Cavs deal Kennedy to Grizzlies for Pargo
--The Cavaliers have traded swingman D.J. Kennedy to the Memphis Grizzlies for guard Jeremy Pargo and a 2014 second-round draft pick.
Kennedy, who spent most of last season with the Erie Bayhawks of the NBA Development League, averaged 6 points and 3.5 rebounds in two games with the Cavaliers. The 6-foot-6 former St. John's star averaged 15.7 points and 7.3 rebounds for Erie.
Pargo, 6-foot-2, played 44 games last season for Memphis, averaging 2.9 points and 1.3 assists as a rookie. The Gonzaga product was signed as a free agent on Dec. 10.
--G Kyrie Irving, the NBA's Rookie of the Year last season, broke a bone on the outside of his right hand during a summer-league practice on July 14 in Las Vegas.
He underwent surgery July 18, and he's expected to be sidelined for eight weeks. He should be ready for the start of Cavs training camp in late September or early October.
The injury took place when Irving hit padding on the wall in disgust after turning the ball over at practice.
He went to the hospital and returned with a cast on his right hand in a cast.
"It was just a freak accident," Irving told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I broke a really delicate bone in my hand.
"I am a little disappointed, a freak accident like that. I have to be more responsible about my health. It was just crazy. It happened so fast.
"That thing that I did -- hitting the pad on the wall -- I've done it so many times. This time was just a freak accident."
Irving, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft out of Duke, averaged 18.5 points, 5.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds last season.
--Before he was hurt, Irving issued a challenge to Lakers guard Kobe Bryant: play one-on-one.
Irving, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft who starred for the Cavaliers last season, approached Bryant with cameras rolling for Blue Planet, a Duke website, and SLAM Magazine during a Team USA shoot-around in Las Vegas.
Bryant smirked, trash-talked Irving relentlessly and ultimately accepted. He upped the ante a bit, too. Bryant said he would play Irving for $50,000. The loser will donate the sum to charity.
--As part of the G Ramon Sessions trade at the deadline, the Cavs expertly worked into the deal the right to swap their least favorable first-round pick in the 2013 draft with the Lakers. The Cavs have their own pick next year, as well as a first-round pick from Miami in the LeBron James sign-and-trade. The Lakers traded their 2013 pick to the Suns in the Steve Nash sign-and-trade. If the Heat have the best record in the NBA next season and the Lakers finish with the eighth-best mark, the Cavs would take the Lakers' draft pick and the Suns would draft last in the first round, in place of the Heat. The Lakers' pick is lottery protected.
--The Cavs announced their summer-league roster on July 10, and it's quite formidable. Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving will play for the Cavs along with first-round picks Tristan Thompson (2011), Dion Waiters (2012) and Tyler Zeller (2012). The Cavs open against Charlotte on July 15. Cavs assistant coach Jamahl Mosley will coach the team in Vegas. Fellow assistant Paul Pressey's son, Matt, is on the roster. He's a 6-foot-2 G from Missouri. One notable absence is by West Virginia F Kevin Jones, who is injured.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"He's hurt. We have every intention of going forward. He has a bone bruise in heel. He'll be out three weeks. It's their intent and ours to get together in the future. They aren't going to sign him yet. They are going to wait. I believe strongly we can get something done. They like him a lot." -- Agent Bill Neff, on the injury to F Kevin Jones.
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