SenorSpur
11-21-2005, 08:14 PM
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=sheridan_chris
Early trade buzzposted: Monday, November 21, 2005
Trade activity typically subsides during the first month of the NBA season, and this year has been no different. Only five trades have taken place since training camps opened, and none since the start of the regular season three weeks ago.
But teams are still talking, and the pace of deal-making should pick up after Dec. 15, when players who signed over the summer become trade eligible.
Since the teams are talking to each other, we're talking to them as well to find out who's available and who will be.
Here's the Top 5 on our Most Likely to be Traded List, aside from Kevin Garnett.
P.J. Brown, New Orleans Hornets. With the team temporarily located a long way from his hometown of Slidell, La., the main factor that kept P.J. married to the Hornets is a nonfactor now.
The 36-year-old would be happy with a trade to a contender, and his $8 million salary this season and next has made him the most sought-after big man on the trade market (other than Garnett). Coach Byron Scott wants to keep Brown, but owner George Shinn is rebuilding.
Other teams expect the Hornets to wait 20-25 games before becoming active on a Brown trade.
Zoran Planinic, Nets. Looks as though New Jersey has been showcasing the third-year 6-foot-7 Croatian point guard caught, who's in a crowded backcourt numbers crunch along with fellow reserves Jeff McInnis, Lamond Murray and Jacque Vaughn on a team desperate for size.
He's signed through next season, and he's shown flashes. Detractors point out he loves the nightlife, he loves to boogie -- too much, maybe.
The Portland Trail Blazers entry: Zach Randolph/Darius Miles. The relationship is already rocky between new coach Nate McMillan and the two young multimillionaires, and the Blazers might be seriously rethinking their earlier decision to commit a combined $134 million to the two athletically gifted but averse-to-authority forwards.
Randolph's skill level gives him huge trade value, but there aren't many players signed through 2010-11, and he's one of 'em.
The Cleveland Cavaliers entry: Luke Jackson/Sasha Pavlovic/Eric Snow. There isn't enough room in a tight Cavs rotation for the two backups, Jackson and Pavlovic, and both have been showcased by a team that has stormed out of the gate.
If the Cavs want to keep both youngsters, they can deal Snow to New York for Malik Rose and make Damon Jones their starter. Rose and Snow are both under contract through '08-09. Knicks coach Larry Brown loves Snow, and Cavs general manager Danny Ferry is a fan of Rose, his former teammate, so it seems to make sense for both teams.
Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls. There's no question the Bulls love him, but they're also desperate for size if they want to make a serious run this season. As of now, they'll have more cap room than anyone next summer, but the best available free agent big man might be Nazr Mohammed (depending on what happens with Ben Wallace). If they move Deng, they'll get value -- and perhaps a better big man than what'll be available next summer. There won't be any room for Deng next season if Peja Stojakovic and Andres Nocioni are the small forwards.
First off, I'm not here to advocate the Spurs do anything this season to disrupt the mission of repeating as NBA champs. Having said that, if the Bulls are serious about pursuing and obtaining Mohammed either now or next summer, should the Spurs possibly consider adding an athletic wing player like Deng? Of course, they'd have to do a sign and trade to make it happen. I doubt they would let Nazr walk w/o compensation - that would be stupid.
Deng is long, athletic and a decent defender, yet still young and very raw. He does have enough "untapped" potential to thrive in the type of structure and environment the Spurs could provide him. Perhaps he would be the ideal answer to that long-asked question of "who's going to be Bruce Bowen's understudy?"
Thoughts?
Early trade buzzposted: Monday, November 21, 2005
Trade activity typically subsides during the first month of the NBA season, and this year has been no different. Only five trades have taken place since training camps opened, and none since the start of the regular season three weeks ago.
But teams are still talking, and the pace of deal-making should pick up after Dec. 15, when players who signed over the summer become trade eligible.
Since the teams are talking to each other, we're talking to them as well to find out who's available and who will be.
Here's the Top 5 on our Most Likely to be Traded List, aside from Kevin Garnett.
P.J. Brown, New Orleans Hornets. With the team temporarily located a long way from his hometown of Slidell, La., the main factor that kept P.J. married to the Hornets is a nonfactor now.
The 36-year-old would be happy with a trade to a contender, and his $8 million salary this season and next has made him the most sought-after big man on the trade market (other than Garnett). Coach Byron Scott wants to keep Brown, but owner George Shinn is rebuilding.
Other teams expect the Hornets to wait 20-25 games before becoming active on a Brown trade.
Zoran Planinic, Nets. Looks as though New Jersey has been showcasing the third-year 6-foot-7 Croatian point guard caught, who's in a crowded backcourt numbers crunch along with fellow reserves Jeff McInnis, Lamond Murray and Jacque Vaughn on a team desperate for size.
He's signed through next season, and he's shown flashes. Detractors point out he loves the nightlife, he loves to boogie -- too much, maybe.
The Portland Trail Blazers entry: Zach Randolph/Darius Miles. The relationship is already rocky between new coach Nate McMillan and the two young multimillionaires, and the Blazers might be seriously rethinking their earlier decision to commit a combined $134 million to the two athletically gifted but averse-to-authority forwards.
Randolph's skill level gives him huge trade value, but there aren't many players signed through 2010-11, and he's one of 'em.
The Cleveland Cavaliers entry: Luke Jackson/Sasha Pavlovic/Eric Snow. There isn't enough room in a tight Cavs rotation for the two backups, Jackson and Pavlovic, and both have been showcased by a team that has stormed out of the gate.
If the Cavs want to keep both youngsters, they can deal Snow to New York for Malik Rose and make Damon Jones their starter. Rose and Snow are both under contract through '08-09. Knicks coach Larry Brown loves Snow, and Cavs general manager Danny Ferry is a fan of Rose, his former teammate, so it seems to make sense for both teams.
Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls. There's no question the Bulls love him, but they're also desperate for size if they want to make a serious run this season. As of now, they'll have more cap room than anyone next summer, but the best available free agent big man might be Nazr Mohammed (depending on what happens with Ben Wallace). If they move Deng, they'll get value -- and perhaps a better big man than what'll be available next summer. There won't be any room for Deng next season if Peja Stojakovic and Andres Nocioni are the small forwards.
First off, I'm not here to advocate the Spurs do anything this season to disrupt the mission of repeating as NBA champs. Having said that, if the Bulls are serious about pursuing and obtaining Mohammed either now or next summer, should the Spurs possibly consider adding an athletic wing player like Deng? Of course, they'd have to do a sign and trade to make it happen. I doubt they would let Nazr walk w/o compensation - that would be stupid.
Deng is long, athletic and a decent defender, yet still young and very raw. He does have enough "untapped" potential to thrive in the type of structure and environment the Spurs could provide him. Perhaps he would be the ideal answer to that long-asked question of "who's going to be Bruce Bowen's understudy?"
Thoughts?