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Larry Hughes is the perfect fit for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Although sources said that the Cavs put Michael Redd and Ray Allen at the top of their free agents wish list, the team would’ve been worse off had it signed either Redd or Allen instead of the now ex-Wizards shooting guard.

Cleveland is expected to sign Hughes once teams are allowed to sign NBA free agents on July 22.

Redd and Allen would’ve been able to drain outside shots to keep opposing teams from doubling LeBron James, but neither sharp-shooter would’ve been able to help King James defend dynamic perimeter players like Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant.

Obviously, Cleveland did finish 27th in the league in three-point percentage last season, shooting 33 percent as team. So, it’s easy to understand why the team sought the services of Redd and Allen and considered Hughes an afterthought because of his 27-percent career three-point shooting mark.

But by hiring Indiana Pacers assistant coach Mike Brown to become their new head coach and former San Antonio Spurs executive Danny Ferry to become their new GM, the Cavs smartly committed themselves to building a winning team around defense (and around former San Antonio Spurs personnel for that matter).

Brown was an assistant coach for current Spurs head coach Greg Poppovich and Ferry worked in the Spurs organization under GM R.C. Buford the past two seasons; they both understand how important defense is to building a championship basketball team.

That’s why the addition of Hughes makes perfect sense.

Lest we forget, he lead the league in steals with 2.89 per game and earned first team NBA All-Defensive honors with the Wizards last season.

Despite weighing a mere 184 lbs. at 6’5”, Hughes can surprisingly hold his own against bigger guards in the post and is adept at picking off passes by jumping into passing lanes.

The wiry guard also rebounds the ball exceptionally well for a perimeter player.

Hughes, who averaged 6.3 boards a game last season, should help the Cavaliers’ opponents from killing them on the offensive boards, thus limiting the number of opportunities opposing teams get to score.

Rebounding is especially crucial for the team since Drew Gooden lacks the size and strength of a true power forward, and there are few players on the Cavs’ roster that hit the boards on a regular basis other than James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Speaking of Ilgauskas, if the Cavs manage to resign the 7’3” All-star center, which Ferry has said is one of his top priorities as new GM, owner Dan Gilbert’s team may one of the most improved teams in the NBA next season.

Signing Ilgauskas would also finish off a solid offseason for Gilbert who was widely criticized, and deservedly so, ousting head coach Paul Silas and GM Jim Paxson in dramatic fashion last season.

Vincent Lim resides in sunny Southern California and was formerly a sports writer for UCLA's Daily Bruin, the third largest circulating daily newspaper in Los Angeles.