From Isaiah Thomas to Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, the Cleveland Cavaliers loaded up on big names last summer.None will be there if the Cavaliers get back to the NBA Finals.In what felt like an unprecedented do-over for a contending team, the Cavaliers simply changed the pieces that weren't fitting for new ones on Thursday at the trade deadline.Fans who usually marvel at LeBron James were instead praising his general manager, as Koby Altman used a series of swaps to strengthen a sputtering team and leave open the possibility for more moves."They got better. They made the moves they wanted to make and I'm sure they're going to make it work over there," Golden State's Kevin Durant said. "It's fun for all the fans and the media to kind of see what's going on with the trade deadline."Cavs' fans probably had the most fun, and for good reason. Cleveland was the story Thursday .The Cavaliers acquired Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. in the deal with Los Angeles, which also got Channing Frye... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Golden State forward Draymond Green was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Thursday for directing inappropriate and offensive language toward a game official.Green was ejected in the second quarter of the Warriors' 125-105 home loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night after a second technical when he argued with the officials.Last month, Green was fined $25,000 for criticizing the NBA's officiating. He's averaging 11.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 47 games this season.

BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics signed free agent center Greg Monroe in their lone move at the trade deadline on Thursday.Monroe was waived last week by Phoenix after being traded from Milwaukee in November. He is averaging 10.4 points and 7.4 rebounds this season.He was originally selected by the Detroit Pistons with the seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft.Monroe averaged at least 15 points in five consecutive seasons from 2011-12 to 2015-16.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to trade veteran forward Dante Cunningham to Brooklyn for third-year guard Rashad Vaughn.The Pelicans announced the deal Thursday.The 6-foot-6 Vaughn hadn't even spent a week with the Nets, who acquired him and a second-round pick Monday in a trade sending center Tyler Zeller to Milwaukee.Vaughn played four minutes of one game for Brooklyn — a home loss to Houston on Tuesday. He was then held out of the Nets' loss in Detroit on Wednesday night before being sent to New Orleans shortly before Thursday's NBA deadline that he had been traded. He has averaged 3.1 points in 134 NBA games since the Bucks selected him 17th overall in the 2015 draft. This season, he's average 2.6 points in 23 games, shooting 37 percent from 3-point range.The 6-8 Cunningham, a nine-year veteran, has played in 51 games for New Orleans this season, starting 24, and has averaged 5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.He added the 3-point shot to his repertoire in New Orleans, making 71 of 181 (39 percent) last season. This season, however, his 3-point accuracy has dipped to 32 percent (35 of 108).Cunningham sat out New Orleans' loss to Utah in the Pelicans' last game Monday night.New Orleans plays next at Philadelphia on Friday night. The Nets resume action on Saturday when they host the Pelicans.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

NEW YORK (AP) — Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker has been picked to replace the injured Kristaps Porzingis in the NBA All-Star Game.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver selected Walker on Thursday for the opening on Team LeBron that was created when Porzingis tore his left ACL on Tuesday.Walker will make his second straight All-Star Game appearance. He is averaging 22.6 points and 5.8 assists.Porzingis was the fourth player drafted by captain LeBron James who had to be replaced because of injury, joining DeMarcus Cousins, Kevin Love and John Wall.The NBA also says Detroit All-Star center Andre Drummond will replace Porzingis, the defending champion, in the Skills Challenge.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers have traded forward Noah Vonleh to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Milovan Rakovic, said a person with knowledge of the situation.The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the move at Thursday deadline had not formally announced.Vonleh, the No. 9 overall pick by Charlotte in the 2014 NBA draft, averaged 3.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 33 games this season, including 12 starts. For his career, Vonleh has averaged 3.9 points and 4.5 rebounds.Vonleh, 22 will be a restricted free agent this summer. The trade, which also gave the Blazers a $3.5 million traded player exception, helps Portland get under the luxury tax threshold. The team now has two open roster spots.Rakovic currently plays in the Swiss Basketball League. He was originally drafted by Dallas in 2007, but has never played in the NBA.The trade was first reported by ESPN.The Bulls also dealt Jameer Nelson to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for center... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Bulls point guard Kris Dunn is out of the NBA's concussion protocol, though he will miss at least two more games for Chicago.Executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson says Dunn "still has a long way to go conditioning-wise," though he is "feeling normal."The second-year pro has missed the past eight games and will not play against Minnesota or Washington on Friday and Saturday. Chicago meets Orlando on Monday.Dunn, averaging 13.7 points and 6.4 assists, was acquired along with Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen from Minnesota in the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves on draft night.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

CLEVELAND (AP) — With their NBA title hopes fading fast, the Cavaliers got aggressive at the trading deadline.They swapped teams.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning a championship this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of deals. The Cavs traded six players, including Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, and two future draft picks in moves designed to not only help them in the short term but could potentially help keep LeBron James beyond this season.Just like that, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, got younger and maybe wedged themselves back into contention to make a fourth straight Finals appearance against Golden State.Watching from the West Coast, the defending champions took notice."It's interesting, really interesting," Warriors forward Draymond Green said of Cleveland's drastic midseason renovation. "It's probably obviously something that they felt was needed. I feel like they made some good moves. I don't know, we'll... [More]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says the Portland Trail Blazers have traded forward Noah Vonleh to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Milovan Rakovic.The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the move at Thursday deadline had not formally announced. The trade was first reported by ESPN.Vonleh, the No. 9 overall pick by Charlotte in the 2014 NBA draft, averaged 3.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 33 games this season, including 12 starts. For his career, Vonleh has averaged 3.9 points and 4.5 rebounds.Vonleh, 22 will be a restricted free agent this summer. The move helps Portland get under the luxury tax threshold.Rakovic currently plays in the Swiss Basketball League. He was originally drafted by Dallas in the 2007 draft, but has never played in the NBA.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

CLEVELAND (AP) — With their NBA title hopes fading fast, the Cavaliers got aggressive at the trading deadline.They swapped teams.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning a championship this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of deals. The Cavs traded six players, including Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, and two future draft picks in moves designed to not only help them in the short term but could potentially help keep LeBron James beyond this season.Just like that, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, got younger and maybe wedged themselves back into contention to make a fourth straight Finals appearance against Golden State.Watching from the West Coast, the defending champions took notice."It's interesting, really interesting," Warriors forward Draymond Green said of Cleveland's drastic midseason renovation. "It's probably obviously something that they felt was needed. I feel like they made some good moves. I don't know, we'll... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — With their NBA title hopes fading fast, the Cavaliers got aggressive at the trading deadline.They swapped teams.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning a championship this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of deals. The Cavs traded six players, including Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, and two future draft picks in moves designed to not only help them in the short term but could potentially help keep LeBron James beyond this season.Just like that, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, got younger and maybe wedged themselves back into contention.The Cavs began their shocking overhaul by sending the disappointing Thomas along with forward Channing Frye and one of their two first-round picks to the Los Angeles Lakers for point guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr.Thomas, who came over in last summer's blockbuster trade with Boston for Kyrie Irving, played in just 15 games and wasn't fitting in with... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Two people with knowledge of the situation say the Denver Nuggets have traded Emmanuel Mudiay to New York and acquired Devin Harris from Dallas in a three-team deal.The Mavericks will get Doug McDermott from New York, the people told The Associated Press on Thursday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade could not be completed until it was approved by the NBA.It was first reported by ESPN.The move could help the Nuggets improve their point guard play as they chase a playoff spot. Mudiay was the No. 7 pick in the 2015 draft and former starter, but hasn't started a game this season and is averaging a career-worst 8.5 points in about 18 minutes per game.___AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in New York contributed to this report.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to trade veteran forward Dante Cunningham to Brooklyn for third-year guard Rashad Vaughn, according to a person familiar with the situation.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal — reached shortly before Thursday's NBA trade deadline — has not been announced.The 6-foot-6 Vaughn hadn't even spent a week with the Nets, who acquired him and a second-round pick Monday in a trade sending center Tyler Zeller to Milwaukee.Vaughn played four minutes of one game for Brooklyn — a home loss to Houston on Tuesday. He was held out of the Nets' loss in Detroit on Wednesday night. He has averaged 3.1 points in 134 NBA games since the Bucks selected him 17th overall in the 2015 draft.The 6-8 Cunningham, a nine-year veteran, has played in 51 games for New Orleans this season, starting 24, and has averaged 5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.He added the 3-point shot to his repertoire in New Orleans, making 71 of 181 (39 percent) last season. This season, however, his 3-point accuracy has dipped to 32 percent (35 of 108).Cunningham sat out New Orleans' loss to Utah in the Pelicans' last game Monday night.The trade was first reported by Yahoo! Sports.New Orleans plays next at Philadelphia on Friday night. The Nets resume action on Saturday when they host the Pelicans.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons have acquired guard Jameer Nelson from the Chicago Bulls for center Willie Reed.The teams announced the trade Thursday.The Bulls also received the right to swap second-round draft picks with Detroit in 2022. Chicago immediately waived Reed.Nelson, who turns 36 on Friday, averaged 5.1 points a game with New Orleans this season before being traded to Chicago last week. He hasn't played since.The Pistons acquired Reed last week as well, as part of the trade that sent Blake Griffin to Detroit. Reed was suspended six games Tuesday after the NBA looked into the circumstances surrounding his arrest last August on a domestic violence charge.Nelson played for Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy when they were both with the Orlando Magic.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

CLEVELAND (AP) — With the stunning force of a LeBron James dunk, the Cavaliers shattered their roster.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning an NBA title this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of trades before the deadline, a person with direct knowledge of the deals told The Associated Press.The Cavs began their overhaul by sending disappointing guard Isaiah Thomas to the Los Angeles Lakers, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams are awaiting league approval to finalize all the deals. Thomas played in just 15 games as he returned from a hip injury and struggled to fit in, so the Cavs dealt him along with forward Channing Frye and one of their two first-round picks to the Lakers for point guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr.As the Thomas swap was being digested around the league, the Cavs completed a three-team deal with Utah and Sacramento. The Cavs sent guard Derrick Rose and forward Jae Crowder... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person with direct knowledge of the trades says the Cleveland Cavaliers have overhauled their roster with three deals, including one that sends Dwyane Wade back to Miami.Moments after they agreed to trade Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and a first-round pick to Los Angeles Lakers, the Cavs completed a three-team deal with Sacramento and Utah, said the person who spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity because all the transactions have to be approved by the league.The Cavs sent guard Derrick Rose and forward Jae Crowder to the Jazz for forward Rodney Hood. They'll receive guard George Hill from the Kings in exchange for guard Iman Shumpert.Also, the 36-year-old Wade is returning to the Heat for a protected second-round pick. Wade played 13 seasons in Miami, winning three NBA titles — two of them with LeBron James.Wade signed a one-year deal with the Cavs, but has said he wanted to retire with Miami.

CLEVELAND (AP) — After a quick stop, Isaiah Thomas is moving again. The point guard's strange stay with the Cavaliers is over.Thomas, who was never a good fit in Cleveland while recovering from a hip injury, was traded hours before the NBA's deadline to the Los Angeles Lakers, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday.Thomas was dealt with forward Channing Frye and one of the Cavs' two first-round draft picks to the Lakers for point guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams need NBA approval before the trade can be completed.The Cavs will keep their other first-round pick from the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston last summer for Thomas, who struggled on the floor in Cleveland and seemed at odds with teammates and coaches.ESPN was first to report the deal.Following the Cavs' dramatic 140-138 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, Thomas... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with direct knowledge of the trade says the Cleveland Cavaliers are dealing guard Isaiah Thomas to the Los Angeles Lakers.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the teams need NBA approval before the trade can be completed.Thomas has not been a good fit with Cleveland while coming back from a hip injury and is leaving after playing just 15 games.The person adds that Cleveland is also sending forward Channing Frye and one of their two first-round draft picks to the Lakers for point guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr. The Cavs will keep the other first-round pick in the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston last summer for Thomas.ESPN was first to report the deal.Following the Cavs' dramatic win over Minnesota on Wednesday night, Thomas said he liked it in Cleveland and was hoping he wouldn't be traded again.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

DETROIT (AP) — Quincy Acy sat out the Brooklyn Nets' game Wednesday night at Detroit because of a sprained right middle finger.The Nets also were without Caris LeVert, who was evaluated for a possible concussion after being knocked out of Tuesday night's game against Houston by a pick by Nene.The Pistons are still without point guard Reggie Jackson, who is sidelined because of a sprained right ankle.Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said before the game that LeVert was still being evaluated. He is also listed with a sprained right knee.Acy is averaging 5.7 points.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

Lou Williams doesn't have to worry about the trade deadline — or free agency.The Los Angeles Clippers signed Williams to a multiyear contract extension Wednesday, rewarding the NBA's best scorer off the bench with the long-term security he sought.The deal was completed a day before the NBA's trade deadline, and Williams would have interested contending teams because of his scoring ability and affordable salary.Instead, the Clippers decided he's been good to move."Both on the floor and in the locker room, Lou exhibits many of the characteristics that we value. He is professional, committed and very competitive," Clippers President Lawrence Frank said in a release.Williams is averaging 23.3 points during the best season of his career and had been mentioned as a trade possibility in the final year of a contract that is paying him $7 million this season. But he wasn't looking to move again after doing it so often in recent years.He was dealt from the Lakers to the Rockets last February, then... [More]