The first big news of today’s NBA trade deadline dropped with the news that the Los Angeles Lakers are sending guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr. to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye, a league source tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
Cleveland is sending Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye to the Lakers for Clarkson and Nance, league source tells ESPN.
The Lakers also get the Cavaliers’ protected first-round pick in 2018. The trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET Thursday.
Thomas was acquired from the Celtics in August for Kyrie Irving, who said that he was ready to spread his wings as a franchise player and get out from underneath the considerable shadow of LeBron James, with whom he’d led the Cavs to three straight Finals appearances, including the title in 2016.
Thomas played only 15 games with the Cavs after rehabbing from a hip injury. He averaged 14.7 points, but Cleveland went 7-8 in those games.
The Cavaliers were the NBA’s oldest team. Now, they get an infusion of youth with Nance and Clarkson being 25 years old.
Cavaliers trade Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and draft pick to Lakers | SportsCenter | ESPN
Adrian Wojnarowski joins SportsCenter to discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers trading Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and a draft pick to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Clarkson averages 14,5 points per game on 45-percent shooting. Nance averages 8.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Thus far, it’s been a season of turmoil in Cleveland, with the Cavs currently sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference standings.
El Flaco on Twitter
windhorst just made a great point: the cavs may have cleared cap space for the lakers that they could use to sign…yanno, lebron james. oh, this is fun.
Both Thomas and Frye will be free agents after this season.
