Report: Cavaliers, Matthew Dellavedova still well apart on new contract

Matthew Dellavedova was the breakout star of the first three games of the NBA Finals — his grit and tenacity was at the heart of Cleveland’s post-injuries grinding style. He was doing as well defending Stephen Curry as can be humanly expected. Well, until Curry figured him and the Cavaliers out near the end of Game 3 (by Game 4 the Warriors had solved the riddle, and it was all over but the buckets). Walk around Cleveland and only LeBron James got more love than Delly.

But a few games of playoff success should not be confused with future earnings.

The Cavaliers and Dellavedova both want reach a new deal that keeps the reserve point guard being the guy off the bench behind Kyrie Irving (Dellavedova is a restricted free agent, the Cavs can match any offer he gets). But they are nowhere near a deal, reports Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

Not much movement between the Cavaliers and Matthew Dellavedova on a new contract. A restricted free agent, Dellavedova is seeking a multiyear deal starting at $4 million per season, per a source, and the Cavs have balked, largely due to the enormous luxury tax implications that come with that type of contract. The market has largely dried up—Jeremy Lin’s deal with Charlotte closed a potential door—so it will be interesting to see how long this stalemate continues. Paging LeBron James.

It’s was always going to be hard for Dellavedova (or, more accurately, his agent) to secure an offer sheet from another team for the point guard because teams assumed the Cavs would just match. Why tie up your cap space for a few days to offer a player you’re not going to get?

Then there is the financial issue, which former Nets executive Bobby Marks explained (follow that game one twitter).

Part 1: As @ChrisMannixSI reported Matt Del. looking for $4m. If CLE signed off on that it would equal the salary/taxes of a max player.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 15, 2015

CLE luxury taxes (not factoring in BH) right around $41.With Matt D. it would jump to $55m. That would be $14m/taxes and $4m salary = $18m

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 15, 2015

Yikes. Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is going to be writing a payroll check in likely more than $200 million next season, once you figure in luxury taxes. To his credit, he didn’t balk at maxing out Kevin Love (or LeBron) and he the Cavs have spent to deepen the bench. But he’s drawing the line at overpaying for Tristan Thompson (who reportedly wants Draymond Green money) or Dellavedova.

Those guys are fan favorites, and more importantly LeBron favorites. But how much luxury tax do you want to pay for them?