Cavaliers get Wallace as part of 11-player deal

LeBron James finally got some help to win an NBA title.

In a complex, 11-player trade involving Cleveland, Chicago and Seattle, the Cavaliers acquired center Ben Wallace from the Bulls and forward Wally Szczerbiak from the SuperSonics, two players to possibly get James and the Cavaliers through the Eastern Conference and back to the NBA Finals.

Cleveland General Manager Danny Ferry, unable to finalize major deals in the past, pulled off a colossal one as the clock ticked down in the final hours before Thursday’s deadline.

The Cavaliers sent guard Larry Hughes, forwards Drew Gooden and Cedric Simmons, and guard Shannon Brown to Chicago for Wallace, one of the game’s top inside enforcers, and forward Joe Smith.

Cleveland acquired the sharpshooting Szczerbiak and guard Delonte West from Seattle for forwards Ira Newble and Donyell Marshall. The Cavaliers will also get Chicago’s second-round pick in 2009. The SuperSonics will receive guard Adrian Griffin from the Bulls.

Chicago signed Wallace to a four-year, $60-million contract in 2006.

Looking to solidify their bench and protect their perch atop the Western Conference, the New Orleans Hornets acquired swingman Bonzi Wells and guard Mike James in a trade that sent veteran guard Bobby Jackson to Houston.

The trade involved three teams. The Hornets also sent rookie guard Adam Haluska and second-year forward Marcus Vinicius to Houston, then Houston sent Vinicius, the rights to Malick Badiane and cash to the Memphis Grizzlies for the rights to Sergei Lishouk.

New Orleans and Houston agreed to exchange second-round draft picks if the Hornets’ second pick is higher than Houston’s.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves traded seldom-used swingman Gerald Green to the Rockets for shooting guard Kirk Snyder. . . . The Portland Trail Blazers acquired guard Von Wafer from the Denver Nuggets for rookie guard Taurean Green. . . . The Toronto Raptors acquired center Primoz Brezec and cash from the Detroit Pistons for guard Juan Dixon.