Cavs, Knicks and Thunder complete three-way deal (Reports)

It's a clear and simple case of three different teams coming together to further their own unique organizational goal. The Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder have completed a monster deal sending several players in all different directions.

According to multiple reports, one being CBS Sports, Knicks guards Iman Shumpert and JR Smith will be heading to the Cavs. Also going to Cleveland will be Thunder guard Reggie Jackson while Cavs guard Dion Waiters will be heading west to Oklahoma City.

Initially it was thought that Jackson would be heading to New York, but Steve Popper of The Record confirmed he will be heading to Cleveland instead.

The Knicks will reportedly be receiving Lance Thomas from the Thunder, and Louis Amundson and Alex Kirk from the Cavs. It is rumored that all three players will be waived by New York upon acquisition. They will also receive a protected first-round pick from the Thunder.

The interesting conversation about this trade comes as a timing issue. Because the trades were agreed upon at the same time both New York and Cleveland were getting ready to play games, Shumpert, Smith and Waiters all needed to be pulled from court during shoot-around prior to their respective games.

For the Thunder and Cavs the strategy is simple: get better now and make a run at the NBA Championship. With LeBron James out for at least another week with a bum knee, and Waiters reportedly not fitting in, the additions of Shumpert and Smith seem to fit like a glove.

The way Knicks general manager Phil Jackson is playing this is also simple: make the team as bad as can be and fully enter tank mode. Jackson recognizes the only way to turn around an NBA franchise is to increase your odds and assets with an eye towards the draft.

The move clears more cap space in hopes of landing a max-deal this upcoming offseason, increases the odds they can land the number-one overall pick, and allows another asset of a number-one pick to come their way via Oklahoma City.

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