CLEVELAND -- Veteran guard Jamal Crawford is "very interested" in joining the Cavaliers if he becomes a free agent after a recent conversation with LeBron James, sources told cleveland.com.

Crawford, 37, was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Atlanta Hawks, and will negotiate a buyout with Atlanta. He has two years and $28.75 million remaining on his contract, but only one year (about $14.2 million) is fully guaranteed. About $3 million is guaranteed from the following year.

The most Cleveland could pay Crawford is the taxpayer's mid-level exception to the salary cap (worth $5.2 million), but after conversing with James, Crawford is highly interested in joining the three-time defending Eastern Conference champs.

Sources indicated it was Crawford who reached out to James, who is vacationing with his family. James and Crawford have known each other for all of James' 14 pro seasons (Crawford's played 17), and Crawford has other friends on the Cavs, too.

Since it was reported early July 4 that Crawford would be part of a three-team trade to bring Danilo Gallinari from Denver to the Clippers and Crawford would end up in Atlanta, he's been preparing to seek a buyout and hit the market as a free agent.

Crawford's been linked in reports to the Timberwolves, Wizards and Celtics, but again, the Hawks must first buy him out for him to have his pick. A source said the buyout would come "very soon."

Crawford played all 82 regular-season games for the Clippers last season and averaged 12.3 points, shooting .360 from 3-point range.

The Cavs have already agreed to terms to bring back Kyle Korver, 36, and acquire Jose Calderon, 35.

Thursday was the first day teams could sign free agents to new contracts. As of 5:30 p.m., neither the signing of Korver or Calderon had been announced by the Cavs -- but they are imminent.

The Cavs begin Summer League play in Las Vegas on Friday. Kay Felder and Edy Tavares are the only players from Cleveland's regular roster schedule to play for the Cavs in the desert.

It's hard to gauge the Cleveland franchise's interest in Crawford, though James speaking to Crawford suggests it exists. If the Cavs chose not to use half or all of the mid-level exception on Crawford, then the most they could pay him would be the veteran's minimum of $2.33 million.

Crawford has never been to the Finals. He's averaging 15.3 points for his career and shooting .350 from 3-point range, and averaged 15.3 points in five seasons with the Clippers.