Sport
Is LeBron James headed back to the Cleveland Cavaliers?
LeBron James. PHOTO/Rocky Widner/Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have created salary cap space to make sure they have enough to offer superstar free agent LeBron James a maximum contract.
An official familiar with the deals says the Cavaliers have agreed to trade guard Jarrett Jack, swingman Sergey Karasev and center Tyler Zeller in a three-team deal. The moves are designed to open room under the salary cap so they can land James, the 4-time league MVP and most sought after player on the market.
The Cavaliers have agreements with Brooklyn and Boston, the official told reporters on Wednesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because teams are not permitted to discuss trades until the league’s moratorium ends Thursday.
According to the same official, Cleveland will receive guard Marcus Thornton from the Nets and send him, Zeller and a future first-round pick to the Celtics. Also, the Cavaliers are trading Jack and Karasev to the Nets.
Jack, who signed with Cleveland as a free agent last season, was scheduled to make US$6.3 million, Zeller will make US$1.6 million and Karasev US$1.4 million.
In trading those salaries, the Cleveland Cavaliers have enough to give James a maximum, US$20.7 million contract – if he decides to sign with Cleveland. James, who played his first seven seasons with Cleveland before leaving as a free agent in 2010, is expected to meet with Miami President Pat Riley in Las Vegas before making a decision about his future.
Under NBA rules, teams must abide by a salary cap set by the league. If the combined salaries of the team’s roster surpasses the cap, teams are forced to a pay additional taxes. Last season, the salary cap was approximately US$59 million, and the projected number for the 2014-15 season is expected to rise over US$63 million. A team can exceed the cap and will not be penalized until it reached US$77 million.
ESPN first reported details of the three-team trade.
Jack’s first season with Cleveland didn’t go as he or the Cavaliers had hoped. He signed a 4-year, US$25 million deal last July after playing in Golden State. The Cavaliers counted on him being a leader for their young team, but it didn’t work out as Cleveland finished 33-49, missed the playoffs and fired coach Mike Brown.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press