[horseofcourse]

I wish Mortimer still posted so he could clear me up on this. As a Cav fan I dont' like the trade. I always considered their supporting cast "average" as Mortimer remembers which in my mind is an actual compliment...that's pretty much all they needed supporting LeBron. What was their strength of their Eastern Conference championship year was defense...and Hughes was actually by far their best perimeter defender. Despite his lack of shooting ability, since Jan 1st he was shooting over 40 percent and scoring over 15 a game. He was indeed their second scoring option since the start of 2008 year. with gibson now out 6 weeks (they are very adept at spraining ankles this year!!), I am guessing WEst picks up most of those minutes with both Gibson and Hughes gone. Hughes was a 38 percent shooter, West is a 39 percent shooter this year. West is not a good player or he would have played more for an abomination of a Seattle team.

Wallace is an old and declining player. I dont' see where he helps the team any more than Gooden...the defense and rebounding he provides the team already had with Varejao (who hasn't been playing because of his sprined ankle.)...when Varejao comes back he is pretty much Wallace but with a better offensive game (as hard as that is for me to say for Anderson having a better O game than anyone.) and plays the same defnese without blocking the shots Ben does. Ben is a null set offensively.

Sczerbiak couldn't guard me one on one. He shoots outside shots well, but he can't defend which is suposedly the staple of the team.

I think their perimeter defense is worse now by quite a bit. They perhaps improved their post defense a little bit. They were already a good rebounding team..though Wallace improves that, I don't see how much more they can really improve...it wasn't a weakness to begin with.

The main goal of trading Hughes was to get rid of his contract...not pick up one that is much worse...Ben Wallace. I hope I'm wrong....but I'm not seeing how this trade really helps them that much. I need Mortimer to explain it to me...not that Every Bartman guy.