Latest Trade Rumors
February 21, 2008Here’s the deal…
February 21, 2008Updated 2:13 pm
Ben Wallace Is The Latest Name To Surface
I literally just saw this sequence from Chad Ford’s chat on ESPN.com:
“ Chad Ford: (1:19 PM ET ) Hold on a second … have to take this call on a possible trade …
Ryan, Chicago: Please tell me Ben Wallace is on the move Chad Ford: (1:24 PM ET ) Maybe … call was about Ben Wallace in a possible deal with the Cavs. I’ve got to stress that it was from what I’d call a third party source … not someone directly involved in the negotiations. So … take it with a grain of salt … but interesting … Chad Ford: (1:25 PM ET ) The deal as I heard it … by the way … had Drew Gooden, Ira Newble, Shannon Brown and Cederic Simmons coming back to Chicago.”
Followed by this bit of info:
“Bryan (N. Canton, OH): OK So what was the new call all about?
Chad Ford: (1:44 PM ET ) Sorry … another GM who was reading the chat wanting more details on the Wallace deal …
Clark (Durham, NC): Why would the Cavs trade for Ben Wallace? Chad Ford: (1:47 PM ET ) To make that work financially the deal would have to look like this: Ben Wallace, Chris Duhon and Joe Smith to Cleveland for Drew Gooden, Donyell Marshall, Ira Newble, Shannon Brown, Devin Brown and Cederic Simmons … unless Ilgauskas is in this deal.
Todd (Westerville, OH): Why would the Cavs trade for Wallace when the need more offensive help for Lebron? Chad Ford: (1:50 PM ET ) Ummmm ….All I can say is that owner Dan Gilbert is a huge Pistons fan … maybe he sees something we don’t. Duhon would help them. And for the Bulls … Gooden is OK … and they clear some cap … but this is essentially a lateral move as far as winning this season.”
Sadly, I believe this Ben Wallace rumor if for no other reason, it seems like something stupid the Cavaliers would do. I’ll let someone else do the analysis and explain to me how this deal would help the Cavaliers win a Championship. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this bit of stomach turning misery,
“Sean (Cleveland, OH): There are rumors that the Cavs are in discussions for a blockbuster trade. Which team are they in discussions with and will the deal happen?
Chad Ford: (1:08 PM ET ) I saw that. I question whether they have enough pieces to make a blockbuster. I seriously doubt it. The skeptic in me says that GM Danny Ferry is trying to get the word out that he’s trying his best. He’s getting killed in Cleveland right now for inaction. He is trying to make deals, but when you don’t have a lot to work with … it’s tough. If they get a player like Delonte West or Wally Szczerbiak or something … that might be a small help … but not a blockbuster. BTW, I spoke with a GM this week that said, if the Cavs had just one more star type player, he thought the Cavs would be the favorites to win it all. That’s how good LeBron has become.”
UPDATE:
Well, here’s the latest from Chad Ford,
“Terry (Cleveland, OH): Any updates on deals concerning Cleveland?
Chad Ford: (2:03 PM ET ) I’m getting lots of phone calls now … sorry for delays. One source says the hold up in a Chicago-Cavs deal is that Cleveland wants Chicago to take back Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden for Ben Wallace, Joe Smith and Duhon. I can’t really see the Bulls doing that. Hughes has two years, $26 million left on his contract and where do the Bulls play him? “
“Where do the Bulls play him?” I like that. As if that’s the biggest holdup in getting the Bulls to take Hughes. I still don’t think this deal helps the Cavaliers win this year, but getting Hughes off their hands would be quite the miracle. But honestly, is having Ben Wallace’s $15 million/year on tap for the next 2 seasons better or worse? Wallace makes $15 million and has a 12.11 PER. This deal makes no sense to me at all.
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2 Comments
For the love…please don’t trade for Ben Wallace!!!!!!!
I second that