| Starting off our countdown of the greatest | | | | Had Wally been able to avoid these injuries,which |
| Cavaliers ever, is none other than Wally | | | | greatly affected his shooting and jumping ability, |
| Szczerbiak. Wally was born in Madrid, Spain. He | | | | he could still be playing today. He's not on an |
| spent almost all of his youth in Europe, as his dad | | | | NBA roster currently. |
| was a professional basketball player for Real | | | | The Celtics saw Wally's diminishing skill-set and |
| Madrid. After his dad retired, he moved the | | | | made a move on draft night to trade him along |
| family to New York. Wally was a grade-A high | | | | with Delonte West to Seattle, in exchange for |
| school baller, and was recruited by Division 1 Miami | | | | Ray Allen and their 35th pick.. who ended up |
| of Ohio to continue his basketball career. | | | | being Glen Davis. Probably one of the best |
| Wally was a man possessed at Miami, leading a | | | | trades in Boston's history. Ray Allen's pretty |
| team of relative scrubs to the NCAA's Sweet 16 | | | | good from what I hear. |
| in 1999 as a 10 seed. In their first round upset | | | | In 2008, the Cavaliers decided to go after |
| of #7 Washington, Wally unloaded for a career | | | | Wally. At this point in his career, he was still a |
| high 43 points. After that they upset #2 Utah; | | | | solid knock-down shooter, but his injuries were of |
| he scored 24 points and led the Redhawks to the | | | | major concern. We decided we wanted him |
| Sweet 16. Meanwhile, he was named a first | | | | anyways, and in February 2008 we completed |
| team All-American and MAC player of the year in | | | | a three-team trade to acquire Wally, Delonte, |
| 98-99. He finished his career as Miami's 2nd | | | | Ben Wallace, and Joe Smith. This sent Larry |
| all-time leading scorer. | | | | Hughes, Drew Gooden, and Shannon Brown on |
| After his solid college campaign, Wally was taken | | | | their way. Probably shouldn't have given up |
| by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 6th | | | | on Shannon so early. I recall there was a lot of |
| overal pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. His best year | | | | excitement in the air after this trade, mostly |
| was in 2002, when he played in all 82 games, | | | | because of Ben Wallace. I was more excited |
| averaged 18 points, and was added to the | | | | about Wally. |
| Western Conference All-Star team. In 2003, he | | | | |
| tied a Timberwolves franchise record scoring 44 | | | | In his first year, he played in 25 regular season |
| points. For one reason or another, Minnesota | | | | games, starting only one time. He averaged 8.2 |
| decided to have Wally come off the bench in | | | | points and 3 rebounds. He was still very skilled at |
| 2004. He wasn't too happy about it. In 2005, | | | | putting the ball in the basket, but you could tell his |
| he regained his starting role. His total contract | | | | ankles were bothering him. When the playoffs |
| value for his time in Minnesota was $63 | | | | came around, Mike Brown decided to start Wally |
| million. | | | | at the 2 position. |
| In 2006, the Timberwolves decided it was time to | | | | In an important Game 6 vs. the Washington |
| part ways with fan-favorite Szczerbiak, and | | | | Wizards in Round 1, Wally dropped 26 points and |
| traded him to the Boston Celtics for basically | | | | helped the Cavs advance out of the first round. |
| Ricky Davis. He played well for Boston initially, | | | | We eventually lost to Boston, but he |
| and early in the season dropped 35 points on the | | | | averaged 10.8 points per game, and was always |
| Bobcats. But pretty soon, his injuries started to | | | | the best-looking Cavalier representative. Wally |
| catch up with him and he had to have knee | | | | was always good for a quote after the game |
| surgery. Not too long after that, he suffered | | | | too. After one game, "Bottom line in this |
| injuries to both of his ankles and decided to have | | | | league is, you've got to make shots, especially in |
| season-ending surgery on both ankles. | | | | the 4th quarter. |