NBA Free Agents Rumors: Sasha Kaun Wants To Join Cleveland Cavaliers To Reunite With David Blatt, Timofey Mozgov
Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James said they need more pieces to have a better chance of winning the title next season. The King could get his wish soon.
EuroLeague star Sasha Kaun is reportedly interested in joining James and the Cavaliers in their pursuit for a title next season, and he wants to reunite with Cleveland coach David Blatt and starting center Timofey Mozgov.
Kaun is now a free agent after his contract with European powerhouse club CSKA Moscow ended. He was recently spotted with Cavaliers executives and James during a Summer League game in Las Vegas.
When asked about the possibility of joining the Cavaliers next season, Kaun expressed strong interest in moving to Cleveland, saying that he is intrigued by the possibility of winning an NBA championship.
"My interest level is very high," Kaun said via Cleveland.com. "I definitely would like to play here, especially with the Cavs, you know, a team that's got a chance to win a championship."
Several teams are reportedly interested in Kaun as well, but the Cavaliers have his rights, which they acquired in a trade in 2008 with the then-Seattle Supersonics.
Joining the Cavaliers will also make his transition easier compared to what he could face when he decides to sign elsewhere. Kaun is familiar with Blatt and Mozgov because of their partnership in the Russian national team. The 30-year-old Russian had nothing but praises for his former coach.
"I didn't see him all of last year because he was over here. I like him, he's really smart guy, really educated, and he knows his basketball for sure," Kaun said of Blatt. "People gave him a little bit of doubt, whether he can do this or not, I think he proved everybody wrong."
The Cavaliers are having a busy offseason after striking new deals with their free agents like James, Kevin Love and Iman Shumpert, while also acquiring Mo Williams. They are negotiating deals with Tristan Thompson, Matthew Dellavedova and J.R. Smith.
At this point, the Cavaliers do not have cap space to offer a lucrative deal to Kaun, but the Russian center proved his willingness to join Cleveland by saying that money will not be an issue.
"That's probably something that shouldn't be a problem," said Kaun. "Hopefully coming to this team, it will give us an opportunity to win, and winning is more important to me than money. I don't think I want to do it because of the money. Just play basketball and enjoy it and play with some really great players."
The Cavaliers could sign Kaun to a veteran's minimum worth $525,000 along with the remaining $1.3 million from their salary cap exception, the Northeast Ohio Media Group reported.
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