Channing Frye is beginning his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers and he’s thrilled to be back with the team he won a championship with. The 35-year-old big man was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers by the Cavs at the trade deadline last season, but they couldn’t keep him away for long. Frye posted on Twitter following the team’s 113-102 victory over the Boston Celtics.
Frye only played seven minutes, chipping in with four points and five rebounds. The 6-foot-10 big man will come off the bench for Cleveland this season. He’s in the twilight of his career, but he can still present a threat as a stretch big man and he brings a veteran presence into the locker room. Like many of his current teammates, he knows what it takes to win a championship.
Obviously, the Cavaliers are coming into this season with different expectations than in previous years. A fifth straight trip to the NBA Finals looks unlikely, but a trip to the playoffs is well within reach. A handful of Eastern Conference teams will compete for the last two or three spots in the playoffs.
The Cavs are showing a clear commitment to competing for the playoffs after handing out a sizable contract extension to Kevin Love.
Frye may not have the same impact this season as he has in previous years, but there’s no doubt that he’s happy he’s back in Cleveland.