MILWAUKEE: He’s still playing in a cold weather, Midwestern city on the lake in the Central Division, but Matthew Dellavedova’s life has changed drastically in the past five months. He’s a starting point guard now, he’s engaged and he’s financially secure after signing a staggering four-year, $38 million deal last summer with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“What is it? The most stressful things are a city change, a job change and an engagement,” Dellavedova said with a laugh Tuesday morning. “I’m only joking. It’s been really good.”
He faced his old team Tuesday night and squared off against Kyrie Irving for the first time as an opponent. The practice battles between Dellavedova and Irving often turned heated, particularly early in their careers, because Dellavedova only knows one gear. It’s a big reason why he earned such a whopping contract in free agency despite serving as a reserve his first three years in the NBA.
The Cavs were hopeful entering free agency to match whatever offer he received, but given their cap situation, the Bucks’ overwhelming offer was simply too much. It has left coach Tyronn Lue scrambling this season to fill the void caused by Dellavedova’s departure.
That has done little to slow what has been a juggernaut offensively, but one month into the season, the backup point guard role remains the most unsettled position on the Cavs.
“It was going to be tough because he was a big part of what we’ve done over the last three years,” Lue said. “And with Mo [Williams] coming in last year and having a year under his belt, we felt like we could probably go with Mo and he could give us some great backup minutes and then when he retired, and came back, retired, came back, retired, it kind of put us in a bind and we weren’t able to make a quick enough decision to try to get a veteran point guard.”
The Cavs have used a rotation of Iman Shumpert, Kay Felder and DeAndre Liggins at point guard.
“I like our young guys,” Lue said. “But with what we’re trying to do, it’s not really enough time to try to grow and develop someone and try to win a championship.”
Dellavedova was disappointed he had to play for the qualifying offer last season. He was hoping for a long-term offer from the Cavs so he could move out of his apartment and start to put down roots in Cleveland, but it never came. And his status as a restricted free agent prevented other teams from aggressively pursuing him. He became a key piece to the Cavs’ system last season, although he faded down the stretch and was replaced by Williams in the NBA Finals. But he performed well enough to command the contract from the rebuilding Bucks.
He’s averaging 7.9 points and 6.3 assists, both career highs, but he’s shooting 34 percent from 3-point range after shooting 41 percent last season.
He hasn’t spent much time watching his former team, although he did see the opener when the players got their rings and he was disappointed to miss the White House visit — the Bucks had a game that night. Dellavedova has not received his ring yet, but expects to get it when Milwaukee visits Cleveland in December.
“It was tough to decide to leave because you’re coming off the highest of highs and I loved my time in Cleveland,” Dellavedova said. “Fun team, great group of guys, great organization and fans, obviously. But I had an opportunity here that I couldn’t pass up to see how good I could be as a starting point guard and really challenge myself. You never know if or when that opportunity will come along again.”
Dribbles
Shumpert returned to the lineup after missing one game with a hamstring injury. … Channing Frye is expected to rejoin the team in time for Thursday’s home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.