Sonics trade Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West to Cavs

The lottery-bound Sonics helped another title contender today with a trade that sends swingman Wally Szczerbiak and guard Delonte West to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade involving the Chicago Bulls.

Seattle receives forwards Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble from Cleveland and Chicago guard Adrian Griffin. The Cavaliers net four-time defensive player of the year Ben Wallace, forward Joe Smith and a 2009 second-round pick from Chicago, while the Bulls receive guard Larry Hughes, forward Drew Gooden and reserves Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown from Cleveland.

The 11-player deal concluded after the NBA's noon trade deadline because the teams were granted an extension from the league.

The trade has not received approval from the league yet.

Marshall, 6-foot-9 and 245 pounds, has played just 11 games this season because of a sprained right wrist and left index finger infection. He's averaging 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds. In his seventh season, Newble, 6-7, is averaging 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 41 games. Griffin, a nine-year veteran, is averaging 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds.

The trade saves the Sonics roughly $6 million in salary next season.

Szczerbiak will earn $13 million in 2008-09, while Marshall makes $5.6 million and Griffin $1.7 million. Newble ($3.4 million) is in the final year of their contract.

It's believed the Sonics had a deal in place with Denver earlier in the day that would have sent West and forward Damien Wilkins to Denver for Eduardo Najera, however, league sources said the Nuggets didn't want to part with the ninth-year forward.

On Wednesday, the Sonics dealt veteran center/forward Kurt Thomas to San Antonio for a 2009 first-round draft pick and reserves Francisco Elson and Brent Barry.