The Cavaliers have agreed to a contract with free agent swingman C.J. Miles, sources close to the team said Friday.
The deal, first reported by the Salt Lake Tribune, is expected to last for two years. Miles confirmed the report on his Twitter account.
“I appreciate all this #Cavsnation love,” Miles wrote. “I’m excited to help the city on and off the court.”
Miles, 25, spent all seven of his NBA seasons in Utah before coming to the Cavs. He was an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team and leaving the Jazz without the option to match.
As reported by FOX Sports Ohio last week, Miles and the Cavs met for two days in Cleveland, where he was taken to dinner by team officials.
Miles is 6-foot-6 and averaged 9.1 points on 38 percent shooting off the Jazz’s bench last year. The Jazz selected him out of high school in the second round (No. 34 overall) of the 2005 draft. He is coming off his worst shooting year since his second season, when he hit 34 percent from the field.
Miles chose the Cavs over other interested teams such as Dallas, Milwaukee, Houston and the L.A. Lakers. According to Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune, Miles was leaning toward signing with the Cavs from the moment Miles became eligible for free agency July 1.
“(Miles) spent last month building a relationship with (Cavs coach Byron) Scott,” Smith posted on his Twitter account. “Miles is ‘so happy’ to have signed with the Cavaliers and expects to compete for a starting spot.”
It is not yet known if that competition will include Alonzo Gee, the Cavs' starting small forward at the end of last season. Gee became a restricted free agent after the Cavs extended him a qualifying offer worth $2.7 million. He has yet to sign the offer despite receiving little interest from other teams.
Gee averaged 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in a career-high 63 games (31 starts) last season. The signing of Miles may signify that the Cavs are considering other options, a source said. Should Gee sign the Cavs’ qualifying offer, he’ll be a free agent again at the end of the 2012-13 season.
Miles and Gee have both proven capable of playing either the small forward or shooting guard positions.
Statistically speaking, Miles’ best year came in 2010-11, when he averaged career-highs in points (12.8) and rebounds (3.3) while hitting 81 percent of his free throws. He has gained a reputation as a good ball-handler and strong finisher near the basket, but struggles defensively and shooting from beyond the 3-point arc (31 percent last season).
The Cavs have now signed two free agents this summer -- Miles, and second-year big man Jon Leuer.
Follow Sam Amico on Twitter @SamAmicoFSO
