Delonte West Pleads Guilty to Traffic, Weapons Charges in Maryland

Despite his average abilities as an NBA player, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West has a knack for finding himself in the spotlight.

It’s just usually for the wrong reasons.

The 26-year-old plead guilty to weapons and traffic charges Thursday in a Maryland court stemming from his arrest in September of 2009.

Accompanied by his mother in court, a judge sentenced West to eight months of electronic monitoring, two years of probation, and 40 hours of community service and counseling.

Hopefully, the psychological counseling will do the troubled NBA journeyman some good.

West was detained after he cut off a police car on the Capital Beltway while speeding on his three-wheel motorcycle.  Officers found two loaded handguns, a shotgun, and a Bowie knife on his person.

The NBA is not expected to discipline West until reviewing court documents in the case.

The Cavaliers are desperately trying to move his contract after a season filled with distractions both on and off the court.  A buyout clause in the deal could allow the team to waive him at a fairly minimal cost.

West, normally one of the few Cavaliers who played well during the playoffs, had an awful series against the Celtics as rumors swirled of a possible relationship with Gloria James, LeBron James' mother.

In addition to the weapons charges, West’s wife filed a domestic violence complaint against him in October of 2009.

West has waged a battle with bipolar disorder throughout his seven seasons in the NBA.  He averaged 8.8 points in 60 games for the Cavaliers last season while shooting a career-low 32 percent from three-point range.