Cavaliers Trade Rumors: Jamal Crawford Traded For Brendan Haywood, Anderson Varejao Option Over Joe Johnson?

Jul 07, 2015 04:09 PM EDT
Jamal Crawford #11 of the Los Angeles Clippers handles the ball against Matthew Dellavedova #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers
Jamal Crawford #11 of the Los Angeles Clippers handles the ball against Matthew Dellavedova #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game on February 5, 2015 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio."

The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking at a trade with Jamal Crawford and the team could try and move Anderson Varejao or Brendan Haywood if Crawford is traded and this comes as the team started talks on a Joe Johnson trade, but that has stalled, while players like JR Smith and Matthew Dellavedova could return as free agents along with Tristan Thompson and LeBron James this summer.

The Cavaliers have been active this offseason by bringing back Kevin Love on a max deal and the team also has agreed with Iman Shumpert as a restricted free agent. James is not signed yet, but no one is expecting him to go anywhere but Cleveland. According to Brian Windhorst, James wanted to give the Cavaliers time to make free agent moves and he reportedly is waiting for the team to sign Tristan Thompson before signing back with Cleveland.

The Cavaliers have been looking into trade options to try and unload the contracts of either Haywood or Varejao and so far they have looking into Johnson and Crawford. Johnson was the first notable name to come up and Chris Broussard reported the news for ESPN. The Cavaliers were looking to offload Haywood for Johnson, but the money was not working out and the teams were trying to find a third partner to handle the Anderson Varejao contract.

According to Marc Stein at ESPN, the Cavaliers and Miami Heat are looking into a deal with the Clippers for Jamal Crawford. Stein writes that the "complexities" of the Johnson trade may keep it from happening and the "simpler" deal could be for Crawford with the Clippers. The deal likely would be for Haywood and Crawford if the trade happens and if the team does do this one, it could enable them to keep Varejao.

Stein writes that the Johnson deal would not allow the team to keep Varejao. Adding Crawford could push the Cavs to let JR Smith go in free agency, but Stein reports that may not be the case. According to ESPN.com, the Cavs "remain interested" in bringing back Matthew Dellavedova and the team has "NOT abandoned" the "Smith pursuit." Stein writes that the team wants to keep the "whole band together" and after signing back Shumpert, the team could look at bringing back Smith as well.

Check here for more on the Cavaliers pursuit of Jamal Crawford and for more news on the stalled trade with Joe Johnson. Check out more on NBA trade news and free agent updates. Check here for more on the Miami Heat targeting Crawford in a trade.

Varejao was injured for most of last season and his salary can't really justify his role anymore with Kevin Love returning and Thompson likely getting signed. Varejao could move if the Cavs pull off a deal for Crawford or Johnson, while Haywood is another trade chip. James waiting could give the team some problems since he is likely to get a max deal, but clearly Dan Gilbert is not worried about paying some tax. The talks between Thompson and the Cavs have reportedly "slowed down" and the sides are "apart" heading into the second week of free agency.

The Clippers feel comfortable moving Crawford after picking up Lance Stephenson in a trade with the Hornets. Stein writes that the Miami Heat could consider a trade with Mario Chalmers to try and get Crawford and that he likely would be a scoring option off the bench if a deal happens. 

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