February 1, 200818 yr Since the NBA Trading Deadline is fast approaching on February 21, I thought that I would start a thread that would deal with all the potential wheeling and dealing around the NBA. I will start this discussion off with a trade that is near completion between the Nets and Grizzlies that will send C/PF Stromile Swift to the Nets in exchange for C Jason Collins. I believe the Grizzlies made the worst trade ever by making this deal. Jason Collins has very little game and will not make a significant contribution to the Grizzlies. In the mean time, the Nets get the athletic big man they have been yearning for and a much better shooter than Collins in Swift. Great deal for the Nets. Nets close to Collins dealFriday, February 1, 2008 Last Updated Friday February 1, 2008, PST 3:33 AMBY AL IANNAZZONEMIAMI ? The Nets are close to making a deal involving a Jason, but it's not Kidd. They are set to acquire athletic 6-foot-10 forward Stromile Swift from the Memphis Grizzlies for Jason Collins, league sources said. The deal was being worked on Thursday night and could be finalized today or sometime over the weekend. Swift is averaging 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 35 games for the Grizzlies, who suspended the eighth-year big man for one game earlier this week for conduct detrimental to the team. The Nets have pursued Swift in the past, and seem to be on the verge of getting him now in part because he has fallen out of favor in Memphis. He is long, a good shot blocker, runs the floor and would give the Nets another athlete. The offensively-challenged Collins, who helped the Nets reach two NBA finals and has anchored their defense in recent years, has been a Net since 2001. He was their starting center until earlier this season when coach Lawrence Frank decided to go with second-year big man Josh Boone. Acquired along with Richard Jefferson and Brandon Armstrong in a 2001 draft night deal with Houston for Eddie Griffin, Collins is averaging 1.3 points and 2.1 rebounds. E-mail: iannazzone@northjersey.com
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ f***in ripoff bulls***!!! What the hell is wrong with the damn Grizzlies? They got anally raped three times over. OMG thats one of the worst trades of all time. The Magic would have given them a better package.
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ f***in ripoff bulls***!!! What the hell is wrong with the damn Grizzlies? They got anally raped three times over. OMG thats one of the worst trades of all time. The Magic would have given them a better package. I doubt that. What combo of expiring contracts, draft picks, and a young player could the Magic have possibly put together??
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ f***in ripoff bulls***!!! What the hell is wrong with the damn Grizzlies? They got anally raped three times over. OMG thats one of the worst trades of all time. The Magic would have given them a better package. I doubt that. What combo of expiring contracts, draft picks, and a young player could the Magic have possibly put together?? Um, Redick, Garrity, Arroyo, and Keith Bogans and two first round picks. If not better, just as good. The Bulls would have given them Nocioni or Gordon at the least. They basically gave away Gasol for expiring contracts. Crittenton is worthless. Heck, even the Heat could have given them a decent package. There must be like 10 NBA GMs banging their heads against the wall. Has to be one of the worst trades of all time.
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ f***in ripoff bulls***!!! What the hell is wrong with the damn Grizzlies? They got anally raped three times over. OMG thats one of the worst trades of all time. The Magic would have given them a better package. I doubt that. What combo of expiring contracts, draft picks, and a young player could the Magic have possibly put together?? Um, Redick, Garrity, Arroyo, and Keith Bogans and two first round picks. If not better, just as good. The Bulls would have given them Nocioni or Gordon at the least. They basically gave away Gasol for expiring contracts. Crittenton is worthless. Heck, even the Heat could have given them a decent package. There must be like 10 NBA GMs banging their heads against the wall. Has to be one of the worst trades of all time. I dont think the trade is nearly as awful as youre suggesting. Crittenton alone is better than that Orlando package you mentioned, and getting 2 first rounders plus an expiring 9 million dollar contract is alright
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ f***in ripoff bulls***!!! What the hell is wrong with the damn Grizzlies? They got anally raped three times over. OMG thats one of the worst trades of all time. The Magic would have given them a better package. I doubt that. What combo of expiring contracts, draft picks, and a young player could the Magic have possibly put together?? Um, Redick, Garrity, Arroyo, and Keith Bogans and two first round picks. If not better, just as good. The Bulls would have given them Nocioni or Gordon at the least. They basically gave away Gasol for expiring contracts. Crittenton is worthless. Heck, even the Heat could have given them a decent package. There must be like 10 NBA GMs banging their heads against the wall. Has to be one of the worst trades of all time. I dont think the trade is nearly as awful as youre suggesting. Crittenton alone is better than that Orlando package you mentioned, and getting 2 first rounders plus an expiring 9 million dollar contract is alright Those draft picks are worthless because the Lakers are well outside of the lottery. Crittenton average 3.3 ppg. How is he even remotely worth anything? Redick averages more points and Bogans at least gives you a defender who can shoot 3s and 10 ppg. Im not saying the Magic package is good. But the Lakers package is pretty much worthless except for cap space, which plenty of teams would have given them. Am I in the twighlight zone here? There are actually people defending this trade?
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ f***in ripoff bulls***!!! What the hell is wrong with the damn Grizzlies? They got anally raped three times over. OMG thats one of the worst trades of all time. The Magic would have given them a better package. I doubt that. What combo of expiring contracts, draft picks, and a young player could the Magic have possibly put together?? Um, Redick, Garrity, Arroyo, and Keith Bogans and two first round picks. If not better, just as good. The Bulls would have given them Nocioni or Gordon at the least. They basically gave away Gasol for expiring contracts. Crittenton is worthless. Heck, even the Heat could have given them a decent package. There must be like 10 NBA GMs banging their heads against the wall. Has to be one of the worst trades of all time. I dont think the trade is nearly as awful as youre suggesting. Crittenton alone is better than that Orlando package you mentioned, and getting 2 first rounders plus an expiring 9 million dollar contract is alright Those draft picks are worthless because the Lakers are well outside of the lottery. Crittenton average 3.3 ppg. How is he even remotely worth anything? Redick averages more points and Bogans at least gives you a defender who can shoot 3s and 10 ppg. Im not saying the Magic package is good. But the Lakers package is pretty much worthless except for cap space, which plenty of teams would have given them. Am I in the twighlight zone here? There are actually people defending this trade? Umm...Crittenton is a rookie playing on a contending team, playing a position with 2 more established players in front of him. Just because he isn't playing much doesn't mean he isn't a good prospect. Also, the draft picks aren't worthless. All first rounders have value and are tradeable commodities. Plus they get cap relief. I'm not saying this is a great trade for Memphis, just that it isn't as bad as you guys are making it out to be.
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ f***in ripoff bulls***!!! What the hell is wrong with the damn Grizzlies? They got anally raped three times over. OMG thats one of the worst trades of all time. The Magic would have given them a better package. I doubt that. What combo of expiring contracts, draft picks, and a young player could the Magic have possibly put together?? Um, Redick, Garrity, Arroyo, and Keith Bogans and two first round picks. If not better, just as good. The Bulls would have given them Nocioni or Gordon at the least. They basically gave away Gasol for expiring contracts. Crittenton is worthless. Heck, even the Heat could have given them a decent package. There must be like 10 NBA GMs banging their heads against the wall. Has to be one of the worst trades of all time. I dont think the trade is nearly as awful as youre suggesting. Crittenton alone is better than that Orlando package you mentioned, and getting 2 first rounders plus an expiring 9 million dollar contract is alright Those draft picks are worthless because the Lakers are well outside of the lottery. Crittenton average 3.3 ppg. How is he even remotely worth anything? Redick averages more points and Bogans at least gives you a defender who can shoot 3s and 10 ppg. Im not saying the Magic package is good. But the Lakers package is pretty much worthless except for cap space, which plenty of teams would have given them. Am I in the twighlight zone here? There are actually people defending this trade? The Magic package that you are throwing out there, for a basement team like the Grizzlies, is completely worthless. JJ Redick is a four year college player and has been just godawful so far. Keith Bogans is a good player but is going to be a free agent at the end of the season anyways. Besides, what good is Bogans when your franchise is this bad? Crittenton is only 2 years removed from High School and is on a playoff team, so of course hes not going to get any playing time. And in terms of picks, both the Magic and Lakers are going to be in the playoffs for the next few years anyways so thatd be fairly equal between the two clubs Memphis was just trying to get some cap space to use in free agency, so unless there was a worse team than LA willing to give it to them, or someone willing to give up a young star player, I think this is just about as much as they could hope for
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ f***in ripoff bulls***!!! What the hell is wrong with the damn Grizzlies? They got anally raped three times over. OMG thats one of the worst trades of all time. The Magic would have given them a better package. I doubt that. What combo of expiring contracts, draft picks, and a young player could the Magic have possibly put together?? Um, Redick, Garrity, Arroyo, and Keith Bogans and two first round picks. If not better, just as good. The Bulls would have given them Nocioni or Gordon at the least. They basically gave away Gasol for expiring contracts. Crittenton is worthless. Heck, even the Heat could have given them a decent package. There must be like 10 NBA GMs banging their heads against the wall. Has to be one of the worst trades of all time. I dont think the trade is nearly as awful as youre suggesting. Crittenton alone is better than that Orlando package you mentioned, and getting 2 first rounders plus an expiring 9 million dollar contract is alright Those draft picks are worthless because the Lakers are well outside of the lottery. Crittenton average 3.3 ppg. How is he even remotely worth anything? Redick averages more points and Bogans at least gives you a defender who can shoot 3s and 10 ppg. Im not saying the Magic package is good. But the Lakers package is pretty much worthless except for cap space, which plenty of teams would have given them. Am I in the twighlight zone here? There are actually people defending this trade? Umm...Crittenton is a rookie playing on a contending team, playing a position with 2 more established players in front of him. Just because he isn't playing much doesn't mean he isn't a good prospect. Also, the draft picks aren't worthless. All first rounders have value and are tradeable commodities. Plus they get cap relief. I'm not saying this is a great trade for Memphis, just that it isn't as bad as you guys are making it out to be. I think too many people have the baseball mentality when looking at NBA players. That's why Heat fans have overrated Dorrell Wright for years. Prospects in the NBA are worthless. Your statement of "just because he isn't playing much doesn't mean he isn't a good prospect" can be said about 50 other players in the league. A true valuable prospect in the NBA is a young player who has actually shown some production but is stuck. See Travis Outlaw in Portland. Look, they already have two PGs who are their future in Conley and Lowery. They didn't take Crittenton because he is a legit PG prospect. And what you also don't understand is that outide of the top 10 picks, the NBA draft is a massive crapshoot. The odds of landing an impact player that is 60% of what Gasol gives you are like 1 in 70 and thats only good if you are picking from 10-20. The Lakers are going to be good enough to be in the 20-30 range, which is basically useless.
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ f***in ripoff bulls***!!! What the hell is wrong with the damn Grizzlies? They got anally raped three times over. OMG thats one of the worst trades of all time. The Magic would have given them a better package. I doubt that. What combo of expiring contracts, draft picks, and a young player could the Magic have possibly put together?? Um, Redick, Garrity, Arroyo, and Keith Bogans and two first round picks. If not better, just as good. The Bulls would have given them Nocioni or Gordon at the least. They basically gave away Gasol for expiring contracts. Crittenton is worthless. Heck, even the Heat could have given them a decent package. There must be like 10 NBA GMs banging their heads against the wall. Has to be one of the worst trades of all time. I dont think the trade is nearly as awful as youre suggesting. Crittenton alone is better than that Orlando package you mentioned, and getting 2 first rounders plus an expiring 9 million dollar contract is alright Those draft picks are worthless because the Lakers are well outside of the lottery. Crittenton average 3.3 ppg. How is he even remotely worth anything? Redick averages more points and Bogans at least gives you a defender who can shoot 3s and 10 ppg. Im not saying the Magic package is good. But the Lakers package is pretty much worthless except for cap space, which plenty of teams would have given them. Am I in the twighlight zone here? There are actually people defending this trade? Umm...Crittenton is a rookie playing on a contending team, playing a position with 2 more established players in front of him. Just because he isn't playing much doesn't mean he isn't a good prospect. Also, the draft picks aren't worthless. All first rounders have value and are tradeable commodities. Plus they get cap relief. I'm not saying this is a great trade for Memphis, just that it isn't as bad as you guys are making it out to be. A true valuable prospect in the NBA is a young player who has actually shown some production but is stuck. See Travis Outlaw in Portland. Season, PPG 2003-04 1.0 2004-05 5.4 2005-06 5.8 Using your mentality, Portland should have gotten rid of Outlaw because he was worthless his first 3 years.
February 1, 200818 yr Author This was a move that I had not expected, but this is a terrific move for the Lakers, but it also is a good move for the Grizzlies; at least better than Stromile Swift-for-Jason Collins. When you break this trade down, the Lakers got the best for the present and the Grizzlies got the best for the future. It has become quite apparent that the Grizzlies are preparing for the future and this was a great deal in that sense. The Grizzlies get a massive expiring contract in Kwame Brown, a terrific young prospect guard in Javaris Crittenton, and not to mention two first round picks for the next two seasons. The Grizzlies have laid the groundwork for a bright future now. Now, the Lakers had to make this move considering Andrew Bynum is down for the next two to three months. Pau Gasol adds great depth at the PF and SF positions since Luke Walton will now likely be on the bench for the Lakers. It remains to be seen how healthy Pau Gasol can stay, but if he remains healthy, the Lakers have acquired an All-Star bigman who can provide at least 20 ppg and 10 rpg. But, the Lakers have made a risky move for a player who has not always had the best health. But, in the end, we will have to wait at least three or even five seasons to determine who got the better deal.
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ f***in ripoff bulls***!!! What the hell is wrong with the damn Grizzlies? They got anally raped three times over. OMG thats one of the worst trades of all time. The Magic would have given them a better package. I doubt that. What combo of expiring contracts, draft picks, and a young player could the Magic have possibly put together?? Um, Redick, Garrity, Arroyo, and Keith Bogans and two first round picks. If not better, just as good. The Bulls would have given them Nocioni or Gordon at the least. They basically gave away Gasol for expiring contracts. Crittenton is worthless. Heck, even the Heat could have given them a decent package. There must be like 10 NBA GMs banging their heads against the wall. Has to be one of the worst trades of all time. I dont think the trade is nearly as awful as youre suggesting. Crittenton alone is better than that Orlando package you mentioned, and getting 2 first rounders plus an expiring 9 million dollar contract is alright Those draft picks are worthless because the Lakers are well outside of the lottery. Crittenton average 3.3 ppg. How is he even remotely worth anything? Redick averages more points and Bogans at least gives you a defender who can shoot 3s and 10 ppg. Im not saying the Magic package is good. But the Lakers package is pretty much worthless except for cap space, which plenty of teams would have given them. Am I in the twighlight zone here? There are actually people defending this trade? Umm...Crittenton is a rookie playing on a contending team, playing a position with 2 more established players in front of him. Just because he isn't playing much doesn't mean he isn't a good prospect. Also, the draft picks aren't worthless. All first rounders have value and are tradeable commodities. Plus they get cap relief. I'm not saying this is a great trade for Memphis, just that it isn't as bad as you guys are making it out to be. A true valuable prospect in the NBA is a young player who has actually shown some production but is stuck. See Travis Outlaw in Portland. Season, PPG 2003-04 1.0 2004-05 5.4 2005-06 5.8 Using your mentality, Portland should have gotten rid of Outlaw because he was worthless his first 3 years. You missed my point by a mile. A valuable prospect in the NBA is not defined by subjective analysis of scouts and fans but on some form of production in greater minutes. You only get those minutes when you produce in practice and failure to get those minutes is a large indication that one is not productive. We have no clue how good a player is when he plays 5-15 mpg. But he is just not worth trading an established star for because for every Jermaine Oneal, there are 50 Korleone Youngs. You would be playing the lottery. Just because people talk him up, doesn't mean he will be productive given greater minutees. Outlaw is a valuable prospect because of what he did this season, but he was not a valuable prospect the last few years. He is a valuable prospect NOW and that is why other teams want him included in packages. No team would have wanted him the past few years. Notice how the Nets are not asking for the more raw prospects? Your logic seems to be prospects are worth it because some prospects become good. That's like saying it is worth searching for buries treasure because someone found some one time. Johan Petro. Gerald Green Jiri Welsch Qyntel Woods I kind find 50 guys who are more like them than are like Jermaine Oneal.
February 1, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ f***in ripoff bulls***!!! What the hell is wrong with the damn Grizzlies? They got anally raped three times over. OMG thats one of the worst trades of all time. The Magic would have given them a better package. I doubt that. What combo of expiring contracts, draft picks, and a young player could the Magic have possibly put together?? Um, Redick, Garrity, Arroyo, and Keith Bogans and two first round picks. If not better, just as good. The Bulls would have given them Nocioni or Gordon at the least. They basically gave away Gasol for expiring contracts. Crittenton is worthless. Heck, even the Heat could have given them a decent package. There must be like 10 NBA GMs banging their heads against the wall. Has to be one of the worst trades of all time. I dont think the trade is nearly as awful as youre suggesting. Crittenton alone is better than that Orlando package you mentioned, and getting 2 first rounders plus an expiring 9 million dollar contract is alright Those draft picks are worthless because the Lakers are well outside of the lottery. Crittenton average 3.3 ppg. How is he even remotely worth anything? Redick averages more points and Bogans at least gives you a defender who can shoot 3s and 10 ppg. Im not saying the Magic package is good. But the Lakers package is pretty much worthless except for cap space, which plenty of teams would have given them. Am I in the twighlight zone here? There are actually people defending this trade? Umm...Crittenton is a rookie playing on a contending team, playing a position with 2 more established players in front of him. Just because he isn't playing much doesn't mean he isn't a good prospect. Also, the draft picks aren't worthless. All first rounders have value and are tradeable commodities. Plus they get cap relief. I'm not saying this is a great trade for Memphis, just that it isn't as bad as you guys are making it out to be. A true valuable prospect in the NBA is a young player who has actually shown some production but is stuck. See Travis Outlaw in Portland. Season, PPG 2003-04 1.0 2004-05 5.4 2005-06 5.8 Using your mentality, Portland should have gotten rid of Outlaw because he was worthless his first 3 years. You missed my point by a mile. A valuable prospect in the NBA is not defined by subjective analysis of scouts and fans but on some form of production in greater minutes. You only get those minutes when you produce in practice and failure to get those minutes is a large indication that one is not productive. We have no clue how good a player is when he plays 5-15 mpg. But he is just not worth trading an established star for because for every Jermaine Oneal, there are 50 Korleone Youngs. You would be playing the lottery. Just because people talk him up, doesn't mean he will be productive given greater minutees. Outlaw is a valuable prospect because of what he did this season, but he was not a valuable prospect the last few years. He is a valuable prospect NOW and that is why other teams want him included in packages. No team would have wanted him the past few years. Notice how the Nets are not asking for the more raw prospects? Your logic seems to be prospects are worth it because some prospects become good. That's like saying it is worth searching for buries treasure because someone found some one time. Johan Petro. Gerald Green Jiri Welsch Qyntel Woods I kind find 50 guys who are more like them than are like Jermaine Oneal. OK, so a lot of the time prospects dont pan out. Thanks Captain Obvious, we really needed you on that one. My point about Outlaw was that if Portland felt the same way you do about guys that havent done anything yet, then they never would have just let him go and never reap the benefit of taking him in the first place Crittentons lack of minutes is not an indication that he is garbage, its an indication that he is still very young and not yet ready to play when Kobe and Fisher/Farmar are in front of him. He has the potential to be a good guard in this league, and its obvious that scouts in the Grizzlies organization that know much more about player evaluation than you or me feel he could give them something down the road. And if it doesnt work out, then Memphis only has to pay him about 1.5 mil/yr for the next 2 years. Its not like theyre gambling the franchise on him. No matter how you feel about him, its still better than the Magic package you put together. EDIT: To make the salary cap math work for this trade, the Lakers will sign and trade Aaron McKie. Also, LA is dealing the draft rights to Pau's younger brother Marc.
February 1, 200818 yr There's too much quoting. I refuse to read. Good trade for the Kobe's. That all.
February 2, 200818 yr OK, so a lot of the time prospects dont pan out. Thanks Captain Obvious, we really needed you on that one. My point about Outlaw was that if Portland felt the same way you do about guys that havent done anything yet, then they never would have just let him go and never reap the benefit of taking him in the first place Crittentons lack of minutes is not an indication that he is garbage, its an indication that he is still very young and not yet ready to play when Kobe and Fisher/Farmar are in front of him. He has the potential to be a good guard in this league, and its obvious that scouts in the Grizzlies organization that know much more about player evaluation than you or me feel he could give them something down the road. And if it doesnt work out, then Memphis only has to pay him about 1.5 mil/yr for the next 2 years. Its not like theyre gambling the franchise on him. No matter how you feel about him, its still better than the Magic package you put together. EDIT: To make the salary cap math work for this trade, the Lakers will sign and trade Aaron McKie. Also, LA is dealing the draft rights to Pau's younger brother Marc. You admit most prospects don't pan out but keep on defending the trade based on the value of prospects. It's called odds and statistics and I really think you need a lesson on it. I really don't think its that obvious to you. How about you and I place a bet on whether Crittenton ends up ever making the all-star team? I'm pretty sure you won't give up a sure dollar for that one. When you trade a sure thing player for pretty much a low odds of success player, you are taking that terrible bet. This is especially true in the NBA. I forgot how dominant a combo Fisher/Farmer are that Crittenton can't break through. Good God what was I thinking! And I love the "they are in the NBA so they must know what they are doing" logic. People in LA didn't know what the people in Memphis know? And people in the NBA have NEVER been ripped off on a terrible trade? Isiah wants to give you a call. Listen, they could have gotten a much better package for Gasol and they just plain blew it. How exactly is this better than what Chicago was offering all that time? They just got 30 cents on the dollar which is terrible business/management/common sense.
February 2, 200818 yr Heat shopping Shaq? He sat, cleared his throat and eliminated all bravado from his voice. And then, Shaquille O'Neal spoke for the first time about the end of a long line - his failing to play in an All-Star Game for the first time in 15 seasons - with the grace and dignity he has always shown in milestone moments... Meanwhile, several media outlets have reported the Heat is shopping O'Neal before the trade deadline. But O'Neal, who has an additional two years and $40 million remaining on his contract, trusts he would hear about such talk from Riley, the team president. From Prosportsdaily.com via Palm Beach Post. Got this off of Hoopsworld.com Shaq Out, Marion In?: Despite Pat Riley telling media that Shaq is not going to be traded, more than a few league sources say there have been real talks about Shaq heading to Phoenix in a Shawn Marion ? Boris Diaw deal. Suns sources downplay Shaq coming in, but continue to say they hear the Suns are indeed looking. Why would Phoenix take such a risk? Despite Shaq's declining career, he is still a dominate force down low and if healthy he could be the difference for Phoenix in the playoffs as teams would have to choose who to double-team ? Shaq or Amare. The Suns according to sources close to the team are growing tired of Shawn Marion, and if Miami will take Diaw's contract it seems there is some validity to the idea the Suns would sniff at Shaq. Seems like an odd pairing as Shaq surely would struggle with the Suns tempo ? unless the Suns have decided that slowing things down might be the key to a title. But they are also reporting the Heat are interested in trading Udonis to Orlando for J.J. Redick so take that when a grain of salt.
February 2, 200818 yr Heat shopping Shaq? He sat, cleared his throat and eliminated all bravado from his voice. And then, Shaquille O'Neal spoke for the first time about the end of a long line - his failing to play in an All-Star Game for the first time in 15 seasons - with the grace and dignity he has always shown in milestone moments... Meanwhile, several media outlets have reported the Heat is shopping O'Neal before the trade deadline. But O'Neal, who has an additional two years and $40 million remaining on his contract, trusts he would hear about such talk from Riley, the team president. From Prosportsdaily.com via Palm Beach Post. Got this off of Hoopsworld.com Shaq Out, Marion In?: Despite Pat Riley telling media that Shaq is not going to be traded, more than a few league sources say there have been real talks about Shaq heading to Phoenix in a Shawn Marion ? Boris Diaw deal. Suns sources downplay Shaq coming in, but continue to say they hear the Suns are indeed looking. Why would Phoenix take such a risk? Despite Shaq's declining career, he is still a dominate force down low and if healthy he could be the difference for Phoenix in the playoffs as teams would have to choose who to double-team ? Shaq or Amare. The Suns according to sources close to the team are growing tired of Shawn Marion, and if Miami will take Diaw's contract it seems there is some validity to the idea the Suns would sniff at Shaq. Seems like an odd pairing as Shaq surely would struggle with the Suns tempo ? unless the Suns have decided that slowing things down might be the key to a title. But they are also reporting the Heat are interested in trading Udonis to Orlando for J.J. Redick so take that when a grain of salt. Oh yes. Haslem for some POS kid who's best days are behind him. Even trade.
February 2, 200818 yr Author This has been quite possibly the most disastrous season any NBA team has had in recent history as the Heat are just two years removed from their NBA Title. Pat Riley is going to have to pull out a miracle reconstruction project (one much more difficult than the Dolphins) in order to have the Heat back into playoff contention. With the NBA salary rules, it will be awfully difficult to make moves and rid themselves off several bad contracts they have, but it is not entirely impossible. I have been pndering over things and I believe that the Heat could still make some moves that would place themselves in a better position in the future. Any trade detailed below works under the NBA salary rules per the ESPN Trade Machine. To begin, I would pull off a blockbuster trade with the New York Knicks. This trade would send C Shaquille O'Neal (since New York can't seem to get enough star players) and PF Udonis Haslem to the Knicks in exchange for PF Zach Randolph and Isiah Thomas cats-away C Eddy Curry. This would give the Heat a much younger center and a more offensive-minded PF in Randolph while New York gets some much needed grit and defense from the PF position from Udonis Haslem and bring in a star in Shaquille O'Neal who lives the spotlight. In the process, the Heat save around $4 million in the trade. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/trad...p;te=&cash= Once that move is pulled off, the Heat then should trade C Mark Blount to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for younger C Zaza Pachulia and PG Tyronn Lue. The Hawks get a much better center while the Heat obtain a relatively cheap C and another expiring contract and more depth at the guard position in Tyronn Lue. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/trad...p;te=&cash= These two moves will, in themselves, very much help the Heat out for the future. After those trades, the Heat would then have around $20 million in expiring contracts assuming they retain both C Earl Barron and F Dorrell Wright. Since it appears that the Memphis Grizzlies are looking for expiring contracts, I would trade the expiring contracts of both PG Jason Williams and F Ricky Davis to the Grizzlies. The Miami Heat have long had interest in Mike Miller and he would be a great addition and compliment to Dwayne Wade. It would also add a great shooter to the team, so here is what I'm proposing. The Heat send PG Jason Williams, F Ricky Davis, and a future 2nd rd pick to the Grizzlies in exchange for G/F Mike Miller and C Kwame Brown. It would give the Heat the player they have been wanting for quite some time and a large expiring contract in Kwame Brown. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/trad...p;te=&cash= These are just some moves that I'm suggesting that would, in my opinion, help the Heat onto the road towards recovery.
February 3, 200818 yr Gasol traded to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Crittenton, and 1st rounders in 2008 and 2010. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/...-traded-lakers/ makes the lakers a whole hell of a lot better.
February 3, 200818 yr The Bulls are the big loser in this, IMO. Gasol would have been the perfect fit at the 4 spot for that team, they badly need a low post scorer. I'd have to imagine they could have put up a package as good or better than the one the Lakers gave up.
February 3, 200818 yr Author Heat shopping Shaq? He sat, cleared his throat and eliminated all bravado from his voice. And then, Shaquille O'Neal spoke for the first time about the end of a long line - his failing to play in an All-Star Game for the first time in 15 seasons - with the grace and dignity he has always shown in milestone moments... Meanwhile, several media outlets have reported the Heat is shopping O'Neal before the trade deadline. But O'Neal, who has an additional two years and $40 million remaining on his contract, trusts he would hear about such talk from Riley, the team president. From Prosportsdaily.com via Palm Beach Post. Got this off of Hoopsworld.com Shaq Out, Marion In?: Despite Pat Riley telling media that Shaq is not going to be traded, more than a few league sources say there have been real talks about Shaq heading to Phoenix in a Shawn Marion ? Boris Diaw deal. Suns sources downplay Shaq coming in, but continue to say they hear the Suns are indeed looking. Why would Phoenix take such a risk? Despite Shaq's declining career, he is still a dominate force down low and if healthy he could be the difference for Phoenix in the playoffs as teams would have to choose who to double-team ? Shaq or Amare. The Suns according to sources close to the team are growing tired of Shawn Marion, and if Miami will take Diaw's contract it seems there is some validity to the idea the Suns would sniff at Shaq. Seems like an odd pairing as Shaq surely would struggle with the Suns tempo ? unless the Suns have decided that slowing things down might be the key to a title. But they are also reporting the Heat are interested in trading Udonis to Orlando for J.J. Redick so take that when a grain of salt. Oh yes. Haslem for some POS kid who's best days are behind him. Even trade. There has been a report stating that KTLA 5 TV in Los Angeles has confirmed this information and has announced these rumors.
February 3, 200818 yr JJ Reddick sucks, that would be a terrible trade. Makes no sense for either team, why would the Magic want Haslem?
February 5, 200818 yr The Heat has told center Shaquille O'Neal's representation that it is talking about trading him and he should be prepared for the possibility of a deal, according to two officials close to the situation. Phoenix has discussed sending forward Shawn Marion and point guard Marcus Banks to the Heat in return for O'Neal. Asked for confirmation, one of O'Neal's representatives said O'Neal has been made aware that discussions with Phoenix are serious and ongoing, but that a deal was not definite. Dallas also has been mentioned as a potential destination, though the Heat had not immediately informed O'Neal of that possibility. O'Neal, 35, was shocked by the turn of events, an associate said. O'Neal helped lead the Heat to the 2005-06 championship, but Miami has struggled since, losing in the first round of the playoffs last season and opening this season with a league-worst 9-37 record. After this season, Marion can opt out of the last year of his contract worth $17.1 million. If Marion opts out, trading O'Neal would give the Heat substantial salary cap space this offseason, when potential free agents include Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, Elton Brand, Antawn Jamison, Ron Artest and Corey Maggette. Marion, 29, is a four-time All-Star and considered one of the NBA's most athletic small forwards. Marion, 6-7, is averaging 15.8 points and 9.9 rebounds. Banks, 26, is averaging 5.2 points and 1.0 assists. After this season, he has three years left on his contract worth a total of $13.4 million. O'Neal, who has been out with a hip injury, has two years left on his contract after this season. He will be paid $20 million each of the next two seasons. Heat officials were on their way to Detroit, where the team plays the Pistons Wednesday, and could not be reached for comment. http://www.miamiherald.com/594/story/407442.html
February 5, 200818 yr It seems to me the most important part of the deal is Marion opting out, but can he really get more than 17 million a year?
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