Harvey Fialkov of the Sun-Sentinel reports: Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager Jim Paxson confirmed Monday that he was interested in a three-way sign-and-trade deal involving Heat free-agent forward Anthony Mason.

Heat President/coach Pat Riley had already said that the team couldn't afford to carry the high salaries of Mason, guard Tim Hardaway and small forward Bruce Bowen and that they will become victims of the salary cap and impending luxury tax.

Paxson said the Cavs would ship former Heat center/forward Chris Gatling to Miami for Mason and then send Mason to an unnamed team for an unidentified player.

Mason's agent Don Cronson confirmed that talks with Cleveland and other teams regarding his client are ongoing. "We could be very close,'' Cronson said. "A miss is as good as a mile. ... There is interest out there but it's not easy. It's a very tough market.''