All right, a couple of quick trade ideas:
IDEA #1:
T-Mac
for
Dalembert and Iggy
Word on the street is Houston wants McGrady gone. They have a great young scrappy/hustle team, which has earned itself an 18-13 record in the super-competitive West. And that’s without Yao Ming.
This trade gives Houston a much-needed center to protect the rim, and a go-to guy in Iggy (who does a little of everything, and can score in the clutch). The team improves enough with this trade to go deep in the playoffs. Plus, they would get another year after this with Sammy, which provides insurance for Yao — who’s about as durable as an egg (an expiring contract they could trade next year if Sammy turns out to be superfluous.)
IDEA #2:
Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, Juwan Howard (all expiring)
for
Dalembert, Speights, and $5M cash
Portland has a seriously good team that could make a real run. But both of their centers are done for the season. Basically, we’d be giving them Dalembert and cash for the expiring contracts of expendable players. But...
They’ll be stuck with Sammy and his $12M pay check NEXT YEAR when Oden and Przybilla are back. That’s why we’d need to give up Speights. It makes the trade worth doing for them.
Yeah, all things being equal, I’d rather keep Iggy (despite his too-big contract). And I’d absolutely hate to give up Speights (young stud who we have on the super-cheap). But either of these trades would put us far enough under the cap that a small additional trade or two would put us in the LeBron/Wade sweepstakes. So you have to do it if you can.
You feeling me, Ed?
3 comments:
You beat me to the punch with this post. Great minds.
Anyway, Sammy and Kapono/Brezec's expiring contracts worth $7 Million. Maybe I'm not being realistic. However, from Houston's perspective this may be a better, cleaner trade. You get a backup for Yao when he goes down next season who's a bona fide rebounder and shot blocker. And you get cap flexibility. As much as we like Iggy, even we don't like his contract. Why would Daryl Morey? He's be essentially staggering the cap flexibility currently represented in T-Mac over the next two years, instead of taking it in one chunk. Meanwhil, they get an insurance policy at the 5, and can re-sign Sammy for much more sensible money if he works out. No matter what happens next season with Yao, the Rockets know they need a future center. To sweeten the pot I might throw in a Jrue Holiday (even though I think he's our PG of the future), but I wouldn't give up a Speights. Speights ceiling is All-Star status. You don't give up future stars to make up for past mistakes.
I'm not saying this is the trade that Morey has wet dreams over. however, it's pretty sensible. Rent a starting big, get back some of the cap space your giving up and grab a young player who could start for you in in a year or two.
They won't want Iggy cus they've already got Ariza who they just paid. They've also got Batch-ya at the 2 for another couple of years and he ain't goin' nowhere. Iggy would be the best all-around guy on that team, but he wouldn't fit exactly.
I'd even do Sammy, contracts and Lou if that would get it done. With $23 M in cap space we'd be shooting for an all-star this summer. So, we could potentially fill our need at shooting guard through that. We could also re-sign AI if we chose. We could also choose not to do the super speedy, super small, volume shooter guard route altogether. .
If a coach's and GM's jobs weren't on the line and we had the patience afforded by not having multiple, overpaid players, the starting five on this club would be Jrue, Lou, Iggy, Thaddeus, Speights. That's the core of this team as currently constructed. And it ain't bad. The problem is Elton ($14M), Sammy ($11M) aren't in that mix.
Stefanski came in agressive, like a house on fire, and I don't think I'm talking out of school to say that we were impressed. But his two mistakes signing Elton and Hiring Jordan are going to hamstring us until they are undone. Elton's a good player getting great player money who doens't fit this team. Jordan is, I think, a poor coach who talks a good game, but can't get this team to another level. If we managed to get rid of Elton, I'm still not convinced this team would be much better. And the talent to be at least a .500 team is there even now. Less would be more in terms of the payroll, but we won't win games until we learn how to play defense.
I thought this blog was called "CONTESTING SHOTS"..So why is there so much hand holding between the two of you? It's guy love, it's all it is (Scrubs reference) Fear not wise old sages, tis I the voice of reason!
I see in all scenarios, the sixers are getting rid of Dalembert. Finally, a move that makes sense. The first step to recovery is admitting there is a problem. However I do not think Sammy has as many takers as many seem to think. He has been constantly shopped the past 2-3 seasons aggressively and yet no takers. An athletic true 5 with shot blocking and rebounding ability and still no takers. Years past it was his monstrous contract. But this summer should have done the job. Another team should have bit, but did not. That worries me. But on to your trades
1) T-MAC for Sammy and Iggy. If I am the Sixers I jump for this chance. At first glance this would seem to benefit the Rockets, but if you look a little closer it's a bad deal for them for the reasons Umi listed. The Rockets can find a better trade than this. Also, who is to say that Tracy McGrady will agree to this trade. Remember, it's not the Rockets trying to find a trade partner, it's T-Mac's people. They will get him to a place where he can play significant minutes and compete for a chip...like the cavs or the heat. Both teams he would be an instant starter at the 2/3. He will not come to Philly.
As for Sammy and Kapono/Brezec, nobdoy is taking that. I mean nobody. The only GM's dumb enough to were fired last year(McHale, Thomas, Layden, King.)
As for any trades to Portland...Not going to happen. While they will be competitve this year, they are going to use all those expiring contracts and try to lure Mr. Bosh during the summer of free agency. Mo Speights is not going to put them over the top in the West. And if he's not, then Sammy has absolutely no chance of making a difference.
To me the sixers must must MUST try to trade away either brand or iggy aka the cap killers. Dalembert's contract will have HUGE value this offseason, they will have a ton of leverage especially with so many teams losing money in the NBA. In my opinion, there are two teams you try to trade with, Cleveland and San Antonio. Iggy could have real value as a running mate to Lebron in Cleveland at that 2nd banana he was always meant to be. However, the only two expiring contract that Cleveland has that are worth anything are Shaq and Zydrunus. A better suitor would be the Spurs. Trade Iggy for Richard Jefferson and any of the SEVEN expiring contracts the Spurs have. Iggy could be a combination of Steven Jackson and Bruce Bowen for them that could be devastating to teams out west. Plus, with RJ in decline we can stick him on the bench and no crying about it. As a bonus, his contract expires after next season. Depending on how the season goes, the Phoenix suns might deal Stoudamire as well since he has a player option next year and he will opt out. We can trade bigs and get better. Any combination of Speights,Dalembert, or Brand would make sense for the Sixers. Sure you give up Speights but you get rid of some of dead weight in Brand or Dalembert. I could go on further, but I'm getting sleepy. Numbers bore me! Point is, there are a number of teams that the sixers can dance with. They need to decide what team they are now and just go in that direction. That direction should be down.
This team is not that good. They are going nowhere fast. They should be in the John Wall sweepstakes.Or the Henry kid from Kansas. Not the mediocre 500.
AND PLEASE GET RID OF SAMMY ON THE FRONT PAGE. I BEG OF YOU. He is the epitome of what's wrong with the sixers. Not smart, not as good as they thnk they are. Really athletic but can't put it together.
By the way, I think I should get credit as a regular contributor.
Next time, you guys better be in disagreement with each other. None of that PTI stuff here!
T-Mac's people don't a say. He's doesn't have to approve dick. The question is whether or not Houston's front office thinks this trade will make the team better.
And it would.
But like y'all said, who knows what other offers are coming at them.
I can't imagine Morey not wanting to just keep McGrady's expiring contract and using that flexibility to go after LeBron, Wade or Bosh. But word is he wants to make a deal by the Feb. deadline. And if that's the case...
If I'm Ed, I'm offering those two up and keeping Speights in my back pocket if I need to up the ante. Yes, I'd hate to see Young Marreese go. But if you have the chance to go after the likes of LeBron or Wade -- both of whom will crack the All-time Top 15 when all is said and done -- you have to do it.
Good God...can you imagine trotting out a starting lineup next year that features Wade AND John Wall?!? (o no.....just had seezure.....typing with one fingr....call 911.........)
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