Kevin Love re-upped for five years. Iman Shumpert signed a long-term deal. LeBron James went the expected route of a one-year contract. A massive agreement with Tristan Thompson still appears imminent. Mo Williams was even added to the fold.
But for many Cleveland Cavaliers fans, this offseason still wouldn’t have been a complete success without the re-signing of postseason folk hero Matthew Dellavedova. On Monday, those concerns have been officially alleviated.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Aussie guard has come to terms with Cleveland on a one-year qualifying offer.
Matthew Dellavedova will return to the Cavs on a one-year deal worth approximately $1.2 million, source w/ knowledge of the deal tells ESPN
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 27, 2015
It was reported earlier this month that talks between the sides had “stalled.” Why? The Cavaliers were wary of paying Dellavedova the approximately $4 million salary he supposedly sought due to severe luxury-tax implications.
But Cleveland’s inevitable tax bill was lessened over the weekend when the team dealt Brendan Haywood and Mike Miller to the Portland Trail Blazers. Obviously, that trade – plus the former undrafted free agent’s near-league minimum deal – made an agreement with Dellavedova much more palatable for the Cavaliers.
It was always unlikely a strong market would emerge for the 24-year-old. Not only was he a restricted free agent, but Dellavedova’s on- and off-court value to Cleveland simply dwarfs what it would be for any other team. Though he likely could have found a more lucrative contract elsewhere, this contract allows Dellavedova to become an unrestricted free agent next summer and take advantage of another salary-cap boom.
What’s next for the Cavaliers? Finally inking Thompson and re-signing J.R. Smith, developments that still seem a matter of ‘if’ as opposed to ‘when.’
(Via Dave McMenamin)
