Lol Sorry, I'm losing it.
I meant Cunningham, who's $1M in salary equals $3M in tax, and is already in potential jeopardy of being cut by Friday because of that cost.
I see.. I think the only way the Cavs cut Cunningham would be if they envision picking up another vet who might get bought out as a realistic possibility. I don't think they cut him just to save on the tax.
My point was that if the cost for keeping Cunnigham is too high for Gilbert (which remains to be seen) then adding $8M in salary plus whatever that would be in tax is out of the question.
I don't think Markieff Morris and Jared Cunningham are comparable, talent wise or in any other respect.
Morris is a legitimate big man in the NBA. Cunningham is a journeyman at best, scrub at worst.
The Cavs might think Cunningham will never see the floor with our logjam in the backcourt, and thus feel they can safely cut him while opening up a potential roster spot.
Morris on the other hand, in a best case scenario, would immediately become our best big off the bench. That's crazy when you think about it. Many posters here have voiced that they feel Morris is
better than our starting center. I'm not one of them, but that opinion does exist.
Sure, he could implode, and that has to be considered, but the potential rewards given the cost, has to be considered as well.
So I wouldn't be too quick to compare Morris and Cunningham given the gulf in talent between them.
Lastly, Gilbert has been reported, numerous times, as assuring LeBron that he would never go cheap and would add talent regardless of cost, which was the opposite of what Mickey Arison did with Mike Miller (cutting him to save on the tax).
I think the Cavs will
try to use the TPE, and if Morris is available, I think at a minimum phone calls will be made.
This Harris injury does also throw a wrench in our plans to free up a roster spot to even be able to make a move for somebody like Morris for just the TPE.
@col63onel says we can waive him regardless, and that his salary was guaranteed anyway, so this doesn't matter. It makes him more difficult to trade, but not impossible.
Trading Harris alongside cash considerations essentially nullifies his salary for the team taking him.
We could cut Cunningham and his nonguaranteed deal, but we lose a decent piece. Clearly they were hoping to trade Harris, but that's probably out of the question now so are they willing to just eat his salary this year (his last year is nonguaranteed)?
If you're asking me, I'd waive Harris and pick up Morris. At that point I'd consider waiving Cunningham as well. I can only see him playing if two guards are injured simultaneously.
Wha?
