I'll bite. If they release it, take a look at the players left exposed in the expansion draft. With a few exceptions, the high priced players left exposed could most likely be had straight up for the trade exception.
Looking at the teams right now, there is so much change (coaching/personnel) that it's difficult to say which direction teams are taking. Is Orlando rebuilding or re-loading? Will the Spurs re-sign their own or go after other FA's/trades? As I mentioned, I think the Grizz might liek to have it, but they are an unlikely trade partner. We don't want to help them, and they don't want to help us. Chicago is interesting. They are overpaying Jerome Williams, Antonio Davis, and Eddie Robinson. They have to re-sign Curry, Chandler, and Crawford soon. They may want to get rid of one of their big contracts, and the price for them might be a draft pick. So maybe they'd look at their pick (top 3 protected) and Jerome Wlliams for the TE? Toronto might be willing to bight as well. I believe they are picking #8, so they may want to reduce their payroll by sending out Alvin Williams and their #8 for the TE? AW has had some injury problems, and they are not nearly competitive enough to justify his salary. Detroit might need some capsapce for the Okur/Wallace situation, what would they be willing to give up for us to give them more cap flexibility? My favorite scenario, ofcourse, is that Seattle decide to rebuild and decide to take our TE + Boki for Rashard Lewis maybe, followed up by them unloading Ray Allen somewhere else? Who knows. Basically, anyone who values capspace more than a player that make 6.99M.
Interesting scenario with trading the TE for draft pick. Could anyone see JVG drafting Telfair, Nelson, or another PG, and then trading Steve, Cat, and MoT for TMAC and JH? Then use the MLE to attract another PG, such as BB. Lastly bring in Badiane to backup PF? I would like to know if JVG would have the kahonas to draft a PG and play him major minutes. Can't really see him doing that unless he had a Brent Barry type to log minutes with TMAC and JJ. Too much pressure on a rookie point. Telfair is New York kid though.
I don't see it, JVG doesn't seem like the kind of guy that would want to put up with it. And I wouldn't want it either, I would love to move up in the draft, but not for Telfair. SF/Cat/Cato/TE for T-Mac/JH Sign BB. Barry-Wilks? Jackson-Pike T-Mac-Nachbar Howard-MoT Yao-Draft? FA?
NIKE's right and it won't necessarily be limited to high-priced players. Many teams don't have or barely have 8 players to protect but still must leave at least one unprotected. (My favorite realistic possibilities in bold).... UTAH (4): AK47, Harpring, Borchardt (2m), Pavlovic (1m). SAC (7): Webber, Bibby, Miller, Christie, Peja, Bobby Jackson (3m), Gerald Wallace (1m). CLE (9): Z, Battie (4.8m), LeBron, McInnis (3.6m), or one one the following all under 3m - Kevin Ollie, Newble, Diop, Dajuan Wagner or Kedrick Brown. DEN (6): Camby (if he takes $8m POpt), Miller, Carmelo, or one ot the following under 3m - Skita, Nenê or Francisco Elson. DET (7): Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Corliss, Chauncey, Elden Campbell (4.4m), Darko or Tayshaun Prince. MIA (5): Probably one of NIKE's examples...Eddie Jones or Brian Grant. Not Odom, Dwyane Wade or Caron Butler. NOH (9): Baron Davis, Jamal Mashburn, PJ Brown, David Wesley, Darrell Armstrong or one of the following under $3m - Courtney Alexander, George Lynch or David West. In addition to teams with few contract, it's probably worth noting who MEM and WAS leave unprotected since they have 15 and 11 contracts respectively. If he takes his $8m POpt, Bonzi is MEM's highest priced player. If we lose Spoon or Taylor to the expansion or another trade, Laettner is serviceable for 1 year at $6m.
thanks for the responces... i agree that the TE will most likely be used for a player left unprotected. my wish would be to get swift, and really piss off the grizz into hating us even more.
Gater and aelliot have too much time on their hands... but thanks for the insight guys, I like it when ppl do the bookwork for me
