The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to turn Brendan Haywood into a massive trade exception, and will be using either the Portland Trail Blazers or the Philadelphia 76ers in order to make that deal happen.
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But the meat of the trade is reportedly tied up with the Cavs main intent of unloading Haywood, whose $10.5 million contract is something the team wants to get rid of. Sports. Cleveland is also sending two second-round picks back in the deal, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. If the Cavaliers trade during the season for a $5 million player, that turns into a $20 million bill for them including the massive tax they’re paying. The 14-year veteran appeared in only 22 games for Cleveland last season and he’s unlikely to draw much interest as a free agent, but he could still garner a veteran-minimum deal to fill out some team’s depth chart. The Cavs had reportedly reached its salary cap and further financial assessment is needed to finalize the deal concerning Haywood.
“Using space to collect an asset is smart cap work”. He’s a rock inside the locker room, and his long-range catch-and-shooting ability blends well with Cleveland’s cast of talented players. According to Windhorst, the team holds the draft rights to Kaun, who is playing overseas in Russian Federation. The Cavs won’t be getting a player back in return, however.
Cleveland’s next tradeable first round pick is in 2018, but that seems like a pipe dream because Vlade Divac doesn’t run the Cavs (yet).
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I mean, would you leave LeBron James? The trade exception could allow them to pick up a solid piece at the deadline, and desperate times call for desperate measures. The article even said that a 2020 second round pick would still be okay as the Blazers would virtually get it for nothing.
