(From Boston.com)

The Celtics have been seeking a tough-minded defender to replace Tony Allen, now that he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. And according to a source, their interest could spread to former Celtic Delonte West, who is expected to be waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves after the club acquired him in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday.

West, whose full contract is not guaranteed if waived by Aug. 5, could be the moderately priced defender the Celtics seek, but of course, he would come with a plethora of issues. West pleaded guilty to weapons charges in a strange case where he was caught carrying three guns while on a motorcycle in his native Maryland last year. He received eight months of home detention but the judge ruled he would be allowed to travel with his NBA team.

When he is focused, West is a solid defender with a good midrange game, better than Allen. And he enjoyed his best years while as a Celtic, including 12.2 points, 4.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 2006-07. He was traded shortly after that season to the Seattle SuperSonics in the Ray Allen deal.

West flourished during the 2009 playoffs for the Cavaliers, averaging 13.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14 games. He would be due $500,000 when waived and the Celtics could offer a minimum salary of $1.06 million for a player of six years experience.

With the pickings slim in free agency, the Celtics might entertain the idea of West, especially since there is familiarity. But the risks may outweigh the rewards.

Good friend Jeff Clark from CelticsBlog.com provides us with more information and links:

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reached agreement on a trade that sends Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Ramon Sessions and Ryan Hollins, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Timberwolves are expected to waive West, who has only $500,000 of his $4.7 million salary guaranteed next season. The Cavs also will get a second-round pick in the trade.

And here’s the full post from Yahoo! Sports’ writer Marc Spears:

The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded Delonte West(notes) and Sebastian Telfair(notes) to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Ramon Sessions(notes) and Ryan Hollins(notes).

The Timberwolves will waive West, who has only $500,000 of his $4.7 million salary guaranteed next season. The Cavs also will get a second-round pick in the trade.

Telfair previously played for the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves signed Sessions to a four-year, $16 million contract a year ago, and the Cavs can use him at shooting guard. The Cavs lost center Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes) in free agency and aren’t expected to re-sign Shaquille O’Neal(notes), so Hollins can help their frontline.

Jonny Flynn, the T’wolves’ starting point guard last season, needs surgery to repair a hip injury and is expected to be out at least three months, league sources said. Minnesota recently signed veteran point guard Luke Ridnour and could use Telfair to back him up while Ridnour recovers.

This is the Cavs’ first significant transaction since losing LeBron James(notes) to the Miami Heat in free agency.

The Internet is buzzing with off-season rumors for the Cavs, but this isn’t exactly what the sports world expected to hear after the Cavs collapsed to the Celtics this week.

It’s being reported in many, many places, including here:

One day after Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers choked against the Boston Celtics there crazy rumors swirling about Lebron James’ mom and Delonte West.

The word around the polluted grapevine of the internet is that Delonte West and Gloria James (Lebron James’ mom) are involved a torrid love affair. And, this is why the Cleveland Cavaliers choked against the Boston Celtics-not because they were outplayed and Lebron pulled a “McNabb.”

If anything this insane story just serves as a distraction from the real issue at hand-Lebron James’ failure to get the job done in the playoffs. He has officially become the Donovan McNabb of the NBA. If I had a dime everytime some website says, “reports indicate” (insert BS rumor here) then I’d be a billionaire. Associated Content put it out there that…you guessed it-reports indicated that Lebron James found out that his mother Gloria James and Delonte West were sleeping together just before game four.

Does this explain Delonte’s lack of playing time in the second half of Game 5? Does it explain LeBron’s complete loss of game and focus in games 4, 5 and (arguably) 6?

UPDATE #1
Well, like I said earlier, this is ONLY a rumor. Deadspin provides some more insight on the source of the rumor:

Any minute now, you’re going to get a “FWD: fwd: FWD” email that purports to have originated with a guy whose “uncle is the general contractor at the Q” and who has it on good authority that West is tagging LBJ’s mom.

Yes, in the past two hours, many of you have sent in an email that looks exactly like this:

Subject: Please Read Lebron

My uncle is the general contractor at the Q and has been for the last 7 years. He is good friends with a lot of guys at the Q including some of the bigger boys in the organization and knows Gilbert personally. I was just told from my brother that a very reliable source informed my uncle that Delonte has been banging Gloria James for some time now. Somehow I guess Lebron found out before game four and it has destroyed our chemistry and divided our team. This is no joke, the only player worse then Lebron has been Delonte. I am not making this up, I wish it wasn’t true but it happened. Wait and see if lebron stays you will not see Delonte in a cavs uni again.

Or maybe this one, in which the source has climbed the ladder all the way to David Stern’s office:

A large number of NBA employees received a VERY interesting email today regarding a developing LeBron James story. I figured before the ESPN assholes get wind of it, you guys should break the story. The word from David Stern’s office is that Delonte West has been sleeping with LeBron’s MOTHER for a couple months now, and LeBron has recently found out. For some reason Delonte is still alive, but not for long – when Cleveland fans find out that for this reason LeBron wants out of Cleveland no matter what. This could explain Delonte’s decreased playing time of late, and who knows – maybe why LeBron hasn’t seemed to have his head fully in the game.

Of course, this should all sound very familiar. This time, however, it’s the mother of the star player — a particularly dirty twist on the classic locker-room urban legend. Unfortunately, this one’s picked up steam and become an “exclusive” for one site, even though it probably has as much basis in reality as the one about Joe Horn and Willie Roaf’s wife, or Jeff McInnis and Phil Ford’s wife, or Corey Fisher and Scottie Reynolds’s girlfriend (or was that Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher’s girlfriend?).

But yes — this rumor is spreading all over the place, and just remember that it is most likely coming from a bunch of 4chanish wags preying on the vulnerability all those sad Cavs fans searching for answers right now. Just for fun, we had Crashtern David Matthews call the Cavs’ media relations department seeking comment. No call back yet!

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We’ll try to keep you posted – but this is still just a rumor – so there’s a lot to consider when you read beyond the headlines.

As long time readers of the site know, I’m a Boston Celtics fan. I know, from reading the comments of our many readers here on Delonte.com, that many of you are too.

That said, I expected more, Cavs.

I expected more from a team with the “Chosen One” leading them. I expected more from a self proclaimed “King” at the helm. I expected, if nothing else, an effort in the closing seconds. Dribbling the ball out without any intention to do anything is inexcusable.

For that I can only say congratulations to the Boston Celtics. The superior team has prevailed.

Like many of you, I’m furious with the collapse, lack of effort and apparent decision to simply give up tonight. The Cleveland Cavaliers exhibited no killer instinct. No professionalism. And perhaps worst of all – no heart. That speaks more than anything towards the changes that we all expect to hit the City of Cleveland starting immediately.

Remember Cavs fans… This was the team assembled for LeBron to earn that ring. This was the year where Shaq, Antawn and the return of Zeke were all intended to solidify the best team in the league to do nothing less than win everything.

The 2009-2010 season was a failure. So I have to ask… What’s next?

Cleveland coach Mike Brown said guard Delonte West’s status for the Cavaliers-Celtics game is “doubtful” Tuesday afternoon.

West has been practicing with the Cavaliers and participated in a Tuesday morning shootaround, departing without speaking to reporters. West has not had any media involvement during a preseason marked by an arrest and a charge of domestic violence.

Brown said general manager Danny Ferry will decide whether to activate West.

Here’s the latest Team Report from Yahoo! Sports:

When the Cavaliers were rudely ousted from the playoffs last year by the Orlando Magic, general manager Danny Ferry knew what he had to do. Ferry knew he must find a center to deal with Orlando’s powerful center Dwight Howard. He also realized they needed to find some defensive-minded athletic wing players.

He was able to trade for Shaquille O’Neal and sign free agents Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon. Those parts were added to a 66-win team, best in the league. Now the Cavs feel they are poised to make a serious run at their first NBA championship.

They already have perhaps the best player in the league in LeBron James. Of course, he’s coming off a season when he averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists en route to his first Most Valuable Player Award.

They also have two other former All-Stars on the roster in point guard Mo Williams and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. They have a talented and deep roster that is battle-tested. Just making it to the Eastern Conference finals this year won’t do. Expectations have grown so large, if they don’t win a ring, it could be a disappointing season.

On paper, they don’t have many weaknesses, even though the Delonte West situation might fester all season. He’s been dealing with personal problems throughout training camp.

COACHING STAFF: Head Coach — Mike Brown, 5th year overall, all with Cavs (211-117). Assistants — Mike Malone, Melvin Hunt, Chris Jent, Hank Egan.

LAST SEASON, REMEMBERED: 66-16 (1st in Central), Lost in the Eastern Conference finals to Orlando.

THIS SEASON, PREDICTED: 63-19 (1st in Central), beat L.A. Lakers in NBA Finals.

POSSIBLE CHANGES, PREDICTED: The offense might go through C Shaquille O’Neal, a big change from what it has been in the past. New offensive coordinator Mike Malone is exploring ways to best utilize the big man. F LeBron James has never played off a player of this caliber before, so it’s something to keep one’s eye on.

Expectations are high… Let’s look at that prediction from Yahoo! — 63-19 (1st in Central), beat L.A. Lakers in NBA Finals