NBA Trade Update: Cleveland Cavaliers Send Mike Miller, Brendan Haywood to Portland Trail Blazers
The Cleveland Cavaliers traded veteran forward Mike Miller and center Brendan Haywood to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night, multiple reports confirmed.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Cavaliers got trade exceptions worth $10.5 million and $2.85 million, which they can use to acquire players similar to what they did last season, when they acquired Timofey Mozgov from the Denver Nuggets using a trade exception.
The Cavaliers, who also sent a 2019 and 2019 second-round picks to Portland, have one year to use the exception. The salary of the players they will acquire using the exception will affect their salary cap, but will not have an impact to their luxury tax bills.
Moving Haywood and Miller also helped the Cavaliers save around $10 million in salary and luxury tax payments next season. Their payroll is now just over $100 million, but will still increase once they reach a deal with restricted free agent Tristan Thompson along with free agents J.R. Smith and Matthew Dellavedova.
The Cavaliers have been looking to trade Haywood in order to take advantage of his team-friendly contract. Haywood is scheduled to earn $10.5 million next season, but his contract is nonguaranteed and Portland will not have to pay any amount if the veteran center is released before Saturday.
Haywood, who averaged just 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds in 22 regular-season games in his lone year in Cleveland, is expected to be released. According to ESPN, the 35-year-old center is determined to continue playing once the Trail Blazers release him in the coming days.
On the other hand, Miller could provide veteran help to the Trail Blazers, who lost key players this summer like LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews.
However, reports also indicated that Miller could reach a buyout agreement with Portland. According to ESPN insider Marc Stein, the Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks are expected to express interest in acquiring Miller if he reaches a buyout agreement with the Trail Blazers.
Miller signed with the Cavaliers last season after his former Miami Heat teammate LeBron James decided to return to Cleveland. The veteran shooting guard played sparingly for the Cavaliers last season as he averaged just 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.5 minutes in 52 regular-season games last season.
James recruited Miller in their bid win a title in Cleveland. Previous reports indicated that James was frustrated when the Heat let go of Miller after the 2012-13 season, but James is reportedly fine with the trade that sent Miller to Portland because it will give the sweet-shooting guard an opportunity to play bigger minutes.
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