According to self-proclaimed insiders, the Pacers and Lakers have agreed to this swap, which will take place on draft-day, or a day or two afterwards: Indiana trades: Jonathan Bender Pick #17 Los Angeles trades: Slava Medvedenko Devean George Pick #35 Indiana, having given up on Jonathan Bender's knee ever being healthy, plans to line up $20 million in tasty expiring contracts by trading out of a weak draft. The Lakers take on Bender's deal to add an additional first-rounder. Thoughts?
This isn't a weak draft. If you want to see a weak draft, wait until next year (if the age limit goes through). Every player in this deal is horrible though. If the Pacers can turn this into a player down the line, then it's good for them, but at least the Lakers get a pick for certain. Nothing major overall.
I like the trade for the Pacers. I've given up on Bender and adding $8 million in expiring contracts for Bender seems fine. They have Pollard, Tinsley, Fred Jones & Eddie Gill also coming off next year which brings the total to $23 million. If Reggie Miller plays and takes the $6 million he was offered, they will have $29 million in expiring contracts next summer! I question trading from #17 to #35 in the draft. #17 should be a viable player while #35 probably will not be. It's almost like the Pacers are taking a breather next season and gearing up for the summer of 2006 free agent market. That bothers me a some but maybe this is for the best in the long term. Go Pacers. Trade Artest.
Bad deal for Indiana. Bender's contract isn't THAT bad (only 2 years left) considering he still has some upside (he's still only 24 years old).
It depends on how much potential you think Bender still has. I don't think he has ANY chance of being the player we thought he could be when drafted. At some point he may develop into a serviceable player but even that is in doubt.
Plausable. Indiana gets the better of the deal. Bender's looking more like a lost cause every day. Slava is one dmensional, but can spread a defense. George is fair bench player that'll probably hate life under Carlise and Bird (neither of which cater to underachievers). Lakers going after a second first rounder makes some sense, if Phil Jackson has turned a corner and is more willing to play rookies (and he has gotten better about that with age, unlike Larry Brown and JVG). Evan
Well, here's a barometer for the value of expiring contracts. Edit: foodworld, c'mon now. My google search skills show the primary source pushing this rumor is Hoopsworld. I'd hope you'd know better than to bring their garbage here. Got something better?
Okay, I don't think it was reported there, but the Pacers have stopped rehabbing Bender and are expected to move him. I think this rumor is more plausible than most. Care to make a sig bet?
Good trade for the Lakers if they do in fact get the #17 pick as well. Devean George doesn't really have a place with Kobe, Odom, and Caron Butler playing all the minutes at the SG and SF under Phil's triangle. With 2 top 20 selections, the lakers will probably draft a point guard and a big guy. I could see them getting Felton at #11 and then Taft at #17. That would be a pretty good draft for the lakers.
While we are throwing out trade rumors/speculation. Here is one involving the Lakers and Portland. http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2005/06/19/finalists_far_from_through/?page=2
Portland trading out of #3 is looking more and more likely each day. I would think if they find other partners, however, that they wouldn't deal with the Lakers. I still think Charlotte is the most likely trade partner, since they would kill for eith er Paul or Williams and have two first rounders to barter with. Should be an interesting draft day. Evan
Yes. I just don't think Bickerstaff will give up this #13. I see a future 1, or 'other considerations'.
BB was really top drawer for a while, then crashed and burned. His reemergence has not energized me towards the 'cats, either -- and I have no Nug in my veins.
The Lakers are also rumored to be going after Kwame Brown with their MLE. It appears the Lakers are stockpiling as many young prospects with upside as they can (Bender, Brown, Green) and hoping one will be their next "Kobe Bryant" find.
Nuggets4, what were Bickerstaff's sins as GM of the Nuggets? My memory of Nuggets personnel moves doesn't go back that far, and I'd be very interested to know.
George and Medvedenko are at least hustle players. How long's it gonna take Kobe to force the almighty Zen Master to put a bum like Bender in his doghouse??
if this is really from hoopsworld, then it basically has as much chance of happening as any random trade we through out there, but it it does happen it would seem both teams get what they want. indiana gets their expiring contracts for next year, and the lakers get a pick in the first round and bender's contract expires at the same time as grant's (15.7M) and mihm's (4.3M) comes off the books which would give them close to 28M expiring 2 offseasons from now (making them trade bait the trade deadline after next). so if LA does this, maybe they are doing what i think they should do and basically just sit another year out of really doing much and put a lot of their eggs into 2 years from now while developing some younger talent.
