Report: Cleveland Cavaliers exploring trade for Joe Johnson

According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Cavaliers are considering a potential deal to acquire Joe Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets.

Johnson, who will be making a whopping $24.8 million next season in the last season of his contract, would be a solid if pricey addition, as the Cavaliers could use someone of his well-rounded skillset in the worst way. The catch of course is the money, and as Windhorst correctly explained there is really only one way to get Johnson in a trade. Any deal that brings Johnson to Cleveland would require the Cavs to deal Brendan Haywood's deal and almost certainly have to include Anderson Varejao and his contract, which is worth $9.6 million next season.

Johnson's abilities would most likely be far more beneficial to them than rolling the dice on Varejao returning to a playable form at 31 and recovering from a ruptured achilles. It's also worth noting that Varejao is the longest ventured Cavalier on the roster and Cavs star LeBron James has long considered Varejao one of his favorite teammates.

Last season, Johnson averaged 14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and shot 36 percent from deep while playing every position but center for the Nets.