Report: Christmas trade precursor to larger deal involving Cavaliers' Haywood

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The Cleveland Cavaliers trading Rakeem Christmas to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday was part of the team's blueprint to rid themselves of Brendan Haywood, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

Finding takers for the remaining $10.52 million on the 35-year-old center's contract has been burdensome for general manager David Griffin. The Cavaliers are reportedly at their wit's end, realizing they're probably not going to find a suitable trade partner any time soon.

Haywood's deal is non-guaranteed if he's waived before Aug. 1. The Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, and Brooklyn Nets had previously shown interest, but ultimately turned their attention elsewhere.

One of the reasons the Cavaliers signed Richard Jefferson to a minimum deal is because they chose to focus on matters unrelated to Haywood, searching for the means to strengthen the weakest bench in the league.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers, who Windhorst says are likely to make a deal with Cleveland, have the cap space to take on Haywood, thus creating a trade exception for the Cavaliers. Cleveland had luck using a trade exception in January, acquiring center Timofey Mozgov, who played a pivotal role in improving the team's interior defense.

The Utah Jazz could also absorb Haywood's contract, though they'd need to part ways with several non-guaranteed deals before doing so.

To entice a franchise to get involved, Cleveland would likely have to include a draft pick. The Cavaliers acquired a 2019 second-rounder (owed from the Los Angeles Lakers) in the Christmas trade.

The Cavaliers are also in negotiations with center Sasha Kaun, a 7-foot center who suited up last season for CSKA Moscow, thus making Christmas expendable. Even if Kaun agrees to sign for what's remaining of the taxpayer mid-level exception, it would just continue to push the Cavaliers further into the luxury tax after new contracts were given to LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Iman Shumpert.