Welcome to another ground-breaking edition of 'McCready Malarkey'.  In this issue we take a look at the possibility of trading the most valuable player in the Association, the top 10 best big man reserves in the NBA, and we also have time for LETTERS! Wow!

Trading LeBron James

The Cleveland Cavaliers made a bold move at the trade deadline, dealing (essentially) Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, and Drew Gooden to acquire Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, and Delonte West.  Few fans look at this trade as a defining move along the same side as the Pau Gasol acquisition or the Jason Kidd move.  Most view it as a lateral move, something that will not necessarily improve the team, just change its composition.

This feedback reminded me of a conversation I had with soccer analyst and die-hard NBA fan Sean Lamond Keay in the days leading to the trade deadline.  He suggested that the only way that the Cleveland Cavaliers are to get any better was if the team brass showed any 'balls' and traded their franchise; LeBron James.

I'd like to point out that I've never seen Mr. Keay finish better than last in any basketball pool, but I digress...

His reasoning is that the team as constructed is filled with too many horrible long-term contracts to successfully build a contending team that would appease LeBron by the time his contract is finished in 2010.  After which, he'd walk away to a new franchise.

It got me thinking, assuming the Cavaliers were to do the impossible and trade LeBron James, what could they get for him?  There's never been a blue-print in the NBA for a trade of a superstar in his prime (outside of the larceny that was the Abdul-Jabbar trade in the seventies).  

When Shaquille O'Neal was dealt by the Lakers, they received Lamar Odom and Caron Butler, which isn't a bad haul when looking at Odom's worth at the time and Caron's development as a player (although the front office ruined it by trading Butler for Kwap-on-a-stick Brown).

A ground rule before we embark on this venture, seeing as all this is hypothetical, is I'm going to throw out making all the salaries match-up.  It deletes from the fun, and, more importantly, is a real pain in the Araujo to make work.

LeBron James to the Toronto Raptors for Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon

This would address a couple needs for Cleveland.  Zydrunas Ilgauskas is somewhat like a bulkier, better rebounding Andrea Bargnani with less range so Chris Bosh should fit in pretty well as his frontcourt partner while Jose Calderon would give the team its long sought after point guard.

This would also be a pretty sick trade for the Raptors.  It would allow Bargnani to shift to his more natural position of power forward, and TJ Ford is a more than adequate starting point guard, assuming he stays healthy.  That's a big assumption.

LeBron James to the Atlanta Hawks for Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Acie Law 3:16

The Cavs would get a nice blend of outstanding athleticism and youth in this package.  Johnson and Smith would finally get the frontcourt help they've never had to work with in Atlanta (although Al Horford is changing that).  Acie Law could be the point guard of the future the team is still looking for.

This would be a terrible trade for James personally, but he, Marvin Williams, and Josh Childress would make that Hawks' team damn fun to watch.

LeBron James to the Utah Jazz for Andrei Kirilenko and Deron Williams

This is the deal that made me just forgo the salary matching stipulation as this trade just seemed too good.  Williams has all the tools to be a top five point guard for the next ten years.  He's big, strong, has shooting range, is unselfish, plays good defense, and reads the opposing defense well.  It's a shame he was snubbed for the All-Star game.  Kirilenko would give the team its needed perimeter stopper; he would also help keep the team's athleticism level sinking too low with James' departure.

LeBron James to the Portland Trailblazers for Brandon Roy, Greg Oden and Travis Outlaw

This is a trade that many fans of the Portland Trailblazers might actually say no to.  There was a small contingent of Brandon Roy MVP believers earlier in the season (Scoop Jackson being one of them), but that talk has died down along with the fortunes of his team.  The Cleveland frontcourt depth would be a great thing for Greg Oden if only so he wouldn't have to play significant minutes upon returning from microfracture surgery.  Travis Outlaw would man Cleveland's small forward position.

Funny tidbit on Travis Outlaw; he and LeBron were both from the same high school class, and Travis claimed on their draft day that he would end up being the superior player to LeBron.  Well, not really a 'funny' tidbit but a tidbit, nonetheless.

LeBron James to the New York Knicks for Zack Randolph, Eddy Curry, Jamal Crawford and Jared Jeffries

Now, there is no possible way that Cleveland would do this trade.  Why did I put it up there again?  Oh yeah, those are the players that the Knicks have under contract the year that LeBron becomes a free agent.  Whoops!

The Ten Best backup Centers in the NBA

Wow, what a terrible list of players.

When I started this list I figured that there must be a lengthy list of half-decent back-up centers in the NBA.  Nothing could be further from the truth as I had to go through each roster again and attempt to find worthy enough players to place on this list.  I even considered Adonal Foyle!  On top of that, most of these players would typically be classified as a 'power forward'.  No wonder teams take such gambles on oversized stiffs in the draft.  

Usually I scroll downward these types of lists from number 10 but seeing how bad these players are, I'll just start off with the best backup center in the league and head from there...

1. David Lee - The New York Knicks Some might say that he's more of a power forward.  They would be right, but on the Knicks he's probably the best thing they've got going at center and that includes Eddy Curry.

2. Kurt Thomas - The San Antonio Spurs The Knicks ditched this geezer years ago to make room for Jerome James and he just keeps on going.  Why Phoenix threw him away for nothing last summer is something I don't understand.  The Spurs acquired him at the trade deadline and despite the trade being as exciting as the NHL's version of the dunk contest, it could pay off with yet another San Antonio championship.

3. Anderson Verejao - The Cleveland Cavaliers  The Brazillian Side-Show does everything a back up big man should do, play good defense, rebound, and bring endless energy off the bench.  That moppy do ain't just for show as it attracts loads of attention from fans and referees.  Last year he led the league in drawn charges, partially because it's hard to miss that much hair hitting the floor.

4. Jason Maxiell - The Detroit Pistons Mad undersized even for the power forward position, Maxiell's length, athleticism, timing, and lanky arms allow him to play much bigger than he actually is.

5. Paul Millsap - The Utah Jazz Another player in the Maxiell mold (and another player who slipped heavily on draft day) Millsap doesn't have Maxiell's athleticism, but his hands are among the best in the league, and he uses them to grab any rebound that comes his way.

6. Yi Jianlian - The Milwaukee Bucks Yi is probably the most skilled player here and definitely the player with the most upside.  He has all the skills but lacks the toughness and rebounding acumen which is second nature to those players ahead of him on this list.

7. Channing Frye - The Portland Trailblazers  Frye has not developed as expected since his solid rookie campaign, but he is a solid offensive option who wont hurt you on the glass.  He's another player ditched by the Knicks to make room for the sandwich platter pointy heads.

8. Rasho Nesterovic - The Toronto Raptors The Sandy Slovenian Rash is about as exciting a player as sandpaper.  What he lacks in style he makes up for in substance.  Overpaid? Definitely.  Totally useless?  Not quite.

9. DeSagna Diop - The New Jersey Nets He has no offensive talent whatsoever, but he's a behemoth who can block shots and run the floor.

10. Ronnie Turiaf - The Los Angeles Lakers The inspirational player who came back from open-heart surgery is a classic banger who can rebound and block shots.  He's good insurance to have if Bynum is unable to return at 100% in time for the playoffs.

The Karl Malone Express

Q: Matt, I think you need to do a little more research next time you write your column because Jason Kidd started on Team USA last summer over Chauncey Billups and Deron Williams; Chris Paul was not on the team. My opinion for the worst dunk in dunk contest history is the Darrell Armstrong "reverse layup"; he couldn't even dunk it in the dunk contest.

- Derek Flack

A: Yeah, good call, Derek.  I was flashing back to Kidd starting in front of Paul at the World Championships in Japan in 2006.  Paul missed the 2007 tourney with an injury.

I will indeed do LESS research but include more baseless rumors in my next article.  It's the mantra at my alma mater the Marty York School of Journalism.

Questions?  Comments?  Probes?  Cheap herbal Viagra offers?  Email Matt McCready at mattmccready@gmail.com