Easy to like Cavs' blockbuster

Congratulations to Cavalier GM Danny Ferry for his efforts, culminating with a deadline deal bringing several promising pieces---and longterm benefits---for two very erratic starters and four parts that too rarely contributed.

While that may seem to be a simplistic way to analyze the three-team transaction, it is also upon first blush.

The team now has a physical presence inside. It is deeper among its bigs. It has pruned some large and cumbersome contracts and cleared two roster spots for parts that might better fit than did Shannon Brown and Cedric Simmons. (A perimeter defender, for example, figures to be added.) A point guard they have long desired has finally been secured and Wally Szczerbiak (31, 6-7 244), whose name is no pleasure to type or to spell, may at last have landed in a place where his shooting skills will be appreciated and where his assets better fit.

Ironically, in Wally, Ferry has essentially acquired himself---a problematic defensive matchup who'll probably play 2 on O and 3 on D, much as Danny did during his final Cleveland days, alternating assignments with the late Bobby Phills.

In Wally and Delonte West (24, 6-4 180), the organization now also has two contracts that can come off the books after 2008-2009, with Joe Smith's expiring this summer. Given the league's rule permitting buying-out of a single expiring contract each year, Wally's joins Eric Snow's and Damon Jones' as possibilities prior to next season. In fairness, however, the same was true of Donyell Marshall's and Drew Gooden's, with Ira Newble's and Shannon Brown's up at season's end. With that being said, today's move consolidates more money in Wally's ($13 mil) and/or identifies Snow's ($6.7) as the no-brainer.

Hughes' defense will surely be missed and represents a significant sacrifice, particularly as well as he played, when healthy, last post-season and is playing currently. Doubtlessly, his recent surge made himself more tradeable and allowed many of his critics to feel better about his time in Wine and Gold.

Larry's ballhandling responsibilities will be absorbed by West, presumably, and it is no secret Lebron James dominates the ball much of the time anyway. James can be expected to appreciate Wally's perimeter threat as a floor-spreader.

Early feedback from fans focuses too much, in this man's opinion, upon numbers, forgetting stats are mere indicators. Wallace's age (33, 6-9 240) and scoring averages are irrelevant to his value. A vet bruiser with the grit this franchise has too infrequently featured, this proven winner brings with regularity much of what Gooden contributed only sporatically---fierce D, ferocious rebounding, focused tenacity and considerable leadership, all of which should manifest prominently in the post-season. His arrival is the key component to today's proceedings.

Smith (32, 6-10 225), enjoying a solid season in his own right, brings many of these same qualities. His experience as an interior player figures to nicely complement the efforts of Wallace, Z, Andy and the wingmen. The Cleveland front court is now as deep as any in the sport and could realistically propel this outfit into the finals again this season, as it already matched-up favorably against the East's perceived top two, Boston and Detroit. The Celts, in particular, are not strong off the bench.

Additionally, it is not inconceivable Newble will soon be lopped by the Sonics and free to return after the requisite 30-day layoff.

The quiet development of fringe pieces Devin Brown and Dwayne Jones, though not profound, enabled the club to part confidently with Ira and Donyell, particularly with Wally getting the outside shots Marshall had formerly been called upon to execute.

It is difficult to conceive of fan discontent, but this is, after all, Cleveland, where the name of the local newspaper might better reflect regional mentalities if it added the three-letter prefix com- to become known as The Complain Dealer.

At the very least, this new configuration allows fans the privilege of watching a new chemistry emerge. Apparently, it was rightfully concluded the former mixture was not going to get it done. It might also silence those who held Ferry's conservative patience against him, for whatever that is worth.

Subtracting Hughes, Gooden, Marshall, Newble, Shannon Brown and Cedric Simmons in exchange for Wallace, Smith, West, Wally and a second-round pick, while freeing-up two roster spots, is a day's work well done and a transaction worth waiting right up to the last second for.

It is both exciting and enlightened.