CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers traded injured center Chris Andersen and cash to the Charlotte Hornets for a protected second-round draft pick.
The move made Monday opens a roster spot for Cleveland and gives the defending NBA champions another asset to use for future deals. The NBA trading deadline is Feb. 23.
Andersen, best known for his tattoos and hustle on the floor, suffered a season-ending injury to his right knee during practice on Dec. 16 and underwent surgery. The 38-year-old nicknamed Birdman has remained with the club during his rehab.
Cavs general manager David Griffin has been re-tooling his roster, dealing for shooting specialist Kyle Korver and signing forward Derrick Williams to a 10-day contract. It’s a safe bet that Griffin will make additional moves as the Cavs try to defend their title.
Andersen was teammates with LeBron James for two seasons
