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Cleveland • The Cavaliers have created salary cap space to make sure they have enough to offer LeBron James a maximum contract.
A person familiar with the deals says the Cavs have agreed to trade guard Jarrett Jack, swingman Sergey Karasev and center Tyler Zeller in a three-team deal. The moves are designed to open salary-cap space so they can land James, the most sought after free agent on the market.
The Cavs have agreements with Brooklyn and Boston, the person told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because teams are not permitted to discuss trades until the league's moratorium ends Thursday.
The person said Cleveland will receive guard Marcus Thornton from the Nets and send him, Zeller and a future first-round pick to the Celtics. Also, the Cavs are trading Jack and Karasev to the Nets.
Jack, who signed with Cleveland as a free agent last season, was scheduled to make $6.3 million, Zeller will make $1.6 million and Karasev $1.4 million
In trading those salaries, the Cavs have enough to give James a maximum, $20.7 million contract — if he decides to sign with Cleveland. James, who played his first seven seasons with Cleveland before leaving as a free agent in 2010, is expected to meet with Miami President Pat Riley in Las Vegas before making a decision about his future.
ESPN first reported details of the three-team trade.
Jack's first season with Cleveland didn't go as he or the Cavs had hoped. He signed a four-year, $25 million deal last July after playing in Golden State. The Cavs counted on him being a leader for their young team, but it didn't work out as Cleveland finished 33-49, missed the playoffs and fired coach Mike Brown.