Struggling Cavaliers hope new roster is improved

Thomas, Rose make way for Clarkson, Nance, Hill, Hood.

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 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 openthe 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.

The Cavaliers acquired Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. in the deal with Los Angeles, which also got Channing Frye and a firstround pick from Cleveland.

George Hill came from Sacramento and Rodney Hood from Utah as the Cavaliers dealt awayRose, Wade, Jae Crowder and Iman Shumpert — changing nearly half their rotation.

All that wheeling-and-dealing stole headlines even with nearly two-thirds of the league making deals.

The Los Angeles Lakers were the other newsmakers on deadline day — though their moves were to try to win this summer, not this season. Their deal with the Cavaliers, in which they acquired Thomas, got them out of future salary and set themselves up to offer perhaps two maximum contracts in free agency.

“This is what I came here to do, create flexibility for our organization,” Lakers President Magic Johnson said, “so that one day we can have a superstar or two come to this organization with our incredible young talent that we have, that we will continue to grow.”