The Cleveland Cavaliers announced Friday that they have traded seldom-used big man Sasha Kaun to the Philadelphia 76ers. The move created room on the roster for Cleveland to sign center Chris Andersen in a separate deal, sources told ESPN.
Friday's trade sends Kaun and his $1.3 million guaranteed salary for 2016-17 to Philadelphia along with cash considerations, with the Cavs receiving the draft rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum in return.
The Sixers intend to waive Kaun once the trade is completed, league sources told ESPN. Kaun averaged just 0.9 points and 1.0 rebounds last season as a 31-year-old rookie after spending the beginning of his career overseas.
In effect, the Cavs purchased some of Philadelphia's cap space in the form of a trade exception, with the Sixers having the Kaun salary hit mitigated by the cash that Cleveland attached to the deal.
Cleveland also agreed to a one-year, veterans minimum deal with Andersen on Friday, according to sources. Andersen, a 6-foot-10 center who turned 38 last week, previously played four seasons in Miami as a teammate of LeBron James. Andersen averaged 4.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in 20 appearances with Memphis last season.
The defending champion Cavs still have their work cut out for them this offseason, with contract extensions for James, J.R. Smith and head coach Tyronn Lue still needing to be hammered out.
