extension they
Anderson Varejao gave to Anderson Varejao. Fans of Varejao point to his hustle, intangibles, and other little things and believe that he is worth the $48.5 million he'll make over the next six years, but he's not. The reason he's not? His extension takes a huge chunk out of the cap space that the Cavs had available for next summer. Last year, experts projected that, of all the teams clearing space to add LeBron and another big name, the team that would be in the best position to do so would be the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now, teams like the Knicks, Nets, and Bulls all have more cap room next summer, which means they have more money to throw at LeBron and a sidekick of his choice. Varejao averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds per game in the regular season, and those numbers dipped to 7 and 6 during Cleveland's disappointing playoff run. I've watched him play many times, and I see the hustle and energy he brings to the game. I also see that any big man with hands could average 9 points or more playing with LeBron. He simply isn't worth all that money.
A lesser lowlight is Daniel Gibson. who will make between $4-5 million over the next four seasons. Gibson will be behind Williams, West, Parker, and Moon in the rotation and logged only 24 minutes per game last season.
The Future: It all depends on LeBron. The Cavaliers will have their best chance at a title this season, so they had better make the most of it. James will opt out at the end of the year, and the Cavs have as good a chance as any to sign him as long as he believes they have what it takes to remain in contention for years to come. But, don't expect LeBron to stay loyal to his hometown if he thinks he can win elsewhere. The reason they get a C is because, as opposed to a team like the Nets, the Cavs have done a terrible job of acquiring cheap, young talent to build around in the event LeBron skips town next summer.
Mike DeStefano can be reached at mike@hoopsdaily.com.
