Spurs Shuffle: Danny Green Traded for Iman Shumpert; Spurs Acquire Jeremy Lamb in Exchange for Michael Carter-Williams

Sharpshooter Danny Green has been traded to the rival Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Iman Shumpert, who Cleveland had been itching to move since last season. The Spurs needed more help at the shooting guard position. Although Bryn Forbes has shot well so far this season, losing Manu Ginobili has made for a struggle so far this season at the 2 spot and the need to have Patty Mills play more point.

Shumpert's talent on defense is all but a wash with Green. Green has more of a deadeye from deep, but so far this season, despite the Spurs' strong record, his shot has lost some spark. Particularly Shumpert's ability to steal the ball from the likes of Steph Curry was attractive to the Spurs, said GM R.C. Buford. Losing Green, who's been a strong piece of the championship dynasty is a tough blow, but made a deal easier to facilitate due to his skills. The rise of Kawhi Leonard's all-around game also made Green's skills less of a focal point for the team. The Cavaliers are receiving a better shooter and arguably a better wing defender than Shumpert. Time will tell how Shumpert helps San Antonio, but the team is optimistic about the acquisition.

In a companion deal, Michael Carter-Williams was traded to the Charlotte Hornets along with Kyle Anderson and a 2018 first round pick for Jeremy Lamb, who was part of the James Harden HOU/OKC blockbuster a few years ago. While the Spurs liked Kyle Anderson, the addition of Rudy Gay has made him expendable. Similarly, the success thus far of having Patty Mills back with the Spurs running the offense made MCW's talents superfluous. Lamb's skills have grown with Charlotte, after struggling in OKC due to high pressure to replace Harden way back when, but he still needs time to grow. He will likely flourish under Coach Popovich and shooting assistant coach Chip Engelland.

"Chip should be able to help the kid out with his shot, and that's not to say he hasn't already improved significantly compared to earlier in his career," Pop said at the official press conference. Lamb's mid-range game is solid also and his flashes of athleticism bode well for his coming tenure in San Antonio, with the Spurs hoping for more consistency in his game along with an improvement on his defense. "In Charlotte, Lamb had to play both the 2 and the 3, and we speculated that it made it hard to develop one area of his game at a time. We'll try and get that going now," Engelland said, as Hornets coach Steve Clifford has indeed had Lamb hopping around between positions to provide the best lineup for the team.

Adding defensive and offensive talents in Shumpert and Lamb give the Spurs more firepower while holding tight on both ends, not to mention diminishing returns in Green's marksmanship. "I'm saddened to be leaving the team I owe so much to, but I'm also very grateful for all the ways that Pop, you know, and the entire Spurs organization, helped me grow my game. I take with me all the awesome memories and big shots, the highs, the lows...and hey--I was already looking forward to our game with the Cavs, so now I'll just be rolling out with the other guys. There's a good chance I'll be seeing them in the Finals, too," Green told reporters after hearing the news break. The Cavaliers and Spurs have faced off in the last two NBA Finals, with the Spurs handedly winning both meetings. Green also is known for hitting huge shots against the Spurs other rival in the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors, over the last few seasons.