They all took their big swing — Cleveland, Miami, Golden State and Minnesota were all in the chase for LeBron James. All of their big swings missed.
Now what do they do?
The how varies a bit team to team, but the overall theme is they get back to work and pivot to look at the next guys on their list.
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the next step means re-signing James Harden — who opted out of $42.3 million and, while he may take a small short-term haircut, is expected to sign for two years and well north of $60 million — and taking a look at Jonathan Kuminga, reports Joe Varden at The Athletic.
Cavs officials maintained contact with Kuminga and his Cleveland-based agent, Aaron Turner, throughout James’ free agency, and there is mutual interest, multiple league sources told The Athletic. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal team and player deliberations…
Basically, Cleveland could comfortably offer Kuminga roughly $6 million this season — the same amount the Cavs would have likely given James. Theoretically, the Cavs could offer Kuminga $15 million under an exception to the salary cap, but doing so would greatly reduce the amount they could pay unsigned veteran star James Harden… Kuminga, though, is more interested in a sign-and-trade deal involving Atlanta because he could earn more money that way. Kuminga is seeking a salary much closer to what he would have earned had the Hawks picked up his option, in the neighborhood of $20 million to $23 million.
The salary cap makes it unlikely either Cleveland or Atlanta is interested in the kind of sign-and-trade Kuminga wants. For Cleveland, a sign-and-trade hard caps it at the first apron, a number the Cavs are about $25 million below. It becomes very hard to re-sign Harden at a fair number, bring in Kuminga at the money he wants and round out the roster and stay under that cap. Cleveland would at least have to trade away Max Strus and Dennis Schroder, is Kuminga really worth that?
From Atlanta’s perspective, it currently sits $4.9 million below the luxury tax with 17 players on the books, meaning Atlanta already must trade or waive two players before the season starts — and Kuminga is not one of the guys on the books. For example, if the Hawks sign-and-traded Kuminga for Strus and his $16.7 million, that puts the Hawks at 18 players on the books (only one of those is a partial guarantee) and $11.8 million into the tax. The Hawks aren’t going into the tax for Strus or any other role player.
Bottom line, unless Kuminga wants to take the roughly $6 million, Cleveland feels like a long shot.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are going to focus on re-signing Draymond Green — who declined his $27.7 million player option to give the team flexibility to chase LeBron and others — as well as officially finalize the two-year, $11 million contract with De’Anthony Melton.
After that, how will GM Mike Dunleavy fill out the rest of the roster? While the Warriors could technically sign someone to the mid-level exception of $15 million, then finalize the deals with Green and Melton and go into the tax, the more likely path is to get their two guys re-signed, then round out the roster (two or three spots, depending on if they want 14 or 15 players) with veteran minimum guys, which keeps the Warriors out of the tax.
Would DeMar DeRozan accept the minimum? The Warriors are interested, but that might be all they have to offer.
After sign-and-trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat are hard-capped at the first apron ($209 million) and, with that, are limited in next moves. They have 12 players on the roster and can offer one player the remaining $7 million of their mid-level exception, then offer one player a veteran minimum (they will leave the 15th roster spot open to start the season).
DeMar DeRozan has been linked to the Heat, and while he is not the classic playmaker that Pat Riley has talked about wanting, he is a bucket. DeRozan averaged 18.4 points per game last season in Sacramento, and he’s durable, playing in 77 games. He could be worth some or all of the remaining mid-level exception.
Bradley Beal was another name mentioned by ESPN’s Shams Charania, who added they will keep their eye on Klay Thompson, who may get bought out by Dallas. Another couple of names to watch are Seth Curry and, if he gets bought out by Atlanta, Buddy Hield.
Minnesota had already been aggressive this offseason, shifting from a defense-first roster with size all along the front line, to a more offense-first roster with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards in the backcourt (leaving Rudy Gobert to try to be the ultimate backstop in the paint who keeps the team’s defense respectable). LeBron would have been plug-and-play at the four, filling a hole in the Minnesota roster (the Timberwolves moved on from both Julius Randle and Naz Reid this offseason).
Now, Minnesota has an open roster spot and can offer the veteran minimum. Whoever they land at this point is not going to be as impactful as LeBron would have been, but Minnesota can get someone. Then just lean hard into their new identity.
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