Gooden traded to Cleveland

[madape]

The Orlando Magic have agreed to trade power forward Drew Gooden, Steven Hunter and the rights to second-round draft pick Anderson Varejao of Brazil to the Cleveland Cavaliers for center/forward Tony Battie .

Hunter, a free agent, had to be signed to a new contract before the deal becomes official later today.

Battie, 6-11, 240, averaged 5.6 points and 4.9 rebounds last season, playing in both Boston and Cleveland.

Gooden averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds last season, hif first full year in Orlando.


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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...orts-headlines

[kg_veteran]

So much for that.

And while you're at it, scratch Cleveland off the list of potential destinations for Walker.

[kg_veteran]

Really nice recovery by Cleveland, IMO.

[grndmstr_c]

Two potential trading partners get taken out with one stone. That's a pretty nice return for the Cavs on Battie.

[madape]

PG - Snow / McInnis
SG - James / Newble / Wagner
SF - Luke Jackson / Pavlovic
PF - Gooden / Hunter
C - Ilgauskas / Diop

[kg_veteran]

Not sure I really like the trade for Orlando, but they are pretty solid at center (Cato and Battie) beside the young guy.

[uberfan]

Nice trade for Cleveland. Didn't cost them much. I wonder if Mavs were really involved in dicussions at all.

[Hitman]

Funny that Gooden was much more highly regarded than Boozer coming out of college.

[madape]

Originally posted by: Hitman
Funny that Gooden was much more highly regarded than Boozer coming out of college.

Gooden is a bust.

[Bayliss]

Gooden is a bust.

Gooden is one of the most **maddening** players in the league. He looks great for a couple of games. He'll post numbers like: 16 points, 11 rebounds for a week. Then the next week he'll post 6 points and 3 rebounds. And he's done that stuff ever since he came into the league.

As for the Mavs, I think it's good. The Mavs do not need another tweener forward. They already have several. One of which is all-nba.

[EricaLubarsky]

We should have brought Battie home.

[Jamisonite]

Anderson Varejao is gonna be a player....Cleveland robbed orlando here

[SaltwaterChaffy]

Gooden is about to begin his third year in the league. Doesn't it seem a bit too early to call him a bust?

[Jamisonite]

Clev also shipped 2 future second round picks to orlando according to Espn

[NBAGnome]

great deal for cavs...they gave up barely anything...surprised orlando couldn't even get a future first round pick out of them.

I hope Anderson V. turns out well. Just because he has cool hair. From what i've read hes a good prospect.

[V]

I don't have much interest is Hunter ... but I don't know much about him either. I'd like to see him in camp though. See if he has anything...

From Akron Beacon

"To get the deal done, the Cavaliers had to arrange a sign-and-trade deal with the 7-foot Hunter, who was a free agent. A first-round draft pick in 2001, Hunter has been disappointing, averaging just 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in three seasons. To satisfy rules, the Cavaliers had to give Hunter a three-year contract. But his future is very uncertain, and Paxson said he isn't sure where he fits in the Cavaliers' plan.

``I believe (the Cavaliers) are going to waive Steven,'' Weisbrod said."

[GP]

Playing with great passers like Lebron and Luke Jackson, and playing at his natural power forward position look for a breakout year from Gooden. That is the point of having a player like Lebron as opposed to guys like Francis and Marbury, Lebron can get the ball to his teammates in places where they will be successful. This is a great trade from Clevelands standpoint because they get rid of the true bust in Battie and get a high energy player to pick up where Boozer left off. It's perfect because Silas knows how to develop young big men and to get the most out of his players. I doubt that Gooden will be as inconsistent playing for Silas.

[Big Boy Laroux]

playing with great passers doesn't mean a thing when you have HORRIBLE hands, which gooden certainly has.