Sorry to be magnanimous, but this'll be a bit too long for a regular post. Basic Thoughts The big thing that strikes me is that we definitely have to please 3 parties here. It's got to be a Moreyball deal (strike the massive deals like Baron Davis), it's got to appeal to the other team for some reason, and McGrady's agents are involved - something that's not been given proper notice. This is the guy that produced a list of destinations to the Magic. This is the guy that's been acting out because he's concerned about his next contract (rightfully so). I think immediately you have to put the New York, Florida, LA, and Chicago teams in some order at the top of their list. I think you also have to accept that there are destinations that they will strongly resist - Utah, Sacramento, etc. One last thing is potentially a massive monkeywrench. It is very possible that Team McGrady, like they did 5 years ago, will want contract assurances as part of the deal. We love the expiring deal carrot, but they won't. Their ideal situation is a destination that will keep him. Teams that are probably appealing to Team Mac: NYK, CHI, MIA, PHO, LAC, NJN, ORL, LAL, GSW Destinations that may receive resistance from Team Mac: MEM, SAC, MIN, IND, MIL, TOR Teams doing well enough (on the court) that it's unlikely that they would be interested: LAL, BOS, CLE, ORL, ATL, DAL, DEN, PHO, POR, SAS Teams that could be interested in making a "splash" to help poor attendance: PHI, MEM, NJN, SAC, MIN, IND, MIL, CHA, LAC, DET, WAS, NOH, TOR Teams that Morey is disinclined to work with: LAL, DAL, SAS, DEN There's just not a deal that makes sense on their end: LAL, BOS, DAL, SAS, DEN, DET, OKC, POR Plausible but highly unlikely scenarios: ORL (Rashard Lewis), CLE (Shaq), Utah (AK47 or Boozer), PHO (Richardson or Stoudemire), TOR (Bosh), ATL (Johnson), Plausible (not necessarily attractive) offers: MIA, CHI, NYK, NOH, PHO, MIL, IND, GSW, CHA, PHI, MIN, SAC, LAC, NJN, MEM, WAS I'll follow up on the possible offers in my next post
MIA - The well known Jermaine O'Neal swap. Both sides think the other should add sweeteners. CHI - Brad Miller ($12M rental center) + Kirk Hinrich (not Deng) NYK - Hughes ($13M) + Curry is their big push. Darko, Harrington, Nate, and Jefferies are the other guys they'd move. NOH - Peja's a must for them and Paul's untouchable despite the hopes and dreams of our BBS. They'll push for Posey or Peterson to be included, we'd push for West or Okafor. PHO - Richardson + Barbosa is the only thing that really works, unless Starver loses enough money that he gives us Stoudemire. MIL - With Jennings exploding and Redd looking terrible, Redd + Gadzuric is definitely on the table. IND - Murphey + Dunleavy GSW - Anthony Randolph! As long as you include Maggette and Biedrins. CHA - CHandler's probably back on the block, but they'll want Diop added. PHI - Anyone for Elton Brand and Sam Dalembert? MIN - Not Jefferson. They'll take a box office bump and offer Cardinal, Blount, Brewer, and Sessions. SAC - Maybe Kevin Martin and Kenny Thomas is more realistic than I thought this summer. Thanks, Tyreke! LAC - Baron and Camby? NJN - Their offer: Najera, Simmons, Battie (no Harris or Lopez) MEM - Their offer: Zach Randolph and Marko Jaric (No Gay) WAS - We already know about Arenas. Everyone wants Butler, but it's a pipedream IMO. Yeesh! Let's hope the Kings deal is possible.
NOH - Peja + Okafor works for me. Okafors size inside could really help this team and Peja's game is made or this system.
What I don't understand is why Morey felt so inclined to bring in either Wafer or Mike Harris this past week. Given we knew Tracy was out the door before it was announced, it made no sense to do that if Tracy's $23 mill was more than likely going to mean taking back more than 1 player to fulfill the trade. I'm not sure if Wafer's contract would have been guaranteed but I'm almost 100% positive that Harris' isn't meaning he can be released if a suitable trade partner comes along. I just never got that move. Anyway, on topic, more than anything I'd think GSW would be shouting Morey's name as soon as he hears Anthony Randolph is on the block. Only problem would be taking in all those massive contracts and "pretty good" players for one Tracy McGrady, I'd think they'd want more incentive to pull the trigger. After all Randolph is considered All Star level talent, potentially. Just hope that's who he has on speed dial.
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Kobe the only player in the league with a No Trade Clause which effectively says that he calls the shots as to where he would be traded to? I'm just saying, we can send Tracy to B.F.E. if it is a good deal for us. The only thing he can do is not report which teams my be OK with anyway if they're just looking to get his expiring contract.
I hope a trade happens soon, though unlikely. I want to see Mac play. And it will be cool to see who the Rockets get. I have a feeling Mac will end up in a good situation. Call me crazy but he'll be leaving hell and entering heaven.
Id be willing to take on Maggette's contract for the Biedrins-Randolph combo. Biedrins, last year, was still considered one of the best Centers in the West...
Brad Miller + Kirk Hinrich + John Salmons <-> Tracy McGrady + Joey Dorsey Kirk Hinrich / Aaron Brooks Trevor Ariza / John Salmons Shane Battier / Chase Budinger Luis Scola / Carl Landry Brad Miller / Chuck Hayes / David Andersen
Oops. I forgot Lowry Brooks/ Lowry Hinrich / Salmons Battier / Ariza / Bud Scola / Landry Miller / Hayes / Andersen Let Miller meet Adelman again.
If Utah continues to founder, I wouldn't be stunned to see them on the list. If we had to take Kirilenko for a year to get that NY pick or Ronnie Brewer, I could see that.
Salmons, too. Marc Stein has reported/commented this week that the Rockets have no interest in Kirk Hinrich's contract. I don't know how much of that is based on actual information (probably not) or just deductive reasoning on his part (more likely). True, it's a pretty bad contract, but his salary actually goes DOWN every year. While he's having a terrible year shooting the ball, I'd like to think that moving from the Bulls' stagnant offense to Adelman's more open attack (along with a general change in scenery) would help him with that. I've said it before, but salary aside, Hinrich just strikes me as a Morey/Adelman kind of player. I just love the way that guy plays. He'd definitely help out with ball movement, shooting (I just KNOW that his 3-pt % would pick up on this team), and especially DEFENSE. No more helplessly standing around while Brooks gets repeatedly posted up, fearing to take Aaron out of the game for fear of not having a playmaker or two on the floor. Hinrich can play PG or SG and would be an excellent complement with either Brooks or Lowry. A Lowry/Hinrich backcourt would be a defensive nightmare for opposing teams. Bottom line: Morey might not want to take on Hinrich's salary (unless Chicago also throws in a first rounder), but the player himself would be a terrific fit on this Rockets team.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yjy9rf2 my take would be with the Minnesota Timberwolves tmac+luis+dorsey+taylor for jefferson+cardinal+sessions+pavlovic i would add lowry if they would include ricky rubio in this trade :grin: what do you think guys?
we could waived both cardinal and pavlovic or just let their contract expires thru the season and add some free agents that we like like will conroy, wafer.. etc
NBA players have been holding their team hostage in trade talks for years, including Tracy in his Orlando departure. That the team has specifically stated that they will be working with Tracy's agents should make it clear that their voice is gong to matter in these trade talks. They'll want to go to a semi-attractive destination (not Utah, Sacramento, or Memphis), and they'll almost definitely want to go to a team that expresses a willingness to sign Tracy to a 3-year deal this summer. But temper that - those are wants. Morey has wants too, and they aren't all realistic. The Knicks want to dump toxic waste on us in exchange for McGrady, but that won't be realized. They hang up the phone the minute "Al" comes out of your mouth. He's just about the only thing between them and shutting down operations. As it is, the Target Center is only 75% full (usually less) each night. No FA in his right mind would consider them, so why lose your only All Star level guy in order to clear space for a FA that isn't going to come?
I mentioned a deal like this one with my cousin yesterday. We came to the conclusion that they wouldnt give Jefferson away in such a deal, b/c they wouldnt ever convince a top tier free agent to sign there. When Minnesota gets good players its in either the draft or through trade. So essentially, the $23 mil expiring contract isnt as valuable to them as it would be to teams like NY, Chi.
That might be the best deal we could hope for realistically. BTW, Hinrich's salary isn't all that terrible. It is reasonable, goes DOWN and is only for 2 more years after this one. I mean, as an asset, how moveable is he after next season with 1 more year left at a lesser salary? Think about trades in multiple steps, asset management.