INDEPENDENCE: While Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline is looming, the Cavaliers have been engaged in trade talks on multiple fronts, according to various league sources.
The odds of them actually striking a significant trade prior to the deadline, however, remain slim.
Anything can change in the final hours, but the most realistic option facing the Cavs by late Wednesday night was a minor move to improve the bottom end of their rotation.
Kevin Love and Iman Shumpert are expected to be in Cleveland after the deadline, according to one source with knowledge of the team’s thinking, as is Anderson Varejao. All sources were granted anonymity given the sensitive nature of trade talks.
The Cavs are committed to winning a championship with Love this season, and while Shumpert is having a down year shooting, he remains the team’s top perimeter defender.
They have tried unloading Varejao’s contract for much of the season, but he has too much money and too many years left for other teams to be attracted.
The Cavs are interested in Orlando Magic big man Channing Frye, but other teams can realistically put together more attractive offers for him. The Los Angeles Clippers have reportedly been near a deal involving Frye for days.
Cavs General Manager David Griffin has liked Frye since their time together in Phoenix and was interested in signing him two summers ago when he was a free agent. But the Cavs had to protect cap space that summer for LeBron James’ return.
Another problem hindering a deal is the Cavs’ payroll, already tops in the league and among the highest in history. They have a $10.5 million trade exception at their disposal, but there isn’t much room left in the budget now that they’re on the hook for about $170 million in salary and luxury taxes.
The one benefit they have is the ability to aggregate small contracts from the bottom of their roster in a potential deal. Richard Jefferson is making $1.5 million, Jared Cunningham is making less than $1 million and Mo Williams is making $2.1 million. Both Cunningham and Jefferson can be free agents after the season, while Williams holds a player option for next year.
The Cavs returned to practice Wednesday following the All-Star break amid all the trade rumors.
“Guys came here today and they worked as if nothing was going on or any speculation was going on,” James said. “That’s the case of true professionals.”
Asked whether the Cavs needed to make a move this year, James was non-committal.
“For me, control what you can control and that’s something none of us can control,” he said. “The trade deadline happens every year and there’s teams that make moves, teams that don’t make moves. We’re all here to find out what happens and if there’s nothing we’ll be ready to go.”
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue insisted he isn't involved in the trade discussions.
“That’s not really my department,” he said. “I’m not involved. Whoever we have, that’s who I have to coach. I stay out of that.”
Love and Matthew Dellavedova both practiced Thursday and are listed as probable for Thursday’s game against the Bulls. Love re-aggravated his surgically-repaired left shoulder in the final game prior to the break, while Dellavedova missed five games with a hamstring injury.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.