Well, that was quick.
Former Warrior Patrick McCaw has played three games in a Cavaliers uniform since signing with Cleveland last week.
He won't be playing any more. At least for the time being, anyway.
Cleveland waived McCaw on Sunday, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania, less than a week after he joined the Cavs on a two-year, non-guaranteed $6 million offer sheet that Golden State declined to match.
[RELATED: Bob Myers explains decision to let McCaw join Cavs]
Sources @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium: The Cleveland Cavaliers are planning to waive Pat McCaw. McCaw signed a non-guaranteed two-year offer sheet with Cleveland to leave Golden State.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 6, 2019
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Upon being waived, McCaw becomes an unrestricted free agent. Assuming he passes through waivers, he'll be free to sign a new contract with any NBA team (including the Cavaliers or Warriors), although any deal he signs will become guaranteed as of Monday.
The NBA deadline to guarantee contracts for players on non-guaranteed deals -- like McCaw, or Golden State's Alfonzo McKinnie -- is Monday. For this reason, the timing of the transaction doesn't come as a complete surprise.
The Warriors are well into the luxury tax, and if they declined to match Cleveland's offer sheet, you can assume they won't be pursuing McCaw once he hits the open market. Not to mention, it would almost certainly require parting with McKinnie, who they've clearly prioritized over McCaw already.
[RELATED: McKinnie details how he blocked out McCaw distraction]
The Cavaliers could remain an option, though, as could a variety of playoff contenders:
Cleveland, along with several playoff contenders, are expected to express interest in signing McCaw (unrestricted free agent) if he clears waivers. Guarantee deadline for McCaw (two years, $6M) -- and other players on non-guaranteed deals around NBA -- is Monday. https://t.co/QgZOUiPLVz— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 6, 2019
So, it begs the question: was this a pre-planned agreement between McCaw and the Cavaliers to get him out from Warriors' control?
Based on the timing -- and the bloated offer sheet -- it sure seems that way.
Cleveland is currently 8-32, losers of nine straight, sitting in last place in the NBA. Wins have been hard to come by, but in assisting McCaw's departure from Golden State -- the team largely responsible for their implosion -- perhaps the Cavs are enjoying a small victory today.
