brainsmile
06-22-2003, 07:43 AM
So here are five trades that make some sense (at least to the author):
1. Chicago's No. 7 overall pick and Dalibor Bagaric to Sacramento for Hedo Turkoglu and a future protected No. 1 pick. The Kings need to begin preparing for the end of Vlade Divac. They need a young big man they can nurture, like Chris Kaman or Maciej Lampe. They were hurt when Pavel Podkolzine pulled out of the draft since they could have given him three years to develop with all of their depth. The Bulls need a small forward who's ready to play, and while Turkoglu is not their idea of a defender, they don't want any more rookies. The Kings are so far into the luxury tax they cannot afford to give Turkoglu an extension and need to deal him. Also, Jim Jackson beat him out of a rotation spot last season, which is not good news to the Bulls or anyone seeking Turkoglu.
2. Terrell Brandon, Anthony Peeler and Minnesota's No. 1 pick to Portland for Rasheed Wallace. Hey, the Timberwolves haven't had a No. 1 pick in so long they wouldn't know what to do with it, anyway. One small contract might need to be added to equalize the deal. Priority No. 1 in Portland is saving some money and cleaning up the team's image. Priority No. 1 in Minnesota is keeping Kevin Garnett, which means getting out of the first round of the playoffs. Wallace is difficult (OK, more than that), but the Wolves are desperate. Wallace also is a great talent who doesn't want to be the No. 1 guy. Teamed with Garnett, they could be a fearsome front line. Portland gets oodles of savings in the luxury tax with Brandon's $11.15 million salary coming off the books in January, thus saving Portland virtually double that with luxury tax. The Blazers also are ready to hand the power forward job to Zach Randolph, so it's time to send Wallace on his way. And only the desperate will put up with him.
3. Eddie Jones and Miami's fifth overall pick to Memphis for Stromile Swift and Wesley Person. Pat Riley doesn't want any more rookies! The Heat get Swift (a young, athletic forward) and a veteran shooter in Person, who also has just one year left on his deal. It gives the Heat a chance to dip deep into free agency after next season (when Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Elton Brand hit the market) with Jones off the books. The Grizzlies are desperate to make some noise. General manager Jerry West always has liked Jones, whom he had in Los Angeles. Plus West, who has been a master of pulling talent out of an empty draft hat over the years, gets the No. 5 pick. He has liked Frenchman Mickael Pietrus, who has been described as having Michael Jordan-like athletic ability and is considered an NBA class defender now. Paired with Jones, Mike Miller and Gasol, the Grizzlies could make some noise in the West.
4. Allan Houston for Eddie Griffin, Cuttino Mobley and Glen Rice. The Rockets get Houston, who is the shooter and the veteran to complement Steve Francis and open the floor for Yao Ming. It gives them three potential All-Stars to make a run in the West and Houston will be a locker room presence for new coach Jeff Van Gundy. Houston in Houston. Is that perfect, or what? The Knicks need an infusion of young talent and get Griffin, Mobley and Rice. Rice is going into the final year of his contract, so the Knicks save millions in the luxury tax after next season. Mobley and the 6-foot-10 Griffin are two youngsters who they can begin building with along with the No. 9 overall pick in this draft, which they could now use for a young point guard to go with shooting guard Mobley.
5. Antonio Davis, Morris Peterson and Toronto's fourth overall pick to Dallas for Steve Nash and Raef LaFrentz. The Mavericks get Davis, the tough guy and post presence they need. He's a little small for the Western Conference, but he's rugged and can battle the bigger forwards in the West. The Mavs also get the Raptors' No. 4 overall pick to get a project big guy they can wait for, like Chris Kaman. The key in the deal is Steve Nash, the British Columbia native, returning to Canada. Nick Van Exel was on the court at the end of all the Mavs' big playoff games, and Nash comes up for a new deal after the 2004-05 season. Better to trade Nash a year soon. The Raptors also get Raef LaFrentz, who'll fit better in the East away from the Mavs' frenetic game. Toronto would be so thrilled to get Nash, a potential franchise savior, it would probably throw in whomever the Mavs wanted, perhaps Peterson or to expand the deal if the Mavs want Alvin Williams and would send back someone like Evan Eschmeyer.
1. Chicago's No. 7 overall pick and Dalibor Bagaric to Sacramento for Hedo Turkoglu and a future protected No. 1 pick. The Kings need to begin preparing for the end of Vlade Divac. They need a young big man they can nurture, like Chris Kaman or Maciej Lampe. They were hurt when Pavel Podkolzine pulled out of the draft since they could have given him three years to develop with all of their depth. The Bulls need a small forward who's ready to play, and while Turkoglu is not their idea of a defender, they don't want any more rookies. The Kings are so far into the luxury tax they cannot afford to give Turkoglu an extension and need to deal him. Also, Jim Jackson beat him out of a rotation spot last season, which is not good news to the Bulls or anyone seeking Turkoglu.
2. Terrell Brandon, Anthony Peeler and Minnesota's No. 1 pick to Portland for Rasheed Wallace. Hey, the Timberwolves haven't had a No. 1 pick in so long they wouldn't know what to do with it, anyway. One small contract might need to be added to equalize the deal. Priority No. 1 in Portland is saving some money and cleaning up the team's image. Priority No. 1 in Minnesota is keeping Kevin Garnett, which means getting out of the first round of the playoffs. Wallace is difficult (OK, more than that), but the Wolves are desperate. Wallace also is a great talent who doesn't want to be the No. 1 guy. Teamed with Garnett, they could be a fearsome front line. Portland gets oodles of savings in the luxury tax with Brandon's $11.15 million salary coming off the books in January, thus saving Portland virtually double that with luxury tax. The Blazers also are ready to hand the power forward job to Zach Randolph, so it's time to send Wallace on his way. And only the desperate will put up with him.
3. Eddie Jones and Miami's fifth overall pick to Memphis for Stromile Swift and Wesley Person. Pat Riley doesn't want any more rookies! The Heat get Swift (a young, athletic forward) and a veteran shooter in Person, who also has just one year left on his deal. It gives the Heat a chance to dip deep into free agency after next season (when Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Elton Brand hit the market) with Jones off the books. The Grizzlies are desperate to make some noise. General manager Jerry West always has liked Jones, whom he had in Los Angeles. Plus West, who has been a master of pulling talent out of an empty draft hat over the years, gets the No. 5 pick. He has liked Frenchman Mickael Pietrus, who has been described as having Michael Jordan-like athletic ability and is considered an NBA class defender now. Paired with Jones, Mike Miller and Gasol, the Grizzlies could make some noise in the West.
4. Allan Houston for Eddie Griffin, Cuttino Mobley and Glen Rice. The Rockets get Houston, who is the shooter and the veteran to complement Steve Francis and open the floor for Yao Ming. It gives them three potential All-Stars to make a run in the West and Houston will be a locker room presence for new coach Jeff Van Gundy. Houston in Houston. Is that perfect, or what? The Knicks need an infusion of young talent and get Griffin, Mobley and Rice. Rice is going into the final year of his contract, so the Knicks save millions in the luxury tax after next season. Mobley and the 6-foot-10 Griffin are two youngsters who they can begin building with along with the No. 9 overall pick in this draft, which they could now use for a young point guard to go with shooting guard Mobley.
5. Antonio Davis, Morris Peterson and Toronto's fourth overall pick to Dallas for Steve Nash and Raef LaFrentz. The Mavericks get Davis, the tough guy and post presence they need. He's a little small for the Western Conference, but he's rugged and can battle the bigger forwards in the West. The Mavs also get the Raptors' No. 4 overall pick to get a project big guy they can wait for, like Chris Kaman. The key in the deal is Steve Nash, the British Columbia native, returning to Canada. Nick Van Exel was on the court at the end of all the Mavs' big playoff games, and Nash comes up for a new deal after the 2004-05 season. Better to trade Nash a year soon. The Raptors also get Raef LaFrentz, who'll fit better in the East away from the Mavs' frenetic game. Toronto would be so thrilled to get Nash, a potential franchise savior, it would probably throw in whomever the Mavs wanted, perhaps Peterson or to expand the deal if the Mavs want Alvin Williams and would send back someone like Evan Eschmeyer.