NBA Trade Rumors 2014: Cleveland Cavaliers Planning to Make Big Trades in Offseason

The Cleveland Cavaliers have cleverly put themselves in position to pull off a big trade in the offseason after acquiring former Tennessee standout Scotty Hopson on a two-year contract, according to ESPN basketball analyst Brian Windhorst.

The Cavs are expected to be a very busy team on the trading front this offseason, as they attempt to finally form a competitive roster that can contend for a playoff spot for the first time since LeBron James departed for Miami in 2010.

Windhorst reported that Hopson's deal is structured to give Cleveland another nonguaranteed contract, which they can use as a trade chip along with their first round draft picks from the Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat.

"The second year of Hopson's deal, worth $1.45 million, is nonguaranteed. The Cavs now have a stockpile of nonguaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts that could be attractive in trades around June's draft," Windhorst reported.

Despite spending a big chunk of their salary space to improve their roster last summer, Cleveland will miss the postseason for the fourth straight time. The Cavaliers acquired former All-Star center Andrew Bynum, but the former Lakers big man became a liability in the locker room, forcing management to use him in a trade for Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng in January. Deng was acquired to give budding superstar point guard Kyrie Irving another All-Star teammate.

Deng will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, though Cleveland is open to re-signing him. However, many basketball insiders believe the Cavs will exhaust all options to get the services of James, who can opt out of his contract this summer.