Report: Cavs look to use trade exception; still open to trading for Melo

Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com reported Sunday the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to use their $4.4 million trade exception before it expires Monday.

Vardon also revealed the Cavs are still open to the slim possibility of trading for Carmelo Anthony.

The trade exception, left over from trading Anderson Varejao last season, is worth about $4.4 million. Anthony is a 12-time All-Star with a $24.6 million salary. So obviously one move would not be related to the other, and the way, way outside shot (we’re talking like, say a 93-footer) of acquiring Anthony in a deadline deal with the New York Knicks would be the much bigger transaction of the two. But it’s also the least likely.

Cleveland actually has two exceptions that expire Monday, the $4.4 million hole from the Varejao deal and another worth $947,000 from trading Jared Cunningham last season.

The Cavs have discussed trading for Utah point guard Shelvin Mack, who makes $2.4 million this season and is averaging 7.3 points and 2.8 assists, among others. They need a backup point guard, not as much for the postseason but certainly for March, as they attempt to get All-Star starters LeBron James and Kyrie Irving some rest.

-Joe Vardon, Cleveland.com

Jazz point guard Shelvin Mack was a healthy scratch for the last two games before the All-Star break and has fallen out of Utah’s rotation in recent weeks.

As for the Melo situation, it’s the rumor that just won’t go away and until the trade deadline passes, we’re sure to hear more about it in the coming days.

For what it’s worth, sources told Vardon the Cavs would not trade Kevin Love for Anthony.