Woke up this morning to an explosion of e-mails about the potential trade I reported the Cavs were thinking about last night. It is important to point out that the Cavs and many NBA teams have discussions about big trades all the time. Obviously they intensify around the deadline as teams get serious about shaking up their roster. The Cavs are no different. The rumors that I have heard may only represent 10 percent of what the Cavs are thinking/talking about. I talk to various people from various teams across the league, I don’t have sources in every organization and the information I bring to you is the best and most credible I can find. The overall chances of a “blockbuster deal” — and boy has that term been devalued a little in the NBA over the last couple weeks — are still less than 50/50 in my opinion.
As a Cavs fan what you need to know is that the front office is honestly looking at trying to make a deal to improve the team. That is the real reason why I decided to write the story about them considering a major deal. They are not simply standing pat as I hear them often being accused of. And not just for the top available players in the Jason Kidd/Mike Bibby class. They are trying to get creative and trying to balance out the short term and long-term benefits. Let me also add something else, I think the Cavs do like the team they have now. And that comes from players, from coaches and from the front office. If there is nothing done the Cavs still feel like they have a shot to beat anyone if they can get fully get healthy. LeBron James of course would like to get better and that is not original thinking, who wouldn’t? But he’s also made it clear he likes his teammates, so remember that if nothing happens by 3 p.m.
One more thing just to calm some of the waters. I have not once heard Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ name come up in a trade rumor this season. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t come up in trade talks, but he is not part of the potential deal I was talking about. However, Z and the Cavs do have a little issue going on behind the scenes about him playing for the Lithuanian national team.
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Update:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=383~1017~1027~2506~1711~356~512~601&teams=5~5~5~5~18~18~25~25&te=&cash=
If Chad Ford says it, will you believe it, or at least some of you stop being a-holes??
SportsNation Chad Ford: (1:24 PM ET ) Maybe … call was about Ben Wallace in a possible deal with the Cavs. I’ve got to stress that it was from what I’d call a third party source … not someone directly involved in the negotiations. So … take it with a grain of salt … but interesting …
SportsNation Chad Ford: (1:25 PM ET ) The deal as I heard it … by the way … had Drew Gooden, Ira Newble, Shannon Brown and Cederic Simmons coming back to Chicago.
Chad Ford: (1:24 PM ET ) Maybe … call was about Ben Wallace in a possible deal with the Cavs. I’ve got to stress that it was from what I’d call a third party source … not someone directly involved in the negotiations. So … take it with a grain of salt … but interesting …
Chad Ford: (1:25 PM ET ) The deal as I heard it … by the way … had Drew Gooden, Ira Newble, Shannon Brown and Cederic Simmons coming back to Chicago.
Brian,
It seems as if the Cavs are working harder to tell everyone they are trying, rather than trying to make a deal. I’ve read your blog, heard you on the radio and hear Fred Mcleod on the radio saying the same thing. Let’s face it, Ferry is afraid to pull the trigger. We “tried” for a year to get Mike Bibby and couldn’t get it done. Everyone keeps saying that, when healthy, this is a team that went to the finals last year. It’s time to realize that Lebron does not going to stick around just to make it to the Finals. Every year we need to do whatever we can to have a team that can WIN the title.
No way it was Marion – the agent connection with Varejao is well documented.
For the record, I see no reason to doubt BW or his source. Ferry has certainly made offers for A Miller, M Miller, Gasol, Kidd, & Garnett, don’t you think? He just hasn’t pulled any of those deals off. That’s the real issue – can (or should) Ferry complete a trade. Complaining that BW is “shilling” or Ferry is “spreading rumours” are kind of silly, and monumentally more speculative than anything BW has ever reported, and mostly just a reflection of the tired old defeatist Cleveland attitude – we couldn’t possibly be working on some big trade, because our boatshoes GM is a lousy negotiator and doesn’t do anything but surf for porn and overpay free agents. Yawn.
now the word is that it’s Ben Wallace….
or Szczerbiak….
Sounds like Ben Wallace…..
We’d still nee a good shooter if the bulls deal goes through
if they could pull a small deal for someone like delonte west, that would be nice. wouldn’t have to give up much and we get a young point guard talent. a blockbuster just seems so unlikely
…along with Duhon and Joe Smith.
Szczerbiak would be nice, if he could stay healthy!
58 minutes to go, and nothing has happened. What a surprise.
If anyone wants to start a http://www.firedannyferry.com website, I’d be happy to apply for a spot as a contributing writer.
i swear this Brian dude works for their PR dept. stop with the blind items and telling us how ferry is giving a great effort even if nothing happens . just tell the “proposed trades” you’ve “heard” about
Pepe says :BW. If you aren’t going to report the trade rumor then don’t report anything.
This whole thing was kind of classless on your part, IMO. Plus the shill job for Danny Ferry only worsens it.
i’m with you 100% on this
calm down, this it what happens when you have two expiring contracts and little talent outside of lebron, boobie, and andy. I don’t expect nething to get done, but i do believethat we could get delonte west if we tried.
I hope Ferry contracts syphillis
I love that many Cavs fans hate Ferry for surrounding Lebron with inferior talent, yet these same fans also condemn Ferry for failing to pull off a big trade.
Hey, nitwits: If you think the roster around Lebron is garbage, how can you expect Ferry to make a major trade?
Personally, I hope Ferry’s cell phone battery dies and he fails to pull off any deals. The team is so close to getting out of salary cap hell, it would be a shame if he ruined it with a contract like Ben Wallace’s.
Oh– and you can’t call Windhorst a “shill” for the Cavs if he’s confirmed these rumors with other teams. It’s not like Windy is sitting on Ferry’s lap, taking dictation while he blogs.
Ben Wallace’s contract! That’s TERRIBLE! Wallace, Duhon, and Joe Smith does not make our team THAT much better.
Why the hell would we want Wallace? we already have defense, we already have bigs, we already have bad free-throw shooting, we already have an underperformer with a terrible contract, but at least he adds 15 points a night. If they acquire Wallace and have to hang onto Hughes too, Ferry should definitely be gone.
man rumors are for big ben, but they don’t want larry hughes. big shocker. i bet nothing happens. im glad, i’ll be patient
I only like the deal because of Chris Duhon. They should just trade Gooden for Duhon and Joe Smith.
Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, and Chris Duhon for Hughes, Gooden, and Shannon Brown
Then Newble and Marshall to Seattle for Szcerbiak
That is the blockbuster trade being proposed.
Positives: Smith and Duhon have expiring contracts; replace Larry with a guy that can shoot
Negatives: Ben Wallace is a joke on the offensive end and he is on the downslope
Essentially the Cavs are trading Hughes for Wallace (whose contracts expire in the same year) and Marshall for Szcerbiak (whose contracts expire the same year)
Do I do the deal? I would ask LeBron first.
So where’s the updates? Weak.
Don’t worry guys, nothing is going to happen. I guarantee it. If something actually happens, I will give one million dollars to every person that has posted.
Posting for a million dollars.
Now that it’s clear that there are a lot of rumblings around the Cavaliers, will all the people who called Brian a shill for his posts last night and today apologize.
Just Say NO to Ben Wallets!
Chad Ford: (2:38 PM ET ) Wow … too close to call right now. Apparently, one of the reasons the Cavs are pushing that Hughes be in the Bulls deal is that they want their expiring contracts and Donyell Marshall to get ahold of Wally Szczerbiak. So the Cavs would add Wally, Ben Wallace, Joe Smith and Duhon. Could it be three new starters around LeBron?
I want my million, too!
if these “details” are correct and that’s who we end up with, well, it will confirm my worst fears and that is that ferry is reacting in a panic to appease the moronic press and moronic “fans” like doc, biff, et al by making ANY kind of deal just to prove he can do *something*. color me unimpressed, if it turns out to be true…
I guess MJ just saved a ton of cash.
Yeah….Ferry is gonna make a trade because the fans and message board trolls tell him too….LOL.
If these deal land the Cavs Wallace, Duhon, and Wally for Hughes, Gooden, and dead weight, then I think this makes the Cavs better.
If Joe Smith is also coming this way, that will help too.
I REALLY hope the Cavs can somehow get Delonte West in the Seattle deal…..
my internet pants are very large.
I am very concerned about the state of my big internet pants.
I think Ben will be better once he gets to wear his headband again!!!!!!!
wallace and sczerbiak???? someone tell me how this is an upgrade!!!!!
if we’re going to make a trade for the sake of making a trade – which i think ferry has to do right now for obvious reasons – at least let’s not blow all of our assets and saddle us with more shitty contracts. this is nuts.
According to ESPN News the Cavs, Bulls and Sonics may be working on a 3-way deal….I’m assuming Hughes, Wallace, Gooden, Wally, and Marshall are involved…..
I think the deadline passed???
DELONTE WEST!@!!!!!!!
WOO-HOO!!!
Goodbye Donyell, Hughes and Gooden, the three most maddening players I think I’ve ever watched play on a regular basis.
Hello Big Ben, D. West, Sczerbiak and Joe Smith. Lots of age and injuries but I like it.
SO??? any update?
Kj you are either illiterate or just an idiot….Have you been paying attention at all over the last few days? What’s that? Oh, you just wanted to get up on your high horse and pretend that unlike the rest of us, you are the only one who understands the NBA and the Cavs? Thought so. Retard.
ESPN News reporting a 3 way with Cavs, Sonics and Bulls.
Cavs would net West, Wally, Big Ben and Joe Smith I believe.
Sonics would take Marshal, Duhon, Newble,
Bulls would get Gooden, Hughes, and Ced Simmons
Just waiting league approval – according to ESPN News.
This is weird. Why haven’t we heard either way whether this deal has been done??? It’s 42 minutes past the deadline. What is going on???
Phillynews Broke The Story
blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/live/
here’s what the seattle sonics beat writer just posted about 20 minutes ago: Just confirmed a three-way deal has been revised. The Sonics sent West and Szczerbiak to Cleveland and it’s believed that they will receive Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble. Cleveland is also expected to net Ben Wallace and Joe Smith and Chicago will get Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden.
Wallace, Joe Smith, Delonte West, Wallyworld…… i gotta think about this one.
But no apologies to BW. I was embarassed for him reading this blog post. Either report some news or not. Don’t plead for “understanding” because poor Danny boy from Duke is “working so hard”….
I hate to be another Z basher (given his inevitable coronation into the Cavs Hall of Fame according to BW) but has anyone else realized that the big lumbering lithuanian has pretty much lost it on the offensive end? His points come on O-rebound put backs and dunks off perfect Lebron feeds anymore. His 15 footer has been in Siberian hibernation for months and those gangly, awkward moves around the hoop are cringe inducing. So maybe Wallace plays the 5 in crunch time. He gives you better defense, equivalent rebounding, can run on the break….. maybe this trade works. Joe Smith is underrated. Wally and West ought cancel out whatever you lose from Hughes on offense….
it’s happening: Szczerbiak, B. Wallace, Delonte West to Cavs;
Hughes and Gooden to Chicago; Newble, Donyell M. to Sonics.
getting west makes this deal *far* more palatable than the one proposed earlier in the day. plus we kept djones and boobie. we know have 4 very solid shooters on this team to punish teams who double LBJ. and while i was never really a fan of wallace ( always thought he was slightly over-rated even in his glory years) at least he will rebound consistently and play much tougher than gooden. and LBJ needs a tough guy down low to whack the rasheed’s of the world when they take cheap shots…but getting west was the cherry on top and ( unhinged ferry haters stop reading now ) ferry deserves credit for this deal. guess he was “trying” after all, eh?
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