Cavaliers: To Contend, Should They Trade or Stay Put?

With the trade deadline approaching, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a huge decision concerning the makeup of their roster. 

The Cavs are sporting a 25-4 record and have been playing some of the best basketball in franchise history.  The chemistry of the team has been off the charts and it shows the way the team plays the game. 

Led by Lebron James, the Cavs are in position to challenge for the NBA title this year.  The question is, do they have enough to dethrone the Celtics in the East and defeat whoever comes out of the West?

With a big piece of trade bait in Wally Szczerbiak's expiring contract, should the Cavs take a chance in breaking up the current roster by making a move? 

Rumors have been floating that the Cavs have been interested in acquiring a Vince Carter, Mike Miller, or Antwain Jamison.  If Danny Ferry pulls the trigger on a trade he risk breaking up the chemistry of the current team.

The Cavs pulled off a major trade last Feburary that brought in Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, Delonte West, and Joe Smith.  The team took the Celtics to the seventh game before bowing out in Beantown in a hard-fought battle.  It had been said that the team hadn't yet gelled.

With the acquisition of Mo Williams this year, the Cavs have been running on all cylinders.  Szczerbiak has been a regular in coach Mike Brown's rotation.  Wally's defense has even been impressive as he has been ask to cover forwards down in the low post. 

However, defense is not the staple of Wally's game.  He was brought in with hopes of spreading the floor and creating more space for Lebron and other Cavs.  Through 28 games he is averaging 6.6 points while shooting 41 percent from the field and 30 percent from behind the arc.  These are not the numbers the Cavs had envisioned when they picked up the 6'7 Szczerbiak.

Mike Brown is a defensive coach first and appears happy with the way Wally plays defense.  Brown said that he has not even considered a trade at this point in the season with the way his team is playing.  But it's hard to imagine the Cavs not listening to offers right up to the deadline, and if they can get a player like Jamison, they may just pull the trigger and roll the dice. 

With a leader like Lebron, bringing in a player like Jamison or Miller would not effect the chemistry of the current team  And if the Cavaliers have a chance to improve the team, they would be foolish not to make the trade. 

It may be the final piece to a championship team.