The Cavaliers tried to make a sign and trade deal with a couple of teams involving Shaquille O’Neal but to no avail. So the Diesel decided to sign a 1-year deal with the Celtics. O’Neal played in 53 games (all starts) for the Cavaliers last season and he averaged 23.4 minutes, 12.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. The Cavaliers could have given Shaq more money if he wanted to return but with his career nearing an end he wanted to play for a title contender and the Celtics fit the mold. This just means that Anderson Varejao will be the starting center and I think he will do a solid job for the Cavs in his new role.

The Cavaliers have signed 28-year old small forward Joey Graham to a 2-year deal. Graham played in 63 games (18 starts) for the Nuggets last season and he averaged 12.0 minutes, 4.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. He has now played in 338 games (76 starts) in his five years in the NBA and he has averaged 16.4 minutes, 6.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Small forward is wide open for the Cavaliers so Graham could earn himself a lot of P.T.

The Cavaliers have acquired 24-year old point guard Ramon Sessions, 25-year old center Ryan Hollins and a 2nd round pick in 2013 for 27-year old shooting guard Delonte West and 25-year old point guard Sebastian Telfair. Sessions was the key to the deal for the Cavs as he is a physical, pass-first point guard. He played in 82 games (1 start) for the T-Wolves last season and he averaged 21.1 minutes, 8.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Sessions has now played in 178 games (47 starts) in his three years in the NBA and he is averaging 24.5 minutes, 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Ryan Hollins is a big guy at 7′0″, 230 pounds but he has a lot to learn yet in the NBA. He played in 73 games (27 starts) for the T-Wolves last season and he averaged 16.8 minutes, 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Hollins has now played in 205 games (31 starts) in his four years in the NBA and he has averaged 11.6 minutes, 3.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

Delonte West is now more famous for having fun with Prince James’ momma than his basketball ability. West played in 60 games (3 starts) for the Cavs last season and he averaged 25.0 minutes, 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He played in 150 games (93 starts) in his three years with the Cavs and he averaged 29.7 minutes, 10.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Sebastian Telfair played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Cavs last season and he averaged 19.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 1.0 rebound and 3.0 assists per game.

I like this deal for the Cavaliers but I think it might foreshadow a trade of Mo Williams with the idea of Sessions replacing him in the starting lineup rather than backing him up at the point.

LeBron James continues to stick it to the Cavaliers as he has convinced Ilgauskas to take less money to play with him in Miami next year. The Cavs wanted Big Z back but he instead signed a 2-year, $2.8 million dollar deal with the Heat. Ilgauskas played in 64 games (6 starts) for the Cavaliers last season and he averaged 20.9 minutes, 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Ilgauskas played in 771 games (673 starts) in his career with the Cavaliers and he averaged 28.3 minutes, 13.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game. Ilgauskas leaves Cleveland as the Cavs’ all-time leader in games played (771), rebounds (5,904) and blocked shots (1,269). Big Z was also the Cavaliers’ #2 leading scorer with 10,616 points behind only LeBron James. Unlike LeBron James, I think the Cavs could retire Z’s number someday. It will hurt to watch Ilgauskas playing for the Heat next year.

The Cavaliers have decided to take what the Miami Heat were willing to offer them in a sign and trade deal for LeBron James. The Cavaliers will get two first round picks (believed to be in 2013 and 2015), two second round picks (believed to be in 2011 and 2012), the right to swap first round picks in 2012 and a $16 million dollar trade exception. In essence the Cavs will be able to add a player or players using up to $16 million bucks but they only have it for one year (2010-11). They also snag four picks from the Heat that they wouldn’t have gotten if they just let him walk away. Although the Cavs didn’t get nearly enough for James it was smart business to make this deal.