Sessions along with disappointing former number one pick Christian Eyenga were sent to the Lakers in exchange for Luke Walton,Jason Kapono,the Lakers first round pick in this years draft along with the right to swap the first round pick obtained from Miami in the 2013 draft with the Lakers 2013 first rounder,if the Lakers have a higher pick than the Heat in that draft.The Cavaliers are basically eating the remaining money from the contracts of Kapono,who was originally drafted by Cleveland, and Walton in order to make the trade work in order to add another first rounder for this years draft.
The addition of the pick gives Cleveland two first rounders and two second rounders that should help bulk up the talent around Kyrie Irving.
Some question why Cleveland would take on the one year remaining on Luke Walton's contract at an unreal 6 million for a guy that is rarely healthy and plays rarely or well (1.3 PPG in nine games this season) when able to play,but to me,it was worth the cost to add the first rounder and Walton's contract that will expire at the end of next season could prove a valuable chip at next years trade deadline,if the team does not buy him out before then.
Kapono played about ten minutes a game for the Lakers averaging two points a night,but does bring a decent outside shot to Cleveland on a team that could use a bit of that feature to the floor.
Kapono's 1.2 million dollar contract does expire at the end of the season,so his cap space will be off the books.
The key to the deal of course is adding another first rounder to the teams haul for next season.
Cleveland has four picks in the next draft what looks to be in the first 35-40 picks as the Cavaliers own the Hornets second rounder,which should be one of the first few picks in the second round.
The second rounders can be valuable,but only when used wisely as seen last season by none other than the Cavaliers,who had the second pick in the round last year and traded it to Orlando and later in the round selected Milan Macvan,who was noted as quickly as the showing of the video highlights that he was never likely to play in the league.
The ability to swap 2013 first rounders with the Miami pick might be worth a few spots in that draft,so I do like the fact that the Cavaliers front office were thinking ahead and making a move that flew under the radar today,but could pay off a bit next season.
Antawn Jamison stays as a Cavalier at the end of the day.
I would not have been surprised if he had been moved or remained in Cleveland,basically because there could be a case built for both sides of the decision.
If someone was willing to give something up for Jamison,I certainly supported trading him,but keeping him will make the team more competitive for the remainder of the season,which you can argue might not be a good thing,although it will make the games much closer than without him.
Considering everything,it appears that the market just was not there for Jamison and the Cavaliers could have just decided to take his money off the cap at seasons end,especially with adding the Luke Walton contract.
Cleveland will likely lose some games anyway without Ramon Sessions being around.
Ironically,Sessions will go from being a backup on a below average team to a starter for a title contender as the Lakers moved Derek Fisher in another deal to make room for Sessions.
Cleveland will have to get someone to play the point in order to give Kyrie Irving a breather during games and there is currently no one on the roster to fill that bill.
A veteran that can run the offense would be a nice asset,but there is not a ton of those guys around that are available to sign right now,so I would hesitate to recommend any player in particular.
Sessions will be missed,but I always approve when non-contenders make moves to get something tangible for players that will likely leave and leave the team with nothing in return for the player.
The trade will not turn things around by itself,but it continues to be another piece of the gradual rebuilding of the Cavaliers.
I have not agreed with everything done thus far and I have been wrong (Derrick Williams by a hair over Kyrie Irving) along with reserving the right to be right (Tristan Thompson over Jonas Valancinuas) in the future,but one thing that cannot be denied is this-The Cleveland Cavaliers are not going to be happy being mediocre,the goal is and was to get strong again and to do so as quickly as possible.
It is nice to see one team in Cleveland that has this view for a change.
I'll be back later with the Browns new show "Frostee and Juqua"!
Photo Credit:AP Photo
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