The pathway to a Paul George sign-and-trade
The Cleveland Cavaliers could create a new Big Three with a Paul George sign-and-trade this summer.
It’s never too early to look at what a team can do in the upcoming offseason.
There will always be a way to improve a team and the Cleveland Cavaliers need to explore all avenues to achieving their ultimate goal of winning a NBA championship. For the Cavaliers, their success flows through LeBron James, a player whose been a superstar for a decade and a half and is still the best player in the league.
That’s why, entering his 16th season, James will be the hottest free agent on the market.
Ask yourself why James would stay in Cleveland and their current roster is championship material. He has elite big man in Kevin Love as his second-in-command, rangy athletes and great shooters at his disposal if he chose to return.
What’s more, the Cavaliers allow him to have an easier path to the NBA Finals considering the talent of the top teams in the Western Conference compared to those in the East. Factor in his affinity for Northeast Ohio and there is no way he’s going to walk away from his current team unless completely convinced he has a better shot elsewhere.
Yet, if there’s anything to be worried about, it’s the possibility James wants to team up with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George in free agency. George is an elite and versatile forward who is a game-changer on both ends.
Look at James’ teams over the course of his career and he’s always had a dynamic perimeter playmaker beside him:
Larry Hughes. Mo Williams. Dwyane Wade. Kyrie Irving.
This Cavs team is lacking that type of player, although Rodney Hood shows the potential to be that second option. The Brooklyn Nets first-round pick, which will be conveyed to the Cavaliers in the upcoming draft, could be used to select a player with that ability .
Nonetheless, nothing beats a sure thing for a player trying to maximize his championship window and James, at 33-years-old, knows Father Time will arrive eventually.
Once robbed of his athleticism, James will undoubtedly be one of the best players in the NBA but not the best.
Yet, if he’s to surpass Michael Jordan as the greatest player ever, which is his goal, he has to win his next four championships as the best player on his team.
That said, George is the perfect complement to James thanks to his energy, defensive ability, playmaking ability and jump shooting. He’ll be the Scottie Pippen to James’ Jordan and if paired, they’ll be a threat to win it all on any team.
However, there are only so many teams that can feasibly clear the cap space needed to sign both players outright.
For the Cavaliers, a team over the salary cap, the only path to acquire George would be through a sign-and-trade. However, according to the NBA CBA (collective bargaining agreement), in order to complete that trade the Cavaliers would need to get below the luxury tax apron ($6 million above luxury tax threshold); in order to complete trade and not have to operate under a hard cap, they’d need to get under this apron prior to the trade.
By shedding $9 million in salary, they’ll do that.
It’s all possible but here’s what would have to happen:
Step 1: Renounce rights to Jeff Green and Jose Calderon ($3 million total).
Step 2: Trade Ante Zizic ($2 million salary).
Step 3: LeBron James re-signs for $30 million per year (brings Cavaliers under luxury tax threshold and keeps them from signing players under hard cap).
Step 4: Paul George re-signs for near max (~$29 million per year).
Step 5: Cavaliers trade George Hill, Tristan Thompson and Brooklyn Nets pick ($35 million combined) for George.
-or-
Cavaliers trade Kevin Love and Kyle Korver ($32 million) for George.
*Cavs can then sign draft pick with Rookie Exception, re-sign restricted free agent Rodney Hood and add minimum salary players.
If James wants a max contract, team must get Love (or Hill) to reduce his salary by a total of $5 million.
To be sure, this would be the best team in the East whether the team traded Love or the Nets pick for George.
There are two possible rosters that the team could come away with but both will include the following players:
LeBron James, Paul George, Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., J.R. Smith and Cedi Osman.
Their difference will be in whether that core is joined by Kevin Love and Kyle Korver or George Hill, Tristan Thompson and a lottery pick. Offense or defense?