The Cleveland Cavaliers did not have LeBron James on Sunday, but Kevin Love was able to make his preseason debut and appears ready to start in the season opener for the Cavs. The team has not yet been able to sign Tristan Thompson and recent reports have the Cavs not pulling their near-$80 million offer for the big man. UPDATE: Cleveland.com is reporting that Tristan Thompson has agreed to a 5-year, $82 million deal with the Cavaliers. Check here for more.
The Cavaliers are coming into the season a bit banged up, as LeBron James needed a back injection and both Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert are out with injuries. James may play again in the preseason, according to the Akron Beacon-Journal, but the team wants to be cautious after James received an anti-inflammatory shot for his back. Shumpert is out for a couple months with a wrist injury, while Irving has been rehabbing from knee surgery and may not come back until later in November or December.
The Cavaliers did get Kevin Love back in action for the first time since the first round of the playoffs, as the forward was able to play against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Love had shoulder surgery after getting injured against the Boston Celtics in the postseason and he played 13 minutes, scoring six points and adding four rebounds and two assists. Love is expected to be ready for the season opener for the Cavaliers, but the team likely will limit his minutes early in the season after dealing with the shoulder injury.
The Thompson situation is continuing and it could extend into the regular season for the Cavaliers if something doesn't happen this week. There were reports that the team pulled their original offer of five years and around $80 million after the qualifying offer deadline, but that has been refuted. According to Chris Haynes at Cleveland.com, the team has not pulled their offer and it "is still in the ballpark of five years for $80 million, give or take."
Thompson reportedly is looking for a max deal or a short term deal with around $15 million per season in salary. Brian Windhorst at ESPN.com reported last week that the Thompson situation could go into the regular season and that he thinks it "will take a third party event to bridge the gap" between the two sides. The Cavs have spent a ton of money this offseason and while they like Thompson and what he brings, the team has Kevin Love with a max contract at his position.
James said to the Akron Beacon-Journal that he would like to get on the court with Kevin Love before the season starts to help get the "chemistry going." James added that he doesn't think he "needs a game" for the rest of the preseason, but chances are if his back is feeling good enough he will play again in the preseason. The Akron Beacon-Journal also reports that Irving has no timeline to return and that he has not yet been able to start team drills with the Cavaliers in practice.
Check here for more on the Cavaliers, Thompson, Love and James.