Three-team deal sends Dellavedova back to Cleveland
Matthew Dellavedova has returned to the Cavaliers, who look nothing like they did when he left.
Cleveland acquired the scrappy guard on Friday in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, who also parted with forward John Henson and two draft picks in 2021 for guard George Hill and forward Sam Dekker. The Bucks sent Dekker to the Washington Wizards for forward Jason Smith.
The Cavs are receiving Milwaukee’s 2021 first- and second-round picks as well as a 2022 second-round pick from the Wizards.
Nicknamed “Delly,” Dellavedova, the former Saint Mary’s College star, helped the Cavs win an NBA title in 2016 and is a huge fan favorite. His return will soften what has been a difficult season for the Cavs, who are just 5-20 and rebuilding in the wake of LeBron James’ departure last summer.
Hill helped the Cavs reach the Finals last season, but the team wanted to unload his big contract while giving rookie Collin Sexton more playing time. There was an urgency to get the deal agreed to before 6 p.m. on Friday because only players on rosters by then can be repackaged in other trades before February’s deadline.
Hill recently returned after missing 11 games with a shoulder injury. Dekker has also been sidelined with a severely sprained left ankle.
Dellavedova’s scrappiness endeared him to Cleveland fans during his three seasons with the Cavs, who didn’t re-sign Delly after winning the 2016 title. The Cavs are in transition after James left them as a free agent this summer, effectively ending Cleveland’s run as an Eastern Conference power.
Cleveland recently traded sharpshooter Kyle Korver to Utah for two picks in 2020 and 2021. The Cavs are targeting 2020 to land a big-name free agent.
The 28-year-old Dellavedova will get a chance restart his career with the Cavs. The Australian had been buried on Milwaukee’s bench and is averaging just 1.7 points and 2.4 assists in 12 games.
Henson recently underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. He’s averaging 5.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14 games.
The Bucks are getting a 46-percent shooter from 3-point range in Hill. HORNETS 113, NUGGETS 107 >> Kemba Walker had 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and fellow point guard Tony Parker added Matthew Dellavedova looks to get his career back on track in Cleveland, where he won a title.
19 points off the bench as Charlotte snapped Denver’s seven-game win streak.
76ERS 117, PISTONS 111 >> Jimmy Butler scored 38 points, and Philadelphia overcame Joel Embiid’s absence, rallying from a 15-point third-quarter deficit to beat Detroit on the road. Embiid sat out his first game of the season, but Detroit couldn’t take advantage of the big man’s absence.
KINGS 129, CAVALIERS 110 >> De’Aaron Fox had 30 points and 12 assists, and Sacramento won its third straight, including the first two to start a four-game trip. Buddy Hield added 25 points for the Kings, who led by as many as 25 after the game was tied at 66 at halftime.
NETS 106, RAPTORS 105 >> D’Angelo Russell scored 29 points, including six in overtime, and Brooklyn snapped an eightgame losing streak. Brooklyn picked the most unlikely way to end its skid, snapping a 12-game slide against Toronto with its first victory over the Raptors since April 3, 2015. Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points for the Raptors, but Toronto couldn’t get a look for him on its final possession.
BULLS 114, THUNDER 112 >> Lauri Markkanen scored 24 points and drove for the go-ahead layup in the closing seconds to lead Chicago to its first win under coach Jim Boylen. The Thunder’s Russell Westbrook had just hit a tying layup when Markkanen beat Paul George and banked in a layup over the outstretch arm of Steven Adams with 4.9 seconds left. George’s 3-pointer bounced off the rim, and the Bulls came away with the win after dropping seven in a row.
SPURS 133, LAKERS 120 >> DeMar DeRozan finished with 36 points and nine assists, and San Antonio’s bench outscored L.A. 5226. Los Angeles led by as many as 15 points but was outscored 32-13 early in the fourth quarter and fell behind 121-114.