CLEVELAND TEAMS

It’s not a secret. Everyone expects Joe Smith to sign with the Cavs after he clears waivers on Wednesday. Some have speculated that Drew Gooden would be a better option, but TD at WaitingForNextYear sawts away that dumb idea.

Smith gives the Cavs some much-needed help down low. The only downside is that J.J. Hickson will get less playing time. I think Hickson has the potential to make an impact down the stretch, but at least the Cavs now have more experience and plenty of options. By the time Ben Wallace comes back, he may find it hard to get his minutes back.

This is a tough break for the Cavs.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Ben Wallace will miss four to six weeks after breaking his right leg in Thursday’s 93-74 loss to Houston.

Wallace said Yao Ming kicked him as the two were running down the court in the second quarter. The 6-foot-9 Wallace managed to play midway into the third quarter before leaving for good with 6:19 left.

“I thought it was like a calf bruise or something, that would probably let up eventually,” Wallace said. “But it didn’t. It was one of those freak accidents that happen in basketball.”

Wallace saw the X-rays taken at the Toyota Center that showed the broken fibula.

“I know what that little white line means,” he said.

Wallace, who guarded Yao for most of his 17 minutes, was playing his fourth game since missing Cleveland’s Feb. 18 win over Toronto with a right arm laceration that required 14 stitches.

Wallace was averaging 6.6 rebounds and 3.0 points in 53 games this season. His loss could be devastating and continues a run of bad injury luck for Cavs, who have played without Zydrunas Ilgauskas (left ankle) and Delonte West (broken wrist) for extended periods.

“It’s a tough blow for us,” said Cleveland coach Mike Brown.

This isn’t good news, but it’s not “devastating.” It’s time for J.J. Hickson to step up.