The Cleveland Cavaliers committed to spending $175.6 million on payroll with $65 million of that in luxury taxes.

"We're committed; we're all-in ... When you invest in something like a sports franchise and you're in for so much ... if you at the margins start pulling back, I think that may be foolish on a lot of fronts," Dan Gilbert said. "We're investing for the future as well as the current."

The Cavaliers have their entire core locked up for the next four seasons with the exception of LeBron James.

Gilbert said that was a driving force behind all the spending in the offseason.

"These guys who are under these large contracts, that's a core for four or five years," Gilbert said. "That's an eternity in this league. As we've seen with NBA franchises, that formula can work."

The Cavs still have a $10.5 million trade exception they could use if needed, but that would take their payroll to more than $200 million. Gilbert didn't say if he was willing to use the exception this season and also didn't say how long he was willing to spend at this level.

"We look at this year by year. There's so many factors, so many things can change," Gilbert said. "We always like to have options. It's not so much the amount of payroll. The question is if you can maneuver. If the team goes a certain way, are all the contracts valuable? Can your general manager still play chess? We never try to say this is [the budget]. It really is how it operates."

LeBron James is dealing with a bad back but he wants to try to play in all 82 games this season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I didn't feel that great," James said, referring to how he felt on Cleveland's off day Thursday.

"I was able to come in and get some treatment, get some work in, so I feel pretty good this morning," he said.

James was asked on Friday how many games he planned to play this season.

"82," said James.

James hasn't played in all 82 games during his entire career.

Kevin Love will have a significantly bigger role in the Cleveland Cavaliers' offense in his second season.

Love's production fell from 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds in 2013-14 with the Minnesota Timberwolves to 16.4 and 9.7 last season.

"We'll use Kevin however he wants to be used," LeBron James said after Love led Cleveland with 17 points and 13 rebounds in the Cavs' 106-76 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. "I told you Kevin is going to be our main focus. He's going to have a hell of a season. He's going to get back to that All-Star status."

Love is averaging 17.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the Cavaliers' first two games.

"He's the focal point of us offensively," James said. "I know I can go out and get mine when I need it. But I need Kev to be as aggressive as he was tonight, and when he rebounds at the level he did tonight, the shots will automatically fall for him."

"I knew he'd be sharp when I had my conversation with him in Los Angeles in the offseason," James said.

Love was asked what James conveyed to him during their meeting in the offseason.

"Just that I can do more," Love said. "I think that he knew that. Since then I think everybody has really stepped up and asked what they can do in their respective roles. From a comfort standpoint, I just feel a lot, a lot better."

The Oklahoma City Thunder led the NBA in efficiency differential during the preseason with a mark of +12.5.

During the 14-15 preseason, the Golden State Warriors had the league's best mark with +11.0, which became a first indicator of their jump as title contenders.

Here's the full rankings from the 15-16 preseason:

1. Thunder: 12.5
2. Celtics: 11.6
3. Grizzlies: 11.5
4. Wizards: 10.4
5. Hornets: 10.0
6. Pistons: 7.1
7. Raptors: 5.6
8. Pacers: 4.7
9. Knicks: 4.0
10. Suns: 3.9
11. Nuggets: 3.5
12. Kings: 3.3
13. Magic: 2.8
14. Blazers: 1.8
15. Jazz: 0.4
16. Heat: 0.0
17. Hawks: -0.7
18. Rockets: -0.7
19. Nets: -1.0
20. Warriors: -1.3
21. Spurs: -1.9
22. Lakers: -2.1
23. Bucks: -3.4
24. Bulls: -3.6
25. Pelicans: -3.6
26. Clippers: -4.2
27. Cavaliers: -6.5
28. 76ers: -8.6
29. Mavericks: -10.7
30. Wolves: -11.0

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived guard Quinn Cook.

The Cavs roster now stands at 15.

Cook appeared in six preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 3.3 points and 2.2 assists in 12.9 minutes per game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived Austin Daye, D.J. Stephens, Dionte Christmas and Jack Cooley.

Daye appeared in six preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game.

Stephens appeared in four preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 3.3 points in 7.4 minutes per game.

Christmas appeared in four preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 6.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game.

Cooley appeared in two preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 4.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game.

Tristan Thompson and the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed upon a five-year, $85 million contract. 

Thompson was a restricted free agent this offseason And was effectively a holdout during the preseason. 

Thompson's deal contains no player options.

The Cavaliers have two of the six highest paid power forwards in the NBA this season in Thompson and Kevin Love.

If NBA general managers could collectively decide upon a starting five, it would begin with LeBron James at small forward.

James is the pick at small forward by 89.3 percent of GMs, ahead of Kevin Durant at 8.9 percent and Kawhi Leonard at 1.8 percent.

James also received 7.1 percent of the vote at power forward, but it was Anthony Davis with the most at 82.1 percent. Blake Griffin also received 7.1 percent of the vote.

At shooting guard, James Harden was the choice of 79.3 percent of GMs, ahead of Klay Thompson with 10.3 percent.

Marc Gasol was voted best center in the NBA with 65.5 percent, ahead of DeMarcus Cousins at 13.8 percent.

Finally, Stephen Curry received 55.2 percent of the vote for the best point guard, ahead of Chris Paul at 24.1 percent and Russell Westbrook at 17.2 percent.

Curry, Harden, James, Davis and Gasol were also First Team All-NBA selections last season.

NBA general managers predict the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the 2016 NBA Finals with 53.6 percent of the vote. The San Antonio Spurs rank second with 25.0 percent, followed by the Golden State Warriors with 17.9 percent and the Oklahoma City Thunder at 3.6 percent.

LeBron James is the prohibitive favorite to win MVP at 39.3 percent, ahead of Anthony Davis with 25.0 percent. Both Kevin Durant and James Harden received 10.7 percent, while Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook each received 7.1 percent.

Jack Cooley has agreed upon a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cooley was waived this week by the Utah Jazz. Cooley signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Jazz last season.

Cooley will join Jared Cunningham, Austin Daye, Quinn Cook and D.J. Stephens in Cleveland’s competition for two roster spots.