With the Jan. 7 deadline to waive players approaching, the Cleveland Cavaliers are likely to make a move - be it a trade or releasing a player to open a roster spot for a free agent such as Ray Allen, Emeka Okafor or Jermaine O'Neal.
All salaries become fully guaranteed on Jan. 10, so if a team wants to waive a player on a nonguaranteed contract, they must do so by Jan. 7 to make sure he clears waivers two days later on Jan. 9 - otherwise, they could get stuck paying out his salary.
Cleveland has been linked to trade rumors and free agents all season. The loss of center Anderson Varejao makes it almost certain the Cavaliers will pursue a big man, via either trade or free agency.
Cleveland has three players with nonguaranteed salaries: Lou Amundson, Alex Kirk and A.J. Price. Any of their contracts - prior to Jan. 7 - could be used to sweeten the pot for a deal, if the Cavaliers were to pursue a trade for a big man such as Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert, Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov or Memphis Grizzlies center Kosta Koufos.
If a trade doesn't happen for Cleveland, at least one of the aforementioned Cavs players is still likely to be waived before Jan. 7. Cleveland currently has all 15 roster spots filled, but they're believed to be pursuing several free agents who're reportedly waiting until February to sign with a team. If Cleveland wants to save money and create a spot for Allen, Okafor or O'Neal, they'll have to release Amundson, Kirk or Price.
Of the three, Kirk appears to be the most likely to go after playing in only two games this season.
