Cavs GM David Griffin Comments on Status of Cavaliers Heading into Free Agency

Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin offered a brief look at the team's plans for the summer on ESPN's NBA Lockdown podcast on Sunday.

"We intend to keep this group together and see what we're capable of," he said (via ESPN.com's Marc Stein).

The Cavs core is likely to remain intact.

Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert are locked up through 2019, while Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love are signed through 2020, and it's doubtful the team will look to move Love after winning the NBA title.

Finals MVP LeBron James told ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin he has no plans to leave, either. 

The Cavaliers have a few players hitting free agency, but none—with the possible exception of J.R. Smith—would leave a major hole in the squad if he signed elsewhere.

Smith will be a major wild card. During his emotional press conference after Game 7 of the Finals, he made it clear he's comfortable in Cleveland:

Still, it won't be surprising if another team throws him a massive offer that forces Griffin to decide the price is too high to retain the veteran sharpshooter. Replacing Smith, who shot 40 percent from beyond the arc in 2015-16, would be difficult, since the Cavs have little money to spend.

According to Spotrac, Cleveland is set to have the highest payroll in the league next year based on its salary-cap holds.

Matthew Dellavedova will be another interesting free agent to watch. The Minnesota Timberwolves overpaid for J.J. Barea after he helped the Dallas Mavericks win the title in 2010-11. Something similar could happen with Dellavedova.

In the event the Australian reserve point guard leaves, the Cavs' draft-night trade for guard Kay Felder would look even smarter.

As long as James, Irving and Love remain healthy next year, the Cavaliers will be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, regardless of what they do in free agency.