CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Cavaliers fans will have to buy programs to identify the overhauled team. About half the roster was turned over before today’s NBA trade deadline, with guards Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane (dwayn) Wade and Derrick Rose among six players and two draft picks dealt by the Cavs.
Thomas, forward Channing Frye and a first-round pick went to the Lakers for guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance. Thomas had been a disappointment after being acquired from Boston for Kyrie Irving, averaging 14.7 points and 4.5 assists after missing the team’s first 36 games with an injury.
Wade was shipped back to Miami for a protected second-round selection, two years after leaving the Heat. The 36-year-old Wade is scoring a career-low 11.2 points a game this season after spending last year with the Bulls. He played his first 13 NBA seasons with the Heat, averaging 23.7 points and 5.6 assists.
The Cavs also were part of a three-team deal that sends Rose and forward Jae Crowder to the Jazz for forward Rodney Hood and brings guard George Hill to Cleveland from Sacramento for guard Iman Shumpert. Hood may have the biggest upside among the players acquired by Cleveland, averaging 16.8 points in his fourth NBA season.
In other NBA news:
— The Suns have acquired point guard Elfrid Payton from the Magic for a second-round pick this summer. Payton is averaging a career-high 13.0 points with 6.3 assists and four rebounds.
— The Celtics have added depth to their frontcourt by signing free-agent center Greg Monroe, who was waived by the Suns after being traded by the Bucks in November. Monroe is averaging 10.4 points and 7.4 rebounds this season.
— The Pelicans have agreed to trade veteran forward Dante Cunningham to Brooklyn for third-year guard Rashad Vaughn. Cunningham started 24 of his 51 games this season, averaging five points and 3.8 rebounds. Vaughn is on the move again after being acquired from Milwaukee on Monday.
— The Nuggets have traded Emmanuel Mudiay to the Knicks and acquired Devin Harris from Dallas in a three-team deal. The Mavericks will get Doug McDermott from New York.
— The Pistons have acquired James Ennis from the Grizzlies for Brice Johnson and a 2022 second-round draft pick. Detroit also acquired Jameer Nelson from Chicago.
— Warriors forward Draymond Green has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for directing inappropriate and offensive language toward a game official. Green was ejected in the second quarter of Tuesday’s 125-105 home loss to the Thunder after a second technical when he argued with the officials.
— Bulls guard Kris Dunn is out of concussion protocol, although he will miss two more games. Dunn was averaging 13.7 points and 6.4 assists before missing Chicago’s last eight games. The Bulls have dropped their last seven games.
— Mavericks guard Seth Curry has undergone season-ending surgery for a stress fracture in his lower left leg. He is expected to resume full activities within three months.
— Hornets guard Kemba Walker is replacing injured Knicks forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (KRIHS’-tahps pohr-ZIHN’-gihs) on Team LeBron in the Feb. 18 All-Star game at Los Angeles. Walker is averaging 22.6 points, 5.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 51 games. Porzingis is out for the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during Tuesday’s game against the Bucks.
