Cavaliers trade Mike Miller and Brendan Haywood

[Kevin]

The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded center Brendan Haywood and shooter Mike Miller to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Cleveland is also sending two second-round picks back in the deal, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.

By trading two players into the Trail Blazers' cap space, Cleveland creates two separate trade exceptions that cannot be combined -- one for $10.5 million, another for $2.85 million. They will have one year to use each exception. While the Cavs are already facing a giant luxury tax bill, the trade exceptions give Cleveland a way to add another high-priced player some team might be looking to ditch.

Portland will likely waive Haywood, who has a $10.5 million non-guaranteed contract for next season. Portland is also expected to waive Miller, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

The 35-year-old Haywood played only 22 games for the Cavs last season. Miller, also 35, appeared in 52 games and made 15 starts. He averaged 2.1 points per game on 32.1 percent shooting.

[Andrew]

No Mike Miller? No return trip to the NBA Finals.

Actually, they did re-sign James Jones. They'll be fine.

[Bruce]

Wondering out loud...

I think Haywoood's last year is non-guaranteed only Miller's is. So basically, Cavs sold 2 2nd rounders to save $2.85M plus saving from the salary cap hit. Portland bought 2 2nd rounders for $2.85M plus 15% trade kicker owed to Miller. I think it works better if Cleveland traded Miller plus cash to pay for Miller's salary in exchange for a traded player exception. Then again, Cleveland probably are willing to go way over the salary cap threshold and grab themselves a more expensive player with Haywood's traded player exception? Or at least keep the traded player exceptions as guarantee, in case the Cavs make a serious run again for a championship, but is ravaged again by injuries.

[mp3]

Didn't LeBron flip when the Heat made this same type of Mike Miller salary dump a few years back.

[Sauru]

this is good for the heat though since it allows them to sign players who can actually help the team this season. i am positive he is all for this deal

[Stress Fracture]

Didn't LeBron flip when the Heat made this same type of Mike Miller salary dump a few years back.

It has Lebron's blessings this time.

[shadowgrin]

Outback Jesus is now LeBron's new white friend, so Mike Miller can now be traded.