The deconstruction of the Cavaliers is probably complete. With last week's deal that sent SF Lamond Murray to Toronto for C Michael Stewart, Cleveland now has traded its top three scorers from last season (PG Andre Miller, SG Wesley Person and Murray) for three guys (SF Darius Miles, SG Nick Anderson and Stewart) who combined to average 15.5 points per game.

The key for the Cavaliers has been shorter contracts, which can make the team easier to sell, though the intentions of owner Gordon Gund still are unclear. Stewart actually earns more than Murray, but his contract runs out a year earlier. Anderson's is up next summer, one year before Person's. And Miller was seeking an extension, something the Cavs won't have to worry about with Miles until next summer.

The Holy Grail for the Cavs would be to unload C Zydrunas Ilgauskas' maximum-salary deal, which runs through 2004-05. A rumored deal with Portland for PG Damon Stoudamire would fill a need for the Cavs, but Stoudamire makes more than Ilgauskas and his contract also runs through '04-05. . . .

Individual game tickets for the Cleveland Cavaliers 2002-03 regular season will go on sale Saturday, October 12 at 10:00 a.m. at the Gund Arena Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, ticketmaster.com and via the NBA Ticket Hotline at 1-800-4NBA-TIX

According to Terry Pluto of the Akron Beacon Journal, the Cavs will receive the Raptors #1 pick in 2003 unless the Raptors miss the playoffs. Any conditions are after that are not specified.

According to Terry Pluto of the Akron Beacon Journal, it appears that Rod Strickalnd will not take the Cavs $1 million dollar offer. The 15 year veteran is looking ot hook on with a playoff contender and possibly make a few more dollars. The Cavs will go to camp with Milt Palacio, Bimbo Coles, Anthony Johnson and Vonteego Cummings dueling it out at point guard. Also look for DaJuan Wagenr to get a look there, although he seems better suited for shooting guard.

The Cavs traded Lamond Murray and a future 2nd round pick to Toronto for Michael Stewart and a future 1st round pick. See the article posted on the front of the Cavs team page for my analysis and commentary.

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have acquired forward Lamond Murray and a future second-round draft pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for center Michael Stewart and a future first-round draft pick.

"Lamond is a talented veteran who will solidify our rotation and improve our scoring," said Glen Grunwald, Raptors senior vice-president and general manager. "He has proven to be a consistent performer throughout his NBA career."

Murray averaged a career-best and team-high 16.6 points with the Cavs in 2001-02. He also added 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 32.6 minutes per game. He started 68 of his 71 appearances last season, where he tallied 20 or more points on 26 occasions, including a career-best 40 points January 2 versus Golden State. He ranked 13th in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage at 42.4 (101-238).

Murray is a first cousin of former Raptor Tracy Murray.

Stewart was signed by the Raptors as a free agent January 21, 1999. He missed 59 games last season with three separate stints on the injured list. He averaged 2.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 8.5 minutes in 11 appearances during the 2001-02 season.

"We thank Michael for his time and dedication to the Raptors and wish him well as he continues his career," added Grunwald.

Steve Aschburner of the Star Tribune reports that Gary Trent will return to the Timberwolves this season. It is believed that he agreed to a one-year minimum salary contract.

With Trent, the Wolves will have 12 players under contract. Center Loren Woods, a restricted free agent, still has not yet accepted the team's qualifying offer. The Wolves still have some interest in free agent point guard Rod Strickland, swingman Kendall Gill and journeyman forward John Wallace. Strickland, a 14-year veteran, also has talked with Boston and Cleveland. Wallace is said to have a guaranteed offer from a team in Israel.

According to the Plain Dealer, Channel 43 will televise 20 Cavs games during the upcoming season. The broadcast team of Michael Reghi and Austin Carr will return again this season.

Note that 19 of the 20 games televised are road games. Get your tickets and get down to the Gund for home games - help give the Cavs a legitimate home court advantage!

Bob Finnan of the Morning Journal reports: Good deal?

The Cavs might have acquired point guard Milt Palacio for nothing in return. Officially, Cleveland sent a second-round draft pick in 2008 to Phoenix for the journeyman guard. However, there might not be a second round in 2008.

The current collective-bargaining agreement ends after the 2003-04 season (if owners pick up the option on the final year of the pact). Many owners are in favor of eliminating the second round and it was discussed during contract negotiations in 1998.

In Cleveland Cavalier news: Second-round pick Matt Barnes signed a non-guaranteed contract yesterday with the Cavs and will be in training camp Oct. 1. There was some talk of the UCLA forward playing in Europe this season.

Free agent point guard Smush Parker, an undrafted rookie from Fordham, has agreed to come to training camp with the Cavs. Like Barnes, the 6-4, 190-pounder won't get any guaranteed money.

Two big men also are coming to Cleveland's camp, 6-10 forward/center Casey Shaw of Toledo and 6-10 forward/center Ike Nwokondo of Long Beach State. Shaw played in Rome last year and Nwokondo in Venezuela.

The Cavs had also kicked around the thought of bringing high school forward DeAngelo Collins to camp, but decided against it. Besides some baggage, Collins has been nursing a knee injury. He was thought of as a possible first-round pick in the 2002 draft.

Also, point guard Vonteego Cummings, who played with Golden State and Philadelphia last year, apparently is going to Denver's camp instead of coming to Cleveland. His agent, Lon Babby, thinks he has a better shot of making the Nuggets' roster, despite the fact Denver has 17 guaranteed contracts. The Nuggets might waive veteran point guard Mark Jackson.

Think the Cavs are a wee bit desperate to ditch Lamond Murray? You don't know the half of it.

They are considering swapping their leading scorer for 4th string center Michael Stewart.

Bob Finnan of the Morning Journal writes that the two sides are talking but, according to Cavs GM Jim Paxson, "nothing is imminent".