Yes, I agree that it is kind of a "best case" scenario in each case. No question. But i dont think it is TOTALLY out of left field either. I wouldn't call it a "pipe dream" like trying to wrestle McGrady away from the Magic for Francis. There are legitimate scenarios and current situations which lead to us being able to get those players. Tough to say if the Sonics would go for Francis. We do know that Allen is 1.5 years older than Francis AND his contract is up after next season. We do know that they have a pretty good YOUNG backup in Flip Murray waiting in the wings to take over the SG spot plus they have Luke Ridnour waiting in the wings for the starting PG spot. They can afford to lose Allen for the right price. Honestly I am not sure we could move Francis for Allen straight up. I think we might have to get a 3rd team involved. There is no question that the Sonics are spinning their wheels until they get some solid low post scoring. Idealy we can try to send Francis to another team looking for a guard and that team can send a low post player to the Sonics. A month ago I brought up a deal with the principals being Francis to the Bulls, Eddy Curry to the Sonics and Allen to the Rockets. That would give the Sonics the low post player they are looking for. The one thing I think would most intrigue the Sonics with Francis is his "star power." His ability to put butts in the seats and sell merchandise. Regardless of what we think about him, he is perceived by fans of the league as a flashy star. Clearly he will have a lot of suitors. Houston would be able to offer him a starting PG spot which would be of interest to him I am sure. Another thing in our favor is word is that Ray Allen and Barry are GOOD friends. They like playing with each other. If we were able to make the Allen move perhaps that would be a big help in swaying Barry to come here. Also, you would have to think Barry would love playing with Yao Ming. Hasn't Brent's father, Rick, been singing the praises of Ming for quite a while now? That is a tough one. I think Detroit is going to have a hard time resigning Wallace AND Okur. I think they can do one or the other and chances are they will sign the younger Okur. They just dont have the cap room to do both. They need to renounce Wallace to have enough money to sign Okur since he will almost assuredly command more than the MLE. So Detroit will have a choice. Let Wallace walk for nothing to an Eastern team - a team that will be a COMPETITOR to the Pistons in the East. OR they can try to trade him to a Western Conference team and out of the Pistons conference. Houston can use their TE which would not send money back to the Pistons (something they would enjoy to keep room for Okur) and the Rockets could send them a 1st rounder as a sweetener. Remember the Pistons lost a 1st rounder in that 3 team deal. Here they get it back to rent Wallace for this season. I am not sure about the JVG/Wallace mesh but word is JVG wants him and perhaps that would mean something to Wallace. I get the feeling Wallace doesn't want to be "the man" on a team. He wants to defer. Here he could do that and would also have the ability to play outside if he wanted to. And I do feel that him playing with friend Mobley would be a plus. Ultimately I feel the best way to get Wallace is "show him the money." I feel he is mostly going for the paycheck. I still think he plays very hard, but he wants the bank. I dont think he will go to NY or any team for the MLE. And I dont see any team currently under the cap (Phoenix, Atlanta, Denver, Utah) that will go after him. So what's left? That's where our TE comes in! Agreed, that would be a tough one. I am not sure how that would work out either and perhaps that would put us in a position to move him as well. But I wouldn't worry about that until we have all the other pieces. It is a luxary at that point. One thing I do know, he would be going to the bench in favor of All Star Ray Allen. I think he would accept that more than going to the bench in favor of Brent Barry. I am sure he sees himself better than Barry and that would be tough for him. But if he WOULD accept the role. He would be pefect as a 6th man, especially with Yao off the floor opening up room in the lane for penetration. Agreed. This team is too shallow. Really we are playing with 4 guys on offense and have one player off the bench in Taylor. That is about it. Everything else is smoke and mirrors with one dimensional players such as Pike, Griffin, M. Jackson etc. And sometimes their ONE dimension isnt working (Nachbar, Pike). That is tough! Last season we split the MLE and got Jim Jackson and Pike. Jackson was worth it. Hell, he would have been worth the entire MLE the way he is playing. I feel this offseason we may have to use the FULL MLE on one really solid player to add more quality. I know we need depth, but we need QUALITY depth and the only way to do that is pay the price. Exactly. And with a team centered around Yao it really puts HUGE pressure on the opponent's defense. I know JVG is always looking for the best defensive players to run in his sytem, but I honestly believe he needs to look for OFFENSIVE players. Because no matter WHO he gets his TEAM SYSTEM is going to work (to what degree depends on the quality of player) but then on the offensive end we would be smokin. The problem we are having now is not scoring enough points. When we get around 90 a game, because our defense is so good, we win because the offense puts out. Ok Clutch, you are with me on this, now let's call CD and get working on it!
If Ray Allen and Brent Barry go to the Rockets somehow in the offseason, it should propel the Rockets to one of the top 4 seeds. Daring Brent Barry and Ray Allen to shoot is a big difference than daring Steve and Cuttino to hit the jumper. Those guys actually make a living shooting from outside. They would increase their shot percentages just like JJ has by taking advantage of the defensive attention Yao gets in the paint.
Allen and Barry - we don't need Wallace. We could do really well with Vlad Rad shooting from the outside and stretching the defense away from Yao. If you can't accept that, insert another adequate developing euro shooting forward. We can do this. Allen loves playing with Barry. They will package perfect with Yao. It will likely take a 3 way with Allen, but, hey. Sonics know Barry is a goner. They are looking to replace him in a sign and trade with a forward. Please God, Please send them Taylor. Sonics know Allen is a goner. They have guards-a-plenty, and outside threat handled. They want beef, and a star who will stay. They want to run. They know Rashard needs to run - he and Ridenour and the rest will never be good defenders. Mc Millan is slowing them down. Send them Chandler, Crawford and a pick for Allen and they should be very happy. We eat the bad contract, move Taylor and Francis. Everybody's happy. If not that, we should be willing to do what it takes. If Portland needs to deal them Zach Randolf, we should help. Whatever it takes.
One thing to keep in mind. If Ray Allen and Brent Barry can put up those types of numbers with minimal low post game to create room for their shot....what kind of numbers could they put up with the number of GOOD LOOKS our guards get via Yao Ming right now? Deadly!
With Brent Barry, the Sonics have defeated the Grizzlies. There was a highlight on TNT of the game in which Brent hit a 3 pointer two feet behind the arc. That's spacing the half-court. His 3 point percentage may be the highest of his career this year season. I believe that he is similar to Eddie Johnson in that he will be able to shoot well into his late 30s.
I know this is hoops dynasty and its not a reliable source, but this is an article about a 3 way trade involving phila, hou, and seattle. Just throwing it out there. http://hoopdynasty.com/P76.htm
I would do those deals in a second, but as others have mentioned, it's certainly a best case scenario. I have a feeling Allen is out of our reach. (There is no way I'd trade Allen for Francis if I were Seattle after watching him implode this year.) And I don't think Wallace can be had for the T.E. alone. In a year with a weak free agent class, it will take Francis and possibly Taylor to get Wallace in here (which should be done.) In my view, though, that should just be the start of a badly needed overhaul. We need smarter and tougher players who can close games. I'd use part or all of the T.E. to lure Barry and sign Ward for the vet minimum. I'd also consider breaking the rule about not trading to a division rival to send Cato (who I actually like now) to Dallas for Najera and Bradley. Barry/Ward Cat/Jackson/Pike Wallace/Jackson/Spoon/Nachbar/Griffin Najera/Wallace/Spoon Yao/Bradley
