It seems as though the Cleveland Cavaliers are still exploring multiple options when it comes to trading the famous Brendan Haywood contract.

As of Sunday, the team was reportedly interested in a deal with the Brooklyn Nets which would send Haywood’s deal and (probably) Anderson Varejao over in exchange for guard Joe Johnson.  Lately, though, it appears Cleveland has cooled on such a trade. Unsurprisingly, much of their hesitation is rooted in having to pay Johnson’s $24.8 million price tag, a large ask for a team already over the cap.

According to reports, the Cavs’ souring on the Johnson trade has them considering another offer. This one would be with the Los Angeles Clippers, specifically centered on veteran Jamal Crawford. For many reasons, such a trade would be a much better scenario than anything involving Johnson.

Let’s go with the most obvious rationale as to why this would be a more favorable deal for Cleveland first. Johnson’s salary is the aforementioned astronomical amount of $24.8 million. On the other end, Crawford will only be owed $5.6 million next year, pennies in comparison. Owner Dan Gilbert is already wearing his checkbook thin thanks to new contracts and luxury tax payments, so you’d like to think he’d enjoy a lighter salary to work with.

As far as on-court comparisons go, Crawford may be just slightly older, but he’s averaged more PPG than Johnson for the past three seasons. Crawford shot at a lower three point percentage than Johnson last year, but only by about 3%.

Most importantly, though, is the fact Crawford may be more willing to accept the role he’d be expected to take with the Cavs than Johnson would.

Iman Shumpert is still pegged to be the team’s starting shooting guard. This is a position Johnson has had for most of his career, one he might have trouble relinquishing if traded to the Cavs. Meanwhile, Crawford has been utilized as a key contributor off the bench. This is likely the position either of these players would have to take in Cleveland, and it’d be a much easier role for Crawford.

Another small positive with the Cavs favoring a Crawford deal over trading for Johnson is the fact they wouldn’t need to include any of their own players in the trade. Varejao is both a fan favorite and a close friend of LeBron James, so you have to believe Cleveland is hesitant to trade him away. They’d have to do so if they dealt for Johnson. However, said move wouldn’t need to be made in trading for Crawford thanks to his much lower salary.

At the end of the day, is Johnson a bigger star than Crawford? You could say so, yes. However, with this star power comes a massive salary, one which will require a lot of work for the Cavs to deal with.

Crawford, though, will come at a lower price, would be a better fit and has averaged more points while playing fewer minutes than Johnson.

If you ask me, it’s not too difficult to figure out which deal the Cavs should be considering here.

Casey Drottar is the Cleveland Beat Writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter or “Like” him on Facebook