Cleveland Cavaliers Seeking Big Man

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been actively seeking to acquire another big man to give them more depth for their playoff run. After hearing Ben Wallace will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks due to a fractured right fibula, general manager Danny Ferry is probably ready to push the panic button. 

The Cavs were unsuccessful with making a trade before last week's trade deadline. With Wally Szczerbiak's attractive $13.8 million dollar expiring contract, they were hoping to add a big name player to their roster. They went after both Amare Stoudemire and Antawn Jamsion, but had their offers declined.

Ferry even made offers to the Phoenix Suns for 36-year-old Shaquille O'Neal. League sources said that an offer of Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic for O'Neal was turned down. With the trade deadline passed, the Cavs are now faced with limited options. 

The Cavs are most interested in veteran forward Joe Smith. Smith played for Cleveland last year after the big three-team deal went down last February. He was then traded along with Damon Jones for Mo Williams.

Now in Oklahoma City, league sources are reporting that he has been in talks with the Thunder about seeking a buyout. He has to reach an agreement by Sunday night in order to be eligible to sign with a team and play throughout the playoffs.

The Cavs have been impatiently waiting for Smith to reach an agreement so they can make him an offer. 

Another option for the Cavaliers is 16-year veteran Robert Horry. Horry has stated that he hasn't ruled out a comeback this season. Horry won seven NBA titles throughout his career, so playoff experience isn't even a question with him.

Adding Horry will give the Cavs another big man who can also shoot the "three-bal"l and is not afraid of the big shot. However, Horry is not the Ben Wallace-type and isn't known for controlling the paint. With limited options, Robert Horry's name is certainly in the mix.

Another guy who may become available will catch most people by surprise. The Sacramento Kings may be looking to buy out the remaining $7.1 million left on the contract of former Cavalier Drew Gooden.

If this is true, it is said that the Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs are the two more likely teams to land him. Prior to the trade that landed him in Chicago last year, Gooden had been the starting power forward for the Cavs for three-and-a-half years.

If Gooden does get bought out, he will definitely be the most talented big man available and expect the Cavs to make him an offer. 

In the meantime, Anderson Varejao will replace Wallace as the starting power forward. That leaves the Cavs with rookies J.J Hickson and Darnell Jackson coming off the bench along with veteran center Lorenzen Wright who hasn't seen much time on the floor all year.

Compared to other contenders, the Cavs have a really young and inexperienced bench, and that is a gap they need to fill. If the team does not sign another big man in the near future, they will have a tough time winning a championship with their current front court. 

Stay tuned for an update as the Cavs look to work the waiver wire.