4 ways the Cavaliers can solve their toughest offseason problem

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Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies. Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images /

Solution No. 1: Sign a free agent with the Full Mid-Level Exception

For NBA teams who are over the salary cap, the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) provides a couple of options for signing free agents. In addition to minimum exceptions (signing players to a minimum contract) and the Bi-Annual Exception (a two-year deal the team can offer every other season) each team has the option to use the Full Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, often called the “MLE” in league parlance.

The MLE this summer will likely start around $12.2 million, and can go up to four years with five percent raises. That means that if the Cavaliers want to sign a starting small forward in free agency, the most they can offer is a starting salary of $12.2 million and a four-year deal worth $52.67 million.

Is that enough to sign a starting small forward? In the past, the full MLE has been the avenue for many competitive teams to add a key starter who helped push them over the hump. The Phoenix Suns used it to sign Jae Crowder a few seasons ago and he was a key starter in their run to the NBA Finals. It can happen.

The options this summer, however, as quite slim. There are perhaps a dozen free agents this summer who could credibly fit the Cavs’ need of a plug-and-play starter at the 3. Of those, most are either going to be too expensive (Khris Middleton, Jerami Grant, Harrison Barnes) or aren’t good enough shooters to fit Cleveland’s roster construction.

The one exception might be Dillon Brooks, who certainly would not come without baggage. He has the defensive chops and is at least willing to shoot from outside, but he also is braggadocious and can sabotage a team with his shot selection. If the Cavs believe their culture can help keep him within bounds, he might be the best option available.

It’s possible that Barnes takes a discount if he loves the Cleveland situation, but that’s a long shot. Perhaps Torrey Craig or Jae Crowder will impress the Cavs enough to pay much or all of the MLE to land them. The options simply aren’t all that exciting as the scarcity of 3-and-D wings pushes the value of those available up into the stratosphere.