In A Brendan Haywood Trade Who's The Best Option To Get?

The Cleveland Cavaliers have many options on what they could do via trade with C Brendan Haywood‘s contract. There have been multiple rumors with many teams and players on possible deals. Some may have been closer to getting done than others, but nothing yet has come to the point where Cleveland is placing a call to the league to finalize a trade.

With the offseason underway, many teams have been able to execute their free agency plans as planned. Others not so much. Teams in both categories have players who were linked to Cleveland if their plans did not go liked they wanted with certain free agents. Of the players who were linked, a few of them may have been more of a long shot, even though the proposed trade would have worked.

The longer the team has Haywood’s contract, the larger the potential risk they may deal with as other transactions around the league is happening. Now is the time to get past those long shots and figure out what and/or who is the best realistic option Cleveland could get for Haywood.

For this edition of FoS Talk, that exactly is what the FoS staff does as they express their opinions on Brendan Haywood trade options.

Ric McElroy

I see they are waiting and talking to a few teams about the Hayward deal. I think the all the hype about the Nets is just that, hype. Joe Johnson is a big cap hit with his ridiculous salary! The Cavs are already assembling a luxury tax bill like the national debt! He may be a nice add but not at that price, second highest paid player in the league and coming off the bench? We must get realistic.

They need someone to replace J.R. Smith or a really good three point shooter. That someone needs to spread the floor for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, not to mention Kevin Love. Somebody like J.J. Redick, would be good, but with the Hayward contract they should get another piece in addition to Redick. Possibly a wing player or a big to spell Anderson Varejao and Timofey Mozgov would be smart!

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking and need a back up big man. They have some decent bench players they could swap like Nick Young. He’s a better three point shooter than Johnson and he is younger too!

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Lastly, let’s talk Jamal Crawford from the Clippers. Now that they have resigned Jordan, they may need a little cap relief. He or Nick Young would be my pick although I not sure how the financial end would work out.

Nick Dudukovich

Ric and I are sharing brain waves on this one. Replacing J.R. Smith is really the last matter of business after Tristan Thompson.

I’m intrigued by Nick Young because he can shoot and he’s capable of playing good defense. But if there’s not anything the Cavs like, I’d trade the Haywood contract for a trade exception. Who knows what could be available come the winter.

Kris Grimes

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, we’re one of the few teams that hit a home run in free agency while still looking to add players via trade. With players like Kevin Love, LeBron James, Iman Shumpert, and Tristan Thompson (almost) back in the fold, GM David Griffin is now looking to trade the non-guaranteed $10M contract of C Brendan Haywood.

Having until the end of July to do so, some possible targets with interest in Haywood’s unique contract have included G Nick Young (Lakers), G Joe Johnson (Nets), and G Jamal Crawford (Clippers) according to various media sources. Not exactly the kind of options I had once hoped would arise, but I guess trading Haywood for DeMar DeRozan (Raptors) was a pipe dream.

So who do I think fits this team the best? Option A, B, C, or in my opinion D? What’s D? How about none of the above. I’m not trying to be prude by over-valuing Haywood’s contract, but are these honestly the best 3 options? I mean Griffin got Shumpert and Smith last year for scrubs and a second rounder! There has to be more that Griffin can find; something has to be out there. What that deal is? I’m not sure.

Looking at our current options, Nick Young is a younger potentially more volatile version of J.R. Smith. Joe Johnson fits the team from a basketball standpoint but not contractually, and Jamal Crawford can still play, but at 36 what does he have left?

The best option I can think of, is trade Haywood for another trade exception of the same size or greater if possible. Then the team should hold that exception until it comes close to expiring or the right deal presents itself. There’s no reason Griffin HAS to make a deal for a player right now. Let’s face it, after fleecing the Knicks, teams aren’t willing to help the Cavs right now for fear they’ll get fleeced. As the trade deadline approaches during the season though, new options and new potential deals could arise.

It might behoove David Griffin to hold his ace in the hole till then, see how this team plays together, then pull the trigger to round out the roster. It worked great with acquiring Mozgov, Shumpert, and Smith. There’s no reason lighting can’t strike twice?

Adam Schabel

On the Haywood debate my opinion is similar to what Kris said. The Cavs roster at the moment is looking pretty good. I wouldn’t necessarily force anything at the moment. We don’t need Griffin trading for a player just to do it. I would acquire a trade exception and see who is available later in the season. A team need could arise and the Cavs could then go after a player that fits the need.

Ryan Rosko

If Cleveland can get a wing player for Brendan Haywood in a trade, they then could deal Varejao possibly for another big man that makes significantly less. That player could fill a mix of Haywood’s and/or Varejao’s role.

If that situation is not possible, I would do one of two trades. The first is trade Varejao and Haywood to Brooklyn for Johnson. The second is to trade Haywood for a young shooting guard and a smaller trade exception.

Given what Haywood contract’s amount is ($10.5 million), the Cavs should be able to get two players, pending the ability and accomplishments of those players.

Who do you believe is the best realistic option that would be a great fit to join the Cavaliers?

Next: Cleveland Cavaliers Have Signed Others, What About Tristan Thompson?

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Cavaliers: In A Brendan Haywood Trade Who Is The Best Realistic Option To Get?

By Ryan Rosko | Jul 10, 2015

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