The Cleveland Cavaliers are halfway to a championship in the finals against the Warriors and one of the main reasons why is the play of Matthew Dellavedova and heading into next season he could be in line for a new contract as a restricted free agent and this comes as Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson are expected to return for LeBron James.
The Cavaliers have been dealing with talk all season that Kevin Love is going to opt out and leave Cleveland, but recent reports have the forward opting into his player option. According to Pro Basketball Talk and ESPN.com, Love said that he expects to be with the Cavs for Game 1 next season and ready to play after having shoulder surgery in the playoffs. Love has been dogged by the rumors all year and with his opt out deadline coming up, he has reiterated he wants to be in Cleveland.
Dellavedova has been a key component for the Cavaliers in the finals, as he has been able to shut down Stephen Curry with great defense. Dellavedova has been hustling more than anyone on the court apart from LeBron and he has given the Cavs some energy. Dellavedova is a restricted free agent and he was paid less than $1 million this year. Dellavedova has been a huge bargain and after the way he has played he likely will return for the Cavaliers.
The injury to Love knocked him out in Game 4 against the Celtics and he has not played in the finals since and underwent surgery. Love said watching the team in the finals has reinforced the fact that he wants to win and he said that he thinks the best place to do that is in Cleveland. Love will have the ability to sign a max deal next summer as an unrestricted free agent if he opts into the final year of his deal with the Cavs.
Tristan Thompson has stepped in for Love and has played very well in the playoffs, including his performances in the finals alongside James. Thompson will be a restricted free agent for the Cavs next year and while he may have some targets on the market, the team is very likely to keep him. Love can leave next summer and while he is expected to stay, locking up Thompson would be insurance for that. Thompson may want to take the Greg Monroe route and try to get to unrestricted free agency before signing an extension.
Thompson played in all 82 games this season and he has not missed a game in the past three seasons for the Cavaliers. This season Thompson averaged 8.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game and while those numbers were down from where he was last year, it was more about Love and James being in Cleveland and not any diminished quality in play.
Thompson is expected to return along with Love and there is a chance the Cavs will try and bring in more depth for the bench for another playoffs run. The Cavaliers have a strong team and they should get even better next year with James in year 2 in Cleveland.
