3 Cavs transactions that might be waiting on LeBron James

3 Cavs moves that might be waiting on LeBron James: Caris LeVert extension

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a finite number of assets in building their team towards contention over the next few years. Those assets include players, draft picks and salaries. Anytime the team spends a significant amount of assets on a transaction, it’s a tell that the team highly values that player.

At the NBA Trade Deadline, the Cavs not only traded for Caris LeVert, but they also outbid other teams like the New York Knicks for him. They ultimately sent Ricky Rubio, a first and a very nice second-round pick. That first will likely convey this season, while the second has already become Andrew Nembhard, one of the best point guard prospects in the draft this year.

It matters a bit that LeVert’s play in Cleveland was bad, and also that his flaws as a player limit the ceiling of whatever team he is on. But more so it matters that this front office invested significant resources to bring him in, and that means the Cavs are thinking hard, or already planning to offer, LeVert a contract extension.

The one factor that above all could influence them otherwise is that a LeVert extension eats into their maximum cap space for next summer. LeVert is eligible for an extension on August 7th, a few days after LeBron James becomes eligible for his. If James doesn’t sign his right away, do the Cavs wait on LeVert as well? Even a 38-year-old LeBron James is worth having on the team over LeVert, but is a 30 percent chance at James worth letting LeVert walk? A 15 percent chance? Should the Cavs let him walk anyway? These are questions the front office is and should be asking right now.