Cavs/Lebron Pursuing Dunleavy

[SilkyJ]

Looks like Lebron & the Cavs have interest in Dunleavy (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13173723/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-interested-mike-dunleavy-chicago-bulls), who is an unrestricted free agent as of today.

This would be a great get for them and add some depth and shooting on the wing where Mike Miller and James Jones, Lebron's holdovers from Miami, were largely ineffective when they were needed. That said, the article and other reports I've seen/heard say Dunleavy is likely to remain in Chicago. Dunleavy only (ha) made $3.3M last year, so he comes relatively cheap given he is a reliable double digit scorer, can spread the floor, and is a solid team defender.

Edit: teams could begin pursuing players at midnight last night, but players cannot sign contracts until July 9th. IIRC though, teams & players can still agree to terms verbally so free agent news should start to trickle in this week. I'm guessing a player like Mike will be towards the middle of a team's priority list, so I don't expect to hear news for a bit. Would love for him to be on the Cavs though (sorry CDu, et al!)

[duke blue brewcrew]

Looks like Lebron & the Cavs have interest in Dunleavy (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13173723/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-interested-mike-dunleavy-chicago-bulls), who is an unrestricted free agent as of today.

This would be a great get for them and add some depth and shooting on the wing where Mike Miller and James Jones, Lebron's holdovers from Miami, were largely ineffective when they were needed. That said, the article and other reports I've seen/heard say Dunleavy is likely to remain in Chicago. Dunleavy only (ha) made $3.3M last year, so he comes relatively cheap given he is a reliable double digit scorer, can spread the floor, and is a solid team defender.

Edit: teams could begin pursuing players at midnight last night, but players cannot sign contracts until July 9th. IIRC though, teams & players can still agree to terms verbally so free agent news should start to trickle in this week. I'm guessing a player like Mike will be towards the middle of a team's priority list, so I don't expect to hear news for a bit. Would love for him to be on the Cavs though (sorry CDu, et al!)

And as I love to see happen in the NBA, it would be another Duke tandem paired up. If all goes well, maybe Q. Cook could make it a trio!

[superdave]

Dunleavy made $3.326 million last season for the Bulls. I dont know the ins and outs of the Cavs cap space, but that is do-able. They have to resign Love and Tristan as well.

[duke blue brewcrew]

Dunleavy made $3.326 million last season for the Bulls. I dont know the ins and outs of the Cavs cap space, but that is do-able. They have to resign Love and Tristan as well.

Agreed. It's the Love/Tristan signings that make this interesting. Both have high market values right now. I think LeBron's versatility to play where ever he wants/needs to, could allow for Dunleavy and James to play on the floor at the same time.

[SilkyJ]

Dunleavy made $3.326 million last season for the Bulls. I dont know the ins and outs of the Cavs cap space, but that is do-able. They have to resign Love and Tristan as well.

Yep, and as I pointed out thats a bargain

Miller made 2.8M last year and barely played
JR Smith made double that (6.5M) and was roughly as effective on offense, and of course Dunleavy comes without the headaches (though JR appeared to mesh and behave quite well last year with the Cavs)
Iman Shumpert makes the same amount but can't shoot and is easy to double off of

If the Cavs can snag Dunleavy for roughly the same amount, it would be a very solid get. Not world-changing, but a cheap and effective role player and scorer.

[COYS]

Yep, and as I pointed out thats a bargain

Miller made 2.8M last year and barely played
JR Smith made double that (6.5M) and was roughly as effective on offense, and of course Dunleavy comes without the headaches (though JR appeared to mesh and behave quite well last year with the Cavs)
Iman Shumpert makes the same amount but can't shoot and is easy to double off of

If the Cavs can snag Dunleavy for roughly the same amount, it would be a very solid get. Not world-changing, but a cheap and effective role player and scorer.

Battier, then Dunleavy. Clearly LBJ needs a Dukie small forward on his team to win a title.

[Jeffrey]

Why is Dunleavy a relative bargain?

[Furniture]

What a bargain he would be even at 6MUSD! In my opinion smith was a big let down in the finals. He may have meshed well but he made a lot of stupid rash decisions. He didn't score well either!

[sagegrouse]

Why is Dunleavy a relative bargain?

Well, he started all 63 games he played for the Bulls, a playoff team, and averaged 29+ MPG.. Even though he only averaged 9.4 PPG, he was effective shooting, at 41 percent from 3 pt., 47 percent from 2, and 80+ percent for free throws. When I watched the Bulls, he was constantly moving on both offense and defense and looked like the most savvy guy on the court. He's a steal at $3M.

[CDu]

Dunleavy is going to re-sign with the Bulls for a 3 year, $14.4 million deal. The third year is going to be partially guaranteed. Good deal for the Bulls and for Dunleavy.

[luvdahops]

Sorry to rain on the parade here (well, not really, since I'm a Bulls fan), but latest rumors have Dunleavy finalizing a 3-year, $15mm deal to stay in Chicago.

[Native]

Sorry to rain on the parade here (well, not really, since I'm a Bulls fan), but latest rumors have Dunleavy finalizing a 3-year, $15mm deal to stay in Chicago.

Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski seems to agree (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--mike-dunleavy-agrees-to-deal-to-return-to-bulls-094258629.html). Three years, $14.4M.

[Jeffrey]

Well, he started all 63 games he played for the Bulls, a playoff team, and averaged 29+ MPG.. Even though he only averaged 9.4 PPG, he was effective shooting, at 41 percent from 3 pt., 47 percent from 2, and 80+ percent for free throws. When I watched the Bulls, he was constantly moving on both offense and defense and looked like the most savvy guy on the court. He's a steal at $3M.

Sorry, our language leaves room for many interpretations. I strongly agree, Mike has been a relative bargain for the last 3 or 4 years. What I do not understand is why?

Sure, he should not have been the 3rd pick in his draft and was probably overpaid by GS at $44 million for 5 years, but why has he gone from that to ~ $3 million a year when his productivity has not dropped anywhere near as much?

[CDu]

Sorry, our language leaves room for many interpretations. I strongly agree, Mike has been a relative bargain for the last 3 or 4 years. What I do not understand is why?

Sure, he should not have been the 3rd pick in his draft and was probably overpaid by GS at $44 million for 5 years, but why has he gone from that to ~ $3 million a year when his productivity has not dropped anywhere near as much?

Probably because he wants to play for contenders. And contenders who are interested in his niche skill set tend to be over the cap (and can thus only afford low-cost deals like the mid-level exception or the taxpayer's mid-level exception).

He could presumably get more if he chose to sign with a less talented team, but (a) he wants to chase a ring and (b) a less talented team may not have as much need for a nice player like him.

Dunleavy is really good at what he does well, but his physical tools have declined with age and injury such that he is a very specialized player. Teams with really strong, ball-dominant players can take advantage of Dunleavy's game. Teams that don't have that don't get as much value from him.

[Des Esseintes]

Sorry, our language leaves room for many interpretations. I strongly agree, Mike has been a relative bargain for the last 3 or 4 years. What I do not understand is why?

Sure, he should not have been the 3rd pick in his draft and was probably overpaid by GS at $44 million for 5 years, but why has he gone from that to ~ $3 million a year when his productivity has not dropped anywhere near as much?http://m.bkref.com/m?p=XXdraftXXNBA_2002.html
Actually, Dunleavy has more or less justified his draft position. Sixth in win shares for his class and only separated by 6 WS from third. Good chance to pass Tayshaun Prince and Yao. He's quietly been one of the best guys from that (fairly underwhelming) cohort.

[Kfanarmy]

Probably because he wants to play for contenders. And contenders who are interested in his niche skill set tend to be over the cap (and can thus only afford low-cost deals like the mid-level exception or the taxpayer's mid-level exception).

He could presumably get more if he chose to sign with a less talented team, but (a) he wants to chase a ring and (b) a less talented team may not have as much need for a nice player like him.
Dunleavy is really good at what he does well, but his physical tools have declined with age and injury such that he is a very specialized player. Teams with really strong, ball-dominant players can take advantage of Dunleavy's game. Teams that don't have that don't get as much value from him.
What do these terms mean? not picking, I just don't understand what you're meaning here.

[brlftz]

Probably because he wants to play for contenders. And contenders who are interested in his niche skill set tend to be over the cap (and can thus only afford low-cost deals like the mid-level exception or the taxpayer's mid-level exception).

He could presumably get more if he chose to sign with a less talented team, but (a) he wants to chase a ring and (b) a less talented team may not have as much need for a nice player like him.

Dunleavy is really good at what he does well, but his physical tools have declined with age and injury such that he is a very specialized player. Teams with really strong, ball-dominant players can take advantage of Dunleavy's game. Teams that don't have that don't get as much value from him.

Wants a ring, plays best with a ball dominant star...this screams Cleveland

[CDu]

Wants a ring, plays best with a ball dominant star...this screams Cleveland

Or Chicago (where he is re-signing), where he can play with Rose and Butler.

Cleveland would obviously have the better shot at the title. But he apparently likes it in Chicago.

[moonpie23]

What about Ray Ray? do we see him coming back? it would have been very interesting had he been on the cavs this playoffs........

[CDu]

What do these terms mean? not picking, I just don't understand what you're meaning here.

"nice players like him" was a typo. "Niche players like him." As in, specialists.

"Ball-dominant players" refers to guys like Rose and Butler (or LeBron and Irving, but since he's staying in Chicago it means Rose and Butler) whom the ball spends the most time on offense and who commands the full attention of the defense.

On a mediocre/bad team, you likely don't have a guy who can draw defenses away from shooting specialists like Dunleavy. As such, it's harder to get the full value of Dunleavy, because he isn't a guy who can get his own shot anymore. But on a team with guys like Rose and Butler drawing the attention of the defense, Dunleavy is able to sneak around the court and get good open looks from 3.

[Jeffrey]

Probably because he wants to play for contenders. And contenders who are interested in his niche skill set tend to be over the cap (and can thus only afford low-cost deals like the mid-level exception or the taxpayer's mid-level exception).

He could presumably get more if he chose to sign with a less talented team, but (a) he wants to chase a ring and (b) a less talented team may not have as much need for a nice player like him.

Dunleavy is really good at what he does well, but his physical tools have declined with age and injury such that he is a very specialized player. Teams with really strong, ball-dominant players can take advantage of Dunleavy's game. Teams that don't have that don't get as much value from him.

Excellent post, which makes complete sense, thanks!

[Jeffrey]

http://m.bkref.com/m?p=XXdraftXXNBA_2002.html
Actually, Dunleavy has more or less justified his draft position. Sixth in win shares for his class and only separated by 6 WS from third. Good chance to pass Tayshaun Prince and Yao. He's quietly been one of the best guys from that (fairly underwhelming) cohort.

Clearly, Mike Sr. was spot on for when Jr. needed to enter and how best to navigate the draft. I was surprised when Mike was selected right after Jason, given how much more potential Jason had. I agree with you, except for everybody missing the boat on Carlos and few doing enough homework on Stoudemire, it was a relatively weak group.

Prince is another good example of a mid-20's steal. Seems like NBA teams get the most bang for their buck, and draft selection, at this point in the draft. I think the players should be better compensated, on a relative basis, at this point in the draft.

[sagegrouse]

"nice players like him" was a typo. "Niche players like him." As in, specialists.

"Ball-dominant players" refers to guys like Rose and Butler (or LeBron and Irving, but since he's staying in Chicago it means Rose and Butler) whom the ball spends the most time on offense and who commands the full attention of the defense.

On a mediocre/bad team, you likely don't have a guy who can draw defenses away from shooting specialists like Dunleavy. As such, it's harder to get the full value of Dunleavy, because he isn't a guy who can get his own shot anymore. But on a team with guys like Rose and Butler drawing the attention of the defense, Dunleavy is able to sneak around the court and get good open looks from 3.

While Dunleavy is a shooter, he is also a "glue guy" who seems to be everywhere -- maybe the opposite of
JR Smith?

[Kfanarmy]

"nice players like him" was a typo. "Niche players like him." As in, specialists.

"Ball-dominant players" refers to guys like Rose and Butler (or LeBron and Irving, but since he's staying in Chicago it means Rose and Butler) whom the ball spends the most time on offense and who commands the full attention of the defense.

On a mediocre/bad team, you likely don't have a guy who can draw defenses away from shooting specialists like Dunleavy. As such, it's harder to get the full value of Dunleavy, because he isn't a guy who can get his own shot anymore. But on a team with guys like Rose and Butler drawing the attention of the defense, Dunleavy is able to sneak around the court and get good open looks from 3.
Got your point. Thanks for expounding a bit there.

[roywhite]

Cavs are putting things together quickly. Love has agreed to terms, Tristan Thompson seems to be close, and now Shumpert has worked out a deal.

This is a good story for Cleveland, and for the league in general, IMO. Stay healthy, Kyrie, and enjoy the journey.