The Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics complete a 3-team trade with Jarret Jack being the center piece. The trade overall clears up $24.7 million in cap space for the Cavs in which seems like a move to get more space to be able to sign LeBron James. ESPN’s Marc Stein fully reported on ESPN.com
The Cleveland Cavaliers will trade Jarrett Jack to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday as part of a three-team deal with Boston to create more salary-cap space for the pursuit of LeBron James, according to sources close to the process.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Nets have agreed to take on the contracts of Jack and youngster Sergey Karasev from the Cavaliers in a swap that also will see the Celtics acquire Brooklyn’s Marcus Thornton, Cleveland’s Tyler Zeller and a future first-round pick from the Cavaliers.
Cleveland will have to acquire at least one future second-rounder from either Brooklyn or Boston to complete the transaction, but the moves will give the Cavaliers significant financial flexibility, shedding Jack, Zeller and Karasev from their roster.
The Nets and Celtics get good pieces in this deal. The Nets acquire Jarret Jack who is a serviceable point guard that will fill the void that Shaun Livingston left when he darted for the Golden State Warriors. Jack can score and see the floor very well, he is a good veteran point guard. Sergey Karasev is still a raw talent, but is a good wing player that can develop, especially under a guy like Joe Johnson.
The Celtics acquire a what may be the best pieces in this deal. They get veteran wing man Marcus Thornton from the Nets, who was just traded there this past season from the Sacramento Kings. Thornton can score and in bunches if he wants but it will be interesting to see what the Celtics do with him, they already are log jammed full of guards with Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, James Young and Macrus Smart already under contract with the team. Tyler Zeller going to the Celtics helps their depth down-low. A young partnering inside with Zeller and Sullinger was a college coaches team about 4 years ago and now former college coach at Butler, Brad Stevens, has that potential inside depth.
The Cavs make a huge move with this to get LeBron. They are only receiving a pick in this trade so the trade is just for clearing of space. Anderson Varejao has a huge cap number still but it seems like the team is going to keep him around as Varejao is one of LeBron’s favorite teammates. Ray Allen has also said that he would go wherever LeBron goes and the Cavs are interested as well. Kevin Love has said that if LeBron goes to Cleveland, then he will stay in Cleveland and resign a max deal. The process to get Love may involve some of their favorite young talent like Andrew Wiggins, Dion Waiters or getting rid of Varejao’s huge contract. Only time will tell.
