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March 17, 2016For the first time since being dealt in the trade that brought Channing Frye to the Cleveland Cavaliers, former Cavs guard Jared Cunningham is back with an NBA team. The Milwaukee Bucks signed Cunningham to a 10-day contract, general manager John Hammond announced on Wednesday, thus giving the young, energetic wing a new home.
Since being dealt from Cleveland, the 24-year-old, who was immediately waived by the Orlando Magic following the trade on February 18, has recently played for the Idaho Stampede of the D-League. In three games with the Stampede (all three were starts), Cunningham averaged 17.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game while shooting just 27.9 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc in 32 minutes per game. It was his second stint with Idaho, where he played in 11 games (six starts) during the 2014-15 season as well. In numerous D-League appearances since the start of the 2012-13 season, Cunningham has averaged 17.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from three-point land in 69 games (57 starts).
Before being traded, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound guard was one of Cavaliers star LeBron James’ favorite teammates this season. Whether it was wearing throwback LeBron’s or the music that brought the two together, they had a close bond. Drafted by the Cavs in the first round (24th overall) in 2012, the Oregon State product averaged 2.6 points in 8.9 minutes per game while shooting 35.2 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc in 40 games (three starts) this season. Although he was drafted by the Cavaliers, the 2015-16 season was his first stint with the team.
With the Bucks losing starting guards Michael Carter-Williams and O.J. Mayo to season-ending injuries recently and Greivis Vasquez out since late November (right ankle surgery), Cunningham will bring much needed depth to Milwaukee’s backcourt. For Cavs fans who miss the young guard, the Bucks come to Quicken Loans Arena March 23, when Cunningham will still be in his current 10-day contract with the team.
3 Comments
(Cue Cleveland mantra) this guy will kill us in the playoffs
I’m still not entirely clear why the Cavs included him in that trade. It would be one thing if the Magic valued him as a cheap rotational piece, but since he was waived immediately it was unclear what the Cavs gained. Perhaps all they actually wanted was a roster spot to sign Joe Johnson?