The Cleveland Cavaliers have been looking for a perimeter defender over the last couple of weeks, and may have found a potential match in Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Corey Brewer.
ESPN's Marc Stein reported today that the Cavs, along with the Houston Rockets, have shown interest in trading for the eighth-year forward out of Florida. From Stein:
If Brewer winds up in Cleveland, he'd be reunited with Love, with whom he has a close relationship after their well-chronicled success on the fast break as teammates in Minnesota. Brewer ranked as one of the league's foremost scorers in transition last season on the end of Love's outlet passes.
It's an open secret, furthermore, that the Cavaliers are looking to get stronger at shooting guard as well reduce LeBron James' minutes load, so Brewer would likely play multiple positions should the Cavs seal a deal for him.
Brewer has played well for Minnesota in nine games this year, averaging 9.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. His minutes have dropped almost ten minutes from last year, mostly due to the logjam that the Timberwolves have at the wing position when they acquired Andrew Wiggins and Thaddeus Young in the off-season.
If the Cavs are able to acquire Brewer, they will not have to give up much. Thanks to a trade the Cavs made during the offseason involving guard Keith Bogans, the Cavs received a $5.3 million trade exception. Brewer currently makes $4.75 million this season, meaning they can afford him without giving up any players, while still giving them roughly $500,000 in trade exceptions to work with.
