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By now you’ve heard the trade rumors surrounding the Cavaliers.

Several forwards, including Antawn Jamison and Troy Murphy, have been mentioned as possible acquisitions. The most intriguing name, however, seems to be Amar’e Stoudemire, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Stoudemire was recently named a starter for the upcoming NBA All-Star game and would appear to be a great fit for the Cavaliers, at least on paper.

The 27-year-old averaged 20 or more points per game in five of his first seven NBA seasons and is on pace to do it again this year.

His numbers for the 2009-10 campaign are gaudy, to put it frankly. He is averaging 20.6 points and 8.2 rebounds a night and is ninth in the league in field goal percentage (55 percent).

Sure his numbers are inflated slightly because he plays with one of the best passers the league has ever seen, Steve Nash, in the Association’s most fast-paced offense –the Suns average a league best 109.9 points per game– but that doesn’t change the unquestionable fact that Stoudemire is one of the most explosive big men the NBA has to offer.

But would the former Rookie of the Year be a good fit for the Cavaliers?

The Cavaliers, behind the instruction of coach Mike Brown, rely heavily on defense. They are third in the league in opponents points per game (94.5) and first in opponents field goal percentage (43 percent).

The Suns have only put an emphasis on defense once since Stoudemire joined them, last season, and it was a disaster.

In fact, the team was so ineffective during the experiment that coach Terry Porter was fired 51 games into the season and replaced with Alvin Gentry. Genty brought back the uptempo style that the Suns had grown accustom to and, just like that, the team was trying to outscore opponents once again.

Maybe Brown could convince Stoudemire to put more more effort into defense, like he has down with J.J. Hickson.

But is it worth messing with a 36-11 team that is currently sitting atop the Eastern Conference?

The Cavaliers were in a similar position last season. They appeared to be the best team in the East during the regular season, even earning the number one overall seed in the playoffs, but decided not to make a trade at the deadline.

They cruised past the Pistons and Hawks in the first two round of the postseason, then ran into the buzz saw that was the Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals.

A mid-season trade might have made a difference against Dwight Howard and the Magic, but the Cavaliers elected to stand pat.

Fool Danny Ferry once, shame on you. Fool Danny Ferry twice, shame on Danny. Right?

Not necessarily.

This isn’t the same Cavalier team from a year ago. Shaquille O’Neal may be an aging 37-year-old center, but the last few games have shown he still has something left in the tank.

The three-time Finals MVP has scored in double-figures in 16 of the Cavaliers’ last 17 games and is shooting 64 percent from the field in January.

The Cavs can actually run their offense through Shaq from time-to-time, especially when he is guarded by a smaller, less-physical center, such as Jermaine O’Neal.

The addition of Anthony Parker has also helped. Parker has guarded the oppositions best perimeter scorer on a nightly basis, with much success. He has also been a consistent spot-up three-point shooter, something the Cavaliers needed desperately.

But are the Cavs still missing something?

Yes. A stretch forward.

Someone, such as Jamison or Murphy, who can force power forwards out of the paint, which would open up the middle for O’Neal and James.

Currently the Cavaliers play J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao at power forward. Neither can be counted on to make a shot outside of several feet.

Stoudemire is an inside scorer, not a jump shooter. He and Shaq played together in Phoenix last season and it didn’t work out. The paint was too crowded and both players game’s suffered.

Jamison and Murphy, on the other hand, are two of the best outside-shooting power forwards in the league.

Murphy shoots a better percentage from the three-point line, but Jamison is much better defensively.

Either would be a quality addition to Cleveland.

But what would the Cavaliers need to give up to make a trade happen?

Hickson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas for Jamison/Murphy would work financially.

The Cavaliers would then look for Washington/Indiana to buy Ilgauskas out of his current contract, permitting him to return to Cleveland after 30 days.

So would gaining Jamison/Murphy be worth losing Hickson?

Hickson scored a career-high 23 points against the Timberwolves on Wednesday night, but he has been inconsistent all-season long.

Still, he is just 21 years old and is the most athletic player, outside of James, on the roster. The Cavaliers feel they have a future All-Star on their hands so giving him up would be a difficult decision.

Trading Hickson would make short-term, but not long-term, sense (Jamison is 33 years old and Murphy is 29 years old).

Because of this Ferry and the rest of the Cavaliers’ organization have some important decisions ahead of them in the coming weeks (the trade deadline is Feb. 19th).

The team seems to be in good shape for a strong playoff run, but they don’t want to end up second guessing themselves like last season.

One thing is certain.

The trade rumors will continue to swirl, and fans will continue to eat them up.