The Cavaliers are facing a little more difficulty than anticipated with re-signing Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith
But James Jones should present no such issues.
Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com:“I’ll be back in Cleveland for sure,” Jones told the Northeast Ohio Media Group Sunday in Las Vegas, on the red carpet for the first Players’ Awards show.
“I’ve made it well known last year when I told them I was coming to help change the culture and do something special,” Jones said. “It wasn’t a situation where I was looking for a platform to move on. I was looking to be a part of something, to build something. And so I’m still in.”
Cleveland can pay Jones up to $ 1,799,024 next season – 120% the minimum salary – thanks to his Non-Bird Rights (technically a form of bird rights). That should do the trick.
It will cost Cleveland multiple times over in luxury-tax payments, but so would signing someone else instead. Might as well keep a player LeBron James values.
Jones found a role for the Cavaliers in the playoffs as a stretch four. Obviously, Kevin Love will provide that dimension if healthy.
But that Jones earned a spot in Cleveland’s postseason rotation is telling. David Blatt is clearly more comfortable with Jones than other veterans on last year’s roster.
The Cavaliers should be healthier and deeper next season, which means they won’t have to lean as heavily on Jones. That bodes well for Cleveland, and Jones can still make 3-pointers in spot duty.