Ludden: O'Neal Trade Shifts Conference Landscape

[T Park]

Hey Bruno, this trade would work, right?

Barry + Elson + Bonner + re-signed Van Exel (a la Aaron McKie) for Miller + Cardinal

That looks like a realistic trade that the Grizzlies would be all over. It'd be a risky trade for the Spurs just because of chemistry issues but I'd probably do it. In this scenario, I doubt the Grizzlies would be able to squeeze out any draft picks.

But yeah, the Spurs would need to follow it
up by bringing in PJ Brown, Dale Davis ... or even Tony Massenburg.

Do that trade, sign PJ brown.

ring # 5 would be upon us.

[T Park]

Thats all assuming the Grizzlies would want Matt Bonner.

[Bruno]

We're a little boned in the size department if the old vets don't want to leave their rocking chairs. Of course there are a couple of big boys in the D-League that might rebound as well as Brown without going over the tax.

Don't you think spurs will be more looking for a defender than a rebounder ?

[ChumpDumper]

Barry : $5.55M
Elson : $3M
Bonner : $2M (BYC)
NVE : $1.45M (max allowed)

Total : $12M
Miller + Cardinal : $14.1M.

Yes, it works.

They should swap first rounders with us if we are going to save them that much money.

[T Park]

Doubtfull they'd give up that lottery pick.

[ChumpDumper]

Don't you think spurs will be more looking for a defender than a rebounder ?

I think Lang and Alexander would be defensive choices against the big players. We'd take Benson if we wanted to push the pace like we do with Elson. They just all happen to rebound very well, which is Andre Brown's biggest asset.

[ChumpDumper]

Doubtfull they'd give up that lottery pick.

You're probably right, but that is a ton of money we'd be saving them. Maybe work out some protection for it for a couple of years.

[T Park]

Lottery protection this year, all out next year.

I could go for that. Didn't they get the Laker's first round pick also?

What the , throw that one in there.

Getting a late first round selection is better than none at all.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I don't see the Spurs FO wanting to pick up Cardinal's salary. In fact that would shock me.

[T Park]

Unforunately I also can't see Pop or anyone else taking back Brian Cardinal.

I mean whats the difference between him and Pittsnogle other than the really cool name.

[T Park]

I don't see the Spurs FO wanting to pick up Cardinal's salary. In fact that would shock me.

Great minds think alike Eddy

[Bruno]

If Grizz hadn't succeed at packaging Cardinal with Gasol, I doubt they will be able to do it with Miller.
I don't think Spurs are ready to take Cardinal to get Miller.
Cardinal is worthless so taking him will be like paying $15M or $16M per year for Miller.
Miller isn't worth that much money.

[MaNu4Tres]

I've said this about a week ago. Mike Miller for Barry Elson 1st round pick. Screw Cardinal's salary. Give Memphis all of our picks in this year's draft.

[T Park]

Screw Cardinal's salary

Easy to say.

If they say to get Miller you gotta take Cardinal, and you say no, they say no deal, what do you do?

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Cardinal is worthless so taking him will be like paying $15M or $16M per year for Miller.
Miller isn't worth that much money.

Well put.

[ChumpDumper]

What if we did get a protected lottery pick out of it?

Remember, this is not a basketball trade for Memphis.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I had to look up Cardinal's stats. He's a career 6 pt, 3 rebounds a game guy. His best year was 9.6 pts and 4.2 boards in '03-'04 with Golden State. He's getting a whopping 3 pts per game this year.

His agent must be a god.

[MaNu4Tres]

I know it's easy to say. But if Memphis refuses to give us Mike Miller without Cardinal's contract. I know the Spurs brass would drop out. Especially with Holt's penny pinching ways.

[ChumpDumper]

I know it's easy to say. But if Memphis refuses to give us Mike Miller without Cardinal's contract. I know the Spurs brass would drop out. Especially with Holt's penny pinching ways.

If the Spurs stayed under the tax threshold, there wouldn't be much reason for Holt to deny it.

[timvp]

If Grizz hadn't succeed at packaging Cardinal with Gasol, I doubt they will be able to do it with Miller.
I don't think Spurs are ready to take Cardinal to get Miller.
Cardinal is worthless so taking him will be like paying $15M or $16M per year for Miller.
Miller isn't worth that much money.

The other way to think of it is to factor in how much else the Spurs would have to give the Grizzlies without taking back Cardinal. If the Grizzlies say okay we'll take Elson, Barry, a first rounder, your second rounder from the Raptors and either Mahinmi or Splitter ... I'm not sure that's any better than just biting the bullet on Cardinals contract.

If it's as simple as Elson, Barry and a first rounder, that's a no-brainer. But I think the Grizzlies would want more and would likely go for either Splitter or Mahinmi, whichever they rank higher. And seeing how they just traded for Gasol's brother, I'm guessing they'd want Splitter since it's obvious they watch international basketball. Giving up Splitter as a sweetener in a deal would kinda suck. I'd probably rather just see Cardinal rot on the bench.

[timvp]

Barry : $5.55M
Elson : $3M
Bonner : $2M (BYC)
NVE : $1.45M (max allowed)

Total : $12M
Miller + Cardinal : $14.1M.

Yes, it works.

Thanks

The only part of that trade that doesn't make sense is it'd push the Spurs even further over the luxury tax threshold. The Spurs would basically be spending like $35M for Miller for two seasons

[T Park]

Giving up Splitter as a sweetener in a deal would kinda suck.

No way I'd do it then.

Splitter is gonna be the starting center on this team for a while due to the now resurgence twords BIG centers and thats what Splitter is.

Splitter Elson Barry for just a guard?

Mahinmi ain't gonna guard the BIG BIGS well. Theres no younger centers better to get than Splitter himself.

Bad move it would be IMO.

[T Park]

The Spurs would basically be spending like $35M for Miller for two seasons

Money wise...

Miller = Marion?

[Bruno]

I had to look up Cardinal's stats. He's a career 6 pt, 3 rebounds a game guy. His best year was 9.6 pts and 4.2 boards in '03-'04 with Golden State. He's getting a whopping 3 pts per game this year.

His agent must be a god.

Cardinal's contract story is freaking funny.

An exceptionally well-connected league insider once told me the story of how Brian Cardinal got his mid-level. Seems Memphis owner Michael Heisley, frustrated by general manager Jerry West's lack of activity, walked into West's office one day and asked why he hadn't signed anyone yet. So an exasperated West picked up his phone, called Cardinal's agent and offered the mid-level on the spot. Then he turned to Heisley and said something along the lines of "There, you happy now?"

http://blogs.indystar.com/pacersinsi...he_gun_an.html

[Bruno]

The other way to think of it is to factor in how much else the Spurs would have to give the Grizzlies without taking back Cardinal. If the Grizzlies say okay we'll take Elson, Barry, a first rounder, your second rounder from the Raptors and either Mahinmi or Splitter ... I'm not sure that's any better than just biting the bullet on Cardinals contract.

I think that taking Cardinal's contract is like giving 4 late first round picks to Grizzlies.
I don't think that Miller is worth that much.