Let's Talk Trades
Today was the deadline for NBA teams to make trades. Many people thought the day would come and go quietly.
Wrong!
First, the biggest deal of the day:
In an 11-player deal, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Chicago center Ben Wallace, Chicago forward Joe Smith , Seattle forward Wally Szczerbiak, Seattle point guard Delonte West and a 2009 second-round pick from the Bulls.
The Bulls, looking to shake up their roster after a very disappointing first half of the season, received Cavaliers forwards Drew Gooden and Cedric Simmons and Cavaliers guards Larry Hughes and Shannon Brown.
The Sonics, focusing on acquiring expiring contracts, obtained Cleveland forwards Ira Newble and Donyell Marshall along with Chicago forward Adrian Griffin.
HRR take: Charles Barkley is nuts on this deal! On TNT tonight, Charles called this a "great trade" for the Cavaliers. Huh?
The most productive (and consistent) player the Cavs picked up today is Joe Smith. Think about that for minute...
Joe Smith.
Not Ben Wallace. Not Wally Szczerbiak. Not Delonte West.
Barkley described West as the true point guard the Cavs have needed for two seasons. Uh, no. West is solid; decent; not great. He's a streaky shooter; and a good defender. He's not great at running an offense which means LeBron will still carry the load and create shots for his teammates.
Szczerbiak is a very good spot up shooter. "Wally World" will love being LeBron's teammate because Wally will get open shots all game long. However, Wally and defense are like oil and water -- they don't mix.
Ben Wallace hasn't been a factor (in a good way) for his team since he left the Pistons. Ask the Bulls. When Anderson Varejao gets healthy, Wallace won't take long to complain about his role in Cleveland.
Joe Smith doesn't have three-point range like Donyell Marshall; but, Smith has played well on both ends of the floor this season.
The Bulls rid themselves on Wallace's huge contract; his moodiness; and most importantly, his diminishing skills. Drew Gooden is an enigma. He produces decent numbers year in and year out; but, for some reason he cannot stay with one NBA team for very long.
Larry Hughes cannot stay healthy. Period. He's a streaky scorer and defender. Hughes' arrival means Ben Gordon's days in a Bull's uniform are ending.
Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown are decent players. Both were very good college players; but, this is the NBA, fellas.
Seattle joined this deal in order to free up salary cap space for this summer. The Sonics are building for their future -- in Oklahoma City (or elsewhere).
Next:
The Houston Rockets acquired swingman Gerald Green from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kirk Snyder, a 2010 second-round pick and cash considerations.
HRR take: Snyder asked to be dealt; and, he got his wish. Way to go, Kirk. You've gone from a team on the verge of the playoffs to a team that is in phase one of a rebuilding project. Be sure you enjoy those minutes.
Gerald Green is an incredible athlete! However, Green has yet to show he's a 'good' basketball player. Green barely played for a rebuilding Timberwolves' team. His work ethic has been questioned; so, now that Green returns to his hometown, Green must prove he's ready and willing to become a basketball player instead of a guy who can blowout a cupcake and dunk a ball.
The Rockets also acquired guard Bobby Jackson, rookie guard Adam Haluska, forward Marcus Vinicius and a 2008 second round pick. The New Orleans Hornets picked up guard / forward Bonzi Wells, guard Mike James and cash considerations from Houston. As part of the three-team deal, Memphis will receive Vinicius, the rights to Malick Badiane and cash considerations in exchange for the rights to Sergei Lishouk.
HRR take: On the surface, this a good deal for the Hornets. A happy and focused Bonzi Wells should help the Hornets' bench. Mike James barely got off the bench in Houston this season; so, despite his veteran status and playoff experience, James is not guaranteed he will beat out Jannero Pargo for back up minutes to Chris Paul.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets made this deal to avoid the luxury tax and to allow them flexibility this summer and next season. Okay. However, who's going to defend the big guards the Rockets will face in the playoffs? Who's going to score in the low post against lightweight wing players and who's going to get rebounds when Yao Ming; Luis Scola; and Carl Landry can't get to the ball?
Bobby Jackson could be a nice guard off the bench for the Rockets -- on offense. Jackson's defense is similar to Wally Szczerbiak's.
The Detroit Pistons acquired guard Juan Dixon from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for center Primoz Brezec.
HRR take: The Pistons acquired Dixon to help stabilize their young bench. Dixon is a scoring guard; but, he can ease the burden on Pistons' rookie Rodney Stuckey and help run the offense for a few minutes per game. Brezec, 7'0, was acquired from Charlotte in December. He's a solid big man; but, with young Piston's big man Amir Johnson, 20, playing better and better off the bench. Primoz's minutes were non-existent.
Lastly,
The Denver Nuggets traded guard Von Wafer to Portland for former Florida Gators guard Taurean Green.
HRR take: Instead of trading for Ron Artest, the Nuggets pick up rookie Taurean Green. Yawn.
Wrong!
First, the biggest deal of the day:
In an 11-player deal, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Chicago center Ben Wallace, Chicago forward Joe Smith , Seattle forward Wally Szczerbiak, Seattle point guard Delonte West and a 2009 second-round pick from the Bulls.
The Bulls, looking to shake up their roster after a very disappointing first half of the season, received Cavaliers forwards Drew Gooden and Cedric Simmons and Cavaliers guards Larry Hughes and Shannon Brown.
The Sonics, focusing on acquiring expiring contracts, obtained Cleveland forwards Ira Newble and Donyell Marshall along with Chicago forward Adrian Griffin.
HRR take: Charles Barkley is nuts on this deal! On TNT tonight, Charles called this a "great trade" for the Cavaliers. Huh?
The most productive (and consistent) player the Cavs picked up today is Joe Smith. Think about that for minute...
Joe Smith.
Not Ben Wallace. Not Wally Szczerbiak. Not Delonte West.
Barkley described West as the true point guard the Cavs have needed for two seasons. Uh, no. West is solid; decent; not great. He's a streaky shooter; and a good defender. He's not great at running an offense which means LeBron will still carry the load and create shots for his teammates.
Szczerbiak is a very good spot up shooter. "Wally World" will love being LeBron's teammate because Wally will get open shots all game long. However, Wally and defense are like oil and water -- they don't mix.
Ben Wallace hasn't been a factor (in a good way) for his team since he left the Pistons. Ask the Bulls. When Anderson Varejao gets healthy, Wallace won't take long to complain about his role in Cleveland.
Joe Smith doesn't have three-point range like Donyell Marshall; but, Smith has played well on both ends of the floor this season.
The Bulls rid themselves on Wallace's huge contract; his moodiness; and most importantly, his diminishing skills. Drew Gooden is an enigma. He produces decent numbers year in and year out; but, for some reason he cannot stay with one NBA team for very long.
Larry Hughes cannot stay healthy. Period. He's a streaky scorer and defender. Hughes' arrival means Ben Gordon's days in a Bull's uniform are ending.
Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown are decent players. Both were very good college players; but, this is the NBA, fellas.
Seattle joined this deal in order to free up salary cap space for this summer. The Sonics are building for their future -- in Oklahoma City (or elsewhere).
Next:
The Houston Rockets acquired swingman Gerald Green from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kirk Snyder, a 2010 second-round pick and cash considerations.
HRR take: Snyder asked to be dealt; and, he got his wish. Way to go, Kirk. You've gone from a team on the verge of the playoffs to a team that is in phase one of a rebuilding project. Be sure you enjoy those minutes.
Gerald Green is an incredible athlete! However, Green has yet to show he's a 'good' basketball player. Green barely played for a rebuilding Timberwolves' team. His work ethic has been questioned; so, now that Green returns to his hometown, Green must prove he's ready and willing to become a basketball player instead of a guy who can blowout a cupcake and dunk a ball.
The Rockets also acquired guard Bobby Jackson, rookie guard Adam Haluska, forward Marcus Vinicius and a 2008 second round pick. The New Orleans Hornets picked up guard / forward Bonzi Wells, guard Mike James and cash considerations from Houston. As part of the three-team deal, Memphis will receive Vinicius, the rights to Malick Badiane and cash considerations in exchange for the rights to Sergei Lishouk.
HRR take: On the surface, this a good deal for the Hornets. A happy and focused Bonzi Wells should help the Hornets' bench. Mike James barely got off the bench in Houston this season; so, despite his veteran status and playoff experience, James is not guaranteed he will beat out Jannero Pargo for back up minutes to Chris Paul.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets made this deal to avoid the luxury tax and to allow them flexibility this summer and next season. Okay. However, who's going to defend the big guards the Rockets will face in the playoffs? Who's going to score in the low post against lightweight wing players and who's going to get rebounds when Yao Ming; Luis Scola; and Carl Landry can't get to the ball?
Bobby Jackson could be a nice guard off the bench for the Rockets -- on offense. Jackson's defense is similar to Wally Szczerbiak's.
The Detroit Pistons acquired guard Juan Dixon from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for center Primoz Brezec.
HRR take: The Pistons acquired Dixon to help stabilize their young bench. Dixon is a scoring guard; but, he can ease the burden on Pistons' rookie Rodney Stuckey and help run the offense for a few minutes per game. Brezec, 7'0, was acquired from Charlotte in December. He's a solid big man; but, with young Piston's big man Amir Johnson, 20, playing better and better off the bench. Primoz's minutes were non-existent.
Lastly,
The Denver Nuggets traded guard Von Wafer to Portland for former Florida Gators guard Taurean Green.
HRR take: Instead of trading for Ron Artest, the Nuggets pick up rookie Taurean Green. Yawn.
posted by Kris G @ 8:34 PM
1 Comments:
At February 21, 2008 11:15 PM,
SORF said…
I understand money concerns, but I think this trade is a mistake. I thought Morey said he wasn't going to do a "panic" trade?
Losing Bonzi may come back to haunt us. Not only does Bozi plays defense, he was also T-Mac's back up. I guess RA thinks Landry can assume that role...we will see when T-Mac goes down again.
As for James, it's good that he is gone...he has been nothing for the Rockets this year. Maybe he will work out for NOLA.
Actually, I think the Rockets should have sent Head with James instead of Bozi. Both are shooters that need to attend a refresher course on basketball 101.
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