Cavaliers trade second-round pick Rakeem Christmas to Pacers

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded center Rakeem Christmas to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in exchange for a 2019 second-round draft pick.

The Cleveland Cavalierstraded center Rakeem Christmas to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in exchange for a 2019 second-round draft pick.

The move could be a precursor to the Cavaliers dealing center Brendan Haywood, as Cleveland has been looking to deal the 35-year-old veteran who is due $10.5 million in the final season of his contract.

The draft pick the Cavaliers received is owed by the Los Angeles Lakers. After the trade, the Pacers and Christmas agreed to a four-year deal with the first two seasons guaranteed, reports ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst.

Christmas, 23, was the 36th pick in last month’s NBA draft out of Syracuse. He appeared in four NBA Summer League games with the Cavaliers, averaging 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 20.9 minutes.

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Over four seasons at Syracuse, Christmas averaged 7.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 142 games.