The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired center Spencer Hawes from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for forward Earl Clark, center Henry Sims and two second round draft picks, Cavaliers Acting General Manager David Griffin announced tonight from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“We felt adding a player of Spencer’s caliber and experience will complement our frontcourt rotation well and we are very excited to have him in Cleveland,” said Griffin. “Spencer is a very skilled big man, who was having a career year in Philadelphia this season. We look for his ability to both shoot from the perimeter and defend the basket to help us, and at 25 years of age his game is still growing on both ends of the floor. In acquiring Spencer, we had to move Earl and Henry and we thank them for their contributions to the Cavaliers.”

In exchange for Hawes, the Cavs send Clark, Sims, the Cavs 2014 second round pick and the Memphis Grizzlies 2014 second round pick acquired in July 25, 2012 trade with the Grizzlies to the 76ers.

This season, Hawes has appeared in 53 games (all starts) for Philadelphia, averaging career highs of 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists (most among all NBA centers) in 31.4 minutes per game. The 7-1, 245-pound center is also shooting .399 from the three-point line and .782 from the foul line, both career highs. Hawes ranks fifth among all NBA power forwards and centers in three-point shooting percentage this season (minimum 100 attempts). He also ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference in blocks per game at 1.3 and is tied for ninth in double-doubles with 19 on the season. Hawes is one of four players (Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol and Paul Millsap) in the NBA this season with averages of at least 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 block.

Hawes was originally drafted by Sacramento in the 2007 NBA Draft as the No. 10 overall selection. The six-year veteran owns career averages of 9.4 points on .465 shooting, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 blocks in 24.6 minutes over 473 games (321 starts). He has also played in 18 playoff games (17 starts) with averages of 8.2 points on .440 shooting and 5.8 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game. He has the third-most career three-point field goals made (194) among any player listed 7-0 or taller in NBA history, trailing only Dirk Nowitzki (1,425) and Andrea Bargnani (609).

The Philadelphia 76ers are rebuilding. And want draft picks. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting:

The 76ers’ focus in the days leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline is acquiring draft picks, according to an Eastern Conference executive.

The franchise wants to gain future compensation in exchange for Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, and Thaddeus Young, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. With the most cap space in the league and an open roster spot, the Sixers will consider acquiring an expiring contract from a team looking to dump a salary. But that most likely will also involve receiving a draft pick.

As a result, the 76ers are believed to be the most active team in trade talks leading up to the deadline. The Sixers have had discussions with all 29 other NBA franchises.

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting on the 76ers, who at this point have to appreciate any game where they don’t get blown out:

The 76ers scored only four second-chance points. They were outscored, 56-10, in bench points, and they didn’t have an answer for Utah Jazz reserve Alec Burks.

Ye, the Sixers believe Wednesday’s 105-100 setback to the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena was a positive step.

“To get humbled the last few games the way we have been, and we were down . . . on the road in a loud building, I’m proud of what we did,” said coach Brett Brown, whose squad had lost its previous two games by a combined 88 points. “Our bench, ultimately, we are going to need more from them, and some of that is just newness with Arnett” Moultrie playing in his third game of the season.

But under the circumstances, the Sixers (15-39) can cope with that heading into the all-star break. So much so that Wednesday’s performance could be considered a moral victory for the team with an eight-game losing streak.

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have recalled forward Arnett Moultrie from the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League.

Moultrie is scheduled to join the team tonight in Los Angeles.

Moultrie was assigned to the Sevens on February 4 and appeared in three D-League games.

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting on 76ers rookie Nerlens Noel, who has not yet played this season:

It was obvious to see why the 76ers are excited about Nerlens Noel’s future.

The rookie center put on a show Thursday at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine while participating in one-on-one drills with player-development coach Greg Foster. Noel was fluid going to the basket, and displayed quickness and a burst while making an array of dunks and hook shots. He didn’t show any signs of the anterior cruciate ligament tear he suffered in his left knee last February during his lone season at Kentucky.

“Although it’s just sort of shadowboxing, you can’t help but see how quick he jumps, his athleticism, his length,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said of the 6-foot-11, 228-pounder. “It is exciting to look out there and see what you project [him] to be.”

Noel has yet to practice or play in a game as a Sixer. There’s a thought that the franchise doesn’t want him on the court and would be content if he missed the entire season. In October, Brown said Noel was not likely to play this season.

Here’s the Houston Chronicle reporting the feelings of a current terrific scoring guard on a former great:

The Philadelphia 76ers announced Wednesday that 11-time All-Star guard Allen Iverson will have his No. 3 jersey retired by the franchise on March 1.

Upon hearing the news, Rockets guard James Harden said Iverson was very deserving of the honor.

“He is one of the best players, one of the best scorers I have ever watched, period,” Harden said. “He is so small but he got it done. He was a warrior.”

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting on one problem in particular that the 15-34 Sixers are facing:

The Sixers have a bad habit of giving the ball to their opponents. Their average of 17.2 turnovers per game is the highest in the NBA. The Sixers tied a season worst with 26 on Monday night.

Rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams had six turnovers. His last one, with 5.8 seconds left and the Sixers trailing by four, crushed any chance of a comeback. Nets guard Shaun Livingston stole the ball, was fouled, and made a pair of foul shots to make it a six-point game.

“You know it continues to haunt us,” [coach Brett] Brown said. “We have to get more responsible with the ball. I have to do a better job.”

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have signed center Dewayne Dedmon to a second 10-day contract. Dedmon signed his first 10-day contract with the Sixers on January 14, 2014. At the time, he was the 12th “Call-Up” of the 2013-14 NBA Development League season.

Dedmon (7-0, 255) has appeared in five games for the Sixers and is averaging four points, six rebounds and a block in 15 minutes per game while shooting 50% from the floor.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Brandon Davies underwent successful surgery for a fractured right small finger at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. The surgery was performed by Dr. Lawrence Scott Levin, Chairman of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

The injury originally occurred in the fourth quarter of the Sixers game at Chicago on January 18, 2014.

Davies will begin rehab immediately and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have recalled guard Lorenzo Brown from the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League.

Brown (6-5, 195) has appeared in seven games for the Sevens this season, averaging 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds. He has appeared in 15 games for the Sixers.

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have assigned guard Lorenzo Brown to the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League.

Brown (6-5, 186) was first assigned to the Sevens on December 26, 2013 and was recalled on January 6, 2014. He appeared in five D-League games, averaging 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Brown has appeared in 15 games for the Sixers this season.

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have waived center Daniel Orton.

Orton (6-10, 255) signed as a free agent with Philadelphia on October 16, 2013 and appeared in 22 games with four starts.

The Sixers are 12-22 this season, and their 2013-14 bright spot has been the fine play of rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams. Also, Thaddeus Young has been on a tear lately and was named Eastern conference Player of the Week.

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have recalled guards Lorenzo Brown and Elliot Williams from the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League.

Brown (6-5, 186) was assigned to the Sevens on December 26, 2013 and appeared in five games, averaging 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

Williams (6-5, 180) was assigned to the Sevens on January 5, 2014 and had 19 points, five rebounds and five assists in his only game played.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young and Golden State Warriors forward David Lee today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 30, through Sunday, Jan. 5.

Young helped the 76ers to a 3-0 week, with all three wins coming on the road. He averaged a conference-best 25.0 points on .566 shooting from the field (ninth in the conference), 7.7 rebounds, and tied for the league lead with 3.67 steals. Young’s balanced play on Jan. 2 – 28 points, seven rebounds, six steals and four assists – keyed Philadelphia’s 113-104 win over the Sacramento Kings.

Lee averaged 24.5 points (sixth in the conference), 10.5 rebounds (sixth in the conference) and 3.5 assists in helping the Warriors to a 4-0 week. He posted two point-rebound double-doubles on the week, including tying a season-high with 32 points to go alongside 14 rebounds on Jan. 2, during a 123-114 win over the Miami Heat. All four of the Warriors’ wins came away from Oracle Arena, extending their road winning streak to six games, and their overall winning streak to nine games.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Brooklyn’s Deron Williams, Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol, Miami’s LeBron James, New York’s Carmelo Anthony and Iman Shumpert, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Phoenix’s Goran Dragic and Toronto’s Kyle Lowry.

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have assigned guard Elliot Williams to the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League.

Williams signed as a free agent with the Sixers on Nov. 20 and has appeared in 18 games with one start.

Through Saturday’s games, the Sixers have a 12-21 record, good for third place in the struggling Atlantic division. They are 11th in the NBA in points per game (103.3 ppg), but giving up more points per game than any team in the league (110.6 ppg).

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have assigned guard Lorenzo Brown to the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League.

Brown was a member of the Springfield Armor before signing as a free agent with the Sixers on Nov. 20. He was the third GATORADE Call-Up of the NBADL season. Brown has appeared in 13 games with the Sixers.

The Philadelphia 76ers are 7-19, and going nowhere fast. Do any players want out? Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer with the latest on a rumor involving Thaddeus Young:

76ers forward Thad Young, the subject of trade rumors, said Friday he has not asked the team to deal him.

Speaking after the morning shootaround for Friday night’s Brooklyn game, Young poked fun at an Internet report that said he and his agent, Jim Tanner, submitted a formal trade request to Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie weeks ago.

“I just think it’s all funny how it’s sources that say I asked to be traded,” Young said. “At the end of the day, like I said, I’m here 110 percent each and every game, ready to play and just stay focused and try to win basketball games.”

He said Tanner did talk to Hinkie about various situations, including potential trade talks and trade rumors involving him.

The Philadelphia 76ers need help, and they’re about to get it in the form of their fantastic rookie point guard. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting:

A second straight strong practice has 76ers rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams feeling ready to return to the lineup for Friday’s game at the Wells Fargo Center against the Brooklyn Nets.

Carter-Williams missed the last seven games with a skin infection and soreness in the front of his right knee.

While he is listed as a game-time decision, coach Brett Brown and Carter-Williams indicated that, barring any setback, he would play Friday.

“Nobody is making a 100 percent commitment that he is playing. We think he is, he has practiced well,” Brown said after Thursday’s workout. “We assume he will be in the lineup.”

Carter-Williams was also making that assumption.

The Philadelphia 76ers need rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams back, in a big way. Fortunately, MCW may return as early as tomorrow. And if not, it should be soon. Here’s the Philadelphia Daily News reporting:

There could be some good news coming for coach Brett Brown and his 76ers, and they sure could use it. Rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams, who has missed seven games with a knee infection, practiced yesterday and might be available tomorrow night when they host the Brooklyn Nets, a team that drilled them by 36 points Monday, the Sixers’ seventh consecutive loss.

“It went pretty well,” Carter-Williams said about yesterday’s practice at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. “I practiced pretty much throughout the whole thing. I was out there and my wind wasn’t too bad and my knee was feeling good.”

Asked whether he thought he could play tomorrow, MCW said: “I hope so. I hope I get to go out and play. I’m not 100 percent sure yet.”

It can’t be overstated how much his presence would be welcomed. Though backup Tony Wroten has done more than an admirable job of filling in for Carter-Williams, the rookie’s absence has disrupted Brown’s rotation.

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer with an update on a key Sixer that remains unavailable:

Injured 76ers point guard Michael Carter-Williams said Monday night that he’s not sure exactly when he’ll return the court.

The rookie missed his third straight game because of soreness and a skin infection on the front of his right knee. Carter-Williams spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at University of Pennsylvania hospital because of the ailment.

Carter-Williams said he would play “when everyone says it will be OK for me to come back.”

The 22-year-old rookie is on antibiotics and is waiting for the soreness to go away before he takes the court. The Sixers hope he’ll make the two-game trip to Minnesota on Wednesday and Toronto on Friday.