At long last, NBA trade season is underway.
The Cleveland Cavaliers traded guard Jordan Clarkson to the Utah Jazz for Dante Exum and two future second-round picks.
Utah is sending a 2022 second-round pick (via San Antonio) and a 2023 second-rounder (via Golden State) as part of the deal.
The trade is the NBA's first since July 11, when Houston shipped Chris Paul and a package of picks to Oklahoma City for Russell Westbrook.
Clarkson, who averaged 14.6 points in 29 games coming off the bench for Cleveland, is in the final season of a four-year, $50-million contract. The last year of his deal carries a $13.4-million cap hit.
The 27-year-old figures to add a proven scoring touch to a Utah bench that currently ranks 29th in scoring at just 27.1 points per game.
Meanwhile, there are two years remaining on the 24-year-old Exum's contract, and it carries a $9.6-million cap hit. The Australian has appeared in 11 games this season while receiving limited minutes.
Exum signed a three-year, $33-million extension with Utah in July 2018.
The deal creates a $3.8-million trade exception for Cleveland, and it brings the Cavs $5.1 million below the league's luxury tax, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
Acquiring Exum appears to be the first of many transactions the Cavs intend to make ahead of February's deadline. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski notes Cleveland is motivated to part with veterans while pursuing young assets and draft picks in return.
This marks the third trade between the Cavs and Jazz over the past three seasons.
