The Cleveland Cavaliers have been spending money this off-season and they are looking to spend quite a bit more.
The Cavaliers re-signed Kevin Love to five years, $110 million, and Iman Shumpert to four years, $40 million. The Cavs are expected to re-sign LeBron James to a one-year deal worth $22 million for next season. LeBron reportedley will not re-sign with the Cavs until they get a deal done with Tristan Thompson. Thompson and the Cavs were reaching an agreement for five years, $80 million, but they are now apart in contract talks and now Thompson is looking for more money like Draymond Green did in signing for five years, $85 million from the Golden State Warriors.
The Cavs are now considering a trade for Joe Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets, and they are looking to trade Brendon Haywood's $10.5 million non-guranteed contract and Anderson Varejao's $9.6 million for next season. Cleveland's luxury tax bill zooms to $104 million- on top of a $116 millon payroll if they do the Joe Johnson trade. Cavs also had interest in David West, which they could of payed him $1.4 million for the veterans minimum, but West just signed with the San Antonio Spurs.
The Cavs are also considering re-signing J.R. Smith after he opted out of his $6.4 million player option for next season. The Cavs would likely have to re-sign him to a multi-year deal around $8 million a year. The Cavs most likely bring him back if they cannot work out a trade for Joe Johnson. Another player Cleveland will entertain to bring back is Matthew Delavedova, who is expected to be around $3 million a year.
Cavaliers GM David Griffin is doing the best he can to give the Cavaliers the best chance at winning a championship in the near future. It will be very intersting to see what moves Cleveland can make the remainder of the off-season as they look to remain at the top of the Eastern Conference.