The Cavaliers did exactly what many expected.
According to multiple reports, Cleveland has agreed to trade the No. 29 overall pick to the Kings in exchange for the No. 34 selection and a future second-round pick.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Sacramento is using the newly acquired first-rounder to select UConn forward Alex Karaban.
The move comes as little surprise.
Hoops Wire reported earlier Tuesday that the Cavs were exploring options to move down in the draft or out of the first round altogether. Sources indicated the organization had little interest in adding another guaranteed contract to an already expensive roster.
By dropping five spots, the Cavs will still have an opportunity to add a young prospect while gaining additional draft capital and creating some financial flexibility.
Unlike first-round selections, second-round picks are not tied to the NBA’s rookie scale contract structure, giving teams more freedom when negotiating deals.
As Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported earlier in the day, the Cavs viewed several prospects in the late-first and early-second-round range similarly and believed a move down could make sense if the right offer surfaced.
Apparently, it did.
The extra second-round pick headed to Cleveland is believed to be several years away, according to Fedor.
The Cavs now own the No. 34 overall selection and remain on the clock early in Wednesday’s second round.
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