Don’t Be Surprised If Cleveland Cavaliers Start Season with Post-Finals Hangover

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers will open the 2016-17 season as champions of the NBA, which apparently does not preclude controversy.

Two bodies were noticeably absent at the Cavs’ media day. One, J.R. Smith, is still trying to get contract numbers right with the team. His return for the regular season is expected.

But Mo Williams will not return at all. General manager David Griffin announced on Monday that the 13-year veteran will retire less than a week after Williams declared just the opposite.

As top-heavy as the Cavaliers remain with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, there’s now a significant hole in the backcourt and overall team depth without Smith and Williams.

New additions Mike Dunleavy, Kay Felder and Chris Andersen will shoulder more work than they should to plug holes while head coach Tyronn Lue figures out his backcourt rotation.

The parade is over. The work begins again.

Miss the Swish

Like Tristan Thompson a year ago, Smith is still in the process of working out a new deal with the Cavs. 

“Well, obviously we’re not where we want to be at from a personal standpoint,” Smith told Adam Caparell of Complex Sports. “But it’s more than just numbers. I don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage of the Cavs for everything they’ve done for me, and I don’t want them to feel like I’m taking advantage of them. It’s more of a mutual respect thing.”

This “mutual respect” has resulted in Smith skipping the Cavaliers’ voluntary workouts in California, the only member of the team to do so. With training camp opening on Tuesday, we may not see Smith until the start of the regular season, a la Thompson last year.

Smith figures to very much be in the Cavs’ plans. His 11.5 playoff points per game on 43.0 percent shooting from deep were critical in Cleveland ending its 52-year title drought. Smith is respected in the locker room and remains an athletic defensive force despite having just turned 31 years old.

“We think very highly of J.R. We love him as a member of our team. As a member of our locker room, he was essential to our success, and for that reason we’ve made an incredibly competitive and aggressive offer to re-sign him. We hope that gets done in very short order,” Griffin said.

Smith started in all 98 of his regular-season and postseason appearances for the Cavaliers last season. He proved to be the perfect sniper sandwiched between Irving and James.

“J.R. is probably the most liked guy on the team,” James said confidently. “I’m not going to get into their contract issue or if there is an issue at all between both sides. I believe both sides will get it done. But we all know from you guys and us in the …

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