It seemed like the NBA trade deadline was going to come and go without much of a bang, but there was one last-minute deal that sparked a good deal of interest, and it’s one that could change the fact of the East as well.
Most of the big names had already been dealt in the previous weeks leading up to the deadline - Gasol, Shaq, Kidd - so it was unclear if anything crazy would go down on Deadline Day.
But the Cleveland Cavaliers sure made a splash!
Picking up Ben Wallace, Delonte West, Joe Smith, and Wally Szczerbiak was a bold move for the Cavs and while they may be adding some significant contracts/money, it was clearly a risk worth taking for GM Danny Ferry.
Cleveland gets some added scoring from Wally Z - who should help take some of the pressure off of LeBron James’ shoulders; Smith provided solid rebounding and defense off the bench and some toughness and experience as well; West still isn’t the “starting” point guard the Cavaliers desperately need but he could get a shot to fill that role (and he’s a decent defender as well); and while Big Ben’s best days may be behind him, his playoff/championship experience should prove invaluable to Cleveland in their pursuit of a lengthy post-season run.
By making this move it would appear as though the Cavs have set themselves up to play in the East or the West. I certainly wouldn’t put them in a category with the Lakers, Spurs, and Suns (and Mavs?) but Mike Brown’s crew is one of the “bigger” teams in the East — where they should bully teams in their conference — and that size will be a major asset against the West and guys like Shaq, Stoudemire, Duncan, Chandler, Bynum, Gasol, Yao, etc.
Think about it … Anderson Varejao, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Big Ben, Joe Smith … that’s SOLID.
News of the deal started to filter around the Raptors charter - as they were getting set to take-off to New York - and most of the players seemed to be impressed with the trade from Cleveland’s perspective.
The Raps spent about an extra hour on the ground on Thursday - at Lester B. Pearson - waiting for Bryan Colangelo to join the club after finalizing the details of a trade that sent Juan Dixon to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Primoz Brezec.
Dixon had told me on Tuesday that he had not requested a trade from Toronto but there was no disguising the fact that he would’ve preferred to move to a team that would play him more. Whether that opportunity comes in the Motor City remains to be seen.
In Brezec the Raptors are getting some much-needed front court help. While this deal isn’t a blockbuster by any means, it should help T.O. with their depth if nothing else. Brezec has more offensive upside than people may give him credit for and he can go after it on the glass as well with his 7′1, 255-pound frame.
Obviously Colangelo is hoping Brezec can find that talent and touch that led him to a career-year in Charlotte in 2004-05 when he averaged 13.0 points, and 7.4 rebounds.
Personally, I’m sad to see Dixon go. He was always a good guy to deal with - both on and off the floor - and I got a chance to know him a little bit, personally, as well … as he and his wife (who is expecting) lived in the same condominium as me.
There is little chance that Brezec will be in uniform for the Raptors tonight when they play the Knicks. Word was that Brezec - who chatted with fellow countrymen Rasho Nesterovic after the deal went down - was going to drive from Detroit to Toronto on Thursday night and hook up with some of the Raptors staff. There is an outside chance that the Slovenian center could still get on a plane to NYC this afternoon … but it would probably be a long shot to think that Brezec would be able to suit-up against New York.
E. Smith
Is Brezec’s contract up at the end of the year?
My bet is it is or we will dump him.
Sam does not play Bastian.
Sam Barely plays Humphries.
Sam loves to use 4 smalls in the fourth which usually looses us games but against Orlando it worked out.
If this guy plays it means Humphries, Andrea, or Bastian are useless or at least less useful.
Dixon wanted to leave and I think had a year left on his contract.
If this guys contract ends this year or he is able to be dumped over the summer I think he is just a salary dump.
But the most important and the biggest issue is Bryan says we sign Jose.
- Miles HershbergIf he gets the 20 to 30 points a game the rest of the year and into the play-offs that I think he will, we may have to get rid of TJ to do it.