The Cleveland Cavaliers made a major move Monday night in an attempt to give their flagging season a shot in the arm.
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The Cavs have acquired two New York Knicks - shooting guard Iman Shumpert and swingman J.R. Smith - in a three-way trade that also sends guard Dion Waiters to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The deal was confirmed late Monday night.
The Cavs will also get a protected first-round pick from the Thunder, while the Knicks receive a 2019 second-rounder from the Cavs and bit players Alex Kirk, Lou Amundson and Lance Thomas.
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The Knicks plan to waive Kirk and Amundson, according to multiple reports.
| 3-Way Trade | Receive | Send |
|---|---|---|
| Cavaliers | Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, 2015 1st (OKC, 19-30) | Dion Waiters, Lou Amundson, Alex Kirk, 2019 2nd |
| Knicks | Lou Amundson, Alex Kirk, Lance Thomas, 2019 2nd (CLE) | Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith |
| Thunder | Dion Waiters | Lance Thomas, 2015 1st (19-30) |
New York, clearly seeking a culture overhaul in the midst of a dreadful season, also announced that they waived veteran center Samuel Dalembert.
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Shumpert, known for his perimeter defense, is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury. He was averaging 9.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game prior to getting hurt. He can become a restricted free agent this summer.
Cavaliers management spoke to LeBron James about his willingness to play with Smith, according to a report by Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein of ESPN.
Both Smith and Waiters are much-maligned players having similar statistical seasons - sub-41 percent shooters averaging about 10 points per game.
Waiters, Kirk and Amundson were pulled from the Cavaliers' bench moments before their game Monday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.