The Cleveland Cavaliers could target Phoenix Suns point guard Brandon Knight before the new season starts to address the team's lack of backcourt depth.

Cleveland won their first-ever NBA championship in June and will be aiming to win a second straight title in the upcoming season. However, the Cavaliers' current lineup has been gutted out in the summer with the exit of Matthew Dellavedova and Timofey Mozgov, and the recent retirement of veteran floor general Mo Williams.

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Starting shooting guard JR Smith is still currently unsigned with only a few weeks left before the team's regular season-opener.

According to Chat Sports Net, negotiations between the two sides are in a standstill with Smith asking $15 million a year while the Cavs is only willing to give $10 million to $11 million.

With the Cavs' backcourt evidently thin at the moment and time running out, rumors went out that the club will pursue a trade with the Suns to acquire out-of-place combo guard Brandon Knight.

Knight was reportedly demoted by Suns head coach Earl Watson to a reserve role starting this season as Phoenix is intending to groom second-year player Devin Booker as the future face of the franchise.

Meanwhile, Eric Bledsoe is untouchable as the starting point guard and so Knight's relegation to the bench is seen as inevitable by many experts.

Knight was said to be fine with the move, but many analysts believe that he will eventually demand for more playing time and might even ask for a trade if Watson would not be able to grant his request.

Cleveland could use Knight's current situation in Phoenix as leverage to make the deal happen soonest as the Philadelphia 76ers is also rumored to be courting the former Kentucky standout, according to Sportsrageous.

The Sixers may offer either Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor to the Suns as the two players have been in the trade rumor mill all summer, which would be too good to pass up for Phoenix as the team is in need of a potential future frontcourt star.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors 2016, Brandon Knight, phoenix suns, cleveland cavaliers