Trade idea: Nick Van Exel? (If you don't like trade threads, do not come in)

I was thinking since Barry is apparently leaning towards the Spurs, maybe we should look at other options.

Seeing as how T-mac and Yao are both in their early mid 20's, maybe we need some more experience, some more leadership some more experience.

Since the Warriors are looking to keep building and drop some salary so they can afford Richardson, maybe we can help them and ourselves out?

You have to look at the big picture on this though, because in the very short term this deal is probably in our favor. In the long-term however, the Warriors organization andteam would benefit from this.

Ok, so NVE has 2 years on his contract for around 30M. Cliff has 2 more years for a total of 10M to go.

So here goes:

We trade Piatowski to New York for Othella Harrington. New York use Pike either as Allan Houston's backup or trade him to Chicago, who need a shooter. The important thing here is that Harrington only has one more year left at less than 3M.

So we immediately turn around and trade Harrington, Lue and MoT for Nick Van Exel. NO, it's not over. Obviously, this trade is lopsided in our favor. But we also give them the TE (almost all) and take back Clifford Robinson and his contract.

You have to break it down into two trades so that the TE can work in the deal. But here is the overall picture:

NVE
Cliff

for

MoT
Lue
Harrington
An exception equaling Clifford Robinson's contract (a bit more than 5M)

Why Denver would do it:

Over 2 years, they'd have to pay these 2 guys 20M per season, or 40M overall. Let's break down this trade financially: We free them of Clifford Robinson's 10M. They renounce the TE, and the cash is theirs. Then in the other trade, instread of paying NVE close to 30M, they pay MoT around 26M over 3 years. The other 2 contracts are Othella @ 3M and Lue @ 1.65M. So in total they pay exactly what they were going to pay NVE. However, almost 4M of that comes off the cap in one year, and they pay what they would've payed to NVE towards MoT over 3 years instead of 2.

So their salary goes down 5M in the first season, and 9.65M in the next season.

Talent-wise, it's not bad either. Cliff is clearly clearly on the decline, while MoT had a strong year and, from what we've heard, is working out like crazy getting into superb shape.

Claxton did a great job last year as their PG. He's got good experience on the Spurs, having won a ring, and logged big minutes last year. The guy is their starter long-term. NVE would have to play less minutes just because they want this guy to develop. Lue can become their backup, with Othella and MoT filling the void left upfront by Cliff's departure, and Dampier is probably leaving too.


So the outcome is clear: We're getting better in the talent department. They're getting younger, deeper, and richer financially.

This would give us the following line-up:

Yao/Whoever was planning to back him up before
Howard/Cliff/Weatherspoon
JJ/Boki/AG
T-Mac/JJ/AG/Gaines
NVE/Gaines/Wilks

We suffer a bit in the depth department. But we have a better starting 5, a more compelte one. Veterans surrounding Yao and T-Mac who know their roles and have been known as lockerroom presences, leaders on the floor. NVE can score, and he can dish very effectively. Houston is his home as well, so he may be happy again and that should improve his game.

Also: In 2 years, Weatherspoon, Cliff, and NVE are a total of 25M off the cap. That would put us in perfect position in terms of Yao and T-Mac's extensions. The only troublesome contract on our team would be Juwan Howard. We would have effectively organized our cap and would be able to add pieces around T-Mac and Yao as we wish. We'd be close to 10M over the cap I believe if the salary cap number increases steadily as it has in previous years. There's Spalouniss and Badiane who may surprise us, and draft picks to consider as well. But the team would be nicely positioned to stay competitive and use their money wisely.

Cliff and NVE have a good 2 years left in them that would hopefully propel us to serious contender status as well.

Thoughts on bringing NVE to his favorite place in the world?

 

Oh, btw, for those who want the short version, it's basically

Pike for Othella Harrington


followed by


Nick Van Exel and Clifford Robinson

for

MoT, Lue, Harrington and part of TE.


They save money, we get a bit mroe talent.

 

The same could be said about NVE and Claxton, or Cliff and Troy.

If you read the original post, I already told you... Talent-wise, they are losing out a bit on this trade. They make it up financially though.

 

Haha, I guess that would be worrying. Somehow though, I don't think T-Mac will having a problem giving it to Yao, JJ has never had that problem, Cliff won't have that problem, I don't know about Howard, and NVE just wants to win.

I know Nick is seen as the type that shoots a lot, but his assist numbers have always been very very good.

I doubt he'd do anything stupid with JVG watching. Alonzo Mourning and Camby are big people. he went for the leg that time. Nick is not that tall, he may not be as fortunate .

 

Very fair points. I think the difference is that, personally, I'd be pinning my hopes on NVE knowing he's reaching the end of his career and he will do whatever it takes to win a championship.

I do, however, understand why you'd think he wouldn't do that.

But I think he knows he won't be a starter, nor will he get a decent contract, once his deal is done. No one will feel sympathy for someone who made 15M a year and didnt' win a championship.

I know he can dish it, and I know he has heart. I know he can be a leader and I know he's clutch. He's decent from 3-pt range. If JVG can convince him that sacrificng some of his shots for the sake of a championship is the best way to go, then this would work. Who else would he rather give up shots to? Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are not selfish players, so it's not like he'd never get the ball back.

It's up to him really. If we end up losing out on Barry, or Fisher demands too much, this may be the next best option. Even if NVE doesn't propel us to a championship, this deal has its positives. NVE, CLiff and Spoon will have their 25M coming off the books in the year where Yao Ming's extension kicks in.