I'd like to throw in my two cents regarding the Cavaliers deal. Here is my take on the blockbuster trade from Cleveland's perspective...
The Positives:
1. Cleveland gets a POINT GAURD.
-IT HAS FINALLY HAPPENED! Delonte isn't a star. Delonte isn't a pass-first gaurd. But Delonte West knows how to run the point. And I don't care how bad the sports anaylists think he is, because he beats what we had before which was nothing (no, I don't count Eric Snow).
2. Cleveland upgrades its frontcourt.
-OK, So you might not be buying Ben Wallace a dominant NBA center. But try pairing him with big men Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao, and Joe Smith. That is a frontcourt to reckoned with on defense, no matter how you spin it.
3. Cleveland leaves the trade with better shooters in the backcourt.
-Wally Szczerbiak shoots 49% from the field and 41% from the 3pt line. I like the idea of Boobie Gibson and Wally splitting time at SG, because Cleveland now has two proven shooters at the 2. PG Delonte West can knock his share of shots down as well (44.4% from the field in his career). The Cavs ship off the following players from their frontcourt: SG Larry Hughes (37.7% from the field this season), SG/SF Ira Newble (44.9% from the field this year, only averaging 4 shots a game), and SG/SF Shannon Brown (36.9%, averaging under 15 min a game). IMO, one of the Cavalier's biggest needs was improved shooting to take some pressure off of Lebron James. They've addressed that need today by adding Szczerbiak.
The Neutral:
1. Cleveland swaps huge contracts.
-Larry Hughes is out. And he is taking his 12 million dollars a year with him. Insert Ben Wallace's massive contract. Both teams are taking gambles, it remains to be seen if either will pay off.
2. Cleveland receives a second round draft pick.
-They'll take it, and maybe strike gold. But for now it's insignificant.
The Negatives:
1. Cleveland loses defensive presence at gaurd.
-Larry Hughes, while grossly overpaid, was an above average defender. Ira Newble is well known for his skills on D and could be missed more than the Cavs are anticipating.
2. The Cavs say goodbye to Drew Gooden.
-Possibly the most underrated forward in the game today, Drew Gooden is packing his bags for Chicago. Drew came to the Cavaliers in 2004, just at the start of Lebron's sophmore season. The Cavs told Gooden he would have to change his game and crash the boards. He responded magnificently, averaging 2.7 more rebounds in 2004-2005 than he did in the previous season. The Cavs lose an all around solid forward with a very economical contract.
Wildcard:
1. Cleveland overhauls it's lineup.
-I'm tagging this as a short-term negative with the opportunity of turning into a long-term positive. No one knows how this team is going to mesh right now. Cleveland only has only 6 players confirmed for their game against the Wizards tomorrow night. Could this trade adversely affect the team's rhythm and chemistry? Cleveland is an impressive 16-7 since New Years and will now need to completely revamp their gameplan. On the flip side, the change of scenery could prove to be beneficial to the psyche of Ben Wallace, who was clearly not happy in Chicago. Lebron James could respond positively as well after seeing his GM make a noble attempt to bring in new pieces to the puzzle.
My overall impression:
The deal is complicated. The deal is messy. But I personally believe it is exactly what the Cavaliers needed and the best deal available under the circumstances. The Cavs are now on the front page of every major sports website and news source available. The spotlight is shining on Danny Ferry. The stagnant, boring Cavs are finally news worthy. Whether you love the deal or hate the deal, at least you're talking about the Cavaliers as a team, instead of just Lebron James. It's a gamble, no doubt. But I think Ferry felt it was a gamble that the entire city of Cleveland wanted him to take. Above average deal for the Cavs.
Grade: B
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