NBA Trades: Analysis and Determinations

By: Josh Leighton

First, let’s discuss pre-draft trades:

Shaq to the Cavs for Pavlovic, Ben Wallace, a 2nd round pick in 2010, cash

Cavs: Sort of a why not? You don’t give up much, Shaq’s contract will be up, and Shaq’s pedigree is almost flawless. Kobe, Wade, now Lebron. The issues however, will be whether or not Shaq’s body holds up…and whether or not his personality mixes with Lebron’s. You may say “two jokers, two winners, two hard workers, and two guys that LOVE playing the game.” But, you may also say “Two egos.” Cleveland is barely big enough for Lebron’s left bicep, let alone his ego, and Shaq’s…well, Shaquilleness. Lebron’s ego isn’t that big, but anyone of his status and caliber has an ego, and demands attention. Argue that it worked with Wade, but Wade is different than Lebron and Kobe. He demands the entire team’s attention just as the other two, but he deferred to Shaq (rightfully so). Lebron is coming into his own, as Kobe did when he ousted Shaq. Could it be a little late for this move? And more importantly, will this make the King stay in Cleveland?

Phoenix: Stingy, cheap, unwilling to open-up. That may describe one of the worst managed teams in pro-basketball. Even the Clippers open up the checkbook. C’mon Steve Kerr, if you had just been willing to pay a little luxury tax you could be living it up with Nash, Rondo, Rudy Fernandez, Marion/Shaq, Amare, Bell and Diaw/Richardson. And of course, Mike D’Antoni , who has everyone wanting to play for him, including guys that were drafted to other teams (Curry and Rubio). So, Steve Kerr, on this trade, another money managing move, you gave up a ticket-seller, a leader, and a pretty good player for more cash and cap space-only to not use it. If we were providing grades, you’d fail like Brandon Jennings did the SATs.

Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson to the Magic for Raefer Alston, Courtney Lee, Tony Battie

Magic: Could this be ANY better? Yeah, Lee put on a pretty good rookie showing, and Alston is decent point guard, but Vince Carter entering his twilight years is better than both of them. And Tony Battie? You were good for 6 mpg and 2 ppg in the playoffs. The Magic are faced with the likely loss of Turkoglu, their go-to guy, and who better to fill the void than electric current Vince Carter?

Breaking this down further, the magic took on some money (16.1 million and 17.5 million the next two seasons) for what Otis Smith called “fool’s gold” just a year ago (referring to Carter). However, who is possibly a better fit for the Magic offense? He shoots the three, lights out. He is still a slasher at age 32. He has experience and will play a great in and out game with the first true big man he’ll ever play with. Nelson, Carter, Lewis, and Howard make a great foursome, the other guard/forward will probably be a matchup call. Otis Smith, the man who I ripped apart silly in a previous article, is still guilty of being a lavish spender, but this time at the right position/player/cost.

Nets: Hey, your not getting Lebron but who couldn’t use some cap space in 2010? Plus, no one else was going to take that fool’s gold all-star you got over there. You save money, field a decent team next year, and finish off what’s left of your pre-blown up roster. Nice job, Rod Thorn.

Richard Jefferson to the Spurs for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas, and Fabricio Oberto

Spurs: Not sold on this San Antonio. I love the management and the coaching in this franchise, but I also think Bowen gives them an identity, even at his age. He’s hated and respected by most in the league, and loves to play defense. Now you get Richard Jefferson, who is going to rebound from last season but doesn’t bring the same edge. Regardless, Jefferson is a pretty dynamic scorer with a good playoff resume and no known character problems.  Only time will tell.

Bucks: Just another small market team trying to get under the tax threshold. Good move though, Jefferson didn’t like playing for you, Kurt Thomas is a good contract to dump, and Oberto is a quality backup center.

Draft night trades…

Wolves reduce point guard army and ship Lawson to the Nuggets for a future 2010 pick

Wolves: Unless you plan on filling your coaching vacancy with Jay Wright, what the hell was with drafting the army of little guys? Not just little because they are point guards, but little because they are small for point guards (Flynn is 5-11, Rubio is listed as 6-3, Lawson is barely 5-11 in heels, Calathes is 6-5, but white men can’t jump). Not really sure why you wanted next year’s pick from a pretty good playoff contender, when you could’ve just taken Mullens or a foreign project (or Dejuan Blair).

Nuggets: Nicely done, Billups needs a solid backup and you need a future floor general. He’s speedy and good with making decisions-two qualities the Nuggets will enjoy.

Knicks send Q-Rich to the Grizzlies for Darko Milicic

Knicks: Another “Oh, but he’s so young, I’ll make it work” scenario for Darko. If there’s anyone to make it work, it’s D’Antoni. So for Q-Rich? Why not, nicely done.

Grizzlies: Frankly, who cares? Your rebuilding from your disaster expansion years is going terribly, and Q-Rich is an expiring contract.

Houston buying players like there’s a sale on 2nd round talent

Sergio Llull, Jermaine Taylor, Chase Budinger. I like Budinger, if he ever puts his heart into a game. The guy just kind of glides and chills with his beastly athleticism. Don’t know much about Taylor, but hey…if you can afford to stuff your training camp with these guys, why not?

Potential deals…

Amare Stoudemire to the Warriors for Andris Biedrins, Stephen Curry, Marco Belinelli, Brandon Wright, and a future first round pick and/or Kelenna Azubuike

Suns: Not a bad move, you cheap businessmen in the fastest growing city in America. Amar’e/Amare wants out soon anyway, and is pretty fed up with the management. You’ll land some future core players (Curry, Biedrins) and a few guys with good potential as role players.

Warriors: Amare would certainly thrive under the mess of loose balls they call “Nellie ball” in Oakland, but that is an awful lot of previously invested lottery to give up. Biedrins’ 11 and 6 a game looked a lot better than it does on paper, and he’s going to be a starting forward for years to come. Stephen Curry would also fit in well in Nellie’s system of good shooters and athletic forwards. We shall see if the one-year rental is worth all of this.

Ben Gordon signs with the Pistons

Not a surprise, and it doesn’t matter. The Pistons are past their time as contenders and are just wasting money they should spend in 2010, or on bailing out GM.

Walsh pulls miracle, Rubio is traded to the Knicks

Rubio’s father made it very clear that they are unhappy in Rubio country about the point guard glut, the cold weather, the stench of Kevin McHale, and well, the whole not in New York thing. Walsh is very upset that his man, Curry, was drafted just one spot ahead of him and has openly stated that he will call the Wolves GM, Kahn soon. Regardless, unless he’s playing for D’Antoni, Kevin Love’s twitter and other “sources” confirm that Rubio will be in Europe for at least another year.