“I understand that things happen. I play with LeBron” – Channing Frye recalls being traded by Cavaliers while his wife was nine months pregnant originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Channing Frye played for six different teams during his NBA career. The 13-year journeyman was also traded multiple times during his time in the Association.
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In the recent episode of the “Road Trippin” podcast, Frye talked about his 2018 move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers as the most unexpected trade of his NBA career.
In 2016, Frye helped the Cavaliers win the championship. A year later, he was a key reserve for the team, helping them return to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors.
At that point, he thought about finishing his career in Cleveland. But his contract was expiring, and the organization had other plans.
Frye’s playing time suddenly increased
Frye approached the Cavs’ management and asked them outright if they would be trading him. He did not want to oppose a trade; he merely wanted to know beforehand because his wife was expecting a baby and they wanted to plan ahead.
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“My wife was nine months pregnant,” recalled Frye. “I was like, just tell me if I’m going to be traded because I want to be there for my kid’s birth, whatever. And so I was like, ‘Just communicate, that’s it.’ I understand that things happen. I play with LeBron. If I can’t move a needle to win a championship, he’s going to move on to somebody else, no feelings hurt whatsoever.”
Frye didn’t get an answer. What he got tough was an unexpected spike in playing time beginning with the January 28, 2018, game against the Detroit Pistons, where he saw action for 20 minutes. In the next two contests, Channing played over 20 minutes per night and scored 20 and 16 points, respectively. That streak continued until the Cavaliers’ February 7 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“I was tired as sh—t, I wasn’t even playing. And then they play me 32 minutes, and you boy was gassed. And they got me playing against fu—ing Karl-Anthony Towns. I couldn’t hit sh—t,” added Frye.
Traded to L.A. before returning to Cleveland
Frye played just under 20 minutes in the 140-138 overtime win over the Timberwolves. However, he scored only four points on 2-of-9 shooting, including 0-of-6 from 3-point distance.
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When he got home, he talked to his wife about the recent stretch where he’s gotten more playing time, and he suddenly realized that it was a sign that he would be traded. And he wasn’t wrong.
On February 8, 2018, the Cavaliers sent point guard Isaiah Thomas, their 2018 first-round pick and Frye to the Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. With Thomas and Frye on expiring deals, the move was clearly a salary dump by the Lakers, who, during that period, were setting up to pursue LeBron James in the free agency.
LeBron did leave Cleveland that summer and took his talents to Los Angeles. Frye, meanwhile, finished the 2017-18 season with the Lakers and returned to the Cavaliers on a one-year veteran’s deal before calling it a career.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.