The Cavaliers re-invented themselves yesterday, becoming a much tougher team, while at the same time announcing they are ready and willing to defend their Eastern Conference Championship.  While Ben Wallace seems to be the figurehead of the deal it is the other parts that I am excited about.  

Joe Smith is a heady player that has always been a thorn in the side of the Cavs.  Always getting the big rebound or hitting the key J, Smith’s presence substantially increases the Cavs’ basketball IQ. Smith is the perfect complement to LeBron on the floor. 

Wally World brings a big-time shooter to the Cavs, something they have desperately needed the past 2 seasons.  Donyell Marshall just wasn’t the player the Cavs thought they were getting 2+ years ago and Wally is a big-time improvement.  Like Marshall, Larry Hughes never seemed to fit in with LeBron.  More of a slasher, the Cavs style of play forced Hughes to become more of a spot-up shooter, something Hughes has never been comfortable doing.  Wally is as good as it gets from the perimeter, and with LeBron getting to the basket at will, Wally is going to have A LOT of open looks. 

Delonte West is just the type of player the Cavs needed at the point.  While it is true West is not the proto-typical PG, he can defend on the perimeter and handle the ball.  Like the other two, everything changes when you play next to LeBron James.  He makes everyone else better.  West is a smart, tough basketball player that  plays hard every night.  You can never have enough of those types of guys.

 Of Course, Ben Wallace is the big name.  There are questions about what Big Ben has left, but to me it is a simple answer.  Ben was never allowed to wear the head-band in Chicago.  When the Head-band came off, Wallace lost a little bit of that mojo.  In Cleveland, Wallace will be on a team full of head-bands, starting with King James himself.  Wallace brings what the Cavs did not have on the inside.  A bad-ass that will play defense first and have no problem dropping a guy to the floor when a message needs to be sent.  Drew Gooden was a nice player, but was never the sharpest tool in the shed.  The addition of Wallace also takes some pressure off Z, wo gets worn down trying to bump bodies with the big centers in the game.  Z can now focus on offense, with Wallace doing a lot of the dirty work.  With Wallace and Smith, the Cavs got tougher and smarter while not losing that much offensively. 

 The best part of all this is the Cavs gave up very little. Hughes was a non-factor in the Cavs playoff run the past two seasons and does nothing to effect a win or loss.  Wally is the shooter that Hughes is not and will take a lot of pressure off James.  Gooden was replaced by two players that add a lot of smarts and defensive presence.  The rest of the guys?  Marshall, Newble, et al.  Please.

Will it be enough?? Only time will tell.  One thing is certain.  The team that surrounds LeBron James for the rest of the season is a lot better than the one he has had to suffer with the past two seasons.