Apr 13, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Grant Jerrett (17) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Mavericks at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers recently acquired a 2019 second-round pick from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for 2015 draftee Rakeem Christmas. Brian Windhorst of ESPN reports that it was a move to set up another deal involving the $10.52 million non-guaranteed contract of Brendan Haywood in hopes of creating a large trade exception.

#Cavs are close to dealing Brendan Haywood away for a trade exception according to @WindhorstESPN. — Cavs Sports Talk (@CavsSportsTalk) July 23, 2015

According to Windhorst, the Utah Jazz are one of the few teams in the league that could be in a position to help the Cavs in their quest for the trade exception–

“The Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers are the only teams with enough cap space to absorb Haywood and create a trade exception for Cleveland. The Utah Jazz are also close but would have to trade or cut several players with non-guaranteed contracts to do so.”

While this may be all smoke and no fire on the Jazz end of things, such a trade could be beneficial for the team. For example, the guaranteed money owed to Grant Jerrett next season has become something of an albatross, especially with the arrival of Trey Lyles and Tibor Pleiss. Utah could move Jerrett in the deal and clear a roster spot.

Jerrett is set to make approximately $947,000 next season. Depending on how a potential trade is structured and what else is included, the Cavs could possibly create the largest traded player exception in the league. Last year, Cleveland used a trade exception to acquire Timofey Mozgov from the Denver Nuggets.

While many would say that the Utah Jazz have advanced beyond asset accumulation mode, the ability to clear room for one of the team’s non-guaranteed contracts, i.e. Bryce Cotton, Elijah Millsap, Chris Johnson or Jack Cooley and also acquire future assets is a win-win. Brock Motum and J.J. O’Brien could be factors here as well.

Transversely, the Jazz could deal some of their non-guaranteed players and actually get something back in return. This definitely sounds better than the alternative of letting them walk for nothing because the team has run out of roster space. As it stands now, the Jazz have two spots for four players they really like.

Whether or not the Jazz and Cavs can be partners in a deal for Haywood’s contract remains to be seen. Still, such a move could make a lot of sense for both parties.

While it’s not the deal that I would make, here is the framework for a trade involving the two teams that may wet your whistles.