Cavs Rumors: Breaking Down Offseason Plan for NBA Champions

When you win the NBA championship, the pressure to scramble for big moves in free agency virtually disappears. This mindset will dictate how the Cleveland Cavaliers approach their offseason.

In pretty much every summer for the past few decades, the Cavaliers had to figure out what went wrong and what was needed to improve on the previous year's result. After winning the NBA finals in seven games, the reality is that nothing went wrong.

While there are always ways to get better, none of the fans will complain if there isn't a high-profile addition over the next few weeks.

General manager David Griffin outlined a simple plan for the offseason, per ESPN's Marc Stein:

This won't necessarily be all that easy with a number of free agents on the roster, although the No. 1 priority is to make sure LeBron James stays with the organization as long as possible.

The finals MVP chose not to exercise his player option, effectively becoming a free agent, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard. While plenty of fans in Cleveland likely had flashbacks to The Decision in 2010, the good news is that James has no interest in testing the open market this time.

"I love it here. I love being here. I love my teammates," James explained last week, per Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. "Obviously my agent will take care of all the logistical things, but I'm happy. I've got no plans to go nowhere at this point."

The opt-out is more about getting the best contract possible based on the rising salary cap around the league. In fact, his next deal should offer him another chance to opt out after next season, which would then allow the superstar to really cash in, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst:

Will this be a lot of money that could potentially hamstring the Cavaliers' payroll going forward? Yes. Is James worth every penny after finally bringing a championship to Cleveland? Absolutely.

All that matters is keeping one of the best players in NBA history with the team and figuring out the rest later.

As far as the rest of the team, it appears as though a lot of players are on board with sticking around and trying to repeat as champions. This includes Richard Jefferson, who is reportedly willing to play another season after considering retirement, according to Chris Mannix of The Vertical.

Jefferson's contributions weren't always seen in the box score—he averaged just 5.5 points per game during the regular season—but he provided veteran leadership off the bench and was a big part of the team's success in the playoffs. This includes two starts in the NBA finals in place of Kevin Love, helping the Cavs match up against the Golden State Warriors' small ball.

Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images

Even at 36 years old, Jefferson is worth keeping around for a relatively reasonable salary.

Another player who wants to return is backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova. ESPN's Dave McMenamin explained the player's mindset, via Keith Britton of 92.3 The Fan:

The problem is that it's an awfully large contract for a player who is replaceable. The Cavaliers likely won't get any discounts either, considering there is legitimate demand for Dellavedova on the open market. According to Windhorst, the Milwaukee Bucks scouted the Australian this postseason and plan to target him in free agency, via ESPN's Pratik Patel.

Cleveland also found his potential replacement in Kay Felder, one of the most productive players in college basketball last season despite standing at just 5'9". The Cavaliers acquired the No. 54 pick of the draft after sending $2.4 million to the Atlanta Hawks, likely indicating their intention to keep the diminutive point guard on the roster.

While Dellavedova has been a fan favorite for the past few years, it seems like his time with the organization could be coming to an end.

The same could be said about Timofey Mozgov, who has drawn interest from teams around the league, including the New York Knicks, according to ESPN's Ian Begley:

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Another center some in the Knicks organization are high on is Timofey Mozgov, per league sources. The interest between Noah and the Knicks is strong and mutual. But Mozgov, an ex-Knick, provides an interesting alternative. With Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose and Kristaps Porzingis on the roster, the Knicks probably won't need a high-scoring center. Mozgov doesn't need touches and would provide mobile rim protection and rebounding.

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Considering the lack of playing time down the stretch this season and especially in the playoffs (1.2 points and 5.8 minutes per game in 13 postseason contests), it's hard to imagine him returning to Cleveland under any circumstances.

Some will argue similarly with Kevin Love, who always seems to be the subject of trade rumors. After a relatively quiet NBA finals, Windhorst told ESPN's Zach Lowe that the Cavaliers will at least listen to offers from around the league. This includes a potential trade with the Boston Celtics, who have been looking to acquire a superstar all summer.

However, head coach Tyronn Lue indicated Love's importance to the team, per ESPN's Mike and Mike:

He might never replicate the numbers he produced with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but it's clear he does have value on the roster. Disgruntled Cavs fans will likely have to spend another year and possibly more watching him, for better or worse.

After winning a championship, it's hard for anyone to really complain about keeping as much of the core together as possible.

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