Grading the Cleveland Cavaliers' Trade Deadline Moves

Going into the trade deadline, Cavaliers fans were concerned that they would carry the same injury plagued 15 guys that they have had the entire season (small replacement with Gee in, and Jawad out). The have been wildly unsuccessful this season and are coming off the worst losing streak in NBA history.

If there was one team in the NBA that needed a change at the deadline, it was undoubtedly the Cavaliers. The team lacked an identity, and still does, but more importantly, before the trades they had no direction.

The Cavaliers accomplished what they needed most, a change in direction. With the two moves that they made before the three o'clock Thursday deadline, management showed that they are trying to get younger and build through the draft.

In their first trade of the day, the one that made the headlines, the Cavaliers traded Jamario Moon and struggling point guard Mo Williams who has been slowed down by injuries the whole year for former all-star point guard Baron Davis. (These are my thoughts on Davis: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/597226-blake-griffin-how-he-saved-baron-davis-courtesy-of-andre-miller )

More importantly, in this trade they picked up the Clippers unprotected first round pick for 2011. If the draft lottery played out with no surprises, the Cavaliers would go into the 2011 draft with both the first pick overall and the eight pick overall.

In a draft without a clear cut number one pick according to most people covering the subject, they could easily wind up with two guys arguably worthy of the first overall pick.

From this trade, the Cavaliers now have a great starting point to begin a youth movement in Cleveland.
Although Davis' contract is large (nearly $15 million in the third year of his contract, around $13 million this year and around $14 million the next year) it is just as long as Mo Williams' contract.

However, Baron has an early termination option after next season, I am not sure if he will want the money or the ring, but there will definitely be a hard decision to be made for Davis, if he lasts that long in Cleveland.

I could easily see Davis receiving a buyout from the Cavaliers, especially when he finds himself after the first few games receiving less minutes than Ramon Sessions on a team that is 10-47. Davis could find himself getting sick of the Cavaliers and I am sure that the Cavaliers would love to cut themselves free of the burden that is Davis' contract.

The second trade that occurred on the day of the deadline was one that avoided the headlines, being hidden by much larger deals.

The Cavaliers sent Minnesota's 2013 second-round pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for rookie center Semih Erden and rookie forward Luke Harangody.

What makes me very proud is that this stemmed from another great trade made in the offseason. Let's back track.

The Cavaliers obtained that pick in the offseason from the Minnesota Timberwolves in combination with Ramon Sessions and Ryan Hollins. What did they send? Delonte West, a player who they were planning on waiving if he wasn't traded. From this trade, the Cavaliers now have thriving point guard Ramon Sessions, and two rookie big men. All of this stemming from a player that wasn't expected to be in training camp.

Of the two big men that the Cavaliers acquired from the Celtics, I am more intrigued by the Turkish center, Erden. In the beginning of the season, Erden got a few opportunities to start at center because of injuries to Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, and new member of the Thunder, Kendrick Perkins.
In the seven games he has started, he has played an average of 22.4 minutes, in those minutes he was averaging nearly seven points a game along with five rebounds and one block. His effectiveness went beyond the stat sheet. He has never been shy to sacrifice his body on defense and take a charge. He has also shown how smart of a basketball player he is.

He is great for the Cavaliers because they desperately need a player who's first position is center and isn't named Ryan Hollins.

Harangody has not seen much of an opportunity but in one of his three games this season when receiving 20 minutes or more he posted an impressive stat line of 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Harangody is another power forward, one thing that the Cavaliers have plenty of. The two things that these two players do share in common, they both fit into the youth movement that Cleveland has begun.

My overall grade for the Cavaliers deadline trades, A-.

I wanted to give them an A but Davis' contract wouldn't let me. They were also unable to trade away Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker, two players that do not fit the mold of the type of players that the Cavaliers are trying have on the roster.

The Cavaliers have stayed very flexible by holding onto the large 14.5m trade exception received from the LeBron James sign and trade. Also, Jamison will be much more attractive in June and as an expiring deal next year. The Cavaliers still have two very nice pieces that could be moved.

If reports are accurate, the only thing that kept them from acquiring Richard Hamilton and the Pistons protected-pick for next season was that Hamilton was not wanting to accept a buyout from the Cavaliers. It was another sign that Cleveland is trying to get younger and build a brighter future.
(This article can also be found at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/619612-cavaliers-grading-the-cleveland-cavaliers-trade-deadline-moves.)