Cleveland Cavaliers Don’t Have to Worry About Anyone Trying to

Smith could have opted in for another season with the Cavs at just over $6 million – an absolute gross overpayment for his services with the team.

As for Smith’s free-agency plans, he told the Pacific Daily News’ Grant Wieman he doesn’t know where he’ll end up but said he wants to play for a team where he can make an impact.

“I don’t want to be somewhere I can’t have an affect on the team” and “I would love to be a starter”, Smith elaborated. With the Cavaliers, he averaged 12.7 points and shot 39 percent from the three-point line in 46 games.

After spending most of his career as a sixth man, Smith became a valued starter during the Cavaliers regular season run last year for the first time since being a rookie. As arguably the best free agent center on the free agent market next summer, Mozgov will command probably closer to $13 million a year, Marks estimates. “I will come in away from the table and produce the vitality and other things like that”, Smith said. Sure, the Trail Blazers have space and a lot of needs, but I don’t see a young team bringing in someone who could destroy chemistry and/or foster bad habits in younger players.

Despite some interest from the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t seem to be anxious about J.R. Smith not playing for them next season. Based on the team need and the situation, I expect Smith to come back to Cleveland at around $5 million per year.

The Cavaliers re-signed forwards Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao is entering the final season of his contract. Most recently, the team traded Brendan Haywood and Mike Miller to the Portland Trail Blazers for two separate trade exceptions, which expire one year from the acquisition date. They also added veteran Mo Williams and Richard Jefferson. In the Pacific with Green, a longtime friend who inked a one-year deal with the Heat despite his numbers slipping this past season, the duo demonstrated drills and played defense against the kids.

Shumpert is still only 25, while Smith is creeping up on his 30th birthday, so perhaps the Cavaliers leaned heavily on age.