Report: Cavaliers Considering Trading For Nets’ Joe Johnson

The Cavaliers have already retained Kevin Love and Iman Shumpert, and plan to re-sign both LeBron James and Tristan Thompson. On top of all that, the Cavs are reportedly considering flipping Brendan Haywood’s contract for Brooklyn’s Joe Johnson.

Johnson, who averaged just under 15 ppg last season, will be the second-highest paid player in 2015-16, at $24.8 million. According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, “trading for and waiving Haywood could save the Nets tens of millions in tax payments, but it would take more than just Haywood to make the contract values match in a deal between the Cavs and Nets.”

More details:

The Cleveland Cavaliers are considering trading for Brooklyn Nets star Joe Johnson with their Brendan Haywood contract chip, sources told ESPN.com.

 

Haywood has a $10.5 million nonguaranteed contract if waived before Aug. 1, an asset that has gained value over the last several days as other teams use up their cap space. The Cavs have been looking for perimeter help, and Johnson would certainly provide a major boost as an additional scoring and shooting option.

 

The Nets are actively looking to move Johnson to reduce their tax burden this upcoming season as they are facing paying the repeater tax, which would be the most punitive luxury penalty in league history. The Nets have held talks with several teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies, sources told ESPN’s Marc Stein.