Cavs shouldn’t and realistically, can’t be too active in 2019 free agency

Looking at the cap and factoring in the 2019 NBA Draft selections

Free agency in the 2019 offseason should not be much of a focus for the Cavaliers, with their cap situation at this point and with the team adding two first-round picks in June’s draft, and with Cleveland likely trying to accumulate more draft capital in the offseason, especially with the unique J.R. Smith contract situation dating back to the old collective bargaining agreement, which we’ve hit on countless times here at KJG.

Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor highlighted why the Cleveland Cavaliers likely won’t be too active in terms of bringing in outside help via free agency this offseason in a Twitter mailbag response piece published on Tuesday.

"“Hiring the new coach and getting two players in the draft who can both be part of this promising young core are the most important moves. They are also the most feasible given Cleveland’s salary cap situation. Aside from that, the Cavs need to make the most of JR Smith’s valuable contract that could net a player and a pick. It’s their best trade asset. It’s tough for the Cavaliers to prioritize anything else. They are projected to have the third-highest payroll in the NBA for the 2019-20 season. It will be around $134 million. Trading Smith, who is set to make $15.6 million, will bring it down a touch. But Larry Nance Jr.’s contract extension kicks in and the Cavs will have a decision to make on David Nwaba. That’s why adding to the roster outside the draft is unlikely. If the Cavs do go searching for outside additions, perhaps with the midlevel exception, they need to prioritize shooting or rim protection — two weak points on the current roster.”"

With Smith’s non-guaranteed contract (which he’s only guaranteed $3.87 million of for next year, per Spotrac) still counting for its full value, because of the last CBA, and with Cleveland having five expiring players that are set to be unrestricted free agents after next season in Tristan Thompson, Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Knight, Matthew Dellavedova and John Henson, there could be a bit of change this offseason, but it’s clear that free agency is low on the totem pole.

Along with that, I would like to see the Cavs extend a qualifying offer to David Nwaba, which would be just over $1.89 million (per Spotrac), as that would make Nwaba a restricted free agent (which would allow Cleveland to match any offers from other teams).