Johnson's game, demeanor could help

Brooklyn Nets veteran swingman Joe Johnson is still very much in play for the defending Eastern Conference champions, league sources informed cleveland.com.

(John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Cavaliers haven't relinquished their mission of accumulating back-end rotation help to "further the cause," a term general manager David Griffin recently used.

Brooklyn Nets veteran swingman Joe Johnson is still very much in play for the defending Eastern Conference champions, league sources informed cleveland.com.

Should Johnson, 34, obtain a buyout of his $25 million salary for the season, Cleveland would be his next destination, sources with knowledge of the dialogue told cleveland.com.

Brooklyn is aware of the ballpark figure it would take for Johnson to agree to a buyout, a source said. The way sources characterize the situation, Brooklyn has to decide whether it wants to help the Cavaliers, or allow Johnson to play out his contract as-is.

Johnson, I'm told, isn't overly concerned about whether a buyout is negotiated. His primary focus is just playing.

A player who is bought out must be signed with his new team by March 1 to be playoff-eligible. Cleveland considered trading for Johnson last summer.

Griffin and Johnson have a relationship dating back to when they were in Phoenix. Cleveland has two roster spots open for buyout candidates. On Thursday, sharpshooter Steve Novak was acquired by Denver in a trade, but will be bought out.

He will be a candidate for the Cavaliers, too.