Not even 24 hours after Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors shocked the basketball world, the rumor mill caught fire with whispers of a Dwyane Wade/Lebron James reunion. We all know Mr. James will be staying put in Cleveland. So when reports of a late evening flight taken by Wade to Cleveland Monday started circulating, the buzz of a massive move started to gain steam. Talks between Wade and the Miami Heat have stalled, and Wade has put out “feelers” to a few select teams. Originally, it was thought to be next to impossible for the Cavaliers to be able to even entertain signing the four time champion. Little to no salary cap space to land a big name. Not willing to trade Kevin Love. It is amazing how one man's decision can shake up the NBA landscape. Several “reports”, and “cryptic” tweets later, the rumors are gaining traction. How could a deal possibly work out?
Cleveland can offer Wade the league minimum, or, Cleveland's mini mid-level exception. It's hard to imagine a player of Wade's caliber signing a deal that would be worth close to $17 million less than he can command elswhere. Given all thats taken place over the past week, it makes it an option. Then there is the option to move Kevin Love ($21.2 million), Mo Williams ($2.2 million), Sasha Kaun ($1.3 million), Channing Frye ($7.8 million), or Iman Shumpert ($9.6 million). Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue, along with owner David Griffin have expressed their full intentions to not move Love and to bring the same core back for next year. Though it's still an option. Dahntay Jones and his non-guaranteed $1.6 million can be cut. The Cavs could also renounce Lebron James' cap hold of $29 million, J.R. Smith‘s cap hold of $9.5 million. James Jones, Richard Jefferson, and Shawn Marion have cap holds of $980,000 respectively that the Cavaliers can renounce the rights to.
Nothing can be ruled out at this point, as it appears the Golden State Warriors have ignited an NBA arms race. The Cavaliers would have to do some serious purging of their championship roster to free up enough cash to make Wade and James happy. Without moving Love, they could potentially free up a little over $20 million that the two superstars would have to be willing to split. Either way, the defending champions have to make a move. Drastic times, call for drastic measures. The brotherhood between James and Wade may be the key to getting any type of miracle deal done.
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