Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers shocked the world by making it to the NBA Finals. Although they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs, the season was a definite success for LeBron James and the Cavs.

However, this season everyone in the Eastern Conference is talking about how the Boston Celtics are the shoo-in to represent the East in the finals. If not the Celtics, the Detroit Pistons are the team shown the love. The Cavs?  The skeptics have given them no chance. Last season is seen as a fluke.

At the trade deadline the Cavs did a major trade that has caught everyone’s attention. Cleveland traded away Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Ira Newble and Donyell Marshall in a three-team trade that also included the Chicago Bulls and the Seattle Supersonics. In return, the Cavs acquired Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, Joe Smith and Delonte West.

It’d be impossible to argue that the Cavs didn’t improve in this trade. Hughes, Newble and Marshall hurt the Cavs as much as they helped. Gooden put up good stats but he has always been prone to dumb plays.

On the other hand, the Cavs received four very useful players. Ben Wallace isn’t what he once was but he’ll be energized now that he’s on a contender once again. Wally Szczerbiak is a deadeye shooter who will light it up next to LeBron. Smith replaces what Gooden gave the team, minus the stupidity. And in Delonte West, the Cavs got a young guard with a lot of upside who can knock down the open shot.

Now the Cavs can start a lineup of Zydrunas Ilgauskas at center, Wallace at power forward, LeBron at small forward, Sczcerbiak at shooting guard and either West or Boobie Gibson at point guard. Add in useful role players such as Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic and suddenly the Cavs are brimming with talent.

LeBron with talent around him is a scary thought. He was dominating with horrible teammates. Now that he has talent at his disposal?  The Celtics reign on top has ended before it even began.