CLEVELAND (AP) — J.R. Smith's bumpy-but-never-boring stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers is over.The team said Tuesday that the disgruntled forward, who had requested to be traded earlier this season, "will no longer be with team as the organization works with JR and his representation regarding his future."The Cavaliers will try to trade Smith. He will make $14.7 million this season, and $3.8 million of his $15.6 million salary for next season is guaranteed.For now, the 33-year-old Smith is without a team and that seems to suit him just fine. He has been dismayed with his reduced role as the Cavaliers rebuild in their first season since LeBron James left for the second time as a free agent.Smith's unhappiness had created another distraction in a stormy season for Cleveland, which is a league-worst 2-13 and has been blown out numerous times.The Cavaliers fired coach Tyronn Lue last month following a 0-6 start, and the team has been riddled with injuries, the most prominent to All-Star forward... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers forward Kevin Love is out for the second straight game because of a sore left foot.Cleveland (0-5) hosts the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. Love didn't play in Wednesday's loss to Detroit and missed three of the Cavaliers' four exhibition game because of the injury.Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said Love tried to play through the soreness and wanted to stay on the floor because the team has been struggling.Love is averaging 19 points and 13.5 rebounds — both team highs — but is shooting 32 percent from the field. The five-time All-Star signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension in July.Sam Dekker started at power forward Saturday after Channing Frye was in Love's spot against Detroit.Cleveland has had a difficult time adjusting without LeBron James after the four-time MVP signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Cavaliers have lost three road games and were blown out at home against Atlanta and Brooklyn.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Love can't remember being this freshly shaven, gliding his fingers over his smooth cheeks and chin while glancing at a large mirror.The reflection doesn't pain him anymore.From the outside, the Cleveland Cavaliers' All-Star forward appears to have it all: A model's striking looks, a multi-million dollar contract and dream job. At 30, he's in the prime of his career, and maybe for the first time, truly happy."I'm getting there," he said, his voice conveying determination. "It's still a work in progress."Nearly a year ago, Love suffered a panic attack during a game against Atlanta. The desperate, life-altering event eventually led to revealing his long-term battle with anxiety and depression.Now Love is hoping to break down stigmas about men's mental health. He has partnered with Shick Hydro on a website series called "Locker Room Talk" , holding candid conversations with Olympic gold-medal swimming icon Michael Phelps, former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce and Cavs... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Channing Frye was a dependable player, locker-room presence and fan favorite for parts of three seasons with the Cavaliers.He can be again.Frye has agreed to re-sign for next season with Cleveland, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday, adding that the 35-year-old will get the $2.4 million veteran's minimum contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been signed.Yahoo Sports first reported the move.Frye won a championship in his first season with Cleveland, but the club traded him in February to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a massive roster overhaul that helped the Cavs get back to the Finals.Frye posted a photo of himself on his Instagram account wearing a Cavs uniform with the caption: "Well I guess this is hello again."Frye is the Cavs' first offseason signing since superstar LeBron James left as a free agent for the Lakers. But Cleveland may make some other moves as the four-time defending Eastern Conference champions begin to rebuild without James.The 13-year veteran has averaged 9.0 points and 4.6 rebounds in a career that began with the New York Knicks in 2005.

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the decision says forward Channing Frye will return to the Cleveland Cavaliers next season. Frye was traded by the Cavs in February to the Los Angeles Lakers.The person spoke with The Associated Press on Saturday, adding that the 35-year-old Frye will get the $2.4 million veteran's minimum contract.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been signed. Yahoo Sports and other outlets reported the move.Frye spent parts of three seasons with the Cavaliers, winning the NBA championship with them in 2016. He was dealt at the trading deadline last season along with guard Isaiah Thomas for guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance.Frye was a fan favorite and dependable role player in Cleveland for coach Tyronn Lue. The Cavs acquired him at the trade deadline in 2016.Frye is the Cavs' first offseason signing since LeBron James left as a free agent for the Lakers.

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the decision says the Cleveland Cavaliers will re-sign forward Channing Frye for next season.Frye, who was traded by the Cavs in February to the Los Angeles Lakers, will get the $2.4 million veteran's minimum contract, said the person who spoke Saturday to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been signed.Yahoo Sports and other outlets previously reported Frye's return.The 35-year-old spent parts of three seasons with Cleveland, winning the NBA championship with the Cavs in 2016. He was dealt at the trading deadline last season along with guard Isaiah Thomas for guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance.Frye was a fan favorite and dependable role player in Cleveland for coach Tyronn Lue. The Cavs acquired him at the trade deadline in 2016.Frye is the first offseason signing for the Cavs since LeBron James left as a free agent for the Lakers.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — And now the real season begins for the Los Angeles Lakers.At least that's what the fans of the 16-time NBA champions repeatedly have been told while Los Angeles missed the playoffs and finished with a losing record for the fifth consecutive year.Ever since they took over the Lakers' basketball operations a year ago, Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka have founded their rebuilding project around the acquisition of one or two elite free agents this summer — or next summer, they've recently amended.Magic firmly believes the Lakers' championship pedigree, glamorous location and salary cap room for two enormous contracts can attract superstars near the primes of their careers to lift one of the NBA's cornerstone franchises back to its accustomed heights. The Lakers had only missed the playoffs five previous times in their first 65 years of existence before they doubled that number during this dismal half-decade.But while the pursuit of Paul George and LeBron... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Forward Derrick Williams has signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.The Lakers announced the deal Friday before their game at Denver.Williams has played for Minnesota, Sacramento, New York, Miami and Cleveland since the Timberwolves made him the No. 2 overall selection in the 2011 draft. He spent this season in China, averaging 20 points per game for the Tianjin Gold Lions.Williams is a former client of Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, a longtime player agent. Williams grew up in La Mirada, California, in the LA suburbs before attending Arizona, the alma mater of Lakers coach Luke Walton.The Lakers have won five of six, but need wing players with the injury absences of Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Channing Frye.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tags/NBAbasketball

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James moved on quickly.A day after the Cavaliers overhauled their roster with a tornado of trades that ripped through the NBA, James didn't dwell on what's lost, who's no longer around or how much time Cleveland has left to salvage its season."It is what it is, so let's get it going," he said Friday following the team's shootaround in Atlanta. "The front office made changes that they felt best fit this franchise. It's time to go to work."In the hours before Thursday's trading deadline, the Cavs unloaded six players, including Isaiah Thomas and Dwyane Wade, James' best friend, in three separate deals designed to make the team younger, more athletic and as general manager Koby Altman put it, to revitalize a team he felt was "marching a slow death."Cleveland added guards George Hill and Jordan Clarkson as well as forwards Larry Nance Jr. and Rodney Hood, and all will have to take a crash course in Cavaliers 101. The team sent some of medical staff to Atlanta in hopes... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Once summer rolls around, LeBron James stars on a different stage.All eyes in the NBA and across the sports world will focus on James during free agency.There are already teams lining up for an audience with The King, should he opt out of his contract. On Thursday, the Cavaliers turned their roster upside down in hopes of convincing James he doesn't have to go anywhere.And just like that, another chapter was added to a chaotic season in Cleveland.With an unexpected flurry of moves before the NBA trade deadline, the Cavs unloaded six players to change their identity and culture while moving back into title contention. They also showed James, who can be a free agent in July, they're willing to do whatever's necessary to help him win another championship."He's the guy that is going to take us back to the promised land," Cavs general manager Koby Altman said, "so you want to put the right pieces around him."All it took was a massive makeover.Altman ended an experiment doomed... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — With their NBA title hopes fading fast, the Cavaliers got aggressive at the trading deadline.They swapped teams.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning a championship this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of deals. General manager Koby Altman traded six players, including Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, and two future draft picks in moves designed to not only help them in the short term but could potentially help keep LeBron James beyond this season.Just like that, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, got substantially younger and more athletic and wedged themselves back into contention to make a fourth straight Finals appearance against Golden State.Following a long day that left him "numb," Altman said his main objective in making the deals was to alter the chemistry of a team that was no longer playing with joy."We were really worried that what was going on the floor and sort of our culture in the building... [More]

From Isaiah Thomas to Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, the Cleveland Cavaliers loaded up on big names last summer.None will be there if the Cavaliers get back to the NBA Finals.In what felt like an unprecedented do-over for a contending team, the Cavaliers simply changed the pieces that weren't fitting for new ones on Thursday at the trade deadline.Fans who usually marvel at LeBron James were instead praising his general manager, as Koby Altman used a series of swaps to strengthen a sputtering team and leave open the possibility for more moves."They got better. They made the moves they wanted to make and I'm sure they're going to make it work over there," Golden State's Kevin Durant said. "It's fun for all the fans and the media to kind of see what's going on with the trade deadline."Cavs' fans probably had the most fun, and for good reason. Cleveland was the story Thursday .The Cavaliers acquired Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. in the deal with Los Angeles, which also got Channing Frye... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — With their NBA title hopes fading fast, the Cavaliers got aggressive at the trading deadline.They swapped teams.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning a championship this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of deals. The Cavs traded six players, including Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, and two future draft picks in moves designed to not only help them in the short term but could potentially help keep LeBron James beyond this season.Just like that, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, got younger and maybe wedged themselves back into contention to make a fourth straight Finals appearance against Golden State.Watching from the West Coast, the defending champions took notice."It's interesting, really interesting," Warriors forward Draymond Green said of Cleveland's drastic midseason renovation. "It's probably obviously something that they felt was needed. I feel like they made some good moves. I don't know, we'll... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — With their NBA title hopes fading fast, the Cavaliers got aggressive at the trading deadline.They swapped teams.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning a championship this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of deals. The Cavs traded six players, including Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, and two future draft picks in moves designed to not only help them in the short term but could potentially help keep LeBron James beyond this season.Just like that, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, got younger and maybe wedged themselves back into contention to make a fourth straight Finals appearance against Golden State.Watching from the West Coast, the defending champions took notice."It's interesting, really interesting," Warriors forward Draymond Green said of Cleveland's drastic midseason renovation. "It's probably obviously something that they felt was needed. I feel like they made some good moves. I don't know, we'll... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — With their NBA title hopes fading fast, the Cavaliers got aggressive at the trading deadline.They swapped teams.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning a championship this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of deals. The Cavs traded six players, including Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, and two future draft picks in moves designed to not only help them in the short term but could potentially help keep LeBron James beyond this season.Just like that, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, got younger and maybe wedged themselves back into contention.The Cavs began their shocking overhaul by sending the disappointing Thomas along with forward Channing Frye and one of their two first-round picks to the Los Angeles Lakers for point guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr.Thomas, who came over in last summer's blockbuster trade with Boston for Kyrie Irving, played in just 15 games and wasn't fitting in with... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — With the stunning force of a LeBron James dunk, the Cavaliers shattered their roster.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning an NBA title this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of trades before the deadline, a person with direct knowledge of the deals told The Associated Press.The Cavs began their overhaul by sending disappointing guard Isaiah Thomas to the Los Angeles Lakers, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams are awaiting league approval to finalize all the deals. Thomas played in just 15 games as he returned from a hip injury and struggled to fit in, so the Cavs dealt him along with forward Channing Frye and one of their two first-round picks to the Lakers for point guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr.As the Thomas swap was being digested around the league, the Cavs completed a three-team deal with Utah and Sacramento. The Cavs sent guard Derrick Rose and forward Jae Crowder... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person with direct knowledge of the trades says the Cleveland Cavaliers have overhauled their roster with three deals, including one that sends Dwyane Wade back to Miami.Moments after they agreed to trade Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and a first-round pick to Los Angeles Lakers, the Cavs completed a three-team deal with Sacramento and Utah, said the person who spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity because all the transactions have to be approved by the league.The Cavs sent guard Derrick Rose and forward Jae Crowder to the Jazz for forward Rodney Hood. They'll receive guard George Hill from the Kings in exchange for guard Iman Shumpert.Also, the 36-year-old Wade is returning to the Heat for a protected second-round pick. Wade played 13 seasons in Miami, winning three NBA titles — two of them with LeBron James.Wade signed a one-year deal with the Cavs, but has said he wanted to retire with Miami.

CLEVELAND (AP) — After a quick stop, Isaiah Thomas is moving again. The point guard's strange stay with the Cavaliers is over.Thomas, who was never a good fit in Cleveland while recovering from a hip injury, was traded hours before the NBA's deadline to the Los Angeles Lakers, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday.Thomas was dealt with forward Channing Frye and one of the Cavs' two first-round draft picks to the Lakers for point guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams need NBA approval before the trade can be completed.The Cavs will keep their other first-round pick from the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston last summer for Thomas, who struggled on the floor in Cleveland and seemed at odds with teammates and coaches.ESPN was first to report the deal.Following the Cavs' dramatic 140-138 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, Thomas... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with direct knowledge of the trade says the Cleveland Cavaliers are dealing guard Isaiah Thomas to the Los Angeles Lakers.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the teams need NBA approval before the trade can be completed.Thomas has not been a good fit with Cleveland while coming back from a hip injury and is leaving after playing just 15 games.The person adds that Cleveland is also sending forward Channing Frye and one of their two first-round draft picks to the Lakers for point guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr. The Cavs will keep the other first-round pick in the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston last summer for Thomas.ESPN was first to report the deal.Following the Cavs' dramatic win over Minnesota on Wednesday night, Thomas said he liked it in Cleveland and was hoping he wouldn't be traded again.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — As LeBron James and some teammates practiced free throws at a nearby basket, coach Tyronn Lue addressed questions about the troubling state of the Cavaliers while sitting in a high-backed, cushioned chair.While he was cool, Lue's seat has warmed up.With the Cavs mired in a bewildering midseason slump and less than 24 hours after a historically embarrassing loss to Oklahoma City, Lue said he has no immediate plans to change his starting lineup or rotations. Cleveland fans may be panicking, Lue's not nervous.At least not publicly.The Cavs are just 4-10 since Dec. 19, and in the past two weeks they've lost by 28 at Minnesota, 34 at Toronto and 24 to the Thunder, who scored 148 points and tied a record for the most points allowed by Cleveland in a regulation game — a mark that went unmatched since 1972.It's a mess, and it's a mystery the way James and the Cavs have collapsed. They've slipped in the past, but this slide feels much more ominous than in the previous three... [More]