[Brandname]

I love how everyone knows that Lebron to [their favorite team] is a sure thing when he becomes a free agent.

[Larry Hughes for Retirement]

Originally Posted by Brandname

If Sasha and Wallace start for Cleveland, they could potentially be a very scary team defensively. Wallace isn't a great defender anymore, but Gooden was a really bad defender and the Cavs still managed to be one of the top defensive teams.

I'm just worried about scoring. We don't have nearly the scoring up front that we did before the trade. We really bolster our backcourt scoring though.

Joe Smith is a better scorer than Gooden.

[Sliccat]

I'm confused about Chicago's angle though. Hughes doesn't fit, and Gooden really isn't much better than Smith.

[Brandname]

Originally Posted by Larry Hughes for Retirement

Joe Smith is a better scorer than Gooden.

Yeah, I agree. And all my reservations are gone if Mike Brown starts him over Wallace. I'm worried that it won't happen, though.

[MLKG]

This trade is ridiculous from Chicago's stand point. What exactly are they trying to accomplish?

They dump Ben Wallace, but Larry Hughes contract is almost just as bad. It's the same length, and pays out only about 6 million less. Plus Larry Hughes is just as terrible.

So basically they are trading Joe Smith - the best player in the deal - and a pick for Drew Gooden. This deal moves them laterally at BEST and improves a division rival. That just makes all sorts of sense. Good job. A+

[Dre™]

It's a nice move. West is going to be a very good ballhandler to take pressure off Lebron, plus he can score. Wally can shoot, that fills a need. I don't know about trading Gooden for Wallace, but they also got rid of Hughes' contract, so that's good. This probably soliifies them as the 3rd team in the east...the problem is it doesn't jump them into the Boston/Detroit conversation. If I'm Lebron, I'm not impressed, this was made more for the future than this year.

[Brandname]

Originally Posted by Dre™

It's a nice move. West is going to be a very good ballhandler to take pressure off Lebron, plus he can score. Wally can shoot, that fills a need. I don't know about trading Gooden for Wallace, but they also got rid of Hughes' contract, so that's good. This probably soliifies them as the 3rd team in the east...the problem is it doesn't jump them into the Boston/Detroit conversation. If I'm Lebron, I'm not impressed, this was made more for the future than this year.

I'm not sure why they have to be 'jumped into the Detroit conversation'.

That doesn't make any sense to me.

[Pioneer10]

I love it: the Cavs went from 24 million in expiring contracts next year to 29 million in expirings!!!!

Any team that wants to dump a star to save cash is going to want to deal with Cleveland. This deal makes it possible for Ferry to build a dynasty not with this trade but next year

[Brandname]

And suddenly the Cavs have some shooters:

Boobie Gibson
Damon Jones
Delonte West
Wally Szczerbiak
Sasha Pavlovic (if he gets his shot back)

And we get rid of

Larry Hughes
Ira Newble
Donyell Marshall (he's not a good shooter at all anymore)
Shannon Brown

I mean, just look at how much we upgraded our perimeter shooting!

[Pioneer10]

Just not having to cheer for Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes makes this a great day to be a Cavs fan. Mr. Moron on defense and Mr. Moron on offense both gone