After losing the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers have realized that they need to add talented playmakers and according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the organization is interested in moving Brendan Haywood, and their first round pick in order to get one.
Brendan Haywood played a grand total of 22 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, and only two minutes in their playoff run to an NBA Finals appearance. The value of Haywood’s contract comes from the fact it’s not guaranteed next year if he’s waived by Aug. 2. That could be attractive for any team looking to shed salary while also gaining immediate flexibility.
Haywood’s $10.5 million contract is not guaranteed for next season if he’s waived by Aug. 2. This could be attractive to a team looking to either offload salary now or use it as part of another deal that could be executed during free agency in July.
The Cavs have tested the market in swapping Haywood either for a player or a future draft pick, sources said. On their wish list is a facilitating guard they can bring in to either back up or play alongside Kyrie Irving. The Cavs have a number of free agents, including backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova and starting shooting guard Iman Shumpert.
General manager David Griffin also said he’d be looking to add more facilitators this summer, after watching the Warriors pick apart his team in the NBA Finals.
“The one thing that we did see in Golden State, and it was something that was very difficult for us to deal with, is they have an incredibly versatile team of multiple facilitating playmakers,” Griffin said. “That’s something we’re going to continue to work upon. The more playmaking facilitators you have that know how to play the game, the better off you are, and I think you saw the value of that in the team that ultimately did win.”
It’s also important to note that, as of this moment, the only players the Cavs can actually trade are Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varejao, Joe Harris and Haywood. Every other player has an option (player or team) or is a free agent (restricted or unrestricted). Haywood, a 35-year-old 7-foot center, is a 14-year NBA veteran.
