Cleveland Traded an Injured Center and Cash to Charlotte
On February 13, 2017, Cleveland sent Chris Andersen and cash considerations to Charlotte in return for a top-55-protected 2017 second-round selection. Cavaliers general manager David Griffin confirmed the asset direction in an official statement, while the NBA's transaction tracker described Andersen's season-ending knee injury. The 38-year-old had appeared in 12 Cleveland games during 2016-17, averaging 2.3 points and 2.6 rebounds, before his December injury and surgery. Charlotte was acquiring an unavailable veteran rather than a center who could step into the starting lineup. Cleveland needed a roster place and contract flexibility while trying to defend its NBA championship. The future pick ultimately did not convey, meaning the Cavaliers did not acquire a rookie from the draft terms.
The Hornets Waived Andersen Immediately
Charlotte waived Andersen the same day it acquired him. Consequently, he produced no new NBA appearances, rebounds or blocked shots for the Hornets. His Miami championship experience and earlier reserve roles with Cleveland are important details about the player, but they are not returns to Charlotte from the February 2017 transaction. The team received cash and managed its own roster, two types of value that do not appear in regular-season box scores. The Hornets' C inherited grade fits an agreement whose financial benefits were modest and whose primary incoming player could not contribute immediately. There was no substantial development opportunity in holding his contract because the club acted on waivers right away. The original deal should be evaluated as a small financial and roster maneuver, not a failed attempt to install a healthy player in Charlotte's playoff rotation.
Cleveland Never Received the Protected Pick
The pick Cleveland obtained was protected through selection No. 55 and ultimately was not exercised. It therefore yielded no 2017 Cavaliers drafted prospect and cannot be credited with points generated by an unrelated second-round selection. The franchise nevertheless created space to pursue healthy reserves late in the season. Its C grade equals Charlotte's C, and the inherited verdict identifies the transaction as even. That equality should not be read as evidence that both teams acquired equally productive basketball players. Neither receiving club obtained any post-trade regular-season production from its direct assets. Cleveland was able to move an injured reserve and cash, while Charlotte collected the payment without keeping the player. Keeping the cash direction and nonconveyed condition explicit prevents an inaccurate retrospective from turning a minor administrative move into an imaginary NBA player trade.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Both franchises earn C. Cleveland received a protected 2017 second-round choice that never conveyed and opened a roster place. Charlotte received injured Chris Andersen and cash, then waived Andersen the same day without a Hornets appearance. Both sides primarily gained financial or roster flexibility.