Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Channing Frye spent nearly three years in Cleveland, becoming an integral locker-room presence and a reliable bench piece before getting sent to the Los Angeles Lakers during a flurry of moves at the February trade deadline.

Frye is back with the Cavaliers.

His role is obvious: tasked with providing much-needed leadership and comedic relief in the first season of the post-LeBron era, which could be trying based on past history.

In the run-up to the Cavs' 2018-19 training camp that starts with media day on Sept. 24, cleveland.com is taking a look at each roster player and what might be expected of him this season if this team is to survive LeBron James' departure and make a legitimate run at a playoff spot.

Frye is 35 years old. He’s still one of the most prolific shooting centers in the NBA. But for a team that plans to focus more on player development this season, playing time will be tough to come by. That’s why Frye’s true impact will be felt behind the scenes.

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Season rewind

Frye averaged 4.8 points on 49.7 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range in 44 games with the Cavaliers. It was his lowest point total since the 2013-14 season and third-worst shooting percentage from beyond the arc in his 14-year career.

A change of scenery didn't help. Neither did an appendectomy that sidelined him for weeks after being dealt to LA. Frye averaged 5.8 points on 46.5 percent shooting and 36 percent from beyond the arc in just nine games with the Lakers.

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Cleveland Cavaliers teammates were celebrating Frye's return. (Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer)

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Great expectations

To borrow from Jose Calderon who shared this sentiment with reporters in the locker room last season: Frye wasn’t brought to Cleveland to play.

He was signed because of his intelligence, experience, work ethic, professional approach, light-hearted attitude and ability to connect with teammates -- the same traits that earned him plenty of praise for taking the Cavaliers from a collection of talented individuals and turning them into NBA champions in 2016. Don't forget, Frye was the one who would randomly show up to Kevin Love's house for dinners. He also started the Cavs' group text string called “BORED,” where players would vent or discuss countless topics -- all in an effort to bring them closer.

On the court, things are more murky.

Historically Tyronn Lue has spoken about being most comfortable with a nine- or 10-man rotation. There’s just not a lot of room for Frye who is essentially the fourth big man. He may even be considered the fifth if the Cavs show confidence early in youngster Ante Zizic. Depth isn’t a bad thing, especially in the frontcourt, something the Cavaliers learned last season as they dealt with injuries to Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. during different stretches. So it will be up to Frye to stay ready. He prides himself on that level of preparation. He will also be a sounding board as some of these younger players learn how to become pros.

Impact can be defined in a variety of ways.

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Contract status

Frye inked a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum this off-season. He is set to make $2.4 million during the 2018-19 campaign.

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How Cleveland got him

Frye was the team's first signing after LeBron James left for Los Angeles.

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Big summer news

Frye and Love are back together. Yes, that's right. The buddies who formed two-thirds of "The Triangle," with Richard Jefferson the other piece, wasted no time getting reacquainted.

Jokesters when they get together, Frye and Love took turns trading barbs on social media. Frye, of course, started it by punting Love's UCLA slides across the locker room.

At the very least, the locker-mates should have fun behind the scenes. There also promises to be countless entertaining exchanges on Twitter. It probably beats getting subtweeted by a prominent teammate who is now with the Lakers, right Love?

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