As the Akron Beacon-Journal first hinted at this a.m., and that the Four-Letter advanced, the Cavs, Bulls and Sonics have pulled the trigger on that big ol' three-way:
Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden to Chicago,
Ben Wallace and Joe Smith to Cleveland.
The Cavs' Ira Newble and Donyell Marshal, and Chicago's Adrian Griffin, to Seattle for Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West.
It's the very last name that makes me like this deal a little more for Cleveland. West can be a terrific guard for them playing off of LeBron and can knock down the open jumper. He also gives them size in the backcourt. Wally World is going to shoot 53, 54 percent from the floor until he dies, and certainly will spread the floor and give LBJ more driving room.
Ben is Ben. He's still a good rebounder. But he's not the man-on-man defender that he used to be, and he's a liability on offense. Maybe the Cavs go small at the ends of games. At the least, LBJ is surrounded by more veteran guys who've gone deep into the playoffs.
Chicago blows up a team that wasn't working, and gives Joakim Noah all the minutes he wants in the middle. Hughes can score, allowing Ben Gordon to come off the bench. Seattle continues to amass expiring contracts.
Inquirer reporter Mike Jensen is the college basketball columnist for the Inquirer. Each year, he gives a special insight into the tournament.
Inquirer reporter Jeff McLane is the beat writer for Temple. He will pick the tournament.
Inquirer reporter Tom Fitzgerald will blog about Hillary Clinton's Pa. visits March 10 &11.
Inquirer reporter Larry Eichel will post updates on Bill Clinton's March 7 visit to Media.
Inquirer reporter Tim Panaccio will write about National Hockey League trade talk. 
Inquirer reporter David Aldridge will live-blog the week before the NBA's trade deadline. 
Peter Mucha began this blog, before moving on to other writing duties.
Comments (6)
Where was Juan Dixon traded?
Posted by Jeff | February 21, 2008 3:33 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:33
I don't believe I need confirmation.
Posted by David Khieu | February 21, 2008 3:44 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:44
So is Ben Wallace going to play PF? The Cavs have improved with this trade specifically at PG, but I still don't think it makes them the best team in the east. Their bench is not deep enough to get them back to the finals.
Posted by Brett Stevens | February 21, 2008 3:56 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 15:56
You gotta love that deal for the Cavs. You get rebounding, a shooter in Wally, backup PG in West and you dump Larry Hughes. I wouldn’t want to give up Gooden, but I think he will do great in Chicago and he gives them some leverage in negotiating with Deng this Summer. Hughes does the same thing with Ben Gordon.
Clearly the Sonics just won’t care until they move or new owners come in. Sucks for their fans.
Posted by Bailz | February 21, 2008 4:01 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 16:01
I don't believe, i need confirmation.
Posted by Dirk novitsky | February 21, 2008 4:30 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 16:30
wait... he posted this trade at 3:15 was the trade official? did it count?
Posted by david | February 21, 2008 4:30 PM
Posted on February 21, 2008 16:30