Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love's shoulder injury could make it more likely he doesn't leave in free agency, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. Kyler also said forward Tristan Thompson would likely seek a max-level contract this summer, putting the cap-strapped Cavaliers in a difficult spot.
Cleveland's playoff run has made Love's upcoming free agency a distant thought in the minds of Cavaliers fans. Despite losing Love to a season-ending shoulder injury, the Cavaliers have dominated in the postseason and now are one game away from sweeping the Atlanta Hawks and earning a spot in the NBA finals for the first time since 2007. It's arguable whether Cleveland is a better team without Love, but the Cavaliers certainly haven't played worse without him.
It may not hurt Cavaliers fans to see Love leave in free agency, but it would certainly hurt their team's cap space if he stays. Reports continue to indicate Love is on the fence about exercising his $16 million player option for next season, but Kyler suggested Love's injury could be a factor that tips him into staying.
"Despite comments to the contrary, it's always been expected that Love would opt-out this summer and sign a new deal. However, with the severity of his shoulder injury it's more of a 50/50 decision at this point," Kyler wrote Monday.
Opting into the final year of his deal would make sense. It gives Love one more season to decide if he really wants to stay with the Cavaliers, who may or may not at this point offer Love a max deal this summer if he were to opt out, and it allows him to become a free agent again in July 2016 - just in time for the expected salary cap increase.
Unless there's something the public doesn't know, Love's shoulder injury likely wouldn't keep him from cashing in on a big payday this summer from another team - such as the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks - if he were to test the market. But if he stays with Cleveland for one more year, it would limit the team's financial flexibility in July.
And that, according to Kyler, likely would affect Thompson. The soon-to-be restricted free agent declined a $52 million extension last summer, and given how well he's played in the postseason, Kyler believes Tristan's camp will aim for a max-level deal and try to force Cleveland's hand.
Cleveland could re-sign him, but signing him to anything close to a max-level deal this summer - especially if Love opts in - would further hinder the Cavaliers' financial flexibility to tweak their roster for next season. Cleveland also has a handful of other potential free-agent players, including J.R. Smith ($6.3 million player option), Iman Shumpert (restricted, $4.4 million qualifying offer), Matthew Dellavedova (restricted, $1.1 million qualifying offer) and Timofey Mozgov ($4.9 million team option). LeBron James also has a player option worth $21.5 million for next season.
As Kyler pointed out in his article, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has a history of not being shy when it comes to spending. That's unlikely to change this summer - especially given how the salary cap is expected to increase by around $20 million in 2016, meaning Gilbert would only have to break the bank to pay the luxury tax for one season. The real issue for Cleveland isn't keeping its players; it's bringing in new ones. The Cavaliers will be well into the luxury tax, which will subject them to restrictions on trading players and signing new free agents.
If Love does decide to bolt in free agency, Cleveland could maybe finagle a little cap relief by completing a sign-and-trade. The problem is two of Love's top purported suitors - Los Angeles and New York - are expected to have enough cap space to sign him outright.
As for Thompson, it's unclear just how big of a market awaits him this summer. Cleveland would likely match any offer sheet he receives. If the offers for aren't forthcoming, Cleveland may push giving him a new multiyear deal to next summer. However, doing so risks losing him in unrestricted free agency after next season or having to pay even more for him then.
Regardless, it should help Cleveland that Thompson has the same agent as James.