The Cleveland Cavaliers have claimed A.J. Price off waivers.

Price was waived by the Indiana Pacers.

The Indiana Pacers announced they have waived A.J. Price.

The Pacers roster now stands at 15.

David West hopes to return from a sprained ankle on Friday against the Orlando Magic.

"(Coach Frank Vogel) will make the call," West said after participating in practice Tuesday in San Antonio. "I'll see what he says. (But) I feel good. This last week has been good. No setbacks. The ankle is healthy which is important."

Vogel said he is hopeful West can return Friday.

West sprained his ankle Oct. 18 during a preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Indiana Pacers have "cooled" on the possibility of Paul George returning this season from his offseason injury, according to sources.

George had surgery in August to repair his devestating leg injury suffered in a USA Basketball Showcase.

The Pacers have a 5-8 record to begin the season.

Lance Stephenson has already visualized the scene when his name is introduced in front of the Indiana Pacers' home crowd on Wednesday.

Stephenson expects to receive boos from the crowd after leaving the Pacers as an unrestricted free agent to sign a three-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets.

"Honestly," Stephenson said. "I think I'm going to get booed."

Stephenson's father, Lance Stephenson Sr., maintains that leaving the Pacers was not the plan heading into free agency in the offseason.

"It was definitely a tough decision to leave but it almost was like we had no choice, to me. The next day, they signed CJ Miles so it was over from that point on," Stephenson's father said. "It was tough. It wasn't like, 'Eff, the Pacers!' It was tough to leave. I didn't think it would happen. Before free agency, if you asked me where Lance was going to be, I would've said, 'He's going to be a Pacer for life.' That was one of our goals. I'm a firm believer in sticking with the team you got drafted by."

A.J. Price will remain on the Indiana Pacers for another 10 days after the club was granted a second injury hardship relief exception.

Price has averaged 13.0 points and 2.8 assists in six games for the Pacers.

Paul George, David West and George Hill have not played this season, while C.J. Watson and Rodney Stuckey are now also hurt.

The Indiana Pacers were unable to complete their signing of Gal Mekel due to visa issues.

The Pacers are desperate to sign a point guard before Friday's game and will instead sign A.J. Price.

Price was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers in order to sign Will Cherry.

Free agent guard John Lucas III received interest from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies, but declined those potential opportunities due to their short-term nature and has focused on making a more long-term decision, league sources told RealGM.

The Thunder, Pacers and Grizzlies scoured the free-agent market for point guards after injury issues, and they contacted Lucas prior to deciding upon players this week. Lucas, who has been working out in Houston since his release from the Washington Wizards, also received proposals in the Chinese Basketball Association.

As a seven-year NBA veteran who carved an instant-offense role, Lucas had his most successful and potent stretch in 49 games for the Chicago Bulls in the 2011-12 season. Long considered a respected teammate in the locker room and prepared on the court, Lucas had four 20-point efforts that season — including a 24-point game in March 2012 against the Miami Heat.

Lucas is believed to be hoping to ultimately return to the Bulls on a deal later this season, league sources told RealGM. Chicago currently has 14 players on the roster.

“John has received interest from different teams, but to say he has declined any formal offers would be inaccurate,” Lucas’ agent, Bernie Lee, said when reached on Wednesday. “John is in a situation, after a crazy summer, of trying to make the right decision versus any decision, but he is willing to prove himself as requested. John owes a tremendous amount of his value in the NBA to the opportunity Chicago's front office gave him there initially. Over time, it's become clear that Gar Forman has a unique ability to find value in obscure places: He signed John out of China, and he might be the best in the NBA at this. In some ways John was at the beginning of this.

“I have not had a single conversation with Gar about John since John left. The different situations just haven't lined up. Gar has found various ways to replace the role John left, including this year, and John has been under contract since leaving. I do have every belief that John will resume his NBA career soon, but to date the only opportunities John has declined have been lucrative money offers with Jilin in China earlier in the year and Fujian on Wednesday.”

Lucas, 31, has spent the past two seasons with the Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz, signing multi-year NBA deals in 2012 and 2013. The 5-foot-11 product has scored 4.8 points and registered 1.4 assists per game in his career, and averaged 3.8 points and one assist in 42 appearances for Utah a season ago.

The Indiana Pacers are in the process of signing Gal Mekel.

Mekel was released by the Dallas Mavericks to create a roster spot for J.J. Barea.

The Pacers have suffered several injuries to their backcourt in George Hill and C.J. Watson.

The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers recently discussed a trade of J.R. Smith for Chris Copeland, according to a source.

Copeland has an expiring contract after leaving the Knicks for the Pacers on a two-year, $6 million deal in 2013.

Smith can opt out of the $6.4 million he's owed for 15-16, but he could also wait for 2016 when the cap is expected to increase.

Phil Jackson isn't expected to make any moves until Dec. 15 when free agent signees and 2014 draft picks become eligible to be traded.