The HRR NBA Trade Analyses Archive

Jackson Back to Knicks  | Howard to Mavs in 8 Player Deal | Pistons deal JYD to Raptors

February 22. 2001

“Mutombo Dealt to Philly in Six Player Deal”

The Philadelphia 76ers acquired C Dikembe Mutombo and F Roshown McLeod from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for C Theo Ratliff, F Toni Kukoc, G Juan “Pepe” Sanchez, and F / C Nazr Mohammed.

Notes:

• Mutombo, Mohammed, and Sanchez are eligible to become free agents this summer.

2000 - 2001 Player Salaries:

Dikembe Mutombo, Phi: $14.2 M.

Roshown McLeod, Phi: $0.979 M.

Theo Ratliff, Atl: $7.8 M.

Toni Kukoc, Atl: $6.08 M.

Pepe Sanchez, Atl: $0.319 M.

Nazr Mohammed, Atl: $0.739 M.

Who got the better of the deal?

Philadelphia - short term.

Atlanta - long term.

Why?

With this trade, the Sixers are going for the championship this season. Death is the one true guarantee in life; so, re - signing Mutombo this summer is no more a certainty than anything else. However, Dikembe, age 34, is a much better presence on defense than the 28 year old Ratliff. Deke, is a legit 7’2 while Ratliff is 6’10. Theo is better suited to play power forward while Mutombo is a natural center. Mutombo is healthy while Ratliff is recovering from surgery on his right wrist which will cause him to miss another 2 to 4 weeks of this season.

“Obviously, we see this as a chance for us to contend for the title, said Sixers coach Larry Brown, whose team has the league's best record at 41 - 14. “We would not have done it if we didn't feel otherwise. In Mutombo, we have an all-star center, someone who's really a center. We're sorry to see Theo go, but we're really excited about our chances with Mutombo.”

Roshown McLeod, 6’8, was a scorer at Duke University; and, he’ll have to provide scoring for the Sixers. With Kukoc now a Hawk, Philly has no reliable second scorer behind guard Allen Iverson. McLeod is not good enough to be that second option on offense; but, he along with Aaron McKie, Rodney Buford, Eric Snow, Jumaine Jones, and George Lynch are going to have increase their scoring output as well as their consistency on offense.

Kukoc gives the Hawks a scoring threat at small forward. He doesn’t fit into Atlanta’s long term plans; so, it’s up to Toni to play well the remainder of this season to improve his trade value when the Hawks deal him this summer.

Sanchez, 6’4, is a rookie point guard who isn’t quick at all; but, he’s always in good position on defense. He plays the passing lanes well; he rarely turns over the ball; and he makes good decisions when running an offense. Atlanta could waive him; and, Philly would re - sign him.

Nazr Mohammed, 6’10, is an unproven front court talent. He saw limited time in Philly; but, his game could blossom with more minutes.

Hawks coach Lon Kruger said, “We expect to run more. Be quicker. Toni is certainly a very versatile player. He's a guy you can run the offense through a lot of the time. And Theo's a great shot blocker, a good rebounder and a guy who can step out on the floor and shoot.”

About Nazr Kruger added, “I'm told he has some skills. We'll take a good look.”

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“Knicks Re - Acquire Jackson from Raptors”

The New York Knicks acquired G Mark Jackson and G Muggsy Bogues from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for G Chris Childs and a first round draft pick.

Note:

• The first round pick Toronto received is lottery protected and comes from New York via Seattle from the Patrick Ewing trade.

2000 - 2001 Player Salaries:

Mark Jackson, NY: $3.6 M.

Muggsy Bogues, NY: $1.2 M.

Chris Childs, Tor: $4.7 M.

Who got the better of the deal?

Neither club.

Why?

Despite Mark Jackson’s tremendous ability to run an offense, the Raptors grew tired of Jackson’s porous defense. Mark, 35, has never been know as a great defender; but, Toronto grew tired of their perimeter defense taking a beating game in and game out.

Asked about Jackson's suspect defense, Knicks’ coach Jeff Van Gundy said, “What happens with a lot of players in this league, you talk about what they can't do and not what they can do. Certainly there are players who don't do some things too well. But I'm happy what Mark brings and what he can do.

“It's really how he distributes the ball,” added Van Gundy, an assistant coach for the last three years of Jackson's Knick stint. “He makes other guys better. That's his strength and I do like that he has the ability to post.”

Chris Childs, 32, is a few years younger than Mark and is a much better defender. However, Chris is more of a streak shooter than a playmaker. Childs will be backing up Alvin Williams at point guard. Besides Vince Carter, Williams has probably been Toronto’s most consistent performer this season.

Another positive for Toronto is they rid themselves of long term contracts. Both Jackson and Bogues signed 4 year contracts last off season while Childs’ contract expires at the end of the 2002 season. However, one potential negative for Toronto is Antonio Davis (one of Jackson’s closest friends) now has another reason to leave the Raptors this summer via free agency.

Bogues, 36, has suffered knee problems all season. He probably won’t play much this season; and, he’ll probably be placed on the injured list very soon.

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“Wizards Send Howard to Mavs in 8 Player Deal”

The Washington Wizards traded F Juwan Howard, F Obinna Ekezie, and C Calvin Booth to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for F Christian Laettner, F Loy Vaught, F Etan Thomas, G Hubert Davis, G Courtney Alexander and $3 M cash.

Notes:

• Laettner, Booth, and Ekezie are eligible to become free agents this summer.

2000 - 2001 Player Salaries:

Juwan Howard, Dal: $16.9 M.

Obinna Ekezie, Dal: $0.342 M.

Calvin Booth, Dal: $0..42 M.

Christian Laettner, Was:$6.725 M.

Loy Vaught, Was: $5.6 M.

Etan Thomas, Was: $1.389 M.

Hubert Davis, Was: $ M.

Courtney Alexander, Was: $1.319 M.

Who got the better of the deal?

Washington.

Why?

The Wizards got the better of this deal for one simple reason: they rid themselves of Juwan Howard’s burdensome contract. After this season, Juwan will receive nearly $40 M total the next 2 seasons. Howard was booed by Wizards’ fans no matter how productive he was on the court. Fans blamed him for all of the Wizards’ problems. Now that Juwan is in Dallas, he can bring his nearly 18 points and 7 rebounds per game to a team who can use him and fans who can appreciate him because, with Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley, Steve Nash, and Howard Eisley as teammates, Juwan won’t have to carry the burden of team savior on his back. Howard can come off the bench, play relaxed, have fun, and make the playoffs.

Mavs GM / coach Don Nelson said, “Howard will fit right in with what we're doing. He's a wonderful guy, a good guy and a good team man. The only problem is he's overpaid.

“He definitely has a low-post game. We had to address some of our needs, and that certainly was a need that we had.”

Ekezie, 6’9, 270, and Booth, 6’11, 240, both have good upsides as solid front court players. However, Booth is out for one month following surgery to remove bone spurs in his left elbow.

Besides freeing themselves from Howard’s contract, another key to the deal for Washington is acquiring Courtney Alexander. Wiz president Michael Jordan loves Alexander’s ability to create his own shot and jump over defenders with his jump shot. Teaming Courtney with Richard Hamilton gives Washington a young, talented, and versatile backcourt since both can play point or shooting guard effectively.

“Sure people said Juwan was a non-tradeable situation but you never know when you'll get into a situation where a team needs a particular player,” Jordan said. “Juwan has played well, he's been consistent and he's always been the hardest worker. . . . It gives us some mobility based on the contract situation of Juwan. At the same time, it gets us a couple of young players that we can build around.”

Laettner will be a free agent this summer; and, Washington has no plans of re - signing him.

Hubert Davis is a good three point shooter who signed a 4 year, $10 M contract last summer; so, his salary is not very expensive considering what he provides a team.

Most of Vaught’s salary ($4.9 M) will be paid by Dallas this season. The 6’9 Vaught has finally recovered from the back surgery he had 2 seasons ago; but, he is no longer the player he was when he averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds as a Clipper.

Thomas, 6’8, is a rookie forward who has not played this season due to foot problems. He’s out for the rest of the season after surgery on his big toe. When healthy, Etan is a good shot blocker and rebounder.

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“Pistons Deal JYD to Raptors for Big Nasty in 5 Player Deal”

The Detroit Pistons traded F Jerome Williams and C Eric Montross to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for F Corliss Williamson, F / G Tyrone Corbin, F Kornel David, and a conditional first round draft pick.

Notes:

• Williams, Williamson, Corbin, and David are all eligible to become free agents this summer.
• The first round pick Detroit received is lottery protected and comes from Toronto via Orlando from the Tracy McGrady sign and trade deal of last summer.

2000 - 2001 Player Salaries:

Jerome Williams, Tor: $3.2 M.

Eric Montross, Tor: $2.4 M.

Corliss Williamson, Det: $3.93 M.

Tyrone Corbin, Det: $1 M.

Kornel David, Det: $0.500 M.

Who got the better of the deal?

Toronto.

Why?

Detroit grew less and less certain it could re - sign Jerome Williams (a.k.a. the Junkyard Dog) this summer. Consequently, they decided it was best to trade Williams now in order to meet certain criteria.

Pistons president Joe Dumars said, “There were three things on our criteria list,” Dumars said. “If we could get a great young player, then we would sacrifice some of our cap space. If not, then we would look to add to our cap space. And if we couldn't do that, then we would look to get a draft pick. Well, we got two out of the three. I didn't feel we could pass that up.”

In regards to Williamson’s disappointing season with Toronto, Dumars said, “The last couple of years he was in Sacramento, he played well. That hasn't translated over to Toronto this year. But we have 25 to 28 games to get a really good look at Corliss and see what he can bring to the table. That's how we are approaching it with him.”

Williams will provide the Raptors energy, rebounds, and defense off the bench. None of which Corliss Williamson provided for them. Toronto hoped Corliss would earn the starting small forward spot; but, he lost the position to rookie Morris Peterson; and, once his playing time declined, Corliss started to sulk and, ultimately, he asked to be traded.

Montross, 7’0, is a big body which Toronto lacks. He adds to the Raptors’ big man rotation of 6’8 Antonio Davis, 6'9 Charles Oakley, 6’11 Keon Clark, and 6’9 Williams.

“We wanted a defender and we feel we got a good one in Jerome,” Raptors General Manager Glen Grunwald said. “And we also desperately wanted a big body, and we got that in Eric.”

The Pistons will waive Ty Corbin and Kornel David in a matter of days. Detroit gains an additional $5 M in salary cap space with this trade.