The Cavs could get additional firepower from the likes of Joe Johnson . (Photo : REUTERS)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are exploring possible trades for Brooklyn Nets star Joe Johnson and Los Angeles Clippers veteran sixth man Jamal Crawford.
The Cavs need perimeter help and more scoring options as shown in the NBA Finals and Johnson could provide that additional firepower.
Johnson, who averaged 14.4 points and shot 44 percent last season, is in the last year of the six-year, $120 million deal he inked with the Nets in the 2010.
He is second only to Kobe Bryant as the league's highest player with a pay check of $24.8 million next season.
The Nets are looking to ship Johnson to avoid paying the repeater tax, which would be the most punitive luxury penalty in league history.
The Nets have held talks for Johnson with several teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies.
The 35-year-old Crawford, one of the best ball-handlers in the league, is a 15-year veteran combo guard who could make his own shot and make plays for others and creating his own shot.
Crawford will be entering the final year of his deal that pays him $5.7 million.
He is a two-time Sixth Man of the Year winner and the NBA's all-time leader in four-point plays converted.
Crawford suffered a right calf bruise last season that caused him to miss 17 games but has declared that he is "100 percent healthy".
Averaging 15.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 2014-15, Crawford will be an ideal replacement
for J.R. Smith, who opted out of the final year of his deal to seek a three-year commitment.
However, the Cavs aren't willing to make that kind of investment for Smith.
The Cavs are dangling their Brendan Haywood contract asset as a trade bait for Johnson and Crawford.
Haywood has a non-guaranteed $10.5 million salary that could be waived before Aug. 1 to open up cap space and save tax payments.
