Instant reaction: Cavs waive Okaro White, acquire Sam Dekker in trade with Clippers (updated)

The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to acquire forward Sam Dekker in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. In a follow-up move, they’ve waived forward Okaro White.

According to ESPN’S Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to acquire 24-year-old forward Sam Dekker in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavs will use a trade exception to absorb Dekker’s salary.

Dekker, a three-year pro, has averaged 4.2 points — on 48.1 percent shooting from the field, 28.3 percent shooting from three and 60.5 percent shooting from the charity stripe — and 2.4 rebounds per game for his career.

At 6-foot-9, 230 pounds and fairly mobile for a player that size, the skill that immediately stands out about Dekker is his ability to score off of cuts and straight-line drives, especially when matched up with opposing power forwards.

This cutting ability is a credit to his athleticism, feel for the game and basketball IQ. On a team that plans to play through a great passer in Kevin Love in the high-post, the cutting abilities of the players matter.

Along with recent addition David Nwaba, the Cleveland Cavaliers have focused on adding players with solid cutting instincts.

With that said, you can also project Dekker to be a decent two-position defender for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He doesn’t really have enough athleticism to keep up with the quick and shifty guards or wings but he’ll be fine against other forwards with moderate athleticism.

To be frank, though, Dekker’s prowess scoring off of cuts (1.40 points per possession, 74.5 percent shooting from the field) is all that really stands out.

With a career three-point percentage of 28.3 following a collegiate career three-point percentage of 34.8, Dekker isn’t a player that should be relied on from three-point range, even though he’ll surely be asked to spot-up from behind-the-like to give the Cavs’ slashers some room.

In that vein, he’s a lot like former Cav Jeff Green, though far less athletic.

While there are those who may see the Dekker acquisition as one that affects the free agency of Rodney Hood, I don’t believe it does. Dekker doesn’t have the talent level or career production of Hood.

Furthermore, on the wings, Jordan Clarkson, George Hill, J.R. Smith, David Nwaba, Kyle Korver and Cedi Osman are all players currently on the roster who would get a chance to play the two or three before Dekker.

This doesn’t even include Hood, who will be back unless the Cavs renounce his free agent rights (there’s an infinitesimal chance of that happening). Without a trade, there’s nowhere for Dekker to play at small forward.

[Updated at 6:35 P.M. to include release of forward Okaro White]

Dekker did, however, provide training camp competition for power forward Okaro White. The Cleveland Cavaliers waived White soon after agreeing to acquire Dekker.

They had until 5 P.M. until his contract would become fully guaranteed.

White was another player with stretch-four written all over him but he doesn’t excel as a spot-up shooter (career 35.6 percent shooter from three), just as a defender.

Only one of Dekker or White could end up as the third power forward on the depth chart.

*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com and stats.nba.com