Raja Bell will be in heavy demand Marc Stein

[biba]

Raja Bell will be in heavy demand ... if surgery isn't season-ending

December, 3, 2009 Dec 33:58AM By Marc Stein

Raja Bell goes in for a wrist operation Thursday that’s kind of a big deal.

Especially if you like to follow the trade market.

Only by having surgery can Bell and the Golden State Warriors learn the severity of the torn ligament in the 33-year-old’s left wrist.

Bell has been advised by experts in the field that a full-blown repair will sideline him at least four months and potentially the rest of the regular season. In the best-case scenario, though, Bell could be back in a month.

Which would almost certainly put him right back on the trade market.

I'm told that a few contenders have already registered their interest by making inquiries about Bell’s availability even though he just got to Golden State on Nov. 16 in the Stephen Jackson deal. Makes sense, too. What contender couldn’t use a wing defender of Bell’s stature who can also drain the weak-side 3 and who happens to be playing on an expiring contract valued at a reasonable $5.3 million?

If screws are not inserted in Bell’s wrist and he can be back in a month to six weeks, there’s little doubt his name will start coming up a lot leading into the Feb. 18 trading deadline. The unknown variable then would be what the Warriors demand to part with Bell.

The Dubs can package Bell with other players starting in mid-January, but they aren’t overflowing with unsavory contracts that they’re desperate to move now that Jackson is gone and with Monta Ellis looking increasingly inspired. Corey Maggette’s contract is the only one that really fits that description ... and no contender is taking on Maggette’s deal no matter how much they like Bell.

But Golden State also wouldn’t want to simply buy out a healed Bell and let him choose his contender – even if the trade deadline passes without the Dubs finding a deal – because its locker room badly needs an example-setting vet.

Bell quickly showed what kind of influence he can have in Oaktown by insisting to play in Boston on Nov. 18 because the Warriors had only eight other healthy players ... after it had already been decided that he’d be having the wrist surgery. The Warriors' collective team spirit has been much better since Jackson's departure and Bell's willingness to play that game is seen as one of the catalysts.

UPDATE: Put San Antonio up high on that list of interested contenders. Given the Cavs' longstanding dialogue with the Warriors on the Jackson front, I have to believe Cleveland has or will explore the Raja option, too. And there will be more if the surgery is screws-free.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/11185/raja-bell-will-be-in-heavy-demand-if-surgery-isnt-season-ending

[lefty]

First.

[LOL@MavsFan]

sounds good....I'd welcome him

[EricB]

I'm all for a mason for bell swap.

[xtremesteven33]

Bell is a damn good role player. Good defensive player, savy veteran, Great shooter (who seems to be getting better)

The only concern is will his wrist injury effect his shot,but Im all for this trade. Bell would make this squad a better defensive team for sure. I know hes hungry for a championship and would give all of his effort to the Spurs...

Damn I wish this could happen....

[duncan228]

Bell to miss at least three months (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-bellinjury120309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
By Marc J. Spears

Golden State Warriors guard Raja Bell will be out a minimum of three months after having surgery on his left wrist in Charlotte Thursday morning, sources tell Yahoo! Sports. Bell will have to keep his wrist immobilized for three weeks.

Bell has played only one game for the Warriors since being acquired along with forward Vladimir Radmanovic from Charlotte in exchange for swingman Stephen Jackson and guard Acie Law on Nov. 16. Prior to the surgery, the Warriors had some hope that Bell might be sidelined for only a few weeks if the injury wasn’t too severe.

Bell is making $5.3 million in the final year of his contract this season and will be a free agent next summer. While the Warriors had received inquiries from other teams about Bell’s availability, an NBA source said the franchise has already become enamored by his veteran leadership and has some interest in re-signing him over the summer. Bell’s value to contending teams is also obviously now limited because he will be out so long.

Warriors forward Anthony Randolph also could return from a left ankle injury as early as Saturday’s game against Orlando. He was initially expected to be out one to two weeks.

[benefactor]

Finley/Mason for Bell...bring up Hairston. Do it.

[kbrury]

Bell to miss at least three months (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-bellinjury120309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
By Marc J. Spears

Golden State Warriors guard Raja Bell will be out a minimum of three months after having surgery on his left wrist in Charlotte Thursday morning, sources tell Yahoo! Sports. Bell will have to keep his wrist immobilized for three weeks.

Bell has played only one game for the Warriors since being acquired along with forward Vladimir Radmanovic from Charlotte in exchange for swingman Stephen Jackson and guard Acie Law on Nov. 16. Prior to the surgery, the Warriors had some hope that Bell might be sidelined for only a few weeks if the injury wasn’t too severe.

Bell is making $5.3 million in the final year of his contract this season and will be a free agent next summer. While the Warriors had received inquiries from other teams about Bell’s availability, an NBA source said the franchise has already become enamored by his veteran leadership and has some interest in re-signing him over the summer. Bell’s value to contending teams is also obviously now limited because he will be out so long.

Warriors forward Anthony Randolph also could return from a left ankle injury as early as Saturday’s game against Orlando. He was initially expected to be out one to two weeks.

looks like a no then.

[rjv]

i remember when raja was a spur

[LOL@MavsFan]

Finley/Mason for Bell...bring up Hairston. Do it.

:toast I like it!!!

[EricB]

Yeah the out three months means the idea of him coming is out the window.

[mavsfan1000]

Yeah the out three months means the idea of him coming is out the window.
Or you can get him for cheap. It can't hurt that way.

[kbrury]

Or you can get him for cheap. It can't hurt that way.

Idk if I want someone who has been out for that long plus if Mason and Bonner keep playing well I don't see it happening.

[UnWantedTheory]

I didnt realize he was 33. That sucks. I suppose it doesnt really matter now.

[SenorSpur]

Finley/Mason for Bell...bring up Hairston. Do it.

Absolutely. I don't care if he is injured - do it.

A couple of questions for the masses:

Anybody think Bell has tailed off a bit defensively during his time with the Suns?

Anybody think Bell is a better shooter than Mason? Or vice versa?

[urunobili]

Bell would be awesome as an option to guard Kobe :tu

Pop is a fan :pop:

[SenorSpur]

Since Pop loves going small, it would be nice to have an option of Bogans and Bell. The Spurs team defense significantly improves.

[kbrury]

I still don't like it if he is going to miss that much time.

[ElNono]

I like Raja, but the original article smells like bull. Spurs are not the kind of team that has their intentions known.

[beachwood]

I would love for Bell to be on the team.

[TDMVPDPOY]

pull the trigger pop

bell can probably play with a wrist brace on and just play defense on court, its not like we havnt played 1on5 b4....

[kbrury]

pull the trigger pop

bell can probably play with a wrist brace on and just play defense on court, its not like we havnt played 1on5 b4....

I hope your not a doctor. I like Bell but I want to see him play a few games before a trade.

[spursfaninla]

Bell is redundant with Hill and Bogans at this point, is too old, and is overrated defensively. He is much older than his defensive years in Phx. No thanks.

[Bukefal]

I dont mind getting Bell, he is a good one. But again, he is old, another old player with us., is something I dont like

[bigbendbruisebrother]

bell is redundant with hill and bogans at this point, is too old, and is overrated defensively. He is much older than his defensive years in phx. No thanks.

+1

[lefty]

http://www.all-nba-all-basketball.com/images/RAJA_BELL_BEST_DEFENDERS_1.jpg

[crc21209]

Raja Bell on this team would be AWESOME. But like it said...he's going to be out 3 months at the least so who knows if he would ever be able to play again this season...

[duncan228]

Raja Bell Trade Target Update (http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/11210/raja-bell-trade-target-update)
By Marc Stein

That was quick.

The results are already in on the wrist surgery we covered in a blog post early Thursday morning (http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/11185/raja-bell-will-be-in-heavy-demand-if-surgery-isnt-season-ending) about Raja Bell and the inevitable interest contenders would have in trying to trade for him if he made it OK through the operation. The Warriors, playing host to Houston on Thursday night, announced after their shootaround that the procedure to repair ligament damage in Bell's left wrist was successful.

Successful enough to convince someone to trade for Bell between now and the Feb. 18 trading deadline?

That part is TBD.

The Warriors' news release projects Bell to be sidelined a minimum of three months, with an initial six-week period where the wrist is immobilized.

So why TBD? Reason being: It's a trickier-than-anticipated timetable that falls between the pre-surgery projections of A) 4-to-6 weeks in the best-case scenario and B) likely out for the season in the worst case.

Word is Bell has already attracted trade interest from a few contenders even though he just got to Golden State on Nov. 16 in the Stephen Jackson deal. The Spurs' desire to trade for Bell -- don't forget San Antonio had him in training camp once before or that he and Tim Duncan are old pals from the U.S. Virgin Islands -- has been confirmed. It's likewise reasonable to conclude that Cleveland, after longstanding talks with the Warriors in the Cavs' pursuit of Jackson, has registered interest in Bell as well.

Makes sense, too. What contender couldn’t use a wing defender of Bell’s stature who can also drain the weak-side 3 and who happens to be playing on an expiring contract valued at a reasonable $5.3 million?

However . . .

It remains to be seen whether a team is willing to trade for Bell between now and mid-February if he's unlikely to be back playing before March.

The Warriors will undoubtedly insist that they absolutely refuse to buy Bell out before March 1, meaning that interested suitors won't have the option of signing him as a late-season free agent and still have Bell eligible for the playoffs. If Golden State holds firm to that stance, then, trading for Bell before he's all the way back -- and with only about a month to get him ready for the postseason -- would be the only way to acquire him.

Yet Golden State faces some urgency of its own because it has so many injuries. The Dubs are still struggling to come up with eight healthy bodies every night, with Kelenna Azubuike (knee) and Brandan Wright (shoulder) lost for the season, Bell out long-term and Speedy Claxton (knee) and Devean George (knee) yet to play this season. The Warriors might be OK if Andris Biedrins (groin/back) and Ronny Turiaf (knee) make it back reasonably soon, but every rebound is a struggle with the injury list they've got, which is why Anthony Randolph is trying to play through an ankle sprain.

Quoting more from our first post:


The Dubs can package Bell with other players starting in mid-January, but they aren’t overflowing with unsavory contracts that they’re desperate to move now that Jackson is gone and with Monta Ellis looking increasingly inspired. Corey Maggette’s contract is the only one that really fits that description ... and no contender is taking on Maggette’s deal no matter how much they like Bell.

But Golden State also wouldn’t want to simply buy out a healed Bell and let him choose his contender – even if the trade deadline passes without the Dubs finding a deal – because its locker room badly needs an example-setting vet.

Bell quickly showed what kind of influence he can have in Oaktown by insisting to play in Boston on Nov. 18 because the Warriors had only eight other healthy players ... after it had already been decided that he’d be having the wrist surgery. The Warriors' collective team spirit has been much better since Jackson's departure and Bell's willingness to play that game is seen as one of the catalysts.

[tp2021]

I'd pass. Stick with what they've got for now.