NBA ROCK

Did the Cavaliers make a good trade when they got Delonte West, Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, and Wally Szczerbiak? I thought so at first. But after last night’s gut-wrencher against the Bucks, I’m not so sure anymore. Why not? Big Z didn’t play. So the Cleveland offense = Lebron James. Here was their starting lineup:

• PG: Delonte West
• SG: Devin Brown
• SF: Lebron James
• PF: Anderson Varejao
• C: Ben Wallace

Lebron scored 35, Szczerbiak 13, Jones 12, Smith 12, and Devin Brown scored 10. They need someone else to step up and score with Lebron. Well you might say “Wally scored 13!”. Well, Wally also shot 27% (5-18) from the field while scoring those 13. Damon Jones put up a decent amount of points, but he isn’t doing so on a consistent basis. The only consistent players for the Cavs other than Lebron James is Joe Smith and Zydrunas Illgauskas — but Big Z didn’t play.

I understand that if you’re a defense-oriented team, you believe that your defense will lend itself to your offense as Lebron explains — or rather tries to explain in this vid from last year’s playoffs:

But what are you going to do when one of your 3-consistent offensive players doesn’t play? Rely on Lebron to carry your offense? Ok, bad example. But you get my drift. My point is that if the Cavs hope to be successful this year in the playoffs, they need to start praying that everyone gets healthy by crunch time. And that I’m not completely sold on the trade like I was when it first went through. Time will tell.

Oh my god, yes!!!!!

Cavs get:

• Ben Wallace from CHI
• Wally Szczerbiak from SEA
• Delonte West from SEA
• Joe Smith from CHI
• Future 2nd Round draft pick

Bulls get:

• Drew Gooden from CLE
• Larry Hughes from CLE
• Shannon Brown from CLE

Sonics get:

• Ira Newble from CLE
• Adrian Griffin from CHI
• Donyell Marshall from CLE

I’m about as excited as this kid right now:

Well maybe not that excited, but pretty damn close. For those of you who doubted Cleveland as a defensive-oriented team: have you any doubts about their defense now that they’ve enlisted Ben Wallace to their cause?

The simple fact of the matter is that Larry Hughes wasn’t finding his niche with the Cavaliers — he was a slasher. The Cavs needed a shooter — and they got one in Wally Szczerbiak. The Cavs just have to hope that Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak can make up for the offense that they’re losing in Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden.

The Bulls have been struggling all season, and they didn’t feel that Ben Wallace was working out for them. So I feel the trade was a good one on their part. I’m sad to see him go, but Chicago is getting a big man in Drew Gooden that is working up to giving you a double-double a night. Larry Hughes may end up being a better fit in the Chicago offense, too. Chicago is made up of a lot of shooters, so Larry’s slashing game may complement them well. Let’s not forget about Shannon Brown. Sure he’s not the talk-of-the-town just yet, but he’s bringing a good amount of potential to the Bulls.

The Sonics? They just freed up some CASH Money for future endeavors. It’ll help them down the road I think, as bringing in another star now given their current situation may not be the best idea.