CLEVELAND (AP) – The Cavaliers cleared out more salary cap space on Thursday by waiving reserve guard Lucious Harris, who never found his shooting touch during a dreadful season in Cleveland.

Harris’ release comes one day after the club declined to pick up forward Robert Traylor’s $1.76 million option for next season. Harris would have made $2.75 million, a portion of which would have been guaranteed if he was still on the roster on July 1.

The Cavaliers have eight players on their roster, accounting for a $23.3 million payroll.

Last season’s salary cap in the NBA was $43 million, but could go up by several million next season when the new collective bargaining agreement is agreed upon.

The league is facing a possible lockout at the end of the month.

“We want to have more (salary) cap flexibility, and it allows us to gain more,” Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. “Lucious is a pro’s pro. He and his agent understand that this is a business.”

Meanwhile, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert will be giving his next general manager plenty of money to spend on free agents. Gilbert has interviewed several candidates for the job but is waiting to see what Detroit coach Larry Brown’s plans are before finalizing Cleveland’s front office.

Brown has had preliminary talks with Gilbert about joining the team as its president of basketball operations.

Harris signed as a free agent in October after playing seven seasons for the New Jersey Nets. The 6-foot-5 guard was picked up by the Cavs to help their woeful outside shooting.

However, the 34-year-old didn’t help much. He shot less than 40 percent from the field and only 32 percent on 3-pointers – a drop from his career average in both categories.

Harris averaged 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 73 games, scoring in double figures only seven times.

In his 12-year career, he has averaged 7.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 800 games.

AP-ES-06-16-05 2132EDT

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