Making official what has been rumored for several days, the Cleveland Cavaliers will send backup point guard Jarrett Jack to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team trade that also involves the Boston Celtics. ESPN’s Marc Stein was the first to confirm the news:
ESPN sources say Brooklyn Nets on verge of acquiring Jarrett Jack from Cleveland in three-team deal
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 9, 2014
The deal is purely a salary-cap clearing move for the Cavaliers, as unloading Jack’s contract will provide them with enough room to offer highly-sought after free agent LeBron James an NBA maximum contract.
In addition to Jarrett Jack, the Nets will also take on the contract of 20-year-old prospect and 2013 Cavaliers first-round pick Sergey Karasev. The Celtics will acquire Cleveland’s Tyler Zeller, Brooklyn’s Marcus Thornton, and a protected 2016 first-round draft selection from the Cavaliers.
The Nets recently learned that backup point guard Shaun Livingston leave via free agency and is headed for Golden State.
Asked about the trade, Jarrett Jack had the following to say:
“I mean, I would love to stay, but I understand the business side of it. I respect it. It is what it is, but now I’m looking forward to what I have coming up with the Brooklyn Nets.”
By getting Jack ($6.3 million), Zeller ($1.7 million), and Karasev ($1.5 million) off the books, the Cavaliers will free up a total of about $9.5 million in cap space for the pursuit of free agents this summer.
In addition to their now-obvious pursuit of James, Cleveland is also reportedly looking at the possibility of bringing in free agents Mike Miller and Ray Allen, who have both previously played with James in Miami.
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