Other Trades

[irish2u2]

I have already commented on the San Antonio-Milwaukee trade and also the Wolves-Wizards deal. I love the Spurs deal and the other trade benefits both teams and their respective situations by giving Washington some veteran help now while giving Minnesota something for their future.

The latest trade is the Warriors trading Jamal Crawford to the Atlanta Hawks for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton. I shake my head at the Warrior side of this trade but then again it's Donnie Nelson and he's a loon but the Hawks made a nice deal here. They have Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson in the backcourt and a combo guard like Crawford off the bench gives them some much needed offense plus if Joe Johnson leaves next summer Crawford can step in.

For all his faults I still like Jamal Crawford. If he shot a little better I'd love Jamal Crawford. Needless to say he has talent and the ability to score a lot of points quickly and while he gets a rap as a bad defender he's not that bad. Mind you he isn't good but average is fair if you see the work of other NBA guards.

Trade Rumors.

Is Rajon Rondo on the trade block? Rondo for Rudy Gay and Mike Conley seems like a good deal for both teams especially since it might open the door for Knicks to deal for that #2 pick. The Grizzlies could get Wilson Chandler and our #8 for Hakim Warrick and the #2.

The Boston-Detroit trade was all good for the Celtics (Rodney Stuckey, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince) then the Pistons (Rondo and Ray Allen plus filler).

The Knicks have been rumored to be looking at Ben Gordon, Shaq and now Darko Milicic. BTW, the Darko deal looks done unless Memphis needs his contract to make a trade for the #2 pick with another team. My feeling is just make one deal with the Knicks. Mobley's contract and Chandler and the #8 for Darko, Warrick and the #2. The Knicks take Rubio and they get two serviceable players. The Grizzlies get a swingman who should start, a shot at a decent player at #8 (roll the dice on Clark) and cash flow.

As for Shaq it must just be hot air. I can see no scenario that makes sense unless we send the Suns Eddy Curry and Jared Jefferies. Shaq's contract expires next year so that works.

Ben Gordon is even more of a mystery. He's a taller version of Nate Robinson. Why not keep Nate who is likely to be had for a lot less money than Gordon? At least Nate can play PG though without much distinction.

Back to Rondo. Why trade a young PG who is just a jump shot away from All-Star status and is a great defender to boot? Apparently Rondo is not a lot of giggles in the locker room and his complaints don't sit well with real star players and leaders like KG, Pierce and Allen.

[will1682]

I agree Bill, Jamal will fit in nicely with Atlanta. As for Nellie, he wouldnt Nellie if he didnt pull his tactics I suppose. I seem to remember him commenting that he hoped Crawford retired a Warrior not long after the deal last fall, then later it was "opt out or we will trade you". But I guess J.C. was always a temporary solution until Monta Ellis returned, I believe Stephen Jackson missed some time as well if I am recalling right.

[kgooglog]

Bill...

We can get Memphis' #2 for far less than Wilson Chandler, IMHO WC going to Memphis would be a steal for the Grizzlies. Maybe we can just trade them Q plus cash for Darko, and we can consider that a coup. I know that you're high on Rubio, yet I think money is more enticing to the Grizz, and since they probably cannot afford to pay such a high first rounder, Donnie Walsh needs to maybe add Wilcox (he is under contract until July 1) and we can do a Q-Tip, Wilcox, and cash for Darko and the #2.

Or, we can do a Nate Robinson, Richardson, cash for Darko and #2. I do not think we have to consider parting with WC quite yet, particularly since half the draft class has made it known that they want no part of Memphis, including Rubio and Hasheem. The cash will pay for Wilcox' contract or part of Robinson's anticipated contract demands, and Q for Darko is an even up swap. In my biased opinion, of course ; )

[irish2u2]

Ken

First watch the video posted on the "Rubio" thread. Think of Ricky Rubio as Pete Maravich only he is more pass than shoot and his defense is better. You watch that video and then tell me you don't see flashes of the Pistol in this kid's game. ; ) Then tell me you weren't mouthing "WOW!!!" while watching the video. ; )

Good trades hurt. That is just a simple fact of life that you must give up value to get value. It's also important to note that a good trade proposal must make sense from both sides of the deal. Put yourself in the Grizzlies position. The Mobley contract is valuable to the Grizzlies owner and management. It is not valuable to Grizzlie fans. They are the ones you need to cater to if you are the Grizzlies while constructing a deal that satisfies the financial issues of the team and makes it more competitive. You can sell Wilson Chandler to your fans while balancing the books and potentially getting another player at #8 who might help. Right now the Grizzlies are young with Gay, Conley and OJ Mayo as their nucleus. Add Chandler, who can play both forward positions, and hope that somebody you want is at #8 like Jordan Hill and it's a good trade for the Grizzlies and they don't have to pay a #2 choice saving another 3 million or so.

I love Wilson Chandler but he does nothing exceptionally well. He's a good all around player but in no one area is he elite. Rubio is an elite facilitator of an offense. The chance to get an elite player is worth a very good player in return. It's a gamble, the promise of Rubio versus the solid NBA contributions of Chandler, but the Knicks need to gamble some. They need to go for the brass ring.

Now back to my proposed deal. Chandler, Mobley's contract and the #8 for Milicic, Warrick and the #2. A hidden jewel in this deal is Warrick. I know his limitations as a shooter but he is an elite athlete and a perfect finisher for a D'Antoni offense. He is every bit as athletic as Shawn Marion and taller to boot and Marion came into the NBA as a poor shooter too. Warrick is key. Rubio is the gold but Warrick is the setting. ; )

Darko Milicic could also prove to be a find though the odds are long he suddenly finds his place in the NBA.

[mercury]

Irish, the trade you proposed above should be enough to land the 2nd pick along with Warrick and Darko. What you say is true, trades must be beneficial for both sides. The Grizz make out quite well. They get millions in savings from mobley's contract for Darko who they wont even miss. Next they recieve the 8th pick for Warrick which is a steal for them. lastly they recieve Chandler for Rubio. This is to the benefit of the Knicks, However, Rubio dosent want to play for them, and the rest of the players they have to choose from in the draft are not locks to become better players than Chandler. I would not be surprised to see this deal or something similiar go down tommorrow at the draft. Im sure the Knicks would rather wait and thrill the crowd on the day of the draft. We shall see.

[kgooglog]

Bill...

I have yet to watch the video, which I am going to do in 2 minutes. Rubio, physically, looks like he can be Pistol's twin, just from a photograph.

However, I just wanted to blast the latest from The NY Daily News, who has reported that Q-Rich for Darko is nearly a done deal.

Be back in 12 minutes after the Rubio video.

[kgooglog]

Bill...

I am offically on the Rubio bandwagon, and yeah, if we have to part with Will "The Thrill", we have to do it. Rick Rubio not only looks like Pistol Pete, he is a pass first, ball-handling demon, with court vision I have not seen in any NBA player sans Chris Paul. I just envision him making those sick passes to LeBron and he is worth everything you proposed in your hypothetical trade. This kid is my pick--sorry Hasheem-but this is the ingredient we have not had since Walt Frazier.

I want Ricky Rubio, and I do not care what it costs. This 18 year old is a once in a decade PG who has every element of a PG that you want, including a shot from the perimeter. I know the video was only 9:57 long, but sometimes those of us who remember Maravich, who was not a PG, but had the same type of ballhandling skills, court vision, and savvy as Rick, know that this is a special player.

I know I want Thabeet, but Rick Rubio will not only be an all-star, but a superstar in the NBA for 15 years plus.

Roll da Dice. I want this kid in a Knicks uniform since he will find LeBron and Bosh, who can handle those passes.

I've been converted.

[kgooglog]

How on Earth can I live without Rubio in our backcourt?

[irish2u2]

Merc

I think the trade works too for both sides. I should be the Knicks GM. ; )

[irish2u2]

Ken

I even have Ricky's new NBA/Knick nickname.

Rifle Ricky. ; )

Let's hope the Knicks can swing a deal. It's going to be a long, long day. ; )

[mercury]

I read that the knicks are offering Chandler and the 8th to the Wolves for the 5 and 6 picks in the draft. However, this is from a poster on nbadraft net who claims they heard it on espn insiders.