<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">With the NBA trading deadline one week away and all the league's executives and media descending onto Houston for this weekend's All-Star festivities, trade rumors are in season. The Cavaliers, without Larry Hughes for the rest of the regular season and still in need of help at point guard, figure to be part of the show. Unlike some of his peers, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry is being tight-lipped about his intentions, but it is clear that the Cavs don't think that they must make a trade. Heading into Wednesday night's play, the Cavs owned a three-game lead on the Milwaukee Bucks for the important fourth playoff spot and an eight-game lead on the last playoff spot. Of the Cavs' remaining 30 games after the break, 18 are against teams under .500, so the schedule favors them. They also own several tiebreakers over potential playoff teams already, including the Bucks and Indiana Pacers, the teams right behind. In other words, despite average play since Hughes' injury, there isn't a belief the team is in dire straits. The real issue, though, is long-term fiscal responsibility. The Cavs' most tradeable player is Drew Gooden, who will be a restricted free agent at season's end. Many of the players available for trade have undesirable long-term deals. Two league executives said the Cavs have had discussions about trading Gooden for Denver Nuggets point guard Earl Watson and Golden State Warriors point guard Derek Fisher, among others. Both of those players have four years and around $25 million left on their contracts after this season, making them somewhat undesirable considering both Eric Snow and Damon Jones also have three years left on their contracts. Not to mention that, in general, trading quality big men for guards is a long-standing basketball no-no. A more interesting option would be the Toronto Raptors' Mike James, who likely will opt out of his contract at season's end. But it isn't clear whether the Cavs and Raptors have had meaningful discussions. Pile it together, and it points to the Cavs standing pat unless a more attractive deal develops over All-Star weekend. Hughes released Hughes was released from Baltimore's Union Memorial Hospital on Wednesday after surgery on his right hand. He went home to St. Louis, where he'll spend the All-Star break with his family. He got a chance to talk to several of his teammates for the first time. ``He's doing fine. He's not excited about what is going on, but he's being strong,'' LeBron James said. ``We're looking forward to him joining us again.'' Time to re-sign All indications point to the Cavs signing rookie swingman Stephen Graham to a second 10-day contract Monday. His first 10-day deal expired after Wednesday's game with the Celtics, but due to the All-Star break, he won't have to be re-signed until next week. That will give the team six more games to look at him. Then they must decide to sign Graham for the rest of the regular season or let him walk. </div> Source
