Goran Dragic (Photo : Getty Images)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are assessing their options to replace Mo Williams, and one of the viable possibilities is trading the veteran to the Miami Heat for Goran Dragic.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Cavs are reportedly actively shopping Mo Williams after the team reached an impasse with the veteran guard. Williams, who is owed $2.2 million this season, did not report to training camp, catching Cleveland "off guard" with the 33-year-old's decision.
"Needing both a roster spot and a backup point guard, the Cavs are in a squeeze as the regular season opener looms. They are looking to attach guard Jordan McRae to Williams in trades, sources said. The team openly showcased McRae during the preseason and he led the team in scoring at 14 points a game," Windhorst wrote.
However, the Cavs may not find a significant return using a trade package of Williams and McRae. While both players would be a good pickup for contending teams, a combined salary of a little more than $3 million this season won't find the Cavs a solid backup PG. But if Cleveland could include a player down the rotation like Iman Shumpert in any potential deal, the Cavs may get themselves a proven talent in return.
ESPN's Zach Lowe reported a few weeks ago that there was interest in Shumpert around the league. While Shumpert has played an essential role in the Cavs' success in the past seasons, Lowe claimed "Cleveland is ready to talk" trade discussions for the 26-year-old shooting guard.
"Keep an eye on Iman Shumpert. Several teams, including Minnesota, have inquired about his availability in the past few weeks and gotten the impression Cleveland is ready to talk, according to several league sources. The Cavs won't salary-dump Shump for nothing, but given their tax situation, cutting payroll by a few million promises exponential savings," Lowe noted.
There are no indications whether the Cavs would dangle in Shumpert in their attempts to trade Williams and McRae. But if they want to acquire a solid backup to Kyrie Irving, including Shumpert could be a possibility. Goran Dragic of the Miami Heat could be a trade target for the Cavs, with Slovenian playmaker also rumored to be on the trading block of the team gets off to a slow start.
"Should Miami indeed struggle out of the gate and the whispers prove true that the Heat would be willing to engage in a more drastic rebuild, it's reasonable to assume that they'll be in the market for a first-round pick or two in a theoretical Dragic deal to replace the two they surrendered to acquire him from Phoenix at the 2015 trade deadline," ESPN's Marc Stein wrote.
Trading Shumpert, Williams, McRae for Dragic works under the NBA salary guidelines, although any potential deal would probably include future draft picks.
Dragic would be a solid backup point guard for the Cavs, although it is unclear whether he would accept a role off the bench. Nevertheless, joining the Cavs would give Dragic a chance to play for a winning team and a better opportunity to win an NBA championship.
Meanwhile, the Heat gets a veteran point guard in Williams and another prospect they could develop in McRae. Shumpert would also add depth to the Heat's small forward position and could serve as a spark from the second unit to give way in the development of Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson.
It remains to be seen whether the Cavs would consider such move, but their efforts in looking for a backup point guard suggests they are open to such possibilities.
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