Trade Stuff

Well, the injury bug has struck and its taking away some of Danny Ferry's deadline options.

First, the Cavs won't be able to reunite the backcourt from a shitty Bucks team:

Just when that silky smooth jumper of his was starting to fall just the way Michael Redd likes it, the Olympian's injury-plagued season came to an abrupt and frustrating end.

The Milwaukee Bucks' leading scorer will miss the rest of the year with torn ligaments in his left knee.

Honestly, this has worked out to the Cavs (or at least mine). I'm not a proponent of re-teaming Williams with Redd and Redd's injury makes the point moot. In addition, now no one else will be able to trade for him.

Then there's Charlotte's Gerald Wallace... ouch:

Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace suffered a partially collapsed left lung and a fractured rib late in the team's double-overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, team officials said Wednesday.

The statement said Wallace had 30 to 40 percent of his left lung collapse as well as a non-displaced fracture of the fifth rib. The team said Wallace underwent a CT-scan at Centinela Hospital in Los Angeles, and had a chest tube inserted into the lung to help restore full function.

Wallace was to remain in the hospital over the next 48 hours for observation and did not accompany the team to Portland for Wednesday night's game against the Trail Blazers.

Team spokesman B.J. Evans said there was no immediate indication on when Wallace would rejoin the team, or even when he would return to Charlotte. Evans also said there had been no decision Wednesday afternoon as to who would replace Wallace in the starting lineup against Portland.

I'm really torn on G-Force. On the one hand, I see better, younger, more athletic Larry Hughes clone. Wallace simply cannot shoot (26% 3pt this year). So if he's added, you'll see some bricks. But defensively... dear lord. Defensively he'd be perfect. He can guard bigger guys, you can stick him on Rondo for stretches... I mean, with Wallace and Bron-Bron... wow. Also, he's fairly adept at posting up, so it's not like he'd be a complete loss offensively.

Here's where things gets interesting:

Elton Brand, Sixers
The Sixers are experiencing quite a bit of buyer's remorse after giving Brand an $80 million contract this past summer. Brand has been awful in the early going. To make matters worse, he struggles to play the style the rest of the team wants to play. More and more, it's looking like a bad fit for both parties. I've heard rumblings over the past few weeks that the Sixers would let Brand go for expiring contracts and a future pick -- a pretty small price for the most coveted free agent of last summer.

But will anyone want to take on his contract at this point? The Heat's Pat Riley has always been a fan. The Pistons are looking for a dominant big, too. A Chicago homecoming isn't out of the question either. And the Cavs might be willing to roll the dice, although that's a lot of money to gamble with. Will any GM or owner in the league have the guts to pull the trigger?

Chance of trade: 20 percent

Elton Brand?! Are you kidding me? The Cavs would be stupid not to add Elton Brand. Sure, he's old. Sure, he's had some injuries. But if you think the guy sucks just because of Philly, you're kidding yourself. The Sixers are good when they run and gun, which is the exact opposite of Brand's game.

He's a career 20-10 guy, he can post up, he can board and he can hit the open J. You plug him in at PF and just let the 'em go. Yes, he's costly, but he's not all that old (he'll be 34 when his contract is up).

Worst case scenario, he's an expensive Joe Smith who will be an $18 million expiring contract in 2013. Best case scenario? Championships. Plural. Multiple. And if you can get him for the combination of Wally & junk? Yes, please.

I never wanted Redd (after the Williams trade) and while Wallace is intriguing, I think he'd take the longest to mesh (does he have a position? Where will his points come from? etc) let alone the short and long term injury concerns. Brand is my pie-in-the-sky scenario (I don't think either team has the guts to make that trade, would Philly really hit reset that fast?) and I think he'd put the Cavs way over the top.

Even with the injuries and the crappy loss to Orlando, I still think the Cavs are in a pretty good spot. They don't HAVE to make a trade. Wally has done well and if they can't pawn him off for a legitimately useful piece, I say keep his expiring ass.