With NBA rules prohibiting teams from negotiating predetermined agreements in regards to waivers, Cleveland was forced to trade Zydrunas Ilgauskas to Washington with the hope that he would be bought out and return in 30 days.

The Mavericks have already expressed an interest in Ilgauskas if he's waived and he could prove valuable to the Wizards to use as an expiring contract to other potential suitors.

The Wizards currently have over $33M in pure expiring contracts, which they could conceivably use in trades similar to the one Houston GM Daryl Morey has been negotiating with the Knicks over the past few days.

The Rockets are attempting to acquire multiple assets from New York to capitalize on Donnie Walsh's goal of clearing Jared Jeffries' 2010-11 contract off the books.

Washington's $33M-plus in expiring contracts does not include Josh Howard's $10.89M for 09-10.  Howard's contract includes a team option for just over $11.8 million for 10-11.

It is not yet clear what GM Ernie Grunfeld's intentions are in regards to the hours leading up to the 3:00 PM EST deadline, but his options are infinite.