SI.com's Trade Analysis: Cavs and CelticsPosted: Monday December 15, 2003 8:08PM; Updated: Monday December 15, 2003 10:03PM 
| SI.com's Marty Burns: Celtics and Cavs make six-player deal |
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CAVALIERS GET:
Eric Williams - SF
Tony Battie - C
Kedrick Brown - SG |
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CELTICS GET:
Ricky Davis - SG
Chris Mihm - PF
Michael Stewart - C
Second-round pick |
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| '03-04 |
G |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
FG% |
FT% |
| Williams |
21 |
11.6 |
4.5
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1.2 |
1.1 |
43.5 |
71.6 |
| Battie |
23 |
5.9 |
5.1 |
0.9 |
0.4 |
47.9 |
69.7 |
| Brown |
21 |
5.2 |
3.2 |
1.2 |
0.8 |
45.5 |
61.5 |
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| '03-04 |
G |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
FG% |
3P% |
| Davis |
22 |
15.3 |
5.5 |
5.0 |
1.1 |
43.1 |
68.0 |
| Mihm |
22 |
6.9 |
6.4 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
46.5 |
70.8 |
| Stewart |
8 |
1.0 |
2.3 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
42.9 |
100.0 |
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| WHY THE CAVALIERS MADE THE TRADE |
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WHY THE CELTICS MADE THE TRADE |
 They improve their woeful defense, while also getting rid of a headache in Davis. Williams and Battie might not be seen dunking on SportsCenter, but they're solid team defenders who were key cogs in Boston's playoff runs the past two seasons. If they stay healthy (both have been banged up this season) they should bring some veteran smarts to a young Cavs squad that was getting picked apart on a nightly basis. Meanwhile, coach Paul Silas no longer has to worry about Davis, with whom he has clashed this season. With the Cavs clearly trying to build around LeBron James, it didn't help to have Davis loafing on defense and doing his own thing. Cleveland also picks up a decent prospect in Brown, who has shown flashes of living up to his No. 11 overall draft selection two years ago, and some salary cap relief this summer when Williams' $5.5 million contract comes off the books.
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 They desperately needed a second scorer to go with Paul Pierce, and Davis can definitely fill the role. A skywalker with a reliable jumper and a quick first step, he's a legitimate 20-point guy who should bring a lot of excitement to the Fleet Center. The only question about Davis concerns his lackadaisical defense. He'll have to commit at that end, and also cut down on turnovers, if he wants to stay out of Jim O'Brien's doghouse. Mihm is a solid reserve big man with a reliable mid-range shot who has been playing the best ball of his career, and will replace the injured Raef LaFrentz. Stewart was a throw-in for salary purposes. The Celtics are giving up some flexibility with this deal (Davis has four more years and $25.3 million on his contract), but if he pans out it will be a bargain.
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| THE BOTTOM LINE |
| This deal is very similar to the recent Chicago-Toronto trade. The Celtics, like the Raptors, wanted to find some help for their Lone Ranger superstar so they can make a playoff run in the wide-open East. The Cavs, like the Bulls, wanted to improve their defense and get rid of a guy who was clashing with the coach. In that sense, both teams got what they wanted. Boston GM Danny Ainge clearly was feeling the heat for his earlier trade of Antoine Walker. With this move, he essentially has made it Davis and LaFrentz for Walker, Williams and Battie. On paper, it now looks a whole lot more even. However, Williams and Battie were a big part of Dick Harter's team defense in Boston. Also, it remains to be seen how well Davis and Pierce coexist on the perimeter. The Celtics definitely will score more points, but will they lose their defensive identity? As for the Cavs, it's a chance to get on with the James Era. Like his brother, Bulls GM John Paxson, Cavs GM Jim Paxson is trying to instill a more defensive-oriented mindset as the foundation for their rebuilding plan. He's willing to give up a quality scorer now for that purpose.
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