The Cavaliers yesterday completed their "goal of bringing back the core of the team that reached the Finals last season" after signing F Tristan Thompson to a five-year, $82M deal, but it will "cost them heavily to do so," according to Broussard & Windhorst of ESPN.com. Though the NBA's luxury tax "won't be calculated until the end of the season, and the Cavs have only 14 guaranteed contracts, they are now in line to pay in excess" of $60M, which "would be the second highest on record." The Cavaliers this offseason signed Thompson, F LeBron James, F Kevin Love, G Iman Shumpert and G J.R. Smith to a total of more than $290M in "guaranteed money." Including salaries and tax, the Cavs "are likely to spend" more than $170M on this season's roster, the "second-highest number in league history." The '13-14 Nets spent $197M, including a record $90.5M in tax (ESPN.com, 10/21). In Akron, Jason Lloyd notes that $170M figure "could swell" to more than $200M if the Cavs use their $10.5M trade exception before February's deadline (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 10/22). ESPN's Jalen Rose said Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert is “really going all-in with this team," as there are "multiple players up-front making 10-plus million dollars this year" (“NBA Countdown,” ESPN, 10/21). SI.com's Rob Mahoney wrote if there "were a time for the Cavs to spend, it's now." Gilbert had "already signed off on what would have been an exorbitant roster and luxury tax bill for the sake of fielding the best team possible." Thompson's deal "served as an extension of that same philosophy" (SI.com, 10/21). FS1’s Mike Hill said of the Cavs' tax, “I think they’ll take it as long as they can get a championship” (“Fox Sports Live,” FS1, 10/22). In Cleveland, Terry Pluto notes Gilbert "promised James that he'd spend big when recruiting the franchise player to come home" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 10/22).
BLACK IS THE NEW WINE & GOLD: In Cleveland, Joey Morona notes the Cavaliers yesterday "officially unveiled three additional alternate uniforms for the upcoming season." The reveal "may not have been a complete surprise" after the designs were leaked this summer, but that did not stop Gilbert from "messing with fans leading up to the announcement." Gilbert tweeted a photo of three "truly atrocious designs, teasing that one would be revealed as a new Cavaliers uniform for this season." Once his joke "was up, the Cavaliers fans got their first real look at the new black sleeved jersey" with a "v-neck collar, a big 'C' logo in the middle of the chest and the players' number on the upper left side." The Cavs "have not announced when the black uniform will make its debut." The other alternate uniforms include the '70s gold "Miracle of Richfield" uniforms which "will be worn for six Hardwood Classic Nights." The team "is also bringing back the wine and gold version of the mid '80s uniforms featuring the 'V' basket logo" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 10/22).
