INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Almost as an afterthought in June, the Cavaliers mentioned that while trading for the draft rights to big man Tyler Zeller, they also received another player. A kid with an unpronounceable name, a swingman they're not even sure can play because his past is so injury-riddled.

Kelenna Azubuike (ka-LYNN-a az-a-BOO-key) wants to show that he should no longer be an afterthought.

The London-born guard has played 12 games in the past two seasons because of a torn left patella tendon suffered in 2009. Azubuike said the initial surgery to correct the injury was performed incorrectly, and he had to have a second surgery in 2011 so his kneecap would be lowered to its natural position and he could run.

"I feel like I have something to prove -- that I am healthy and I'm looking forward to that challenge," Azubuike said. "I've never been one to shy away from challenges and questions. Of course, if someone hasn't played in a while there's going to be those questions. It's up to me to try to work hard and erase those doubts."

When Azubuike was healthy, he was productive and sometimes flashy with Golden State. In 2008-09, he averaged 14.4 points on 46-percent shooting. Based on his ability to run and shoot, Dallas signed him to a two-year deal last season. He appeared in just three games, playing a total of 18 minutes.

"He is the one guy you look at and say, 'We really don't know what we've got yet.'" Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "You have to go back to almost three years ago to remember the type of player that he was then. Is he there yet? I don't know. We'll find that all out in training camp, that's what this is all about."

Azubuike insists he's finally better, finally recovered from the 2011 surgery required to fix the knee. Azubuike did not play the 2010-11 season after he was traded to the New York Knicks, and was released Feb. 28, 2011.

"I tried to practice and it was the most painful thing," Azubuike said. "I was in the last year of my contract so we threw everything at it. I had no choice but to have it redone if I wanted to play again."

Scott said the unknown swingman has "looked good" and "moved pretty well" through the first few practices of training camp, but it's still a long way to go to know if Azubuike truly has recovered and returned to the form he displayed with the Warriors.

Along the way, he has had to rely on his faith to help him try again.

"A lot of prayer," Azubuike said of what helped him persevere. "My family, we're really strong Christians and when I got down, my family would encourage me and pray with me. The Lord Jesus helped me, simple as that, really. There's a lot of times you want to quit, but you just keep chugging. That's what I did."

No flopping: Scott was able to cross one item off his training camp to-do list Wednesday. He no longer has to instruct players how to flop.

The NBA announced it has instituted an "anti-flopping" rule. Flopping is defined as "any physical act that appears to have been intended to cause the referees to call a foul on another player."

The rule will be enforced following video review, and will be enforced with first a warning, then fines that begin at $5,000 and escalate to $30,000 for a fifth offense.

"We're just going to go back to playing a little more old-style basketball," Scott said, partly in jest. "If you really, really get hit and go to the ground, we understand. But for the most part, let's be tough and take it like a man."

Anderson Varejao, who has long been tagged with a flopping reputation, should have no trouble adjusting, Scott said. He agreed with Varejao's assertion that the Brazilian hasn't flopped nearly as much in the past two seasons.

"It's kinda true because he hasn't really played a whole lot in the last two years," Scott said. "Andy's one of the smarter guys. He understands that if you can't do it, you can't do it."

And ones: Forward Luke Walton, the Cavaliers' elder statesman at 32, said he has not discussed a buyout. "I just told my agent I want to play ball this season," Walton said. "He can take care of that stuff off the court." ... Scott said he traditionally has kept three point guards, so it's not impossible for Donald Sloan and Jeremy Pargo to remain as backups to Kyrie Irving. ... Walton said nearly the entire team sat in the cold tub Tuesday evening following practice. "This is my first Camp Scott, but I don't remember that many training camps with that many people in the ice bath. I woke up thinking about ice baths this morning."