The Cleveland Cavaliers have shipped center Brendan Haywood and guard Mike Miller to Portland in exchange for two future Trail Blazers second-round picks and two trade exceptions worth a combined $13.35 million. Cleveland has one year to use that trade exception flexibility, while the future picks will be for the 2019 and 2020 NBA Drafts.

Cleveland will now have some cap space to re-engage Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith in negotiations for contract extensions. With this acquisition, the luxury tax for Cleveland reduces from around $32 million to just about $4 million. Talk about a salary dump, one that the Cavs have waited for quite too long. 

Miller was due $2.8 million after picking up his player option with the Cavs this offseason. Haywood was owed $10.5 million on a non-guaranteed deal for the 2015-16 season. Reports have indicated that both players will be dropped by Portland. Had Haywood stayed with the Cavaliers through August 1st, his salary would have been a guaranteed wage that puts a big hit on any NBA budget.

Miller played 52 games for Cleveland in 2014-15, starting in 15 of those appearances, while Haywood played in just 22 games last season. Statistically, Miller had the worst season of his career and evidently had his shooting stroke sink to a much-deteriorated level. Neither player brought any value close to their salary.

A league source says Miller approved the trade, as he wanted to play for a team where he would have a chance to see significant minutes. The 35 year-old won two championships with the Miami Heat playing alongside now-Cavaliers LeBron James and James Jones.

In 17 NBA seasons, Miller has made appearances with six different teams, seven including the Blazers if he is not waived. He has cemented career figures of 11.3 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game, and 40.7% beyond-the-arc shooting.

Brendan Haywood is now continuing his NBA journey, so far spanning 14 seasons. His career has included stints with the Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Bobcats, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Now he may get a chance to play for Portland, a team in need of production after losing four of their five starters from the 2014-15 season.

Haywood holds career averages of 6.8 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, and 1.4 blocks per game. 

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