NBA reportedly found ‘no violation’ in Cavs-Patrick McCaw ordeal
By Dan Gilinsky
The Cleveland Cavaliers can breath easier now knowing the NBA reportedly found no violation in their signing, then quick releasing of Patrick McCaw.
Patrick McCaw and the Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t with each other long, as the ex-restricted free agent, McCaw, reportedly signed an offer sheet to join Cleveland in December, and the Golden State Warriors (McCaw’s team before that) did not match that, making him a Cavalier. McCaw would play with the Cavs for only three games, and did not do too much in that time. After that three-game sample, Cleveland reportedly was planning to waive (and did eventually release) McCaw so his contract was not guaranteed for the rest of the season (which would have been the case after last Monday’s deadline), as was initially reported by Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.
Given that the Cavs cut ties with the ex-restricted free agent McCaw after such a short time, the Warriors reportedly requested that the NBA investigate the circumstances surrounding his release, per the New York Times‘ Marc Stein.
More from Cavs News
- 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
- 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
- NBA Expert says Cavaliers backcourt just won’t work
- When does NBA Training Camp start? When do Cavaliers start?
- Prominent NBA agent says LeBron had a harder path than Jordan
Stein followed that initial news up by noting there could be “serious penalties if the Cavaliers are found guilty of salary-cap circumvention.”
According to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, the Warriors reportedly questioned Cleveland’s timing and Golden State was “thinking a prior agreement with McCaw and his agent, Bill Duffy, was in place to get him out of Golden State’s control and allow him to become an unrestricted free agent.”
If Cleveland was guilty of that salary-cap circumvention, the penalties could have been as follows, again, per Fedor.
"“Fines could range anywhere between $3 to $6 million as well as the loss of future first-round draft picks. Suspensions could also be levied.”"
Fortunately for Cleveland, according to the aforementioned Charania, the league did not find Cleveland guilty of any wrongdoing in their handling of McCaw.
The NBA found no violation of the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement in Cavaliers' signing of Pat McCaw.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 14, 2019
This is great news for the Cleveland Cavaliers, because losing future draft picks over simply making a smart business decision in taking a flyer on McCaw (who did have potential defensively and as a playmaker but was really rusty) would have considerably hurt them progressing in their rebuild in the coming years.
The Cavs simply weren’t impressed with McCaw, and needed to sign a backup point guard (which eventually would be Cameron Payne) instead with Matthew Dellavedova reportedly dealing with a right foot sprain, as Fedor noted.
Cavs' Collin Sexton's love for the process is encouraging. dark. Next
With this news coming, fans can resume their dreaming of Collin Sexton and maybe Cedi Osman lobs to Zion Williamson, or the all-around scoring potential of R.J. Barrett.