Cleveland Cavs free agency live updates. Latest rumors, signings, news – Akron Beacon Journal

CLEVELAND — Let the (potential) madness begin.
The NBA’s free agency period tends to be among the craziest in professional sports. The Cavaliers could be facing a massively important summer on the heels of their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2018, but also a sweep at the hands of the champion New York Knicks.
On one hand, it was the furthest the franchise has progressed without LeBron James on the roster since 1992. But losing in a sweep also brought into question what major changes, if any, are needed around the roster.
Follow for updates with NBA rumors and news as it relates to the Cavs.
Cavs fans hoping for another reunion with “King James” may need to temper expectations.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the Warriors are cobbling together a “grand plan” to acquire both James and his former teammate Anthony Davis after reports that Draymond Green would be opting to decline his $27.7M player option for next season (thus providing Golden State with added financial flexibility).
According to the report, James would only consider teaming up with fellow Akronite Steph Curry in Golden State if the Warriors could pull off acquiring Davis — who won a title with James in LA during the shortened 2020 season.
Big moves may be on the horizon for James, but a return to Northeast Ohio is looking like even more of a pipe dream scenario.
According to ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania, the Cavs will retain center Thomas Bryant on a one-year contract extension.
Bryant played sparingly for Cleveland last season, averaging 12.2 minutes in his 60 games played. Bryant converted 50.6% of his field goals and 35.9% of his 3-point attempts throughout his first season with the Cavs.
After Boston’s failed pursuit of former Milwaukee Bucks MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (who was ultimately traded to the Miami Heat), there’s now rampant speculation that the Celtics could move Jaylen Brown in a different trade amid the fallout.
The top teams registering interest are all in the Western Conference, with the LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers reportedly trying to add the All-NBA talent, according to ESPN. ESPN notes that the Clippers in particular “want Brown bad” according to a league executive.
If Boston does decide to trade Brown, the Eastern Conference may be even more open for the Cavs to make a run at the NBA Finals.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, veteran Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is opting to decline his $27.7 million player option for next season. Charania notes that the move could be a precursor to giving Golden State the added financial flexibility needed to target Akron native LeBron James in free agency.
Charania notes the Warriors may also have interest in adding big man Anthony Davis, who won a title with James in LA during the shortened 2020 season.
According to an ESPN report, Cavs guard James Harden declined his player option and is now a free agent. He is, however, expected to re-sign with team. When the Cavs traded guard Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers for Harden, they did so planning for Harden to eventually make this exact move. Read more on the move by clicking here.
Teams can officially begin negotiating with free agents at 6 p.m. ET June 30. Those players cannot be officially signed until 12:01 p.m. ET July 6, but agreements between key free agents and teams will be locked up well before that time.
The NBA Summer League also begins soon.
A massive amount of buzz will be following a certain Kid from Akron.
The future of James, even at age 41, will be a focal point of the entire NBA offseason. Among the possible scenarios: James re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers or returning, yet again, to the Cavs, though a few other options remain in the mix, such as going to the Golden State Warriors.
Here’s a look at the updated Cavs roster as free agency begins. It now includes rookie Meleek Thomas, who was selected with the No. 34 pick in the draft.
The Cavs enter free agency with the second-highest payroll in the NBA at $218 million.
The Cavaliers have been operating in the NBA’s second apron, which isn’t easy to do for long. It can also hamstring teams with the types of moves that can be made. Th Cavs navigating those waters, and trying to move around the second apron, will be a key point to their summer.
Ryan Lewis covers the Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.
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