AP Photo/Mark Duncan Now THAT's what a trade deadline should look like! Since late November, there have been 14 deals involving 54 players. And we have one person to thank for all of that action: Kwame Brown!
Had the Creator not blessed such a lifeless, talentless ninny with a 6-11, 270 lbs. shell, NBA general managers never would have the desire to actually trade for Brown, hoping that their situation will be the one to finally harness his potential and turn him into a 10-time All-Star. The Pau Gasol for Brown-Crittenton heist that the Lakers pulled off set off a feeding frenzy of players swapping uniforms, future draft picks, and cash considerations.
The West is now more open than Kobe's teammates during his 81-point game last year. The Lakers obviously improved with Gasol. Kurt Thomas will make the Spurs better and tougher. We have to wait and see with the Suns Shaq experiment, as well as with Jason Kidd's return to Dallas. Utah's acquisition of sharpshooter Kyle Korver makes them incredibly balanced on offense and an intriguing darkhorse.
However, the most signficant trade was the last one completed, a three-team swap that FINALLY got King James some help in Cleveland. The details:
Cleveland trades Ira Newble and Donyell Marshall to Seattle
Chicago trades Ben Wallace, Joe Smith and a 2009 second-round pick to Cleveland; Seattle trades Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West to Cleveland
Cleveland sends Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons, and Shannon Brown to Chicago
Chicago sends Adrian Griffin to Seattle.
What makes this a great trade for Cleveland is not necessarily what they are getting back. It's what they're getting rid of. Shedding Larry Hughes (a less than 40 percent shooter) and his $40 million over the next three years contract of the books now allows LeBron to pass the ball to someone who might actually knock down shots (Wally, Delonte West).
Cleveland also gets rid of Drew Gooden, who is more famous for his homeless beard and bizarre back-of-the-head soul patch than for actually getting a rebound or making a layup. He is replaced by Joe Smith, whose consistency will be much appreciated. Ben Wallace will body up on the opposition's top post player, allowing Zydrunas Ilgauskus to stay out of foul trouble and on the floor.If you've been paying attention this year, you've seen LeBron make yet another leap, from unguardable superstar to utterly dominant offensive juggernaut. He alone got his Cavs to the Finals last year. The new guys will come in and play consistent basketball. They will do their jobs and not seek credit or attention.
For the past two years, like all of us, the other 11 members of the Cleveleand Cavs have been "Witnesses" to LeBron's greatness. Now, they could most certainly be accomplices to his takeover to the title.
So thanks again, Kwame Brown. Now go practice catching the ball.
