NBA Rumors: Former Laker Forward Could Be Odd Man Out For Cleveland

The Cleveland Cavaliers may find themselves with a crowded frontline next NBA season if all players remain. Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Larry Nance Jr. and Andre Drummond headline the cast although some of them have interesting cases.

Thompson is due to become a free agent while Drummond could opt out and join him in the free-agent market in the offseason. Love has long been rumored to be on the block but his expensive salary has been hard to move. Nance has been the most silent in the mix, quietly contributing to Cleveland's cause. So who stays and who goes?

Thompson is someone the Cavs have repeatedly mentioned as the player they would be keeping. However, the Canadian won't stay if he is given a cheap contract. He reiterated that he will only accept a contract not lower than his last pact which was worth $82 million. That would depend on what Andre Drummond decides.

Drummond is another player who could opt-in (or out). If he does opt-in, the 26-year-old center will be making $28.75 million. If he stays, the Cavs would have more than $71 million for three frontcourt players (Drummond, Love, and Nance), Cleveland.com reported. Those figures don't even include Thompson's next contract yet.

There is a possibility that the Cavs could be forced to give up Thompson at the price he is expecting. But if general manager Koby Altman wants to keep him, someone else has to go. As mentioned in a previous post, the Cavs are oozing with talent upfront. If they intend to keep them, a possible casualty is Larry Nance Jr.

This season, the 27-year-old has played in 56 games averaging 10.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. He has hardly made an impact for the Cavaliers despite being originally pegged as one of the young building blocks of Cleveland. The 6-foot-7 is just in the first year of his four-year deal worth $44 million per Spotrac.com. But with the performance he is giving, head coach JB Bickerstaff may want to think to keep him in the fold.

If the budget is tight, a logical move would be to continue shopping Love. The 31-year-old was the subject of trade rumors with Love unhappy with former coach John Beilein. But things seem to have changed now but his hefty $120 million deal may become a burden.

It all boils down to the Cavs' outlook. Will it be still the youth movement or win now mantra. They do have three superstars who comprise a fearsome frontline but keeping them will be at a cost. If Nance stays, Bickerstaff will have to live with his back-up type numbers. Expect the offseason to be pretty interesting for the Cavaliers.