Mark Monteith of the Indianapolis Star reports that the Pacers know what they want to do, they just don’t know if they’ll be able to do it. They want to trade Austin Croshere, but they don’t know what they can get for him… but here’s what they’re looking for: 1) They want a player whose salary is close to the $7 million that Croshere will be paid this year. 2) They want a player with only one year left on his contract. 3) They want a player who can contribute to the team. They would love to get rid of the $40 million left on Croshere’s contract in order to free up money to sign their free agents next year. Monteith admits that it is a tall order to fill, and the Pacers may have to settle for #1 and #2 or settle for no deal at all. "The climate is not good," Pacers president Donnie Walsh said. "People are afraid to take on long-term contracts when they do a deal." The Pacers will have six big free agents next season, and all of them are ahead of Croshere in playing time. Freeing up Croshere’s contract will help them to afford to resign Jermaine O’Neal, Reggie Miller, Brad Miller, Jeff Foster, Ron Artest and Jonathan Bender. Croshere would like to stay in Indiana, but does not want another season buried on the bench. Any deal involving Croshere probably won't occur until after Aug. 1, when he loses his base-year compensation status. If Croshere is moved before then, the trade value of his salary is only $5.25 million. It is the full $7 million after that, which means the Pacers can either get a better player in return or take a larger salary off another team's payroll. Walsh said many teams like Croshere’s game, but not his contract. "A lot of teams are trying to get a lower payroll next year," Walsh said. Walsh said some teams are hesitant to trade for a long-term contract because they are eager to clear salary space for next season's free agent class, which looks to be much stronger than this one. Proposed Trade: Indiana trades Croshere to Seattle Rockets trade Kenny and Collier to Indiana Seattle trades Lewis to the Rockets Why it works: The Pacers get Kenny Thomas to back-up Jermaine O'neal and Collier to back-up Brad Miller. The Rockets get a sf stud in Lewis, and Seattle will get a sf/pf player in Croshere. Croshere is a great player who has been screwed by playing for a team with a lot of depth in his postion and a coach who does not want to play him. Remember, he played great under Larry Bird. So, all three teams benefit. What do ya'll think?
I think I love it from our perspective. I think Indiana gets a good PF and a center that will be buried on the pine. I think Seattle gets screwed.
Lewis is Ok but not for KT. only for the exception.He is a tall Mario Ellie, shooting from the outside, with a soft touch, low on other things incl. DEFENCE but could be very useful to the ROx.in their new game plan!
You should have run this trade idea through <i>realgm</i> to see if it is possible (CBA salary rules) before posting here. Mango
Personally I'll be happy when the Sonics or another team besides the Rockets signs Rashard Lewis. Hopefully it will be today or later this week. We have all of the pieces to the puzzle and dont need anymore. We're not getting him keep dreaming!
I agree with you 100% off welfare. Bringing in another sf might help us win 3 or 4 more games next year but it won't bring us a championship, while it will only delay the improvement of Nachbar.
I am not expert but the involvement of Indy and Croshere is not necessary. If one reviews the Sonics depth chart now that the Baker trade is done we can see an opening for both Rice and KT to be traded for Lewis. Remember I do not know the CBA. However, Rice's contract comes off in two years and it is closer to what Lewis wants. KT is a underpaid, young bone fide PF in this league which they do not have now. Rockets get a young hometown gem and get rid of Rice's contract and Seattle gets an expiring contract, two experience producing players, one of which is a power forward. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS 1. PG Gary Payton SG Brent Barry C Jerome James SF Rashard Lewis (U) PF ???? 2. PG Kenny Anderson SG Desmond Mason C Calvin Booth SF Vladimir Radmanovic PF Predrag Drobnjak 3. PG Randy Livingston (U) SG Joe Forte C Vitaly Potepenko PF Art Long PF Ansu Sesay (R)
How the hell would that trade work cap-wise? KT and Collier combined make like 2-3 mill. That would be the most one-sided trade in favor of the Rockets, if they were able to pull it off. Trading a 3rd string PF and a 3rd string C, for a young up and coming SF?
You guy's are missing the point. Lewis is seeking $$$money$$$ he might turn out to be another Cato. Yes his good, but KT is really good also. And KT is getting better by the years, so why do it!
No way. Rashard is a different breed. Saying that Rashard may be another Cato shows your lack of knowledge for Shard's game. Shard has busted his arse to improve his game. The two should not be in the same sentence.
That would be a great trade for the Rockets! That would solve our problem of having too many PFS, and we'd get a star small forward. . I hope that that trade will happen I think we will get Rashard somehow, but that would be a great trade to get him. I really think that we have to get ride of one of our PFs.
Croshere pretty much sucks. He is an OK back-up, but way overpriced for that. You need Harrington or Bender or Artest included to be at all of interest for Seattle to deal with Indiana. I think this would be tempting for Seattle if Nachbar was included. For those of you that balk, remember Lewis is 22 and last year put up 17 & 7 for a playoff team in the west, Nachbar is also 22 and put up 13 & 3 in a Europe league. I am very hopeful Nachbar becomes a solid NBA player and the Europe league he played in is not without quality players--but he is far less of a sure thing than Lewis. I also am not saying I would do this deal (I might depending on how highly Rudy thought of Lewis), but a package of like KT, Nachbar and Rice in a sign and trade is probably about what Seattle will be looking for.
If what is rumored is true, that is, they offered $49 over seven years then they could not want to have Rice, Nachbar and KT. KT himself is going to make close to $8 which is the average salary of a starting PF. Remember, right now they have a PF need.
KT is our 3rd f-ing string PF. At best, he's our 2nd string PF. Lewis would be our starting SF. Common sense should tell you that it would be a wise move to trade a backup player whose stock is as high as it ever will be, for a young up and coming starter. Damn, the stupidity on this board is making me want to hurl.
