Written by Rich Swerbinsky

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The Cavaliers are a point guard away from being the bona fide favorites to win the Eastern Conference. I think most Cavs fans would agree with that statement. And don't get me wrong here, I feel there is a place for both Eric Snow and Damon Jones on this team. But neither is a true point guard. In my latest, I take a look at the six players most likely to come over to the Cavs via trade to help address the teams point guard woes. The Cavaliers are a point guard away from being the bona fide favorites to win the Eastern Conference this season. I think most Cavs fans would agree with that take.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm no Eric Snow hater. You need guys like Eric Snow to win in this league. He's still a great defender, is like a coach on the floor, and never turns the ball over. But Snow is playing too many minutes. And at this stage in his career, he's not even really a point guard anymore. He can't run the break, he can't dribble penetrate, and more often than not he guards the opponent's wing players while Larry Hughes defends the opposing point guard.

The Cavs also have Damon Jones, but I wouldn't consider him a point guard either. He's the polar opposite of Snow. He's terrible on defense, lacks the passing and penetrating skills of a point guard, and is little more than a sniper from long range on offense that gives you next to nothing at the other end. Again, there's a need for a guy like Damon on this team, but he's no point guard.

So the Cavs are a point guard away from being the legitimate favorites in the East. Can they acquire that point guard this season?

Sadly, it's doubtful. The Cavs don't have much to offer in the way of a trade. And that makes all of these scenarios by Cavs fans that have us dealing for Andre Miller and Mike Bibby nothing but a pipe dream.

What really kills the Cavs is the fact that they have no draft picks in 2007. They dealt their first round pick to Boston for Jiri Welsch. And owe their second round selection to Orlando as a part of the deal that saw Anderson Varejao and Drew Gooden come over from the Magic. They do have a 2.1 million dollar trade exception that they can include in a deal. And they have Scot Pollard, David Wesley, and Sasha Pavlovic on expiring contracts. There is also the potential that someone may have interest in Daniel Gibson or Shannon Brown. Damon Jones? Donyell Marshall? Both are owed alot of money over the next three seasons when weighed against what you're getting.

Let's be honest here. There's alot of contenders out there that would love to add a solid veteran point guard. And almost all of them have more to offer than us. This is assuming that the Cavs will be unwilling to deal Drew Gooden, who has generated alot of interest around the league, especially the way he's played as of late. It's going to be tough for the Cavs to swing a deal for a point guard, and Danny Ferry will not risk ruining team chemistry to deal just to deal. Also, two potential trade targets were recently taken off the board when the Bucks dealt Steve Blake to the Nuggets for local product Earl Boykins.

The way I see it, there's six guys out there that are potential candidates to be this seasons Flip Murray. But none appear to be likely candidates. Here they are, listed in order of the likelihood that they could be dealt to Cleveland.

Brevin Knight, Charlotte

Brevin was the 16th overall pick of the Cavaliers back in 1996, making the all-rookie team for Mike Fratello. He had some good years for the Cavs before injuries and the lack of a jump shot derailed his career for several seasons. He's been all over the league since, but has ressurected his game as of late with Charlotte. He was having a very good year for the Bobcats before tearing an abdominal muscle, which will sideline him for another 2-3 weeks.

Knight is very quick, is a great on the ball defender, and is adept in transition. However, he's 5'9 if he's lucky and can't shoot from outside 16 feet. Brevin is averaging 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.6 steals ... and shooting 45% from the field and 87% from the free throw line.

It's realistic to think that the Bobcats will entertain dealing Brevin. He's in the second year of a three year deal with the team, he has value, and Charlotte has Ray Felton as the future at point guard. And also recently traded for Jeff McInnis to back him up in Knight's absence.

Marko Jaric, Minnesota

The albatross hanging around Jaric's neck is the fact that he is in the second year of a 6 year/38 million dollar deal. He's a big guard at 6'7 and 225 lbs, has point guard skills offensively, and can guard talented wings on the other end. He's averaging 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 21 minutes a night for the Wolves.

Jaric is reportedly on the block in Minnesota. He's missed the last couple games with a thumb injury, and is losing time to the triumverate of Mike James, Ricky Davis, and Randy Foye in the T-Wolve backcourt.

Jaric is inconsistent and injury prone, but has intriguing talent, plays defense, and is likely to be moved. But he's owed alot of money over the next four seasons.

Delonte West, Boston

West is not a true point guard, and is more of a combo guy in the Shannon Brown mold. The Cavs have reportedly had interest in him for some time, and the Celtics had been dangling him before recently losing Tony Allen to a season ending ACL injury.

Delonte is 6'4, 180 lbs and is in the final year of his three year rookie deal after being selected with the 24th overall pick in 2004 by the Celts out of St. Josephs. His minutes and stats are down this season after a very solid sophomore year last year for the C's. The reason? Nagging back injuries, poor shooting (39% FG), and Boston's draft day additions of Sebastian Telfair and Rajon Rondo.

West can shoot the three, can play defense, and runs the floor fairly well. He does not have true point guard playmaking skills. He has some allure around the league, and even if the Celtics looked to move him, it's doubtful the Cavs would be willing or able to put together the winning package to get him.

Earl Watson, Seattle

Watson was unhappy for most of the season, playing limited minutes behind starter Luke Ridnour. This has changed recently as he's assumed the starting role due to Ridnour's matador defense, and has been playing about 35 minutes a night as of late. Possibly Ridnour is the guy that may get moved out of Seattle? It's hard to tell with Bob Hill, who has a deep doghouse, and fluctuates his players minutes violently from night to night.

Watson is 6'1, 195 lbs, and is a pass first point guard that plays great defense, but cannot shoot to save his life (35% FG). He can run and dribble penetrate much better than Snow or Jones. He's in his sixth year out of UCLA, and is in the second year of a 5 year/29 million dollar deal.

There's been alot of talk in Seattle about the Sonics dealing one of their two point guards. In the end, Ridnour is the higher upside guy despite presently being in Hill's doghouse, and they're more likely to deal Watson. They need a center though, and the Cavs can't really help them there.

Tyronne Lue, Atlanta

This Cav killer is having a career year, averaging 14.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists for the struggling Hawks, who also have Speedy Claxton at the point. Lue is a playmaker that can run, and has shown an ability to put the biscuit in the basket the last couple of seasons.

Lue is in his ninth season out of Nebraska, and is in the second year of a three year deal. The Hawks signed Speedy Claxton to be their starting point guard, but Lue has outplayed him. Lue is under six feet, but is lightning bug quick, and seems like he would be a good fit here.

However, the Hawks have designs on competing next season, and any deal of Lue would have to make next years team better, which makes a Cavalier deal for him unlikely.

Janerro Pargo, New Orleans

Pargo is another guy the Cavs have liked for the last couple of seasons, and we're seeing why now. He's playing very well for the Hornets filling in for the injured Chris Paul. The Hornets signed Pargo to a 2 year/2.1 million dollar deal this off-season to back him up.

Pargo is 6'1, 185 lbs and is in his fifth season out of Arkansas. He's an above average three point shooter, and plays very good defense. He has good athleticism, but does not have pure point guard playmaker skills. He's averaging 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists for New Orleans this season ... and shoots 34% from three and 87% from the charity stripe.

With Pargo having a good season, and Paul still injured ... it's hard to see New Orleans dealing Pargo. Especially for Sasha Pavlovic or an unproven Shannon Brown.