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July 23, 2015Champ is (still) here: Cavs agree to deal with James Jones
July 23, 2015Christmas has been traded in July.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have sent the rights to forward/center Rakeem Christmas, the No. 36 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2019 second-round pick, Cavs GM David Griffin announced today. The Pacers acquired that pick earlier this month when they sent center Roy Hibbert to Los Angeles.
The Pacers wasted little time in inking Christmas to a four-year contract.1
Rakeem Christmas, Pacers reached agreement on four-year, $4.5 million deal, league sources tell @clevelanddotcom. Two years guaranteed.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 23, 2015
On its face, the trade is a cost-cutting move for the Cavs. The team’s salary issues have been well-documented this summer, and trading Christmas for a pick means that the Cavs don’t have to pay him,2 and it takes a player out of the running for the team’s final roster spots. In the meantime, the Cavs are still in negotiations with Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, and Matthew Dellavedova.3
This could also be the first of several moves to come before the end of the month, as the Cavs would like to trade Brendan Haywood and his salary before his contract becomes guaranteed on August 1.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Christmas trade was made at least in part to facilitate a deal involving Haywood. With so many moves made by other teams thus far this summer, however, the Cavs’ potential trade options are drying up.
While a final decision hasn’t been reached, the Cavs have nearly come to the conclusion that they will not be able to find a suitable deal to use Haywood’s $10.52 million non-guaranteed contract, sources said…
The Cavs shopped the contract around to numerous teams over the past six weeks but weren’t able to settle on a deal they liked. Other possible trades, including talks with the Brooklyn Nets involving Joe Johnson, dried up when teams made other moves…
The Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers are the only teams with enough cap space to absorb Haywood and create a trade exception for Cleveland. The Utah Jazz are also close but would have to trade or cut several players with non-guaranteed contracts to do so.
The Cavs would likely have to sweeten the pot by including at least one draft pick to get the Trail Blazers, Sixers, or Jazz to bite. The salary cap will be $70 million in 2015-16. Portland is about $25 million under the salary cap and Philadelphia is nearly $20 million under, while Utah is only about $7 million shy, although that total jumps $10 million when subtracting non-guaranteed contracts.
If the Cavs are able to swing one of those deals, they would get Haywood’s salary’s — $10.5 million — worth of trade exception. This exception would allow them to take on $10.5 million more than they send out in a trade, regardless of their salary cap situation.
Russian center Sasha Kaun, whose NBA rights the Cavs hold, has expressed interest in coming to Cleveland, and this move could be a means of opening up a spot for him.
If the Cavs hold on to the L.A. draft pick, the deal could turn out to be a minor coup if the Lakers are unable to pull themselves out of the cellar in the next few years and the pick winds up high in the second round. Worst case, it’s a trade chip for David Griffin to play with.
This article has been updated
11 Comments
I’m expecting more news out of the Cavaliers Sam Amico reported that the Cavs and JR Smith might be closing in on a two year $10M deal to bring him back.
not sure why they couldn’t get another asset for such a highly drafted 2nd rounder, also I would rather pay Christmas for a year than count on jones as a small ball 4 at his age…
They don’t have much time for rookies on a championship caliber team, at least not rookies like Christmas. I think they would have found a place for Hollis-Jefferson or Justin Anderson had either of them fallen in their lap in the first round. They got the future asset they wanted in Cedi Osman at 31. Christmas was the extra they likely took because they knew someone else would be interested. Getting two seconds back makes it okay, especially if they turn the 2nd into something.
They will also need to get something back from Portland or Philly for Haywood. Expect either to send a Top-55 protected pick (essentially nothing) back to make the trade work. You can’t just trade a player for nothing in return. Top-55 protected picks are the closest to nothing you can get.
Thing is that the Sixers already hold a ton of future first and second round picks. Not sure they’d want another second rounder. Portland probably would take one of those future picks. I could also see Joe Harris getting moved.
If it is a deal with Philly they will be given assets instead of getting one, because Philly only relives cap space for picks.
The second round pick acquired for Christmas and the expiring contract for Haywood is what I have read from multiple web sites will be going to either Philly or Portland so that the Cavaliers can secure a mid-level exemption, period, nothing more.
A trade exemption you mean, but yes.
Because you’re not just counting on Jones.
Our big man rotation includes Mozgov, Love, TT (likely), Varejao (if he’s healthy), and maybe even Sasha Kaun as a 5th big man.
Not to mention LeBron will get time as a 4 during the playoffs like we saw when he shared the floor with Kyrie/Delly, Smith, and Shump around him at points this season. They’ll continue to find ways to surround LBJ with shooting and just one big man like that because it’s so tough to defend.
yea
Where did Sam say that? Not doubting you, just curious.
phone interview on “Drennan Live” 2 says ago
ok thank you