Cavs Interested In Tayshaun Prince

The Cavs have interest in Tayshaun Prince, reports Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, who shared the information this morning in an appearance on ESPN Cleveland radio, as the station passes along via Twitter (hat tip to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com). Windhorst expects the Cavs will use their trade exception, worth nearly $5.286MM, to swing a trade between December 15th, when most offseason signees become eligible for trades, and January 10th, the date that all remaining non-guaranteed contracts become guaranteed for the season (Twitter link). Prince’s salary of nearly $7.708MM wouldn’t fit into that exception, however.

The 34-year-old Prince has had an inconsistent presence this season for the Grizzlies, as he’s appeared in only a single game for a stretch of a little more than eight minutes after seeing more than 26 minutes on November 21st. He’s come off the bench three times this season, but he’s only appeared as a reserve in six NBA games since his rookie season in 2002/03. His numbers this season are similar to his production from 2013/14, when he put up just 6.0 points in 25.6 minutes per game, but his calling card has long been defense, an asset that the Cavs have sought along the perimeter in earlier discussions about Corey Brewer.

Memphis reportedly made multiple attempts to trade Prince over the summer. Still, the Grizzlies were apparently never that high on rumored negotiations that linked Prince to the Raptors and John Salmons around draft time in what would have been a salary-clearing move for Memphis. The Grizzlies are 15-3, and though they’re coming off a surprising loss Wednesday to the Rockets, who were without Dwight Howard, they might not be particularly motivated to make a move, considering their success so far this season.

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