Deadline day has officially begun.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and their first-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft to the Los Angeles Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance, according to (who else) Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Lakers sending Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance to the Cavaliers, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
Cleveland is sending Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye to the Lakers for Clarkson and Nance, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
Cavaliers also sending its 2018 first-round pick in deal to Lakers, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
According to Brian Windhorst, the Cavs motive with this move is to entice LeBron James to sign with them this offseason when he becomes a free agent. Ironically, it also opens up a ton of cap space for the Lakers, one of James’ reported suitors, as both Thomas and Frye are on expiring contracts.
Cavs are taking on long-term money and helping the Lakers clear cap space, opening up LA's 2018 free agency dreams. The Cavs are wagering they're keeping LeBron with this move.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) February 8, 2018
The Lakers now take on the expiring $6.3M contract of Isaiah Thomas and $7.4M expiring contract of Channing Frye. The Lakers now project to have $46.9M in room this summer. The cap space will increase to $69M if they do not bring back Julius Randle and… https://t.co/5ZDrl5aI3I
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 8, 2018
The trade ends the Isaiah Thomas experiment with the Cavs after just 15 games, and comes a day after Thomas said he did not want to be traded.