With the NBA trade deadline approaching, ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reports this afternoon that the Cavs, Sonics and Bulls are league approval away from consumating a multiplayer trade that would bring the player with the NBA’s worst contract, Ben Wallace, to Cleveland.

Cavs get: Wallace, Sonic Wally Szczerbiak, Seattle point guard Delonte West, Chicago’s Joe Smith and a future second-round pick from the Bulls.

Bulls get: Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden and swingman Larry Hughes along with Cavs reserves Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown.

Sonics get: nothing (expiring contracts of Cleveland’s Ira Newble and Chicago’s Adrian Griffin as well as Cavs veteran Donyell Marshall).

On the bright side, Dan Gilbert will soon have lots of fun firing up that Quicken software to do Big Ben’s taxes .

CAN’T STOP THE BLEEDING has the most important aftermath of the soon-consumated player exchange between the Mavs and Nets - Jason Kidd’s tribute to everyone’s favorite New Jersey City. Make that City of New Jersey. Oh f— it, just let J-Kidd spell it out in the NEW YORK POST: “Jersey is a great city. It doesn’t get its just [due]. The state itself. The golf is great. The fans were wonderful. I wish them the best of luck.”

We’ve got an early bead on the location of Kidd’s next tee time.

After Devean George put the kibosh on the first attempt of the Dallas Mavericks to obtain Jason Kidd from the New Jersey Nets, some tweaking may have finally achieved Jason Kidd’s second tour of Dallas duty.

Jeff Caplan of the FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports this morning that the Mavs are now “set to part with point guard Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop and Maurice Ager, with Trenton Hassell and the semi-retired Keith Van Horn replacing Jerry Stackhouse and Devean George. The Mavs are also including $3 million and two first-round draft picks.”

Kidd: “I think we’re closer to understanding where the deal stands. I don’t have to answer that question anymore, so hopefully that’s the case.”

While Caplan reports that the deal is essentially done, we’ve heard that before. There are indeed still some hurdles to climb over before Kidd reports for his second Dallas tour of duty. Read more…

TIGERS REELING IN BIG FISH CABRERA & WILLIS FROM FLA: The Tigers must think they’re the Yankees or the Red Sox.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX SPORTS hits home the news that Detroit is finalizing a deal with the Florida Marlins to send 3rd baseman Miguel Cabrera & pitcher Dontrelle Willis to Comerica Park.In return, the Fish would be landing six young players and prospects from the Tigers organization, including pitcher Andrew Miller and outfielder Cameron Maybin.

Florida didn’t even talk with the Tigers about any deals until contacting the AL Central club Tuesday morning. Within two hours, both sides had reached an agreement.

Marlins left fielder Josh Willingham was surprised by the big deal, saying, “It was kind of like, wow, when I heard. I halfway expected one of them to get traded, but not both in the same deal. So it’s a little bit of a shock.”THE WORLD OF ISAAC is certainly roaring about the Tigers’ tremendous trade. The happy blog is calling it “the biggest blockbuster in Detroit sports history.”