Rumors are swirling that fans will soon see Brendan Haywood playing with the Portland Trail Blazers or Philadelphia 76ers. The Cavs had reportedly reached its salary cap and further financial assessment is needed to finalize the deal concerning Haywood.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' cap space is said to be nearing its ceiling as the team is now in the threshold of multiple multi-million luxury-tax penalties, an insider told ESPN. As widely reported, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert were able to haggle "fat checks" for the upcoming season. Free agent Tristan Thompson is reportedly to follow suit.
Haywood is currently holding a $10.52 million non-guaranteed contract and the Cavs had been going around looking to close a more compatible deal, the source revealed to ESPN. The Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers are the top two teams with a running salary cap that can still be flexed to welcome Haywood.
But as a final deal with either Trail Blazers or 76ers has yet to be inked, the Cavs management is said to already be at a breaking point of relinquishing this goal. The management is said to have exhausted all means. Decision-makers had even agreed to a minimum contract with freelancer Richard Jefferson. On Thursday, Cav sent Rakeem Christmas to the Pacers.
While ESPN described the impending deal involving Haywood as NBA's "largest trade exception" to date, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders described it as a win-win situation for all involved.
In a series of Twitter posts, first spotted by SB Nation, Kyler said if Cavs get Portland to sign a deal in exchange for a draft pick, Cavs can convert Haywood's deal into a TPE valid for one year. If Portland is amenable to a draft pick, then it could simply waive Haywood without costing them anything. The Cavs in return will get to use the TPE for a year.
"Using space to collect an asset is smart cap work. Costs Portland nothing to get something from having enough unused space," Kyler said.
"What they can get in turn, is really up to them," Kyler added.
Elsewhere, it is being widely reported that the Cavaliers is hoping to bring back JR Smith and Matthew Delladevo. The team had reportedly closed a deal with seasoned player James Jones being back on board. The management is also said to be considering taking in Sasha Kaun in exchange for Anderson Varejao, according to Sports World Report.
