National Basketball Association

Cavs reportedly interested in Mike Dunleavy

Published Jun. 30, 2015 10:49 a.m. ET

foxsports

by Will Gibson

NBA free agency officially begins tomorrow, which means that bushels of rumors will fall upon us over the next couple days. The latest regarding the Cleveland Cavaliers is not about Kevin Love or LeBron James, but a former rival in whom LeBron and the Cavs are allegedly interested.

It makes sense. Dunleavy is a big small forward at 6-9/220, and he can really shoot the ball. He’s a 37.6 percent three-point shooter for his career, and he’s shot 38 percent or better on threes in each of the past five seasons. He’s hardly a lockdown defender, but he has played on some defensive-minded Bulls teams under Tom Thibodeau and is not a complete liability on that end of the floor. He’s a little long in the tooth at age 34, but he would provide usable depth on the wing and another shooter to space the floor for the Cavs’ stars.

This, however, is not likely to happen. We’ve written ad nauseum about the Cavs’ complicated financial situation, and in this case Dunleavy’s last employer (the Bulls) has both the means and inclination to present him with a better offer than can Cleveland.

Since Dunleavy spent the last two seasons in Chicago, the Bulls have his early Bird rights.1 This means that they can offer him 175 percent of his previous contract — he made about $3.3 million last year, so the Bulls could offer him up to about $5.8 million this summer. Chicago could also exceed the salary cap to keep Dunleavy in the fold.

The Cavs, meanwhile, are already up against the cap and could only offer Dunleavy the taxpayer mid-level exception, worth about $3.4 million per year. It’s no lock that the Bulls will present Dunleavy with a richer offer, but it’s a likely bet. They’ve indicated that they want to keep him in Chicago, and teams don’t just let 40-percent three-point shooters walk away.

This story is more likely smoke than fire, but stay tuned. The Cavs will be making moves before long.

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