Wesley Matthews

Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews.

(Jamie Francis/The Oregonian)

The NBA trade rumor mill is slowly beginning to churn as the calendar nears 2015, and one Portland Trail Blazers starter has reportedly been targeted by an Eastern Conference contender.

According to Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group and Cleveland.com, the Cleveland Cavaliers have long desired Blazers shooting guard Wesley Matthews:

Makes sense Neil Olshey and the Blazers would rebuff any offer from the Cavaliers for Matthews, arguably the heartbeat of a cohesive starting lineup. The 28-year-old, in his final season of a five-year deal, is playing as well as he has at any point in his career.

Cleveland, according to various reports over the past few weeks, is looking to upgrade at shooting guard alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, dangling the demoted Dion Waiters.

The Cavaliers have also been rumored to covet Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Corey Brewer, as well as upgrading their rim protection, sniffing around Timofey Mozgov of the Denver Nuggets and Kosta Koufos of the Memphis Grizzlies.