Mike Monroe: All-Star break will crank up the trade-rumor mill
Web Posted: 02/14/2007 12:03 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/c...s.1fe127d.html
San Antonio Express-News
Every mover and shaker in the NBA will be in Las Vegas this weekend, and the trade deadline is one week from Thursday.
You know what that means: Trade Rumor Central.
Let's start some of our own, with the understanding each is based on kernels of truth that came from some of our best inside-the-NBA sources.
It's going to be an upset if the Clippers trade Corey Maggette, who has been on the trade rumor merry-go-round for weeks.
This is not because the team's basketball staff doesn't want to get rid of him or that Maggette wants to stay in L.A. On the contrary, the team's coaches want him gone, and his agent, Rob Pelinka, has asked for and been given permission to talk with other teams about potential deals.
The team's coaches believe Maggette is responsible for having single-handedly ruined team chemistry, separating himself from teammates to the point he sits at a table by himself when the coaches have a breakfast meeting on road trips in lieu of a morning shootaround. Maggette has had two reported confrontations with head coach Mike Dunleavy during, or after, games this season. While Dunleavy has taken the "high road" in discussing the incidents, don't doubt he would be much happier if Maggette were gone.
Why, then, is Maggette still with the Clippers? Ask Donald T. Sterling. He owns the team, and Maggette, we're told, is his favorite player. Sterling has nixed several possible deals already and has made it clear to Dunleavy and general manager Elgin Baylor they are not to do a Maggette trade he does not approve.
If you're wondering why Maggette started in Elton Brand's stead in the Clippers' game at Detroit on Monday night, it was because that game, unlike the team's previous game in Indianapolis, was televised back in Los Angeles. The coaches were hoping Sterling would see enough of Maggette's uninspired (and uninspiring) play to perhaps lift his embargo on a deal. Maggette didn't disappoint, missing seven of 10 shots in a blowout loss.
Though the Warriors already pulled off the biggest trade of the season — Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Ike Diogu, Troy Murphy and Keith McLeod to the Pacers for Al Harrington, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Stephen Jackson and Josh Powell — Don Nelson is said to be itching for one more pre-deadline deal. Expect Mickael Pietrus to be dangled but only if GM Chris Mullin can get value in return. Pietrus intrigues a lot of teams, but when Jason Richardson is fully healthy, there won't be a lot of playing time for him.
Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry will be actively seeking a deal. His team is close enough to first place in the East to believe top seed in the Eastern playoffs is possible. Trouble is, the one asset he has that other teams most often ask about, forward Anderson Varejao, makes only $950,000. There aren't many players out there making that little money who could provide the same sort of value.
Portland will work hard to move center Jamaal Magloire, but the Blazers are looking for expiring contracts and draft picks. They had even contacted the Spurs about Magloire, with an eye on Eric Williams' expiring $4.3 million deal. Tuesday's Spurs-Bobcats trade means that won't happen, but the Blazers will continue to shop around.
Though he is the most talented player who clearly is available, it doesn't seem as if Pau Gasol is going anywhere. Ordinarily, players who ask to be traded diminish their value, but the Grizzlies aren't going to give away a big man with the skills Gasol owns. The Bulls want him, but the price — a package that likely would include Luol Deng, Andres Nocioni and P.J. Brown — seems prohibitive.
I knew Sterling was cheap, but no League Pass?If you're wondering why Maggette started in Elton Brand's stead in the Clippers' game at Detroit on Monday night, it was because that game, unlike the team's previous game in Indianapolis, was televised back in Los Angeles.
Pietrus would be good for the Spurs but bad for the rest of the west
Weird bit of character assassination on Maggette. By most accounts his teammates love him and this sounds like classic behavior by a player who feels he has no role with a team anymore.
I love the Ely trade...if we could get Mag for, say Beno, Oberto (since Ely's in the mix now) and a draft pick or cash, pull that trigger! Unfortunately, those salaries don't match. If the Spurs want Mag, they have to sacrifice Beno and Barry.
While Barry has been hot from the 3-point range, he's on the down-side of a brilliant career. I think his current FG% raises his value, but not quite as high as what he's still owed...
With Ely and Mag in the mix, this team could make some noise. I already think they'll be up to the challenge when the playoffs start (as is now), but this could really be something special should the Spurs make another trade...after all, last time the Spurs made a regular season trade, we all know what happened.
Barkley said, "Isaiah Thomas is building a championship team...only problem is it's in San Antonio."
Forget maggette, if we can get Mickael Pietrus that would be something else.
Pietrus will probably be dangled with Foyle's huge contract attached, making many deals impossible.
Pietrus makes too little money, and unless it's a "prospect for prospect" deal another one of the contracts will likely have to come with Pietrus. Since the other long-term contracts are legitimate (Jack's 4yr, Harrington's 3yr, Baron's 3yr, Richardson's 5yr), I doubt they will trade two players of value unless they get something serious in return.
if the spurs get either one
then the notion of rich gets richer is real
If Maggette were currently wearing Silver and Black, Spur fan would be complaining about him and looking to ship him out, but I guess the grass is truly greener. He is the Beno of shooting guards, fat, can't shoot, and always has some kind of owie keeping him on the bench.
I understand what you're saying...
It's kind of like having a new g/f. You tend to ignore some of the things you find wrong with them initially, but as time goes on those "quirks" magnify and you begin to understand how this heartless was single in the first place.... (my Valentine Story of the Day)
Similarly, I think the fans look at Maggette as the "savior" and see the positives without taking note of the negatives...
Positives:
- He is aggressive on offense and has a knack for creating contact and getting to the foul line
- Once he gets to the foul line, he converts over 80% of attempts
- He is a good rebounder for his size and position
- He has an excellent combonation of speed and size, enabling him to guard three spots on the floor (2/3/4)
Negatives:
- He often appears apathetic on the court, especially on defense
- He is injury prone, even if it is only nagging injuries
- He has earned somewhat of a selfish reputation, and his run-ins w/ management have been well chronicled
Bottom Line: Maggette does have faults and would not be the "perfect" addition to this team. BUT, if he didn't have faults, he wouldn't be on the market. While he's not a "perfect" fit, he would vastly improve this team's overall scoring ability.
IMO, the benefits outweigh the risks...
god i know you dont like the guy but give me a break....He is the Beno of shooting guards, fat, can't shoot, and always has some kind of owie keeping him on the bench.
c. magg fat??? WTF??? you can hate on him be that dood is in great freaking shape.
i think a change of environment and a winning program will go a long way in changing corey's at ude.
I'd take Pietrus over Magette, without hesitation.
That's pretty spot-on about Maggette. His rebounding and ability to get to the line are phenomenal but at all other stats he's lousy -- no defense, no team defense, plus bad injury histories and a need to start and play solid minutes.
Maggette? Fat? Uh...I don't think you have the right Maggette.
I'd rather have Pietrus, but I don't think either players are possible for the Spurs right now. Maggette is more possible than Pietrus.
You're right, and that's what is nuts...
A guy like Maggette who averages 15pts 5rebs over an eight year career that saw him eclipse the 20ppg average twice is more likely to be had than a guy (Pietrus) who has been a gross dissapointment in his 4 year career and has just this year begun to turn in semi-consistent performance....crazy
Maggette >>>>>>>>>>> Pietrus
Maggette needs to lose weight like Dolly Parton needs another boob job....
I think it's important to look at both the postives and the negatives, but IMO he makes this team so much better that the benefit outweighs the cost.
His at ude may change, but I think it would be overly optomistic to assume he would change his whole personality to being this "team guy" that does all the "little things" like help defense, etc.
Amazing how he was like that last year when the Clippers were a winning team.
This guy can also shoot in clutch situations.
Ive watched many a games this guy bag a three to win against Miami and other teams.
Get the deal done.
I prefer Pietrus for the following reasons: 3 years younger (27 & 24), makes 5 million less a year, and hs more possibility to re-sign with the spurs..Pietrus does not have the offense of maggette, but is a better defender, and equally effective rebounder. If some of you are looking to replace bowens position, then this is your guy!!
Pietrus may be making $5M less right now, but he is having what GMs will term a "breakout" season and will be a restricted FA this summer. I'm not saying he'll get $7M+ per year, but he could probably garner a full MLE deal (Marcus Banks did after a similar breakout) and I don't know that the Spurs would be willing to match while seeing less than half a season of him in a Spurs uni.
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