Iman Shumpert Is Drawing Interest From The Mavs, Bucks, And Lakers In Free Agency

Add Iman Shumpert‘s name to the growing list of players joining the free agency melee that’s set to begin tomorrow on July 1. He’s a restricted free agent, so the Cleveland Cavaliers can ultimately match any offer sheet he’s given, and by all accounts, the organization would like to keep Shump and his venerable defensive abilities (and equally-imposing hair) in town for the foreseeable future, if at all possible.

But according to a new report from ESPN’s Chris Broussard, that could prove difficult now that three other teams – the Mavs, Lakers, and Bucks – are lining up to try and lure him away from Cleveland.

Shumpert’s future in Cleveland will ostensibly depend on how much money his suitors are willing to offer him, and his disappearing act in the NBA Finals earlier this month (6.5 ppg on 25.6 percent shooting, including 32 percent from three) could potentially drive down the asking price. However, it also recently came to light that Shumpert was suffering through a shoulder injury during that time and had to be shot up with painkillers just to get through each game.

The Cavs’ front office also has other priorities that will take precedence. They’re set to extend max contract offers to both Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson, which will gobble up a significant portion of their salary cap, so if the offers Shumpert receives are too formidable, they might have to make a tough decision and let him walk. But the franchise has yet another incentive to re-sign Shumpert that might override everything else, i.e. the fact that LeBron James loves playing with him. And as we all know, keeping LeBron happy is priority number one in Cleveland.

(Chris Broussard)

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