Report: Cavaliers agree to 3-team trade to clear room for LeBron James
CLEVELAND -- Will LeBron James soon be wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey again?
The team has apparently created salary cap space to make sure they have enough to offer James a maximum contract.
Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported the Cavs are sending Jarrett Jack and Sergey Karasev to the Brooklyn Nets; and a first-round pick and Tyler Zeller to the Boston Celtics. The Nets will send Marcus Thornton to the Celtics to complete the deal as the Cavs clear roughly $9.5 million off the books.
A source familiar with the negotiations confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The moves are designed to open salary-cap space so they can land James, the most sought after free agent on the market.
The Cavaliers are also reportedly pursuing Ray Allen in a signing to help convince LeBron to come to Cleveland, CBSSports.com reported.
Jack, who signed with Cleveland as a free agent last season, was scheduled to make $6.3 million, Zeller will make $1.6 million and Karasev $1.4 million
In trading those salaries, the Cavs have enough to give James a maximum, $20.7 million contract - if he decides to sign with Cleveland. James, who played his first seven seasons with Cleveland before leaving as a free agent in 2010, is expected to meet with Miami President Pat Riley in Las Vegas before making a decision about his future.
Jack's first season with Cleveland didn't go as he or the Cavs had hoped. He signed a four-year, $25 million deal last July after playing in Golden State. The Cavs counted on him being a leader for their young team, but it didn't work out as Cleveland finished 33-49, missed the playoffs and fired coach Mike Brown.