NBA Free Agency is still ongoing for the Cleveland Cavaliers and for most other teams across the league. The Cavs need to either clear a roster spot and re-sign restricted free agent guard Collin Sexton, or work out a sign-and-trade to send Sexton elsewhere. Most other teams still have roster spots to fill or trades to consider.
Even while things wrap up for this offseason, and the Cavs continue to prepare for an exciting season, the franchise has to keep one eye on next summer. That goes for any team, but especially for a Cleveland Cavaliers team that will have a lot of flexibility for the first time in years…and likely for the last time in years.
The Cleveland Cavaliers can have max cap space in the summer of 2023. Which players could the Cavs pursue with a max contract offer next year?
After this season a number of the Cavs’ contracts will come off the books, including Kevin Love, Caris LeVert and Dylan Windler. As things stand, even with Darius Garland’s rookie extension kicking in, the Cavs are looking at over $40 million in cap space for the summer of 2023.
That number will likely go down, whether the Cavs retain any of those free agents, work out a contract extension with LeVert or bring back Sexton. For now, however, they can at least entertain the idea of luring a high-dollar free agent to join their core.
Who are some of next summer’s free agents worthy of a max deal? Cavs fans are likely thinking of one specific player who may or may not have been in town before, but let’s look at three forwards who could sign with Cleveland next summer. Coincidentally, they also represent the last three championships won in the NBA.