A popular member of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 NBA Championship team is coming back home.
It's no LeBron James or Kyrie Irving, but fans will be happy.
The Cavaliers have confirmed that they have acquired guard Matthew Dellavedova and forward/center John Henson as part of a three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards. The Cavs will also receive Milwaukee's 2021 first and second round picks, plus Washington's second round pick.
In return, the Cavs sent veteran guard George Hill and a 2021 second round pick to the Bucks, while forward Sam Dekker goes to the Wizards. Milwaukee also receives forward Jason Smith from Washington.
“First and foremost, I'd like to thank George Hill,” said Cavaliers GM Koby Altman in a statement. “He helped us get to the NBA Finals last year and has been a consummate professional on the court and in our community. Both George and Sam Dekker went about their work here with professionalism and class and we wish them the best. At the same time, we’re very pleased to bring Delly back to Cleveland and want to welcome John Henson as well. This deal satisfied several important aspects for us in terms of having both long and shorter term benefits and assets involved. We will continue to look for ways to improve and strengthen our position for the future, while enhancing our ability to compete and grow in the short-term also.”
The 28-year-old Dellavedova began his NBA career with the Cavaliers in 2013-14 and spent three seasons in Cleveland before departing to the Bucks in a sign-and-trade deal following the 2016 championship season. Dellavedova played 12 games this season with Milwaukee and owns career averages of 5.8 points and 3.7 assists in 21.4 minutes over 341 games (88 starts) with the Cavaliers and Bucks.
Henson, 27, was longest tenured member of the Bucks, selected in the first round of the 2012 draft. He is out until at least spring due to wrist surgery. This season, he played in 14 games for the Bucks and averaged 5.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game.
According to ESPN, the first-round pick the Bucks send the Cavaliers comes with protections and is affected by Milwaukee's Nov. 2017 trade with the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks owe a first-round pick to the Suns and due to NBA rules cannot trade first-round picks in back-to-back years. As such, the Bucks will send a pick to the Cavaliers two years after their pick conveys to the Suns.
Hill is making $19 million this year and $18 million next year, approximately equivalent to the combined salaries of Dellavedova and Henson. But he is only guaranteed $1 million next season, so the Bucks could save a significant amount of salary-cap space if they were to cut Hill in the off-season.
The Cavaliers dropped to 5-20 on the season after losing to the Sacramento Kings at home on Friday night.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report
