The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly inquired about Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jose Calderon as the defending NBA champions are currently in the hunt for an experienced playmaker to act as a backup to Kyrie Irving.

Cavs team leader LeBron James has been vocal about Cleveland's need for a backup point guard these past few weeks, which even triggered an ugly "word war" with former NBA great and now NBA on TNT analyst Charles Barkley.

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It began last week, following a Cleveland defeat to the Sacramento Kings in overtime, 116-112. James spewed out "some expletives in his postgame interview" as he again reiterated his team's need for more bench depth particularly in the point guard spot, according to Fox Sports, to which Barkley reacted with him being "whiny" and "not wanting to compete".

Despite Barkley's criticisms, King James has not pulled back with his belief that the Cavs need another point guard to successfully defend their title and so the club is now on a hunt for one.

Lakers Nation reported that the Cavaliers are interested in trading for Calderon, who was acquired by the Lakers in a trade with the Chicago Bulls last summer. Dallas big man Andrew Bogut is also reportedly being targeted by the champs.

Calderon, 35, is playing in his 13th season in the NBA and has been one of the better outside shooters and playmakers in the league. The Spaniard would definitely provide much-needed help in the Cavs backcourt, but the team is said to be aware that they are limited by "various salary-cap and asset limitations" at the moment.

The former Toronto Raptors standout is in the final year of his four-year, $29 million deal with the Mavericks back in the summer of 2013. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and is owed $7.7 million at the end of the season.

Calderon is currently averaging 3.5 points, 2.1 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in only 12.4 minutes per game in 23 games this season, the lowest in his career including his rookie year.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors 2017, Jose Calderon, Los Angeles Lakers, cleveland cavaliers