NBA 2015 trade news: Brendan Haywood — to waive or to trade?

Brendan HaywoodReuters

Time may be fast running out for the Cleveland Cavaliers but hopefully something will come out as far as their case with Brendan Haywood is concerned.

It all apparently boils down to a business perspective, turning the impending case of Haywood into something that the team could use. This has something to do, of course, with Haywood's $10.5 million salary, which they can easily escape from by waving him this Aug. 1.

However, the Cavs are trying to get something even better and trading him is still a priority. To sweeten the pot, they could even throw in the 2019 second round pick they got from the Indiana Pacers in a minor trade that involved their second overall pick in the previously concluded NBA draft, Rakeem Christmas.

Aside from that recently acquired draft pick, the Cavs have rights to some overseas players.

Could this entice teams to consider Haywood now?

To date, there are at least two teams reportedly interested in Haywood – the Philadelphia 76ers and the Portland Trailblazers. Both teams have the necessary salary cap to accommodate Haywood but so far, nothing has materialized.

Of course, that could be the least of the Cavs' concern considering the easiest way out is to waive Haywood. That will most probably be the case if no team comes in. At least that seems to be the worst case scenario.

But with still a couple of days to go, the Cavs are not giving up that easily. There could be a sudden announcement in the coming days and hopefully the Cavs get something out of it. It could be a future draft pick or a player whom the Cavs could use. Anything is possible at this point.

The bottom line is that the Cavs are avoiding that luxury tax penalty, something that most teams are trying to dodge right now and as it stands, there are only two teams — the Sixers and the Blazers — who seem to be likely dance partners for now.