Factory Of Sadness
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5 most important deadline trades in Cleveland Cavaliers franchise history

By Chad Porto

CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 29: Kevin Love #0 and Andre Drummond #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate after the two connected on a pass during the second half at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 29, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Pacers defeated the Cavaliers 113-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 29: Kevin Love #0 and Andre Drummond #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate after the two connected on a pass during the second half at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 29, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Pacers defeated the Cavaliers 113-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 19: Ben Wallace #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a play during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Cavaliers 105-88. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 19: Ben Wallace #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a play during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Cavaliers 105-88. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

2008 NBA Trade Deadline

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ landing of Ben Wallace may not look like a major trade at the time, but this was a major move from the club for several reasons. It first marked the end of the Larry Hughes and LeBron James experiment. Hughes was James’ first real running buddy since James entered the league.

James and Hughes never really clicked, which was mostly due to both men being ball-dominant creators, who liked to attack the rim. Yet, the trade to get rid of him would actually create the blueprint for all future success for James. See, the Cavs traded two offensive-minded players for Wallace, a defensive-minded player. Each team that James won an NBA title on, save for the Cavs, had a top-flight defense backed by a single player.

In Miami, he had a few, namely guys like Shane Battier. In Los Angeles, he had a still healthy and active Dwight Howard. The Cavs’ knew James needed help defensively so they ended up going to get the best defensive player on the market.

That’s not all, however. The Cavs also went out of their way to dump Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble in a trade with the Seattle SuperSonics for Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West. Had Szczerbiak been healthy, he would’ve been the perfect running mate for James.

Getting James an elite-level shooter was something he’d get in Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles, so the blueprint for how to win with James was created in 2008.

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