Feb 26, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Eastern Conference forward LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat and Western Conference guard Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (24) share a laugh late in the game as the West defeated the East 152-149 at the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

This day three years ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers traveled to Los Angeles on Christmas and took down the defending champs, the LA Lakers, 102-87.

The player formerly known as No. 23 averaged 29.7 points and shot over 50 percent from the field. Shaquille O’Neal, Mo Williams, Anthony Parker and J.J. Hickson accompanied him during this time in his career. That starting five feels like a lifetime ago when you look at the starters Byron Scott puts on the court now.

This game was a big deal. It very well could have been a preview of the NBA Finals, but we all know how that one ended. It was a faceoff between the two best players in the league, Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James. Kobe was close to a triple-double, finishing with 35 points, eight assists and 10 rebounds. No. 23 had a typical performance, scoring 26 points and dishing out six assists. Leading the Cavs in points was the “hit man” Mo Williams. The game didn’t end without some excitement, when Lamar Odom was ejected from the game after receiving two technical fouls. The Cavs came into the Staples Center and beat the Lakers in every facet of the game. By the time the game ended, half of the crowd had left, and the fans that remained in the stands were booing heavily because of the Lakers poor performance.

The Cavs were a different team. We always played in the national spotlight and everyone knew our players. Now we have some guy named Alonzo Gee in our starting lineup, and most people don’t even know who he is. It is a different time now and our team wouldn’t even be mentioned in consideration to play a game on Christmas Day. But that was a different time and the Cavs couldn’t be further from that now.

The Hollywood Gossip

Mo Williams and Jamario Moon were sent to the Los Angeles Clippers to complement rookie sensation Blake Griffin. Performing virtually the same duties as Baron Davis did with LA, Mo Williams had a reasonably decent end to a mediocre season.

His heart was there but his body just refused to excel at the heights of his potential. Maybe his moment in the spotlight is over, but these two players were not the only subjects that Clippers’ front office should have let go for greener pastures.

You have to love a guy who stands up for his team before, during and after the firestorm like Daniel “Booby” Gibson continues to do when comments strike the web about how insufficient the Cleveland Cavaliers were, as reported by Cleveland.com.

“The way it’s said, you can’t help but take it personal. … I don’t think great players should feel the need to say this about a team or say that about a team. I think what it all boils down to if you’re great, you go play great, be great and everybody will realize you’re great. And you wouldn’t have to let it be known that everybody else was less great.

“Great players shouldn’t have to do that.

“So I feel like it’s kind of an admission. He might have needed some help. He might have needed to go somewhere and find someone who is a little greater so maybe he wouldn’t die down in those moments.”

Never recanting statements that seem to come from his heart, Gibson is one of the most loyal athletes I have seen in basketball in a very long time. Well, in the age of the flock anyway.

With all of those precious factors taken into consideration, it seems almost unfair to point out how insignificant his contributions have been to the team.

Maybe it is because the vitality of the franchise has seeped through the pores of the hardwood, but Gibson seems a lot less into the game than before. Being beaten night after night will do something cynical to a man or woman’s personality and morale. Although he averaged more points this season than any other season with the Cavaliers, improving +5.3 from last year, his rising point average did nothing instrumental for his team or the fans he played for repeatedly.

It seems as if he has reached the peak of his abilities. That may serve a fine purpose for another team in the league, but Owner Gilbert must consider blowing up the entire roster, with the exception of the younger, rising athletes acquired most recently.

He is a grand role player, but if the Cavaliers want to return to the days of Mike Brown, they must put specific players in place to achieve the common goal. Greatness comes with the determent of friendships and longtime bonds. Unfortunately, Gibson seems to be on the short end of the playoff berth stick.

Being the fourth highest paid player on the roster, I would expect him to have a higher player efficiency rating than 13.3. I can appreciate the sentiment expressed in keeping him on board as the front office attempt the right the path of a wine and gold colored ship on such a turmoil filled journey.

Still, considering the objective, business standpoint of it all, Gibson seems replaceable, as he has become more known for his quotes in the media and his family life, than his production off the bench.

No, it isn’t that the Cavaliers lost again last night to the Houston Rockets. That isn’t big news anymore. Losing is something we’ve come to expect from this team.

The news is that the Cavaliers have reportedly agreed in principle to a trade with the LA Clippers in exchange for Blake Griffin. No, I’m kidding. Not Blake Griffin. But they have agreed to a trade for Baron Davis in a deal that would send Mo Williams and Jamario Moon to the Clips.

Not real sure why.

Davis is at the tail end of his career and has been in a downhill spiral since his days with the Hornets. He is no longer a force at the point guard position and only has a few years left before he retires. He isn’t the same Baron Davis that could go out on any given night and torch an opponent for 30+ points and he sure as heck isn’t the type of guy that you rebuild a team around.

There is a good chance that Moon would not have been resigned at the end of this year. If he was, Cleveland fans probably would have thrown a fit. But Mo Williams is a solid young talent that could serve as the seasoned veteran for any team.

Take your pick.

Apparently Chris Grant feels that the only way to rebuild is to, first, get older. I just don’t get it. Please, oh please let this be a false report or some sort of sick joke. Otherwise, I have just lost a little bit of faith in Grant and can’t wait to see what kind of nonsense he pulls come draft time.