Showing posts with label Trade deadline. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trade deadline. Show all posts
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Blurst Trade Deadline Ever!
Well, it came and went. The only moves were Anthony Johnson to Atlanta for a 2nd round pick and Juan Dixon to Toronto for Fred Jones. Bestill my frantically beating heart. No Bibby, Kidd or Carter movement. No Magette, Artest or Pau trades. No 'Shard Lewis to the Knicks. No anything. I am thoroughly disappointante. I was looking for a blockbuster. Maybe the off season will bring more excitement. For now, though, it's back to the grind. Only about 30 games left to go until the real season starts. I have a feeling the playoffs this year will be excellent. The top 5 seeds in the West will all be title contenders, and all 8 seeds in the east will be contenders to be the team that gets humiliated in the finals. I wouldn't mind seeing the Cavs, or Raptors, get swept in 4 by San Antone. Speaking of which, I have a scary premonition that San Antonio is not only gonna cut a bloody swathe through the West playoffs, but will dismantle some very good teams in the process. As good as Dallas looks right now, I think last year was a chance they'll never get back. It's gonna be an even more difficult road (if that's possible) for them to get to the big show this year...
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
The Deadline Approaches...
It's trade deadline time...
From ESPN:
Bibby going to Cleveland, however, remains a possibility. The Cavs lack the trade assets to complete a trade for Bibby, but one scenario in circulation Tuesday had Minnesota joining in on a three-team deal that would potentially send Mike James, among others, to Sacramento as Bibby's successor at the point.
And also this:
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been trying to get in the mix on Kidd, too, and apparently are willing to discuss everyone on the roster outside of LeBron James.
A package of Larry Hughes and Anderson Varejao would be something the Nets would have to consider, although the consensus in front offices around the league is that Hughes would be worth taking a chance on only if his contract were half as big as it actually is.
Another factor working against the Cavs: They do not have a No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft to trade, having shipped it off for Jiri Welsch two years ago.
Woo smokies, I would love to see JKidd in a Cleveland jersey. Actually, I wouldn't mind Bibby in Cleveland jersey. The question in this tradular game of Russian roulette is, who pulls the trigger on a loaded 13 million dollar Larry Hughes?
From ESPN:
Bibby going to Cleveland, however, remains a possibility. The Cavs lack the trade assets to complete a trade for Bibby, but one scenario in circulation Tuesday had Minnesota joining in on a three-team deal that would potentially send Mike James, among others, to Sacramento as Bibby's successor at the point.
And also this:
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been trying to get in the mix on Kidd, too, and apparently are willing to discuss everyone on the roster outside of LeBron James.
A package of Larry Hughes and Anderson Varejao would be something the Nets would have to consider, although the consensus in front offices around the league is that Hughes would be worth taking a chance on only if his contract were half as big as it actually is.
Another factor working against the Cavs: They do not have a No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft to trade, having shipped it off for Jiri Welsch two years ago.
Woo smokies, I would love to see JKidd in a Cleveland jersey. Actually, I wouldn't mind Bibby in Cleveland jersey. The question in this tradular game of Russian roulette is, who pulls the trigger on a loaded 13 million dollar Larry Hughes?
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Get Carter
Is Vince leaving New Jersey?
The short answer is yes. The long answer is a little cloudier, but still basically "yes." I would bet the farm Vince Carter gets traded, either by the deadline, or in a sign & trade deal this off season. The thing is he's an expensive malcontent, one who can ball, no doubt about that, but a malcontent nonetheless. Also it's become evident that he can't make the Nets win. If a squad featuring JKidd, Vin, Dick Jefferson and Nenad "Can I Buy a Vowel?" Krstic can't win games, they need to blow it up. Oddly enough, that core did win last year. A lot. In fact, with the steep learning curve Krstic has been on, the rejuvenated play of Kidd and Carter and the rugged all around game of Jefferson, many had the Nets as a title contender this year. Those plans were derailed by the injuries to Krstic and Jefferson, and have the Nets battling the Knicks for the right to be called worse than the Raptors but better than the Sixers or Celtics. Not really much to brag about.
Now New Jersey's got lots of options. They're shopping both Carter and Kidd to anyone who'll listen. The offers back for Kidd have been paltry, and they're not likely to get anything sexier for Carter. At the end of this season, Carter can opt out of his contract and walk away amicably. As we learned from Mark Cuban, this isn't necessarily bad for the Nets. In a free agent rich off season, the Nets would be happy to let Carter walk and then attempt to re-direct his 16 million dollar salary at a stud who's been unleashed and taking bids. Unfortunately this is not a free agent rich market, this off season will not feature an overabundance of guys worth sinking serious loot into. It could; Rashard Lewis, Chauncey Billups, Antawn Jamison, Gerald Wallace and Mike Bibby all have opt out clauses similar to Carter's and could become free agents if they wanted to. But other than Orlando & Charlotte (and potentially Chicago) no team has got the bread to throw at them, so there's not much chance any of these guys are changing teams, without a trade happening, in the near future. Carter's situation is slightly different, because he's got a vested interest in going to either of those 2 teams with significant bank. Carter's family lives in the Florida-Carolina region, and he owns, amongst other things, a house down there. That's why this little snippet from Brian Schmitz at the Orlando Sentinel comes as no surprise... if it's true:
Then there was the talk that TNT, following Dwight Howard around, might have intercepted some dialogue between Carter and Howard that indicated VC might become magic property before the trade deadline.
If that's true my first question is: why the hell hasn't TNT made this little gold nugget known to the public? That's a frickin' page 1 exclusive. Regardless of the truth, or Otis Smith's firm denials, the concept of Orlando trading Grant Hill's expiring contract for Vince's services is almost too good to be true. Orlando talks a lot of yang about wanting to keep Grant Hill, but I can't believe they really mean it enough to pass on the versatile scoring threat (they desperately need) in Carter. Can you imagine a more lethal starting line than this? C- Darko, PF-Dwight Howard, SG/SF- Hedo Turkoglu, SG/SF- Vince Carter, PG- Jam Nelson. I'd have to call them favorites in the east with a line like that, and the best part is they don't have to give up instrumental bench guys like Dooling, Diener, Arroyo, Reddick and Battie to make it happen. I can't fathom why Magic GM Otis Smith is against such a deal, other than Vince's tradition of underachieving teams. And honestly this is actually the only reasonable thing standing in the way of a deal for Vince; Vince himself.
The short answer is yes. The long answer is a little cloudier, but still basically "yes." I would bet the farm Vince Carter gets traded, either by the deadline, or in a sign & trade deal this off season. The thing is he's an expensive malcontent, one who can ball, no doubt about that, but a malcontent nonetheless. Also it's become evident that he can't make the Nets win. If a squad featuring JKidd, Vin, Dick Jefferson and Nenad "Can I Buy a Vowel?" Krstic can't win games, they need to blow it up. Oddly enough, that core did win last year. A lot. In fact, with the steep learning curve Krstic has been on, the rejuvenated play of Kidd and Carter and the rugged all around game of Jefferson, many had the Nets as a title contender this year. Those plans were derailed by the injuries to Krstic and Jefferson, and have the Nets battling the Knicks for the right to be called worse than the Raptors but better than the Sixers or Celtics. Not really much to brag about.
Now New Jersey's got lots of options. They're shopping both Carter and Kidd to anyone who'll listen. The offers back for Kidd have been paltry, and they're not likely to get anything sexier for Carter. At the end of this season, Carter can opt out of his contract and walk away amicably. As we learned from Mark Cuban, this isn't necessarily bad for the Nets. In a free agent rich off season, the Nets would be happy to let Carter walk and then attempt to re-direct his 16 million dollar salary at a stud who's been unleashed and taking bids. Unfortunately this is not a free agent rich market, this off season will not feature an overabundance of guys worth sinking serious loot into. It could; Rashard Lewis, Chauncey Billups, Antawn Jamison, Gerald Wallace and Mike Bibby all have opt out clauses similar to Carter's and could become free agents if they wanted to. But other than Orlando & Charlotte (and potentially Chicago) no team has got the bread to throw at them, so there's not much chance any of these guys are changing teams, without a trade happening, in the near future. Carter's situation is slightly different, because he's got a vested interest in going to either of those 2 teams with significant bank. Carter's family lives in the Florida-Carolina region, and he owns, amongst other things, a house down there. That's why this little snippet from Brian Schmitz at the Orlando Sentinel comes as no surprise... if it's true:
Then there was the talk that TNT, following Dwight Howard around, might have intercepted some dialogue between Carter and Howard that indicated VC might become magic property before the trade deadline.
If that's true my first question is: why the hell hasn't TNT made this little gold nugget known to the public? That's a frickin' page 1 exclusive. Regardless of the truth, or Otis Smith's firm denials, the concept of Orlando trading Grant Hill's expiring contract for Vince's services is almost too good to be true. Orlando talks a lot of yang about wanting to keep Grant Hill, but I can't believe they really mean it enough to pass on the versatile scoring threat (they desperately need) in Carter. Can you imagine a more lethal starting line than this? C- Darko, PF-Dwight Howard, SG/SF- Hedo Turkoglu, SG/SF- Vince Carter, PG- Jam Nelson. I'd have to call them favorites in the east with a line like that, and the best part is they don't have to give up instrumental bench guys like Dooling, Diener, Arroyo, Reddick and Battie to make it happen. I can't fathom why Magic GM Otis Smith is against such a deal, other than Vince's tradition of underachieving teams. And honestly this is actually the only reasonable thing standing in the way of a deal for Vince; Vince himself.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Rubber Bibby Buggy Bumpers
Word on the street has the Cavs play for Mike Bibby rapidly turning into a full court press. With Bronny's interest dwindling, and the Cavs momentum slowed to a crawl, Danny Ferry is looking hard to give us a powerhouse point guard before the deadline. The obvious first choice is Kidd, but failing that, Mike Bibby has become the Cavs cream dream. This is good or bad news depending on what we'd have to give up to attain the Bibbinator. So here are a list of trades for Bibbs I would welcome, and some I would not (remember to click on the link to see the trade):
1. Green Light: Larry Hughes for Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin
No way in hell this trade would ever happen, for obvious reasons; first, Kevin Martin and Mike Bibby are both individually better than Larry Hughes. Secondly, they both have cheaper & shorter contracts. But a Cletown fan can dream, no? This deal would make the Cavs instant favorites to go all the way. Not to mention, Larry Hughes and Ron Artest could be an amusing combo of unrealized potential...
2. Red Light: Drew Goods, Sasha Pav, Anderson Varejao, Dan Gibson + expirers for Bibby
This is the type of trade Sacto would froth at the mouth over. They get 3 very legit prospects in Pavlovic, Gibson and the highly coveted Varejao, they get a solid boardsman in Drew Gooden and almost 3mil in expiring contracts in Scot Pollard and Dwayne Jones. This makes their team competitive, and gives them the freedom to trade 'Reef, Kenny Thomas, or both, for a new point guard. It doesn't lock them up in any obscene contracts and it doesn't send Bibby to a division rival. For the Cavs, this trade sucks from top to bottom, but we do get Bibby. Don't sweat it, no way Ferry's dumb enough to do this... maybe Billy King, definitely Isiah Thomas, but not Ferry.
3. Green Light: Z, Sasha P, Eric Snow and Pollard for Bibby and Kenny Thomas
I wouldn't mind a deal like this, and it would certainly be mutually beneficial, but the obvious hangup is why the Kings would pay Z 10 million dollars a year to be Brad Miller's back up. I'm not crazy about taking on Thomas' contract, but we'd have room for his services with Z leaving.
4. Red Light: Gooden, Marshall, Varejao, Pavlovic, Gibson + expirers for Bibby and Miller
I know what your thinking, Bibby and Miller to the Cavs? Suddenly the Cavs look awful damn intriguing, but hold on... it's not that simple. By giving up 3 expiring contracts, the Cavs pass on saving themselves 6+ million in salary next year. Additionally, they'd give up their two best prospects (Varejao & Gibson) and their 3 best role players (Gooden, Marshall and Pavlovic). What they're left with is a competitive starting line : Bibby and Hughes in the back court, Bronny, Miller and Z in the front court, no bench to speak of, and the most crippling long term salary structure in the league, featuring 5 guys at multiple seasons of +10million a piece. This trade would lodge the Cavs firmly in Knicks Luxury land for the foreseeable future. I'd love Bibby and Miller, but at what cost...
5. Green Light: All our worst players/contracts for all their best players.
This one is beyond a no-brainer: Bibby, Artest, Martin, Miller, Garcia and Salmons. All their best players. In exchange we would give up: Z, Hughes, Scot Pollard, Eric Snow, Shannon Brown, Damon Jones, David Wesley, Donyell Marshall and Dwayne Jones... in other words, the dregs of our underachievers and choke-holding contracts. This would make the Cavs the sickest team in history, imagine this starting line: Bibby and Martin in the back court, Bron, Miller and Artest in the front court, with Salmons, Varejao, Garcia, Gibson and Gooden as our second line? It would be pure murdah! I'd love it, but that would only be possible if the Maloofs ate one of those $17,000 Carl's Jr. Combos and it was laced with some sort of experimental KGB mind control serum. It could happen...
1. Green Light: Larry Hughes for Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin
No way in hell this trade would ever happen, for obvious reasons; first, Kevin Martin and Mike Bibby are both individually better than Larry Hughes. Secondly, they both have cheaper & shorter contracts. But a Cletown fan can dream, no? This deal would make the Cavs instant favorites to go all the way. Not to mention, Larry Hughes and Ron Artest could be an amusing combo of unrealized potential...
2. Red Light: Drew Goods, Sasha Pav, Anderson Varejao, Dan Gibson + expirers for Bibby
This is the type of trade Sacto would froth at the mouth over. They get 3 very legit prospects in Pavlovic, Gibson and the highly coveted Varejao, they get a solid boardsman in Drew Gooden and almost 3mil in expiring contracts in Scot Pollard and Dwayne Jones. This makes their team competitive, and gives them the freedom to trade 'Reef, Kenny Thomas, or both, for a new point guard. It doesn't lock them up in any obscene contracts and it doesn't send Bibby to a division rival. For the Cavs, this trade sucks from top to bottom, but we do get Bibby. Don't sweat it, no way Ferry's dumb enough to do this... maybe Billy King, definitely Isiah Thomas, but not Ferry.
3. Green Light: Z, Sasha P, Eric Snow and Pollard for Bibby and Kenny Thomas
I wouldn't mind a deal like this, and it would certainly be mutually beneficial, but the obvious hangup is why the Kings would pay Z 10 million dollars a year to be Brad Miller's back up. I'm not crazy about taking on Thomas' contract, but we'd have room for his services with Z leaving.
4. Red Light: Gooden, Marshall, Varejao, Pavlovic, Gibson + expirers for Bibby and Miller
I know what your thinking, Bibby and Miller to the Cavs? Suddenly the Cavs look awful damn intriguing, but hold on... it's not that simple. By giving up 3 expiring contracts, the Cavs pass on saving themselves 6+ million in salary next year. Additionally, they'd give up their two best prospects (Varejao & Gibson) and their 3 best role players (Gooden, Marshall and Pavlovic). What they're left with is a competitive starting line : Bibby and Hughes in the back court, Bronny, Miller and Z in the front court, no bench to speak of, and the most crippling long term salary structure in the league, featuring 5 guys at multiple seasons of +10million a piece. This trade would lodge the Cavs firmly in Knicks Luxury land for the foreseeable future. I'd love Bibby and Miller, but at what cost...
5. Green Light: All our worst players/contracts for all their best players.
This one is beyond a no-brainer: Bibby, Artest, Martin, Miller, Garcia and Salmons. All their best players. In exchange we would give up: Z, Hughes, Scot Pollard, Eric Snow, Shannon Brown, Damon Jones, David Wesley, Donyell Marshall and Dwayne Jones... in other words, the dregs of our underachievers and choke-holding contracts. This would make the Cavs the sickest team in history, imagine this starting line: Bibby and Martin in the back court, Bron, Miller and Artest in the front court, with Salmons, Varejao, Garcia, Gibson and Gooden as our second line? It would be pure murdah! I'd love it, but that would only be possible if the Maloofs ate one of those $17,000 Carl's Jr. Combos and it was laced with some sort of experimental KGB mind control serum. It could happen...
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