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EL SEGUNDO, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Channing Frye #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a portrait on February 12, 2018 at UCLA Heath Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Channing Frye #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a portrait on February 12, 2018 at UCLA Heath Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images

Lakers News: Channing Frye Says 'Respect Is Always Due' for Team's Past Success

Kyle Newport
Apr 24, 2018

Channing Frye may have gone from a title contender to a team in rebuild mode at the 2018 NBA trade deadline, but he doesn't view the move as a downgrade in status.

Frye went to two consecutive NBA Finals as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, helping the franchise win its first championship in 2016. However, after the Cavs had a rough time meshing following a busy offseason that featured a Kyrie Irving trade, the team decided to blow things up and retool at the deadline.

Along with two-time All-Star Isaiah Thomas, Frye was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in a flurry of moves by the Cavaliers. He averaged 5.8 points, 1.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 16.7 minutes over nine appearances in purple and gold.

The 12-year veteran—who is set to be a free agent this summer—may have been bummed to go from competing for a title to a team out of the playoffs, but he shut down any notion that the trade was a "demotion":

Los Angeles may be in the midst of a five-year playoff drought, but that doesn't change the fact that the franchise has 16 Larry O'Brien trophies, the second-most all-time.

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