The HRR NBA Trade Analyses Archive
Marbury Dealt in 3 Team Deal; Four Other Deals MadePhilly Sends Tim Thomas to Bucks | Potapekno for DeClercq | Rockets Welcome Back Mack | Turkcan to Knicks
March 11, 1999
“MARBURY HEADS TO JERSEY IN 8 PLAYER DEAL INVOLVING 3 TEAMS”
The Minnesota Timberwolves sent G Stephon Marbury, G Chris Carr, and F Bill Curley to the New Jersey Nets. The Nets traded G Sam Cassell and F Chris Gatling to the Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee traded G Terrell Brandon to Minnesota and G Elliot Perry to New Jersey. Minnesota traded C Paul Grant to Milwaukee. The Nets also traded F Brian Evans and 2 draft picks to Minnesota including a first round pick.
1998 - ‘99 Salaries:
Stephon Marbury, NJ: $2.562 M.
Chris Carr, NJ: $1 M
Bill Curley, NJ: $1.544 M.
Elliot Perry, NJ: $2 M.
Sam Cassell, Mil: $3 M
Chris Gatling, Mil: $4.265 M.
Paul Grant, Mil: $903 K.
Terrell Brandon, Min: $6.3 M.
Brian Evans, Min: $687 K.
Notes:
- Curley was waived on 3 / 13.
- Minnesota has until April 1 to decide between taking the Nets' 1999 first-round pick unconditionally or only if the Nets do not receive one of the top three picks. If they take the pick unconditionally, it is the only Nets draft choice Minnesota receives in the trade. If it selects the second option and the Nets have the fourth pick or lower, it also receives the Nets' first-round pick in 2003. If it selects the second option and the Nets have one of the first three picks, it receives a first-round pick in 2000 and 2003 but not in 1999.
- Marbury signed a 6 year, $70.9 M contract extension on 3 / 12.
- Carr will be eligible for free agency this summer.
Who got the best of the deal?
New Jersey.
Why?
It can be argued that each team rid itself of a player who no longer wanted to be on his existing club: (Stephon w/ Minn.; Terrell with Milw.; and Sam with the Nets). Using that argument, each teams remaining acquisitions come into play.
Chris Carr, and Elliot Perry add backcourt flexibility to New Jersey. Obviously, Stephon returning home to the New York area is a big plus.
Carr is simply a streak shooter and a poor defender. “Socks” Perry will be backing up Stephon if G Erick Murdock has to have season ending knee surgery. Perry runs an offense well; but, he’s a liability on defense.
Sam Cassell should be healthy enough to play for the Bucks around March 30th. He tore a ligament in his ankle and has not played much this season. Sam is a confident player who produces 18 points and 8 assists a game. Unfortunately, Sam has a tendency to shoot more than necessary which, in the past, has rubbed teammates the wrong way. It will be interesting to see how Glenn Robinson, Ray Allen, and company get along with Cassell.
Chris Gatling asked to be traded and got his wish. He’s a good low post scorer and a poor defender. He rarely passes out of double teams and is not a great rebounder.
Paul Grant is a 7 footer who played college ball at Wisconsin. He’s been injured with foot problems his first year and change in the league. He’ll probably remain on the injured list for most of the season. Even when healthy, he won’t see much time behind Ervin Johnson, Gatling, Armen Gilliam, and rookie Robert Traylor.
“Terrell and Tyrone were fantastic on the court, but their disharmony and whatever you want to call their professionalism around the court, I thought, was distracting. Maybe I'm overreacting, but I don't think I am,” said Bucks coach George Karl.
“I think they did a great job playing,” Karl said. “I enjoyed coaching them. But I think in our situation here in Milwaukee, we need more than that. We need more. We need commitment and players who will talk about it, and have a desire and a passion and an anger for it.
“The issue is KG (Kevin Garnett),” T-wolves coach Flip Saunders said. “[Marbury] said, 'Right now, whether it's right or wrong, I have a tough time playing with KG when he's making the amount of money he's making and I'll be making only $71 million.' “
“I tried, number one, to explain the idea of 'only making $71 million' to him,” Saunders said. “And two, we shouldn't be penalized because of the system. But if a guy doesn't have his heart in the right place, then we have to move on.”
“Stephon said we either had to trade him to a team that he approved, or he would sign with Chicago after the season,” T-wolves Executive VP Kevin McHale said. “I said, 'Do you really want to go play for a team that's going to win 10 games? Isn't winning important?' He said, 'This is a business.'
Terrell Brandon did not want to re-sign with Milwaukee. However, all signs indicate he will re-sign with Minnesota.
At 28, Terrell is more mature than Marbury which McHale appreciates. In fact, McHale stated while he chatted with Terrell about being a Timberwolf, he appreciated talking with “an adult”.
Terrell is not as flashy as Stephon; but, he is nearly as productive. He is excellent playing off the pick and roll which probably will become a bigger part of Minnesota’s offense next season. If he and Garnett can develop a chemistry together, Minnesota shouldn’t miss a beat.
Brian Evans is a perimeter shooter. He’s not very athletic; but, he should be able to spread defenses with his outside shooting.
“PHILLY SENDS ‘CORNERSTONE’ TO MILWAUKEE IN 4 PLAYER DEAL”
The Philadelphia 76ers traded 2nd year F Tim Thomas and injured C Scott Williams to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for disgruntled F / C Tyrone Hill and 2nd year F Jerald Honeycutt.
1998 - ‘99 Salaries:
Tim Thomas, Mil: $1.856 M.
Scott Williams, Mil: $3.3 M.
Tyrone Hill, Phi: $4.74 M.
Jerald Honeycutt, Phi: $300 K.
Notes:
- Honeycutt can be a free agent this summer.
- Williams was placed on the injured list, 2 / 10, with stress fractures in both legs.
Who got the better of the deal?
Milwaukee.
Why?
Tim Thomas fell out favor with Sixers coach Larry Brown for refusing to improve his defense. Thomas’ draft rights were acquired from New Jersey in the Keith Van Horn deal. He’s only 20 years old and is a very good 3 point shooter when he has his confidence.
“I see Tim and Glenn Robinson as able to play either forward position and play together,” said George Karl. “If you can rebound, you can play with a small team in today's league, and we still have Ervin Johnson to play center. Dean Smith always told me you should play your best players, not your best positions.”
Scott Williams is injury prone. He had surgery on his right elbow on Feb. 23rd. If he can get healthy, he could give Milwaukee a big body to back up Ervin Johnson and rookie Robert Traylor.
Tyrone Hill is a solid, rugged player. He’s limited offensively; however, he’s capable of producing 12 points and 10 rebounds every game. His problem is he bitches, gripes, moans, and groans too much when things don’t go his way. He’ll play in a big man rotation along with Theo Ratliff and Matt Geiger.
Honeycutt is a project. He probably has more all - around skills than Thomas; however, Jerald doesn’t do any one skill particularly well.
“BOSTON OBTAINS V FROM CAVS FOR DECLERCQ”
The Boston Celtics acquired C / F Vitaly Potapenko from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for F / C Andrew DeClercq and a conditional first round draft pick.
1998 - ‘99 Salaries:
Vitaly Potapenko, Bos: $1.338 M.
Andrew DeClercq, Cle: $1.44 M.
Note:
- The Cavs have the option to use the pick over the next 3 years with the following conditions: if it’s in the top 3 in 1999, Boston keeps the pick; there are no lottery protections on the pick either in 2000 or 2001.
Who got the better of the deal?
Cleveland.
Why?
Boston definitely needed a strong physical big man at the center spot. Potapenko without a doubt meets that need. He doesn’t back down from anyone.
“It's a great move for us,” said Celtics head coach Rick Pitino. “The thing about Vitaly is that he's 280 pounds and can guard his own man without needing a double team,” Pitino said. “He may be the strongest player in the NBA.”
However, Vitaly is very inconsistent and it seems to be just a matter of time before Pitino gets fed up with Vitaly’s inconsistency, foul prone nature, and focus.
DeClercq, 6’10, 245, on the other hand, doesn’t have the strength or size of Potapenko; but, his effort is never questioned. Andrew does all the little things coaches and fans appreciate. He is truly an “effort” player.
He’ll start along side Shawn Kemp in the front court this season. However, next season he’ll come off the bench assuming C Zydrunas Ilgauskas recovers from his broken foot.
“ROCKETS RE - ACQUIRE MACK”
The Houston Rockets re - acquired G / F Sam Mack from the Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for 2nd year swingman Rodrick Rhodes.
1998 - ‘99 Salaries:
Sam Mack, Hou: $545 K.
Rodrick Rhodes, Van: $639 K.
Who got the better of the deal?
Vancouver.
Why?
The Rockets originally traded Mack to Vancouver on Oct. 28th, 1997. Mack is simply a 3 point shooter. His defense is shaky at best. In fact, because of his porous defense Vancouver head coach Brian Hill replaced Sam in the starting line - up.
“We’re a spacing team with good post - up players, so I think it’s a good fit for us. We’re glad to have him back,” said Rockets’ head coach Rudy Tomjanovich.
Rodrick Rhodes apparently fell out of favor with the Rockets’ brass considering last season he was the main reason the Rockets didn’t go through with the Damon Stoudamire trade.
Rhodes is not a good outside shooter; but, he is a good defender and passer. He recently recovered from a torn pectoral tendon injury. He’ll probably be in the guard rotation with rookies Mike Bibby and Felipe Lopez, and veteran Lee Mayberry. Also, he may play at small forward when the Grizzlies slide Shareef Abdur Rahim to the power forward spot.
“We have to look at the big picture as well,” said Hill. “We're trying to build a team around athleticism and defensive ability and guys with more than one skill. (Rhodes) is a guy that has defended extremely well at the point, at big guard, at small forward and he's a ball handler. What he can bring at the defensive end and with his versatility, he's really going to help us as a team.”
“KNICKS ACQUIRE DRAFT RIGHTS TO TURKCAN FROM PHILLY”
The New York Knicks obtained the draft rights to F Mirsad Turkcan (18th overall pick in ‘98 Draft) from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a conditional first round draft pick.
Note:
- Turkcan is currently playing in the Turkish league for Efes Pilsen.
Who got the better of the deal?
Philadelphia.
Why?
The 76ers acquired something for a player who, apparently, has plans to stay in Europe and play ball for the next few years.
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