With the Cleveland Cavaliers losing to the Golden State Warriors in a 4-2 Game 6 loss of the NBA Finals, all thoughts are now going to next year for Lebron James' team that were almost taken to the top. It looks like Brendan Haywood and Mike Miller are in the spotlight for trade rumors as they are out, as well as Rakeem Christmas. Another team that is often the subject of many NBA Trade Rumors is the Miami Heat, and Shabazz Napier is out. The following are more NBA Trade Rumors for the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
According to ESPN, the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to trade Brendan Haywood and Mike Miller to the Portland Trail Blazers in order to create future options and save on luxury tax money. Considering that the Cavaliers have been dangling Haywood's contract, it is non-guaranteed if he's waived by August 1st, for weeks looking for an offer. The Cavs essentially took a trade exception for Haywood, and Miller's trade was motivated by luxury tax savings.
In a separate report from ESPN, the Cavs have also done a minor trade when it comes to center Rakeem Christmas, the No. 36 overall pick in June's draft, to the Indiana Pacers for a 2019 second-round pick owed by the Los Angeles Lakers. This trade gives the Cavaliers' roster some flexibility as well as an asset so they can move Haywood and create a large trade exception.
Part of these trade moves have to do with the huge luxury tax penalties this season with players like LeBron James, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, and Iman Shumpert, not to mention to possibility of Tristan Thompson.
The Cavaliers also agreed to a one-year, $1.45 million minimum salary deal with the veteran James Jones, who averaged 4.4 points in 20 playoff games for the Cavs last season. Still up in the air as far as free agents are concerned are J.R. Smith, Matthew Dellavedova, and the previously mentioned Tristan Thompson.
As for the Miami Heat, the news is reporting that the Orlando Magic have agreed," at least in principle", to acquire Miami's point guard Shabazz Napier, according to another article from ESPN. The Magic will, in return, send the Heat a heavily protected 2016 second-round pick in return.
Sports World Report says that the Heat are shopping Napier, as well as Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen this offseason, but it comes after the team was reportedly interested in a Jamal Crawford trade, while the draft pick Justise Winslow is expected to make an impact for Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Goran Dragic.
Pat Riley, the president of the Heat, added on Gerald Green and Amar'e Stoudemire on contracts to work with depth. The team could end up "giving away" Chalmers and Andersen, both on expiring contracts.
The issue with Miami is that they have 18 players coming in on the roster with only 15 spots, which means that they will have to start shedding players at some point.
