Blockbuster Trade Involving The Spurs?

[timvp]

Warriors eye forward
Mullin might be trying to trade for Harrington

Janny Hu, Chronicle Staff Writer

Las Vegas -- The free-agency sweepstakes kicked up a notch Sunday with the arrival of Andy Miller, who represents Al Harrington, Kevin Garnett and Patrick O'Bryant. All three command the Warriors' attention for obvious reasons, but it's the first of Miller's clients who is most important at the moment.

Harrington is among about six players Golden State officials identified after the regular season as targets for acquisition, according to a league source. In April, vice president Chris Mullin all but guaranteed that his roster would not return intact, and he since has been among the league's busiest executives.

Golden State already has an agreement in place to send guard Derek Fisher to the Jazz. The move can be finalized Wednesday, and it's safe to say the Warriors will not be done dealing then.

"How can we be?" said Mullin, who would not confirm the Fisher trade.

Mullin could be derailed if a discussed deal falls through, because the Warriors' offseason moves appear to be linked. Their trade with Utah gives them three smaller salaries to use as trading options, and they can gather more by packaging a big-money player such as Troy Murphy with cheaper talent like Mickael Pietrus and Andris Biedrins.

The path to Harrington requires a sign-and-trade, most likely involving a third team, because the Warriors are over the salary cap. The most Golden State can offer the Hawks' forward is the mid-level exception worth about $5.1 million, which represents a significant cut from the $7 million he made last season.

The Warriors also could face a legal roadblock: A court ruling last week prohibits the Hawks from initiating transactions that involve multiyear deals for players other than draft picks.

It's unclear whether the Hawks will be allowed to sign Harrington to a long-term deal, even for the purpose of trading him, or if they will be forced to take back players only in the final years of their contracts.

Miller told The Chronicle last week that his client was interested in joining the Warriors. He reiterated Harrington's desire Sunday and said the Warriors were among "a handful" of teams under consideration.

Miller chatted briefly with Mullin while the Warriors scrimmaged against the Pistons next to Cox Pavilion, but spent most of his time on the phone. He later was seen meeting and greeting Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy and Toronto general manager Bryan Colangelo, among others.

Harrington, a 6-foot-9, 245-pounder, would fill the Warriors' desire for frontcourt athleticism. He can play both forward positions and averaged a career-best 18.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last season.

He is among the highest-profile free agents remaining after Ben Wallace, Jason Terry, Nene, and Peja Stojakovic were taken off the market. The Pacers are under pressure to make an impact deal after Stojakovic's departure, which leaves them nothing to show for the Ron Artest trade.

Harrington played the first six years of his career in Indiana and a reunion there isn't out of the question. The Pacers also could be involved in a three-way deal with Atlanta and Golden State. Miller expects a quick resolution.

"I think things are going to happen in a timely fashion," he said. "Now what timely defines as, I think there's other variables that come into play and make that call. But I think it's going to happen sooner rather than later."

Moves start becoming official on Wednesday, and the Warriors could be busy for the entire offseason.

"We're looking to get better," Mullin said. "It's not hoping. We're going to get better."

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...PGLHJSHUD1.DTL

Sounds like Simmons could be right for once.

[timvp]

Andris Biedrins is going to be a damn good center one day. He can rebound and block shots at a high level. He's young but he's a player I'd love to see on the Spurs.

[smeagol]

Guys, it's 7 AM. Go to bed!

[dimsah]

I can see GS wanting to ship Murphy to get rid of the contract and get Diogu more minutes. They would still have Cabarkapa to back up Diogu.
GS seems to be attempting to purge a lot of salary with Murphy, and Fisher on the block. I don't know why they would want to dump Pietrus though unless it's filler just to make another deal go through.

[Streakyshooter08]

Andris Biedrins is going to be a damn good center one day. He can rebound and block shots at a high level. He's young but he's a player I'd love to see on the Spurs.

Yeah, he really had some good games last year for them. I wonder waht is contract is like. I think a lot is going to happen this week.

[Bruno]

The only problem with Murphy is his 5-year, $51M contract. Would the Spurs take that on?

Holt might faint.

Don't know but we dump too Barry and Oberto contracts. This trade cost $35M to Spurs.

[MI21]

Damn, timvp beat me to it.

Biedrens is a good player, had a bunch of good games and is still only 19 from memory. There was one play last year where he took someone off the dribble from the top of the key and gave a statue of liberty on a whole team. He is very talented and I would love him on the Spurs.

[TDMVPDPOY]

i expect the spurs to get a player from the hawks in return, since we are goin to give away alot of players contracts expirin and scolas rights.

[FromWayDowntown]

If the Spurs can get in on the deal and can mine from it a player like Murphy, Pietrus, or one of Atlanta's long young wings, I think they have to pull the trigger, particularly if they can rid themselves of a salary like Barry's, which they'd almost have to do to be involved. If it's Biedrens, all the better. I'd think Murphy, despite his contract, would be a nice compliment to the current roster and not a redundant piece. Pietrus IMO would be the acquisition of talent more than a trade to address a need. Any of those options, however, would be preferrable to stagnation.

[davi78239]

You know what guys, I had a dream last night that I was watching a spurs game and Brent Barry was on the opposing team, meaning that we had traded him. The only problem is that I forgot which team and who we even got. Maybe I sign of things to come in the future. By the way, is Josh Smith the dude with the frow that played for Stanford? I remember him when they played UTSA in the tournament 2 years back. He is pretty good and would be nice to see him in silver and black.

[MajorMike]

I know the Spurs HIGHLY covet Murphy.

[Duncanoypi]

You know what guys, I had a dream last night that I was watching a spurs game and Brent Barry was on the opposing team, meaning that we had traded him. The only problem is that I forgot which team and who we even got. Maybe I sign of things to come in the future. By the way, is Josh Smith the dude with the frow that played for Stanford? I remember him when they played UTSA in the tournament 2 years back. He is pretty good and would be nice to see him in silver and black.

are you talking about Josh Childress?

[ducks]

hawks would haved 4 players that their contracts end
they if they win the court order could trade those to teams that want to have room to go after a fa with cap room

[davi78239]

are you talking about Josh Childress?

Oh yea, that's his name. Wrong person, my badd. So who's josh smith then?

[CharlieMac]

Kind of interesting that the Hawks are getting involved now since they are having issues between the 3 owners.

[Mr. Body]

It's funny. This is the same trade I came up with in another place late last night. San Antonio can opportunistically help GSW get a hefty expiring contract to get Harrington and work on getting Mikael Pietrus in return. There are incentives for Atlanta to make it work.

If the Spurs translated Eric Williams into Pietrus, even giving up Scola or whatever, I'd piss myself in joy. The guy has to be shortlisted by the team as a Bowen replacement.

Troy Murphy is far less likely. I can't see the Spurs taking on four $10M+ contracts.

[ducks]

did anyone listen to espn last night?
was it reported there?

[PM5K]

I'm a little confused, I thought that in order for a trade to be considered "Blockbuster" that really good players had to be involved, for example Manu for KG.

I guess if enough teams and players are involved it could be considered blockbuster as well...

[J.T.]

Troy Murphy on the Spurs? Dude, sign me up!

[Mr. Body]

There's no legal definition of 'blockbuster' so far as I understand. That was just a term used by the SA station, I believe.

[Extra Stout]

The way this works is that one of Rod Thorn's minions reads this thread, then Thorn calls around to see if there's any truth to it, and if so, then the Nets try to disrupt the trade.

[picnroll]

Andris Biedrins is going to be a damn good center one day. He can rebound and block shots at a high level. He's young but he's a player I'd love to see on the Spurs.

Ditto.

[furry_spurry]

Que Gee- who I trust in all things Brent Barry related- mentioned the talks of Barry going to GS for Pietrus- but the Spurs would have to take on a bloated contract to do so- at the time Fisher. Would they take on Murphy's contract--he is set to make more than Manu! GS is not giving away Biedrens.

Experience has shown that once news like this hits the media- the deal is usually already fallen through. Did they report on Rasho's trade that had been worked out days in advance, just waiting for Williams to exercise his option?

[Mr. Body]

Que Gee- who I trust in all things Brent Barry related- mentioned the talks of Barry going to GS for Pietrus- but the Spurs would have to take on a bloated contract to do so- at the time Fisher. Would they take on Murphy's contract--he is set to make more than Manu! GS is not giving away Biedrens.

Experience has shown that once news like this hits the media- the deal is usually already fallen through. Did they report on Rasho's trade that had been worked out days in advance, just waiting for Williams to exercise his option?

Details on the Rasho trade had started floating out from the Toronto trade a little bit before it went through. At first the thought was Oberto for Bonner straight up.

It seems information of this proposed deal has come out of Golden State.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

Troy Murphy in SA?



again, wet dreams