Cavs move on after LeBron

Akron Beacon Journal

For anyone wondering whether the Cavaliers would tear down and rebuild or forge full speed ahead without LeBron James, the answer came in the first few minutes of Saturday morning.

The Cavaliers are charging ahead, preparing to back up owner Dan Gilbert’s guarantee they will win a championship before James does with the Miami Heat.

It will read in history that the Cavaliers traded James to the Heat, but realistically, he was already gone. What they received in return shows they’re not ready to quit and start over.

The Cavs acquired four draft picks from the Heat, spread out over as many as the next seven years. More importantly for right now, though, they also have one year to use a $14.5 million trade exception to land another star.

Having the trade exception, plus the midlevel exception of $5.7 million to use on free agents, means the Cavaliers can remain aggressive in their pursuit of a championship.

“There’s really no timeline for us,” Cavs general manager Chris Grant said. “The goal of this organization is to win, period. ... If there’s a great opportunity that comes along, we’ll take advantage of it. We’re not going to say there’s a certain amount of years before we want to win. We’re going to try to win every day in everything we do.”

For a reference point, players making in the neighborhood of $14.5 million next season include New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul ($14.9 million), Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams ($14.9 million), Phoenix Suns guard Jason Richardson ($14.4 million), Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum ($13.8 million), Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy ($13.5 million) and San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker ($13.5 million).

The trade exception, which can be used between now and next July, can also be divided into multiple deals.

As for the draft picks, the Cavs received two of the Heat’s first-round picks starting no earlier than 2013 and continuing through 2017. They also received the Heat’s 2012 second-round pick from the Hornets and a future second-round pick the Heat acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Cavs can also swap first-round picks in 2012 with the Heat.

By agreeing to a sign-and-trade, James technically signed with the Cavs and was dealt to the Heat. It allowed James to receive more money and the extra sixth year on his contract that only the Cavs could offer him, while allowing the Cavs to receive something in return for the franchise scoring leader.

Like James, Chris Bosh was also sent to the Heat in a separate sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors. Both James and Bosh signed identical six-year deals worth $110.1 million, according to ESPN. Dwyane Wade re-signed with the Heat for $107.5 million for six years. James took about $14.5 million less than he could’ve made, according to ESPN.

All three stars have early termination clauses in their contracts, allowing them to become free agents again in the summer of 2014. The final year on all three deals, for 2015-16, is a player option, according to ESPN.

The Raptors received two first-round picks next year for Bosh, reacquiring their own selection and adding the Heat’s. The Heat had previously acquired the Raptors’ first-round pick next year in a trade two years ago that sent Shawn Marion to Toronto.

Since league rules prohibit a team from trading its first-round pick in consecutive years, the Cavs couldn’t have a first-round pick from the Heat until 2013.

James was introduced to Heat fans on Friday night in a setting befitting a rock concert, but he might have to relinquish sole rights of his nickname. James, Wade and Bosh were introduced to Heat fans as the “Three Kings.”

“The organization is a close-knit group,” James said of the Heat. “It’s all about family and that’s what I’m all about.”

As for playing alongside Wade, James said the hard practices will make the games “easy” and that he is expecting to win at least seven championships in Miami, even though his current deal is only for six years.

“Not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven [titles],” James said, as a camera shot caught Heat president Pat Riley looking uncomfortable in his seat. “When I say that, I really believe it. I’m not just up here blowing smoke at these fans, because that’s not what I’m about. I’m about business and we believe we can win multiple championships if we take care of business and do it the right way.”