Blockbuster close to completion: Suns/Minni/ATL (Deal Looks Dead)

It's been edited. Nothing close to Kurt Thomas is needed. Especially if Jones took his POpt.

 

So would 5 in 10 years make the Spurs a dynasty?

 

Well, it looks the deal is far away from close according to SI.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/ian_thomsen/06/27/draft.notes/?cnn=yes

Something to talk about?
A 3-way deal involving KG, Amaré far from complete

The Suns may be willing to part with Amaré Stoudemire in a trade for Kevin Garnett.
The Suns may be willing to part with Amaré Stoudemire in a trade for Kevin Garnett.

NEW YORK -- Will Minnesota trade Kevin Garnett before the draft Thursday night? I have doubts.

The latest leaked proposal -- a three-way deal involving Phoenix and Atlanta -- has not even been discussed among all three teams, a league source insisted Wednesday afternoon.

The essential proposal arguably makes sense: Garnett would go to Phoenix; the Suns would send Amaré Stoudemire to Atlanta; and the Timberwolves would receive the Hawks' Nos. 3 and 11 picks in the draft as well as other contracts from both teams.

To consummate a blockbuster trade, shouldn't all three teams be in dialogue with each other? But that has not happened.

Here are the pertinent questions: Does Atlanta want to take on Stoudemire's contract? Both GM Billy Knight and co-owner Michael Gearon recently told me that they will spend whatever it takes for "the right guy.'' One would think that Stoudemire is that guy -- a 24-year-old with MVP upside. But rival teams doubt whether the Hawks are interested in adding to their payroll, given the ongoing legal fight among their owners.

Are the Timberwolves willing to accept little more than a couple of lottery picks as the main assets in exchange for Garnett? That's a hard one to believe ... unless either Garnett has demanded a trade, or owner Glen Taylor is committed to moving Garnett before he can opt out next summer. After all, Garnett's trade value isn't going to rise between now and February.

Will the Suns trade Stoudemire for Garnett? I think they should in pursuit of a championship over the next two years.

Since breaking the news last week that Phoenix and Minnesota were discussing an exchange of Stoudemire and Garnett, I've been skeptical of a deal actually being finalized anytime soon.

It's entirely possible that something could change to convince all three teams to begin discussing the proposal. Until that happens, there's no sense in getting all worked up about it. As things stand on the eve of the draft, I am convinced that the Web sites and talk shows are focusing on this rumored trade a lot more than the teams themselves.
Oden all over the map

Stuffed inside a luxury van Tuesday morning, his knees pressed high against the back of the passenger seat, Greg Oden looked out the windows at the bright marquees and the dormant lights.

"What I want to know,'' Oden said, dabbing a tissue to his runny nose, "is what Broadway play am I going to see while I'm in New York?''

"Do you want to see a Broadway play?'' asked Bill Sanders, his marketing agent, from the back of the van.

Oden was quiet for a moment, and in that time it occurred to the rest of us in the van how much Oden's life has changed. He had cracked a joke about seeing a play. But the joke had been taken seriously. Which Broadway play would you like to see? Would you like to sit in the front row, on the aisle? Would you like to arrive in a horse-drawn carriage? He was about to become the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Anything he wanted, he could have.

"Man,'' Oden answered, "as soon as I can, I'm going to bed and getting me some sleep.''

He had come down with a bad cold the day before, the result of a parading schedule that he was too humble to ever have imagined for himself. Public workouts with Portland and Seattle last week. Private workouts to improve his shooting and other skills daily. Meetings with people invested in exploring his best interests.

He had been dreaming of draft day for a long time. It was quickly turning into more than he ever could have realized.

"I looked forward to it -- till they showed me the schedule,'' he joked. "It was something I did look forward to. I knew it would be a fun night. A lot of people don't get to do it, a lot of people dream about this night. And I get to do it. I'm honored to be up there -- but I am getting to that point where I want it to be over with. Just because this stuff is a lot and I want to get back to basketball. But it is something I want to do and I want to experience it.''

Was he worried about dropping to No. 2 in the draft? That the Trail Blazers would prefer Kevin Durant instead at No. 1?

"I'm actually not nervous,'' he said. "A lot of people ask me that. I'm really not. I'm calm, I'm relaxed. I'm a little sick, but it's not about this stuff. I'm enjoying all this.''

He will have nothing to worry about. Never mind all of the talk about the Blazers possibly using the No. 1 pick on Durant. They are definitely going to take Oden.

If they don't take Oden, their fans will be disappointed and their new management team will be second-guessed to early retirement by rival executives and basketball experts. You're telling me that GM Kevin Pritchard, in his first move in charge of the Blazers, is going to pass up a center who has been compared to everyone from David Robinson to Bill Russell? That isn't going to happen.

The van pulled up outside the NBA offices and Oden uncurled himself out through the side door. He was escorted up to a conference room where he was greeted by league executives Stu Jackson and Mike Bantom, who advised him on what to expect over the next few days and the summer ahead. They warned him that summer league and minicamp would come one after the other.

They were sitting around a conference table, everyone in suit pants and neckties, when commissioner David Stern came into the room. The boss had arrived to welcome the new employee. All of the hoopla was going to be over and very soon Oden was going to have to go to work.

 

Seriously, i think we could get Lorenzen Wright out of it.

 

Possibly yes but it doesn't help us out. We all know Rafer's limitations but he is still helpful to some extent because guys like VSpan and JLIII can't help Mike James.

 

also espn says deal hits roadblock

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2919016

The Minnesota Timberwolves' attempts to get a great deal for Kevin Garnett hit a major roadblock on Wednesday afternoon, sources told ESPN.com.

According to multiple sources, the Timberwolves have been talking to multiple teams about finding a third team to help facilitate a Garnett trade.

As ESPN.com reported on Tuesday evening, Minnesota was looking to acquire Atlanta's No. 3 and No. 11 picks in the draft along with several cap-friendly contracts from the Hawks and Phoenix Suns. To participate, Atlanta wanted Amare Stoudemire from Phoenix.

On Wednesday, sources say one of the Hawks owners vetoed a hypothetical deal for Stoudemire.

The Suns claim to have never had any direct contact with the Hawks about a deal. While they have shown strong interest in acquiring Garnett, the deal never reached a stage where they were asked by either team to give up Stoudemire and never offered him in a trade.

While teams like the Lakers and Suns will continue to pursue Garnett, and the Wolves seem intent on trading him, sources say that it's unlikely a deal goes down by the time of the draft.

The latest drama in the KG saga shows some of the perils of dealing with the Hawks -- arguably the most dysfunctional franchise in the league.

The Hawks ownership group, Atlanta Spirit LLC, is embroiled in a nasty lawsuit with former partner Steve Belkin. Belkin won a lawsuit against Atlanta Spirit LLC last summer and a judge ruled that he could buy out the owners of Atlanta Spirit and gain full ownership of the team. Atlanta Spirit is currently appealing the ruling.

In the meantime, Belkin holds some authority over the team. He can veto any trade or free agent signing that takes the team above the NBA salary cap. Several sources suggested that it was Belkin who vetoed the trade.

This fiasco isn't the only situation the Hawks are dealing with. Sources said that Hawks general manager Billy Knight is in a dispute with some of the Hawks owners over who to take at No. 3. Knight prefers Florida's Al Horford. Some in the Hawks ownership, including influential owner Michael Gearon Jr., want to draft Yi Jianlian out of China.

 

they might as well name him, Ja'mare Stoudamire with that line up.

 

What about the Hawks? If Amare can remain healthy and keep working on his game, that team can easily be one of the top 3-4 teams in the East year-in and year-out.

The Hawks get a nice piece in Amare to pair up with JJ and JS, not to mention the other young talent they have on roster, which are all tradeable assets that can bring something nice in return.

I like this trade for everyone, including Minny which can make out nicely in this year's draft and put a decent young team together moving forward, not to mention tons of cap flexibility having already dumped an albatross of a contract (KG's) and getting rid of Mike James' contract for a shorter one in Juwon's.

Then, we have Kobe on the trading block and possibly Paul Pierce getting outta of Boston...MAN is this shaping up to be an intriguing offseason or what!

 

Even though I am a Rockets fan, I want this trade to happen. I like Nash and Garnett, and I dislike Amare.

Minnesota: What a draft to have 3 lottery picks in. I'd read Hollinger's article and just trust it to get extra value - no point in playing it safe with three picks. Take Conley at #3 (you need a great pg with the rules lately), Brandan Wright or Li Jianlian at #7 (whoever is still left), and then take Thaddeus Young at #11 (SG with good size, excellent athleticism, and good brains). Of course, McHale will take Horford, Hawes, and Law and only get one good player out of it.

Atlanta made out initially, but they still don't have a PG and Amare is going to be hurting without a PG.

Phoenix rocked the joint: I agree with whoever mentioned that Garnett has never been on a good team near this good and still made it to the conference finals. On offense, he will be Diaw on steroids with 95% of Amare's finishing ability. Garnett makes his teammates better and has never had this much talent to work with. Phoenix will be able to win without Nash for a change, and they will be able to dominate whole games because of that. On defense, he is twice the player Amare is. He is a better shot blocker, rebounder, and he can defend Duncan and Dirk straight up. Yao is the only player in the West that he will have trouble with.

If this trade goes down and Phoenix keeps Marion, a healthy Phoenix wins 65+ games and takes the first seed into the playoffs. Book it.

 

OMG, somebody just cluster bomb the Atlanta Hawks' headquarters and put that pathetic excuse of a franchise out of its misery.

 

seriously...morons.

 

no doubt..

 

Taking Yi Jianlan at 3 is dumb. That's just too high. Trade down for him if you're going to do that.

 

No wonder ATL will always SUCKS ... they dont know when to do deals and they can't draft !

They are always in the top 10 in draft picks but gets NOBODY!

and now they have a chance to have AMARE, JJohnson on same team and they back out ... and watch they draft 2 bad picks at #3 and #11

 

Not a chance Seattle or Portland give up Oden or Durant.

 

It used to be the GM, but now the ownership is in complete shambles. Each one has different interests. I believe one of the part owners has financial interests in China, so he wants to take Yi Jianlian. Everyone else is set on Al Horford. They are a mess.

 

Same here!

 

Franchise has been a mess ever since they were a #1 seed out of the east and they traded Dominique Wilkins for Danny Manning...

 

Translation: Suns were never going to trade Amare in the first place but since we [ESPN] ****ed up, let's save face and blame Hawk's management.