Antonio Daniels trade...

[Tricky_Falcon]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4459236" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Daniels, pick to Wolves
By Marc Stein

The New Orleans Hornets improved their depth Wednesday by completing a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves that sends guard Antonio Daniels to the Wolves for forward Darius Songaila and guard Bobby Brown.

The trade also sends a 2014 second-round pick to Minnesota.

"Darius brings toughness and experience to bolster our frontcourt," Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said. "[And] we know Bobby pretty well from when he played on our summer-league team and are excited to add his speed and scoring ability."

Minnesota acquired Songaila as part of the draft-week deal with the Washington Wizards that netted the No. 5 overall pick, which the Wolves used on Spanish guard Ricky Rubio. With Rubio deciding to spend at least the next two seasons in his native country with perennial Spanish club power Barcelona, Daniels is the latest veteran targeted by the Wolves to help fill the Rubio void.

"Antonio has the ability to play both guard positions and will provide a veteran presence and added flexibility to our backcourt," said David Kahn, the Timberwolves' president of basketball operations. "This trade also provides increased flexibility for personnel moves beginning next summer."

The Wolves are also still expecting to land restricted free agent Ramon Sessions, who signed a four-year offer sheet worth $16.4 million last week that the Milwaukee Bucks are not expected to match.

The financial components of the deal favor Minnesota, with the Wolves shedding their $4.8 million salary obligation to Songaila in 2010-11 to create an estimated $13 million in salary-cap space for the summer of 2010.

New Orleans has lowered its payroll for the coming season by $1.3 million to move within $2.3 million of the $69.9 million luxury-tax line -- down from $3.6 million -- but had to take on the extra year of Songaila's contract to do so.

Songaila should nonetheless be a useful addition to the Hornets' new-look frontcourt rotation entering his seventh season out of Wake Forest, where he played before the arrival of Hornets guard Chris Paul. He averaged 7.4 points and 2.9 rebounds off the bench for the Wizards last season.

In previous moves to revamp its front line this offseason, New Orleans traded Tyson Chandler to Charlotte for Emeka Okafor and signed Ike Diogu as a free agent.

Brown is entering the second season of a contract he earned from the Sacramento Kings based largely on his breakout play with the Hornets' summer-league team in 2008. The Cal State Fullerton product was dealt from the Kings to the Wolves in February as part of the Rashard McCants deal and averaged 5.3 points and 1.7 assists in 68 games.

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[VDub26Falcon]

Poor Antonio...wish the guy could get on a winner and stay there!

[Falconboy]

Poor Antonio...wish the guy could get on a winner and stay there!

Several years back when the Cav's were in desperate need of a pg, It was my dream for AD to get picked up by the Cav's to play with Lebron. Yeah, no playoffs for Antonio this season.

[redskins4ever]

If Ricky Rubio would have just signed... this trade would have never happened. F RICK RUBIO!

[WestChesterFalcon]

Antonio was released today by the Wolves.

[OSUFALCON]

This is what he wanted. He wants a chance to play. I wasn't going to play with the Wolves. They are on this young player movement, which means lots of losses.

[ZiggyZoomba]

Agreed. He had permission while still on the Twolves roster to talk with other teams, so he was just waiting to be put on waivers, now he can go sign with someone where he'll play.

[ZiggyZoomba]

Plain Dealer says the Cavs have been in contact with 'Tone...

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-bl ... on_32.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Warthog]

Plain Dealer says the Cavs have been in contact with 'Tone...

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-bl ... on_32.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With the uncertain future of Delonte West, I think Daniels to the Cavaliers just makes way too much sense. It has to happen.

[Falconboy]

Plain Dealer says the Cavs have been in contact with 'Tone...

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-bl ... on_32.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With the uncertain future of Delonte West, I think Daniels to the Cavaliers just makes way too much sense. It has to happen.

Wow, what a bizzare turn of events for Antonio. This could be great for him. Who the heck knows whats up with D.West and his mental problems but this could mean a door for AD to play with Lebron and Shaq of all people and play for a championship again in his home state. Cavs would be moronic not to sign AD.

[LowryFalcon]

I really hope this happens. This would be too awesome!!!

[VDub26Falcon]

I am DEFINITELY pulling for the Cavs to sign Dan Gilbert...Dear Mr. Gilbert, if you sign Antonio Daniels I PROMISE to vote for Issue 3 so you can make a bunch more money and buy the Browns and Indians too!!! GO CAVS!!!

[Dayons_Den]

What is ironic and funny about this development is two weeks ago when the Cavs were in Charleston for a pre-season game they stayed at the hotel where my wedding party was.

I got to meet Shaq, LeBron, Mo, Mike Brown and Danny Ferry.

Seeing as how it was the day before my wedding and the evening of the rehearsal dinner this was all pretty overwhelming but I did mention to Mike Brown about being from BG and knew that he had coached AD in San Antonio.

Then later I was in the bar and had a long conversation with Danny Ferry, mentioning how a couple years ago when the Cavs signed Mo Williams I was hoping they'd get AD.

And in case you're wondering about the wedding Shaq said "don't do it" while Danny Ferry said "congratulations, it was the best thing to happen to me in my life".

[TG1996]

And in case you're wondering about the wedding Shaq said "don't do it" while Danny Ferry said "congratulations, it was the best thing to happen to me in my life".

Really? Better than a mediocre pro career? He must have married up.

Here I figured you would drop your business card and stories of working in professional sports. If AD gets a deal in CLE, he owes you a car.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

I am DEFINITELY pulling for the Cavs to sign Dan Gilbert

I didn't know he was a great player as well as a great owner