Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors: Six Players Including LeBron James, Kevin Love to Enter Free Agency After Tuesday's Loss

By Cheri Cheng - 18 Jun '15 16:23PM

After losing to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers need to focus on rebuilding their team and that process starts with prioritizing impending free agents.

The Cavaliers have at least six players that could enter or will be entering free agency in the summer and two of these players include LeBron James and Kevin Love, who ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst thinks will be opting out of their contracts in order to test the free agent market

Windhorst believes that James will be using his few weeks of free agency in order to influence the Cavaliers' decisions when it comes to acquiring and trading away certain players. Ultimately, however, James should be signing with the Cavaliers.

"When James does re-sign with the Cavs this summer, it's probable it will be to another one-year contract plus a player option. Even if this route makes financial sense for James with the salary cap expected to surge following the 2016-17 season, it will keep the Cavs uncomfortable going forward," Windhorst wrote.

Love, on the other hand, is harder to predict. Windhorst. Throughout the entire season, Love has not dominated on court. His inability to connect with the team has led many to believe that he will not return next year. Despite these rumors, Love has repeatedly stated that he plans on sticking around for another year.

J.R. Smith, whose offense simmered down significantly during the finals, also has a player option for next year. Smith is expected to decline the option. Aside from these three players, Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova could all be free agents in July. Thompson, Shumpert and Dellavedoa are expected to receive qualifying offers, which means that the Cavaliers have the right to match any offer they receive.

With so many key players headed for key players, sources stated that the Cavaliers are expecting to hit the top end of their salary cap, which means that owner Dan Gilbert will be left with more than $75 million in luxury tax payments. Gilbert, however, has hinted several times that he is willing to spend that kind of money.

Players have until June 29 to notify the Cavaliers on whether or not they will pick up their option.