Cleveland Cavaliers Trade Rumors: Cavs Wants Joe Johnson to Beef Up Team with Lebron James, Tangles with Miami Heat over Jamal Crawford

Jul 09, 2015 11:36 AM EDT

The Cleveland Cavaliers are building up a stronger line up for the 2015-2016 National Basketball (NBA) Season and is looking to acquire Brooklyn Nets star Joe Johnson to trade him with Brendan Haywood, ESPN reported.

The Cavs have been looking to boost its perimeter shooting and Johnson will certainly fit this role because of his shooting and scoring abilities. Johnson averaged 14.4 points and shot 44 percent last season.

However, the Cavs are already reaching the limits of its salary cap and releasing Haywood will give the team a much needed space. Haywood has a $10.5 million non-guaranteed contract with the Cavaliers if waived before August 1. The value of Haywood's contract is seen to increase over the last few days.

A trade for and waiving Haywood could actually save the Nets tens of millions in tax payments, but the ESPN source the Cavs need to dangle more than that if they want the trade to push through.

However, the Nets have been looking to trade Johnson to relive the team of some tax burden pressures in the next season as they are faced with paying repeater tax, which would be the highest punitive luxury fine in the NBA history. Reports indicated that the Nets are in serious talks with several teams in the league, including the Memphis Grizzlies.

The report also said that the Cavaliers are in discussion with the Los Angeles Clippers to acquire two-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford who could complement LeBron James and hopefully give the Cavs the 2016 NBA Championship.

Cleveland.com quoted the 36-year-old Crawford as beaming with confidence amidst rumors of potential trades involving him.

"I'm 100 percent healthy, motivated and ready for next year," Crawford said who missed 17 games last season due to injuries. "I believe I have a big year in store. I'm just excited and ready for next season." Crawford is expecting to be paid $5.7 million in the next NBA season. Crawford averaged 15.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists during the 2014-15 NBA campaign.

Reports have also surfaced that the Miami Heat has started talks with the Clippers to acquire Crawford to help the team on the scoring board and as an insurance in case Dwayne Wade misses some games or if he will stay on the team or not.

According to CBS Sports, there is a lot of Dwyane Wade tension with the Miami Heat, and it sounds like the superstar's free agency status is really creating a lot of offers to the tune of millions.  A recent tweet from Chris Mannix stated that "a Wade option will be the Lakers".

It is hard to believe that Wade leaving Miami seemed like a bad idea just a month ago, but there have been a lot of leaks that Wade is unhappy in Miami.  Even Dwyane Wade Sr., father of the NBA player, has been asked about whether or not Wade will stay in Miami.  His answer that he gave on the "The Hot Corner"  Internet radio show was "let's just pray with God that he stays here the rest of the way".