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Could Dellavedova leave Cleveland?

The Cleveland Cavaliers and their fans fell in love with Matthew Dellavedova’s bruising, aggressive play during the NBA Finals.

Now it’s time to see how much rival teams fell for the Australian point guard and if they are willing to pay enough to entice him away from Cleveland.

With Dellavedova’s two-year contract with the Cavaliers expiring, the club, as expected, announced on Tuesday they had offered Dellavedova a qualifying offer to stay with the team next season.

It was for a reported $US1.15 million ($A1.50 million), a bargain basement price by NBA standards.

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Two other Cavaliers, power forward Tristan Thompson and guard/forward Iman Shumpert, were also offered qualifying offers.

Thompson’s was for a reported $US7.15 million and Shumpert $US3.9 million.

Matthew Dellavedova gets a shot off. Photo: Getty

Matthew Dellavedova gets a shot off. Photo: Getty

A year ago Dellavedova’s Australian Olympic team-mate Patty Mills was in a similar contract position and eventually decided to stay with the San Antonio Spurs on a three-year, $US13 million contract.

Dellvedova’s stock was high after his sensational game three in the NBA Finals, when he threw himself around the floor and was Cavaliers’ star LeBron James’s sidekick in a victory over the Golden State Warriors.

The effort left Dellavedova exhausted and in hospital and in the next three games, which the Golden State Warriors won to claim the title, the Australian was not as good.

Dellavedova can accept the one-year offer, or he can negotiate a better deal with the Cavaliers or other teams.

If Dellavedova gets a better offer, Cleveland can match it.

Proof of Dellavedova’s meteoric rise in the Playoffs was revealed in the release of jersey sales on the nbastore.com site.

From April through to June, Dellavedova’s singlet became the 14th biggest seller, putting him among the superstars of the NBA.

Warriors’ guard Stephen Curry was number one, James second and Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose third.

Dellavedova almost sold more jerseys than All-Stars Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard.

– AAP

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