The Chicago Bulls have acquired forward/center Drew Gooden, guard Larry Hughes, guard Shannon Brown and forward Cedric Simmons from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Joe Smith, Ben Wallace and Chicago's 2009 regular second round draft pick.
Also as part of the three-team trade, Chicago has sent guard/forward Adrian Griffin to Seattle. Chicago's roster now stands at 15.
"We are all very much aware that this season has not advanced as we anticipated. With that said, we will continue to evaluate and reshape our roster where necessary, until we can get to where we want to be as a team," said John Paxson, Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.
"This particular trade gives us the opportunity to solidify a couple of positions, as well as provide our team with some much needed scoring," he added. "The continued development of our young, big front line is crucial and this move today will allow them to gain valuable minutes on the court, which in turn will allow us to make the key decisions we are going to be faced with in the very near future."
Gooden (6-10, 250) is averaging 11.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 30.7 mpg in 51 games on the year. He has started every game that he has appeared in and has posted 16 double-doubles this season. In his sixth season out of Kansas, he has appeared in 441 contests and owns career averages of 12.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 28.4 mpg and has shot .471 from the field and .716 from the line. He also has appeared in 40 career playoff games and has posted averages of 10.8 ppg and 8.7 rpg in 28.0 mpg. Selected in the first round (fourth overall) of NBA Draft 2002 by the Memphis Grizzlies, the 26-year old Gooden has also played for the Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic.
Hughes (6-5, 185) has appeared in 40 games this year (32 starts) and has averaged 12.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.4 apg and 1.50 spg in 30.3 mpg. After one season at St. Louis University, he was drafted in the first round (eighth overall) of NBA Draft 1998 by the Philadelphia 76ers. During his career he has played in 590 games and has averaged 15.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.57 spg in 31.9 mpg and shot .410 from the field, including .296 from behind the arc, and .750 from the line. In 45 playoff games, he has totaled 13.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.0 apg and 1.78 spg in 35.0 mpg. Hughes, 29, has also played with the Philadelphia 76ers, the Golden State Warriors and the Washington Wizards. In recognition of his defensive efforts during the 2004-05 campaign he was named to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team.
