You guys are nuts to think Kelvin Cato and Cuttino Mobley are worth more than Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. Cato is a back up big man who rebounds and block shots and Mobley is Sam Cassell Part Deaux. Not even close. As for why Milwaukee would do this deal, they are a terrible defensive team but they want to win right now. Payton and Mason make them legit playoff contenders in the East. Even if Payton moves on, they rented him for the playoffs AND they get a huge salary off the books for the offseason AND they still have one of the most athletic young two guards in the NBA. However, if they keep Payton, Sam Cassell immediately becomes significant trade bait for them in the offseason. Ray Allen is only signed for two more seasons and the Sonics are going nowhere right now. The Sonics did this (and the Kenny Anderson deal) to get some cap flexibility and start real re-building.
SAR is too expensive and has a long-term deal, and he does not play defense and only scores. We do not need another guy who needs the ball. This team needs a PF who defends and rebounds, but does not necessarily score that much. We need one/two shooters from the PG, SG, SF positions. Someone who is a younger Rice and who is also an above-average defender. A team that consists of the following will be financially viable, cheap and a title contender. YM- Center Banger - PF if EG can develop as 80% of R. Wallace, we can live with that Boki/Posey - SF Posey for defense, Boki for shooting Defender/shooter - SG Mobley as a 6th man. Francis - PG We will probably trade away Cato for a guard who can defend and shoot. Trade away Rice in the off-season as salary-bait for someone who is a PF-banger. or Just use the MCE to sign a PF-banger. But for this team to contend for a title, YM needs to bulk up and works on his post-moves, maybe adds the sky hook. We also need SF to work on his PG skills and his defense. If SF can work on his PG skills and defense, he can be a super star. Both Cato and Rice, even with their high salary, have trade values. The problem is MoT. As of now, why would teams take on MoT's contract? Maybe a team from the eastern conference will eventually.
Neither. But I think Shareef would have helped us a little more than Allen.I wouldn't have taken SAR because of his lack of defense although he is a good scorer.
