The Cleveland Cavaliers are shopping backup center Brendan Haywood and the 24th overall pick in next Thursday’s NBA draft, ESPN.com reported Friday.
The Cavaliers, after losing the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, want to upgrade their roster.
Haywood’s $10.5 million contract is not guaranteed for next season if he is waived by Aug. 2. The 7-foot veteran averaged just 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds in 22 games this season.
According to ESPN, the Cavs have tested the market in swapping Haywood either for a player or a future draft pick. The team reportedly wants to bring in a guard who can either back up or play alongside Kyrie Irving.
General manager David Griffin said Thursday he would be looking to add more playmakers this summer.
“The one thing that we did see in Golden State, and it was something that was very difficult for us to deal with, is they have an incredibly versatile team of multiple facilitating playmakers,” Griffin said. “That’s something we’re going to continue to work upon. The more playmaking facilitators you have that know how to play the game, the better off you are, and I think you saw the value of that in the team that ultimately did win.”
The Cavs can’t trade their first-round pick until after they select in the draft because the team traded its 2016 first-round pick in the deal to acquire Kevin Love last summer.