Several players for the Cleveland Cavaliers have the ability to opt out of their contracts and seek better deals. Even LeBron James could decide to opt out for more money. That has the Cavaliers in a position where they might have to make some crucial decisions about who gets to stay and who must go in the offseason. With Tristan Thompson seeking a max contract and Kevin Love getting recruited by every other team in the league, how will they factor into the futures of players like Timofey Mozgov and JR Smith?
Both Mozgov and Smith have proven their worth to the team this playoff run. With the absence of Love and the injuries to Irving, both players have been critical to the postseason success of the team. The question becomes will they still be favored in free agency. Mozgov and Smith came to the team via a trade. Mozgov has a team option for next season worth $4 million with Smith has a player option worth $6 million.
According to the Akron Beacon Post, many believe Smith will opt in with the Cavaliers considering $6 million is about what he would earn anywhere else on the open market. Mozgov could be worth more. The question for the Cavaliers is whether or not the team trusts the return of Anderson Varejao who has been out all season considering Mozgov now has established chemistry with the team.
Mozgov is only one piece to the puzzle. The Cavaliers are also left to decide who gets the max contract this year between Thompson and Love. When Love was acquired, he told the Cavaliers that he planned on opting in to his player option and then seeking a max deal when the tv contracts expand the salary cap. According to Bleacher Report, the shoulder injury Love sustained in the playoffs might have him thinking he needs the contract now and not later in order to secure his future. Love made it clear that he plans on being with Cleveland on opening night next season. He did not confirm if that meant he was opting in or opting out and seeking a long-term deal. He simply laughed off the speculation.
"It's just the way the world works now," Love said, via ESPN.com. "People talk so much and might tell themselves a lie so much they start to believe it. From there, the narrative starts to change. I haven't changed my narrative. I'm going to keep supporting these guys, and we'll be talking to Cleveland after the season."
James has already advocated for Thompson's contract, so if Love opts out the Cavaliers will be put in a tough position.
"Tristan should probably be a Cavalier for his whole career," James said, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "There's no reason why he shouldn't. This guy is 24 years old. He's played in 340‑plus straight games, and he's gotten better every single season. It's almost like, 'What more can you ask out of a guy?'"
Cleveland cannot extend everyone. Two max contracts will not work for the salary cap this year. Someone will have to be patient or be forced elsewhere in free agency.
