Delly bids farewell to Cleveland

The parting gesture came as the guard's transfer to the Milwaukee Bucks became official on Friday morning.

Dellavedova joins the Cavs' central division rivals on a four-year deal worth $38.5 million.

It brings to an end a three-year sting in Cleveland, that yielded 215 games and an NBA championship.

In a tweet posted shortly after the deal was confirmed, Dellavedova said he was looking forward to getting started with the Bucks.

"I am looking forward to growing with this exciting, young team," he said.

"I believe we are capable of great things. I am here to win and am ready to help in any way I can.

"I look forward to getting to know the people and city of Milwaukee. Let's go Bucks!!"

Earlier, Dellavedova posted a snapshot of a three-page letter he penned to the people of Cleveland.

The 25-year-old expressed his thanks to the fans, coaches, staff and the "special group of players" he won a championship alongside.

“Here are some memories I will never forget," Dellavedova wrote. 

"The crowd going crazy and giving a standing ovation when I denied the ball to help force a shot clock violation my rookie year-Anderson Varejao taking me under his wing and showing me the ropes... Lebron's first game back, The Q was crazy- Getting to play pick and roll with the best player in the world.

“The support and love you showed for me, especially during the playoffs and finals last year.”

Dellavedova will not be the only Australian on the roster, after the Bucks used their first pick last month's NBA draft on Sudanese-born seven-footer Thon Maker

In a statement issued by the Cavs, general manager David Griffin paid tribute to his contribution.

“Delly is a special person on and off the court and was a very dedicated, hard worker that grew as part of our team and made significant contributions to our success," he said.

"Our coaches and his teammates will always appreciate his 'all in' approach to the game, as he was ready to contribute whenever his number was called. 

We know he will continue to grow and succeed as he takes the next steps of his NBA journey with the Bucks.”

Dellavedova appeared in all 40 of the Cavaliers playoff games over the last two seasons. 

In 2015, he made seven starts during the playoffs and averaged 7.2 points, 2.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds over the course of 20 games.

Dellavedova has been in Melbourne with the Australian Boomers squad, preparing for a two-game series against a Pac-12 college all-stars team, ahead of the Rio Olympics.

UPDATED: 8.10am: THE Cleveland Cavaliers have wished their 2016 NBA championship player Matthew Dellavedova best wishes on his signing with NBA rivals Milwaukee Bucks.

In a statement issued on the Cavs' website, general manager David Griffin described Dellavedova as a "special person on and off the court" and a "dedicated, hard worker" he grew as part of the Cavs team.

Dellavedova has signed a four-year, $38.5 deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Cavs full statement on Delly appears below:

"The 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired the rights to forward Albert Miralles from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard Matthew Dellavedova and cash considerations. The trade also creates a $4.8 million trade exception for the Cavaliers. Cavs General Manager David Griffin announced the trade today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“We wish Delly the best as he continues his career in Milwaukee,” said Griffin. “Delly is a special person on and off the court and was a very dedicated, hard worker that grew as part of our team and made significant contributions to our success. Our coaches and his teammates will always appreciate his 'all in' approach to the game, as he was ready to contribute whenever his number was called. We know he will continue to grow and succeed as he takes the next steps of his NBA journey with the Bucks.”

Miralles (6-9, 240) has spent his entire professional career playing overseas, mostly in Spain. Most recently, he has competed for FIATC Joventut, a Spanish professional basketball club based in Badalona, Spain, since 2013. Miralles was originally drafted by Toronto with as the 39th overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft.

Dellavedova (6-4, 200), who went undrafted out of St. Mary’s in 2013, played his first three NBA seasons with the Cavaliers. In 215 career games (31 starts) with the Cavs, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.4 assists in 21.0 minutes. Dellavedova was a member of Cleveland’s 2016 championship team and averaged career highs of 7.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 24.6 minutes in the 2015-16 regular season."

UPDATED 7.57am: The Milwaukee Bucks have issued a statement regarding their new signing, Maryborough’s Matthew Dellavedova.

“The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired guard Matthew Dellavedova and cash considerations in a sign-and-trade deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced today. As part of the deal, Milwaukee will send the draft rights to Albert Miralles to the Cavaliers. Terms of Dellavedova’s contract were not disclosed in accordance with team policy.

Dellavedova, 25, spent the last three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, appearing in the NBA Finals each of the past two seasons and winning a championship with the Cavaliers last season. During the 2015-16 season, Dellavedova averaged career highs in points (7.5), assists (4.4), rebounds (2.1), 3-point shooting percentage (.410) and free-throw percentage (.864). The 6-4 guard appeared in 76 games (14 starts) with Cleveland last season, averaging 24.6 minutes per contest.

In 2015-16, Dellavedova’s three-point shooting percentage (41.0) ranked 11th in the NBA, while his 2.9 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked 10th. In 62 games off the bench, Dellavedova averaged 4.1 assists per game which was the fourth-most in the NBA among reserve players. He had one or less turnovers in 40 games last season.

Dellavedova appeared in all 40 of the Cavaliers playoff games over the last two seasons. In 2015, Dellavedova made seven starts during the playoffs and averaged 7.2 points, 2.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds over the course of 20 games. He once again appeared in all 20 playoff games for the Cavs in 2016, averaging 3.9 points in 12.1 minutes per game en route to an NBA Championship.

Originally from Australia, Dellavedova played for Saint Mary’s (CA) College before going undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft. The Cavaliers signed Dellavedova in August of 2013 where he appeared in 72 games (four starts) as a rookie, averaging 4.7 points, 2.6 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game. In 2014-15, Dellavedova made 67 appearances (13 starts) and increased his averages to 4.8 points, 3.0 assists and 1.9 rebounds per contest, while shooting 40.7 percent from 3-point range. He competed for the World Team in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend. Dellavedova is a career 39.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc, having shot over 40 percent from three in two of his three seasons in the NBA.

The Bucks acquired the draft rights to Miralles from Boston on Dec. 9, 2011, in exchange for Keyon Dooling and a conditional 2012 second round pick. Miralles currently plays for FIATC Joventut in the Spanish League.”

Related: $US38 million pay day for Delly

EARLIER, Maryborough basketballer Matthew Dellavedova has penned a heartfelt letter of thanks to the city which made him an NBA star.

Dellavedova skirted the 140-character limit on Twitter by taking a screen grab of a three-page thank you note to the people of Cleveland, where “Delly” has become a favourite son by helping to deliver the city’s first major sporting championship in more than 50 years when the Cleveland Cavaliers won took home the NBA title.

“Here are some memories I will never forget," Dellavedova wrote.

"The crowd going crazy and giving a standing ovation when I denied the ball to help force a shot clock violation my rookie year-Anderson Varejao taking me under his wing and showing me the ropes... Lebron's first game back, The Q was crazy- Getting to play pick and roll with the best player in the world.

“The support and love you showed for me, especially during the playoffs and finals last year.”

The tweet came moments after Dellavedova was officially signed by the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Dellavedova was one of the Cleveland Cavaliers lowest paid players last season with a salary of $US1.2 million.

It is understood he has now hit the jackpot with a four-year, $US38 million deal to play for the Bucks.

“The opportunity I have in Milwaukee is the right move for my career to challenge myself to grow and develop with a young, exciting team,” Dellavedova wrote.

“It is time to move on now but I really can't thank everyone in Cleveland enough for everything.

“Cleveland will always be a special place for me and a special chapter in my journey.”

More to come.