Leadoff with Lee 2.19.16

By Chris Lee, @TripleThreatLee

After 12 years of loyalty, the Cavs and forward/center Anderson Varejao will be parting ways.

In a 3-team deal, the Cavaliers will receive Channing Frye from the Orlando Magic, and sending Anderson Varejao to the Portland Trail Blazers, along with a 2018 conditional 1st round pick. Jared Cunningham will be moved from Cleveland to Orlando with the Magic also getting a 2nd round pick from Portland. 

The Varejao/Cunningham-Frye deal will save the Cavs more than $10 million in salary and taxes this season. The 2018 1st round pick Cavs are trading to Portland is top 10 protected for 2 years. Cleveland also created new trade exception of $9.6M. 

The Portland Trail Blazers have already waived Anderson Varejao making him a free agent. As part of the trade, Varejao will receive a $1.17M trade bonus from Cleveland. The bonus does not have an impact on Cleveland's tax situation. Jared Cunningham is also expected to be waived by the Magic. Also, it should be noted that players traded away from a team, then released by their new team can NOT then be signed by their original team for at least 1 full year. This "Z Rule" came about because of the 2010 trade and waiving of Zydrunas Ilgauskas, in which Big Z returned to the Cavs after 30 days.











Notable NBA Trades:

Phoenix Suns has traded Markieff Morris to the Washington Wizards. The Suns get Kris Humphries, DeJuan Blair and a protected first-round pick from Washington for Markieff Morris.

Oklahoma City Thunder sent D.J. Augustin, Steve Novak and two second-round picks to the Denver Nuggets for Randy Foye.

Kirk Hinrich goes from the Chicago Bulls to the Atlanta Hawks for a 2nd rounder.

Los Angeles Clippers traded Lance Stephenson and a draft pick to Memphis for Jeff Green.

Houston Rockets traded Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton to the Detroit Pistons for a protected 2016 1st round pick and Joel Anthony.

The Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks discussed a trade for Dwight Howard, but talks broke down in part because Howard wouldn't opt into his final year of the contract. Houston also talked Dwight Howard with Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas and Miami.

-The Cleveland Browns terminated the contracts of tight end Jim Dray and defensive lineman Randy Starks on Thursday. 

Dray joined the Browns as an unrestricted free agent in 2014. Last season, he had six catches for 61 yards. Mostly a blocking back, and with the emergence of Gary Barnidge, Dray became expendable. After signing with Cleveland in 2015, Starks started all 15 games played last season, registering 29 tackles (14 solo), one sack and one fumble recovery.

The Browns free up $4.7M by releasing Starks & Dray.

- According to Daily Mail Online, Colleen Crowley was devastated when friends pointed out social media photos and video from the weekend, which included Johnny Manziel rapping the Drake song "Back to Back." Recent video of Manziel partying at former Texas A&M teammate Mike Evans' wedding has left Colleen Crowley "mad and upset." She's mad that he is able to get on with life as normal as if none of this ever went down.

Manziel, who is being investigated by the Dallas police department for an alleged altercation with Crowley on Jan. 30, was a groomsman at Evans' wedding in downtown Houston last weekend. Dallas police investigating Johnny Manziel have finally obtained medical records for Colleen Crowley. 

- Five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen, who reached Super Bowl 50 with the Carolina Panthers this past season, announced his retirement from football Thursday.  Allen, 33, was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs (2004-07), Minnesota Vikings (2008-13), Chicago Bears (2014-15) and of course, Carolina Panthers (2015). Through his career, Allen was a 5x Pro Bowler, 4x First-team All-Pro, 2x NFL sacks leader and had 643 tackles, while being a member of the 100 Sacks Club with 136.

Riding off into the sunset pic.twitter.com/wZXovseGKS

— Jared Allen (@JaredAllen69) February 18, 2016

Leadoff with Lee 4.28.14

-The Chicago Bulls were in Washington taking on the Wizards. This game was about making runs and turnovers. The Wizards started the game with a 14-0 run and at a point were up 20-4. Even without their center Nene, Washington was too strong for the Bulls winning 98-89 giving them a 3-1 series advantage. Trevor Ariza was a problem for Chicago ending the game with 30 points. John Wall added 15 points and 10 assists. Chicago's Taj Gibson was their only bright spot in scoring, with 32 points. Joakim Noah had a double-double, scoring 10 points with 15 boards. Game 5 is in Chicago on Tuesday as Washington tries to win their first playoff series since 2005.

-The LA Clippers wore their shooting shirts inside out and black arm bands, sleeves and socks in protest of the disturbing racial comments made by owner Donald Sterling. Unfortunately for the Clippers, it didn't motivate them to a win. The Warriors dominated the Clippers winning 118-97. Steph Curry had a game high of 33 points and 7 rebounds. He also added on 7 assists while shooting 7-14 from beyond the arc. Andre Iguodala had 22 points and a game high of 9 assists. For the Clippers, Jamal Crawford had 26 points coming off the bench. Blake Griffin contributed with 21 points and 6 rebounds. Golden State ties the series 2-2. Game 5 is in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Owner Donald Silver will NOT be in attendance.

-Toronto Raptors defeated the Brooklyn Nets 87-79 and tied the series 2-2. The Raptors were led in scoring by Demar DeRozan with 24 points, Kyle Lowery had 22 points. Guard play was too much for Brooklyn to handle last night. Paul Peirce was the Nets only glimmer of hope scoring 22 points.

-In another overtime game in these 2014 NBA Playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers held off the Houston Rockets 123-120. It was another very exciting, fast paced game that included what seemed to be a jump shooting contest between Nicholas Batum and James Harden. The Portland starters lit up the baskets. LaMarcus Aldridge led with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Batum had 25, while Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews had 23 and 21 points, respectively. The Rockets also had four players in double digits, with Dwight Howard leading the charge with 25 and 14 boards. James Harden had 28, Chandler Parsons had 26 and rookie 3-point hot hand, Troy Daniels knocked down 17 points of his own. But in the end of overtime, it was Wesley Matthews who sealed the game with a steal of the ball off James Harden as the buzzer sounded. Portland leads 3-1 and can close out the series Wednesday in Houston.

-The brooms were out in San Francisco, as the Giants swept the Tribe with a 4-1 victory on Sunday. With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 9th, Brandon Hicks hit a 3 run walk-off home run for the Giants. The Indians only scored 5 runs in 3 games. The Indians hit 2-20 with runners in scoring position with a .167 batting average for the series. The Tribe's next game will be tonight at 10 PM, as they take on the Angels in Anaheim.