Ryan Anderson has always been in my top "grand slam" scenarios relative to possibilities with the Haywood trade exception.
Rudy Gay was and always has been #1 on my wish list but since the Cavs turned Haywood's contract into a hard capped trade exception and cannot combine it with anything in trade, Gay (along with a few other preferences of mine) are no longer options nor fits for a trade using our exception.
Next guy on my list was Denver's Danilo Gallinari and he too now cannot be acquired with the exception.
His teammate Wilson Chandler however, IMO is the perfect fit both as a player/backup SF solution, and literally almost to the cent financially relative to his salary matching up with the Haywood exception almost dollar to dollar.
http://www.spotrac.com/nba/denver-nuggets/wilson-chandler/
As you see here, Denver extended Chandler before the season for 4 years and a salary for this '15 season of $10,449,438.... Just under the Cav's available Haywood's exception of $10,522,500, literally only a 75k difference between each's value! Talk bout perfect fit. What's more is Chandler is out for the season with having to undergo a hip repair/surgery which under normal circumstances wouldn't be a positive thing from a Cav's end, but in this case may end up being beneficial. With Denver struggling again, it makes no sense for the Nuggets to allocate the $and resources they are at the same position paying out large salaries to both SF's Gallinari and Chandler. With Gallinari taking a step forward I'm development this season while Chandler recovers, this injury may open Denver's eyes and motivate them to free up Chandler's cap hold and allocate elsewhere to their roster. Coming off a hip surgery and with the Cavs low on tradable assets, Chandler's injury may be the Cavs only chance in creating an advantageous scenario for both sides in making a deal. Even so, I still think a deal is more realistic with a 3rd team involved, one looking to strictly dump $ to clear space, avoid luxury tax, repeater tax etc...
After Chandler, Trevor Ariza would be my other swing for the fence acquisition the Cavs could potentially land. Ariza is healthy and playing for the Rockets, so a fit in terms of a trade is very unlikely. I'm saying that, it is a hot dumpster fire right now in Houston, especially now with the recent Dwight Howard 'I'm gonna ruin every place I go' attitude coming to the forefront publicly. Root for Howard to continue embarrassing himself through the media, as he may be the prelude to a complete fire saw down the road which could benefit the Cavs.
Beyond these scenarios, I can think of 3 other players not necessarily available, but opposing players who would be a good fit for the Cavs in no particular order, Jeff Green, Evan Turner, and possibly Alonzo Gee.
Depending on how the Cavs front office feels about their return on Richard Jefferson so far and what value that holds in the future, this second tier type acquisition may make more sense than One of the home run examples aforementioned. Like myself personally, I like what Richard Jefferson has brought and the value he carries moving forward. He's a perfect backup for Bron offensively as he can shoot for range and from deep, plus still has tremendous spring in his 35 year old legs. He's a great piece for Blatt to insert matchup wise for what his skill set brings to the table and what it can help exploit in opponents situationally down the road. Only problem with Jefferson being THE solution or a long term one is not only his age (35-36), but also because he's below average defensively.
Not having the ability to bring someone off the bench to spell Lebron and be able to lock down the bigger forwards in the game is a hole needing addressed. Fir this reason in particular is why I love Wilson Chandler as the perfect fit... Young(27), athletic, can shoot from outside and is an elite defender. He would solve this void and provide a solution for the Cavs across the board, only if he could be had in trade.
A Chandler acquisition or major one of the like however would require large minutes to be given then to this player. What this would mean for Jefferson is a spot at the end of the bench with limited minutes lying ahead for the rest of the season. Luckily for RJ, acquiring a home run with the exception will be extremely difficult for the Cavs to execute and pull off.
They could however acquire an Alonzo Gee or Jeff Green however who are both defensive specialists and would allow Blatt two backup 3 options, an offensive one in RJ and a defensive one in Gee/Green to mix and match matchup wise. There will be times when a Lebron will need a break and help defending an Iguadala or Paul George type, something RJ is not well suited for, nor is anyone else off the existing bench. Knowing this, I hope the Cavs acquire a backup 3 to help alleviate these potential concerns/weaknesses.
If the Cavs were to acquire say Alonzo Gee with the smaller exception and still had the larger one to use, there are 3 larger stretch forwards I'd love to see added to complete this roster.
First merino would be for Ryan Anderson. I like this one a lot because he's versatile and can plug at both backup SF as well as stretch 4 positions. He's also instant O and can put 9 points on the board for a team before ya blink.
Second mention would be Channing Frye. He would be a perfect piece for the Cavs giving them a 7 footer who can stretch the floor and shoot 3 pointers like their layups. He's a great fit with monopoly $, but given the fact he would really only be a situational luxury versus a significant difference maker addition, ivery seriously doubt Gilbert forks over north of $15 million per year after luxury tax for a situation player piece. Same goes with my 3rd guy, Marvin Williams. Sure I'd take him, we could use him... Just don' NEED him.
Lastly there are 3 bigs who are making league minimum or are free agents who I wouldn't mind seeing the Cavs kick the tires with. First off Larry Sanders as an elite shot blocking rim protector robe used situationally down the stretch. Would be unbelievable to have such a luxury. I also am intrigued with what Josh Smith would bring to this team, I'd take former #1 pick and still offensively skilled center Andrea Bargnani all day every day holding a roster spot over Sasha Kahn.
My order of wants:
1) Wilson Chandler
2) Trevor Ariza
3) Ryan Anderson
4) Alonzo Gee
5) Jeff Green
6) Larry Sanders
7) Josh Smith
