5 Biggest Takeaways From The 2015 NBA Finals
2. The Cavaliers Should Be Back Next Year
On a similar note that reinforces the notion that it’s far too early to be making definitive claims about LeBron James’ legacy, we should remember that if the Cavaliers bring everybody back next year and can just stay healthy, they’re automatically the favorites represent the East again next season.
The biggest issue is not wondering whether Cleveland is cursed or lamenting this year’s Finals like it’s some sort of shocking result. Instead, Cavs fans should be looking ahead to the offseason in an effort to decipher who deserves to be back next season.
Congrats to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a remarkable season. Well run organization with a bright future.
— Chillin in my Bacta (@DarthAmin) June 17, 2015
Bringing everyone back will be easier said than done. Kevin Love is going to opt out of the final year of his contract to become a free agent, though he’s said many times he wants to be back in Cleveland next season. After watching LeBron carry the Cavs to the Finals singlehandedly, it’s no surprise Love wants to see if he can stay healthy and win a ring.
But there’s cause to wonder if the Cavs should invest a max contract in this oft-criticized third option, especially with the emergence of Tristan Thompson — a restricted free agent this summer whose extension will also enter max territory this summer.
To be clear, Thompson is not a better player than Love. To be honest, the fact that Thompson turned down a four-year, $52 million extension before the season started doesn’t bode well for the Cavaliers this summer given his inflated marked value after a breakout postseason.
Cleveland forget the Warriors, the cap is your real enemy. The East still sucks, you'll be back next year if LeBron/Griffin crunch numbers.
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) June 17, 2015
Thompson gave the Cavs a defensive identity that got them within two wins of a championship, but how would the Cavs balance minutes and cap space between both power forwards if they re-sign them both? Love would take a sixth man role as an insult, but Thompson’s improvement on the defensive end makes him a great asset too.
And then there’s the situation on the perimeter. Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova are both restricted free agents who boosted their value in the playoffs despite piss-poor shooting in the Finals. J.R. Smith has a $6.4 million player option he’s expected to decline, but he was a valuable scoring presence until he shrank from the moment in the Finals.
It won’t be easy and sacrifices will have to be made. The Cavs may have to decide between one max extension and using that cap space on the kinds of role players Cleveland needs to round out the roster around LeBron and Kyrie, trading one star third option for depth in the process.
But no matter who’s back next season and who Cleveland chooses to round out the roster with, LeBron James and role players were already enough to make it to the Finals this season and that’ll probably be the case next season as well. Nothing is guaranteed given the extensive injury histories of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and Anderson Varejao, but as long as the Cavs have LeBron, they have as good a chance as anyone of winning a title.
Despite losing this series, the Cavaliers enter next season as the favorites (5/2) to win the 2016 NBA title, according to @RJinVegas.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 17, 2015
Next: No. 1