
The Indiana Pacers acquired rookie forward Rakeem Christmas from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday in exchange for a 2019 second-round draft pick.
The Pacers used a pick recently acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in the deal for center Roy Hibbert to obtain Christmas.
The 6-foot-9 Christmas was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round in the NBA Draft last month and then traded on draft night to the Cavaliers.
As a senior at Syracuse last season, Christmas averaged 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
“We really liked Rakeem when he came in for pre-draft workouts,” Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said. “He is a solid player who was a contributor all four years at Syracuse and we look forward to having him on our team.”