Cavs to sign Irving to max deal

Jul 1, 2014 - 6:26 AM Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - The Cleveland Cavaliers plan to sign All- Star Game MVP Kyrie Irving to a five-year maximum salary contract extension when the free-agency signing period officially begins July 10.

The negotiating period started at 12:01 a.m. ET on July 1. Shortly after, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert sent a message via Twitter of his intentions.

"Looking forward to the next 6 years of @KyrieIrving in CLE. Just shook hands & intend to sign on the 10th. Can't be more excited about @cavs," Gilbert wrote.

Teams may strike verbal deals with players, but the league-wide moratorium on signings will not be lifted until July 10.

"I'm here for the long haul Cleveland!!! and I'm ecstatic!! Super excited and blessed to be here and a part of something special," Irving said via Twitter.

The first overall pick of the 2011 draft, Irving is expected to sign a deal worth $90 million over five seasons, which would keep him with the Cavaliers through the 2019-20 season. He was already signed through the 2014-15 season at just over $7 million.

Irving averaged 20.8 points, 6.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game last season.

Signing him gives the Cavaliers a solid duo of Irving and Andrew Wiggins, who was the top overall pick from this year's draft.