The Cleveland Cavaliers have looked like a different team since 2015, but that doesn't mean they're finished making trades. With the NBA trade deadline approaching, ESPN's Brian Windhorst suggested the Cavaliers might try to deal center Brendan Haywood for either Denver Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson or Orlando Magic guard Luke Ridnour.
Cleveland does look like a different team since the return mid-January return of LeBron James, having won 14 of their last 16 games. A big part of that is due to the team's chemistry growing with more games under their belt, as well the trades for J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov that gave them a wing player, a perimeter defender and a rim-protector.
Now one of Cleveland's final remaining needs is a serviceable backup point guard, a position that Windhorst gave two possible scenarios for filling before the Feb. 19 deadline.
Per ESPN:
"During Thursday's HeyWindy! segment on ESPN 1500 AM, Windhorst mentioned two trade scenarios involving center Brendan Haywood (fast-forward to 38:30 into the show) to upgrade the backup point guard spot. The first scenario would have Haywood going to the Nuggets for Jameer Nelson and the second has Haywood going to the Orlando Magic for Luke Ridnour."
A solid backup 1-guard would be a helpful addition, but it won't make or break the Cavs' season like not having a rim-protector or a perimeter defender would have. Trading Haywood's nonguaranteed contract for next season is one thing, but don't look for Cleveland to trade anything significant for a reserve point guard before the deadline.
Windhorst also suggested Cleveland could be in the market for a backup big man. The same argument for not giving up significant assets for a 1-guard applies here.
Cleveland is about $700,000 under the tax apron, which means they'd need to get creative if they wanted to clear enough room to sign a veteran free agent like Jermaine O'Neal, Andray Blatche or soon-to-be-available Will Bynum.
