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Would Orlando consider Nate?

by Tommy Dee on February 3rd, 2009 at 8:57 pm

The Orlando Sentinel talked today about adding some back court help seeing that the team lost All-Star PG Jameer Nelson to a separated shoulder torn labrum.

So Andrew Smith (who’s sequestered himself in an undisclosed location studying for the Bar Exam) and I  got to thinking the Magic, who already could use some scoring punch in the back court, might want to consider dealing for Nate Robinson.

Now I have to be fair, I think that keeping Nate is critical for any shot at making the playoffs, but the Knicks might consider moving their sparkplug guard for the right deal.

The team has a roster spot with the retirement of Cuttino Mobley. I wonder if the Knicks would consider a Nate for the rights to Fran Vasquez and J.J. Redick?

Vasquez is 25 and has resisted coming to the NBA. His numbers are modest this year,  but he’s a capable big that might flourish in NY under Mike D’Antoni. Vasquez has resisted coming over here after being selected 11th overall by the Magic in 2005.  The Magic are still very high on the young man, but Nate could keep them afloat and add great depth moving forward.

Redick is a obviously shooter who could fill in off the bench. I think the Knicks lose out for the short term, but could benefit for the long term. Nate’s turnovers and spotty decisions have often been a killer for this team.

Just a thought, maybe the team tries to capitalize on the Magic’s need for some help. Redick has a qualifying offer in 2010-11, which he’d likely decline considering Jason Kapono’s contract.
  • Chris Alvino

    I would want some kind of assurance on Vasquez coming over here. Otherwise, this would be a no-go for me.

  • Chris Alvino

    I think that the Magic will look for a pure point guard though. Perhaps in the mold of a Earl Watson. The Magic have been looking for PG help all year. Now they are desperate.

  • LouisQ

    How about Nate and Malik for Redick and Battie? Nate’s averaging as many points per game as Redick is minutes, and Battie is more of a true backup center than Rose is. Magic get dynamic replacement for Nelson, and a veteran championship presence for their run this year.

    I think Battie will help us on the interior, and I truly think that Redick would THRIVE in D’Antoni’s system. He would become one of the top shooters on the team.

  • belikmike23

    It’s hard for me to resist using trade machines to set up large, many-player trades. I made two trades (a lot of players involved), let me know if they are too far-fetched.

    NY gets: Bargnani (TOR), J. O’Neal (TOR), Anthony Parker (TOR)

    Miami gets: Marbury (NY), Josh Howard (DAL)

    Toronto gets: Jeffries (NY), Marion (MIA), Jamaal Magloire (MIA), Stackhouse (DAL)

    Dallas gets: David Lee (NY), Mark Blount (MIA), Daequan Cook (MIA)

    This trade only has 12 players involved Chris. The next suggestion has a lot more.

    NY gets: Donyell Marshall (PHI), Dalembert (PHI), Bayless (POR), Rodriguez (POR)

    Orlando gets: Nate (NY), Roberson (NY), Channing Frye (POR)

    Sixers get: Jeffries (NY), Mike Wilks (ORL), Reddick (ORL), Brian Cook (ORL), Przybilla (POR) and the valuable expiring contract of Raef LaFrentz (POR)

    Portland gets: Malik Rose’s expiring contract (NY), Mickael Pietrus (ORL), Willie Green (PHI), Andre Miller (PHI)

    This trade is 17 players. So I’d like some opinions. Thanks

  • MP

    Not sure I like giving up Nate so much. Why not trade Malik’s expiring to Indiana for Tinsley and a pick, then trade Tinsley to Orlando for Redick, a pick and salary filler? That way we end up with two picks and Redick, and give up nothing. Indiana bites because it clears cap space, Orlando bites because it gives them a talented, veteran PG. Everybody wins.

  • MP

    And BTW we should trade Dumbury straight up for O’Neal & maybe a 2nd round pick. Toronto gets to keep Barngani, gets some backcourt help, and gets JO off their cap a year sooner. We replace an empty roster spot with a serviceable big who can maybe stop the Pau Gasol’s of the world from going 31 and 14 on us, and give up nothing. Maybe we can use the pick to get a dead-eye shooter like Lee Cummard at BYU. Everybody wins…. Or JO and Kapono for O’Neal and Malik’s expiring. Again, mega cap room for Toronto, another sharp shooter for us. Everybody wins.

  • Chris Alvino

    The second one doesn’t work because there is no shot we take back Dalembert, especially if Curry is not out the door.

    The first one, while it would not happen, is more realistic. But I am really starting to believe that Lee is worth more than Bargnani, JO, and Parker.

    If Howard came our way instead of a Parker, then I would consider that.

  • Chris Alvino

    JO for Marbury is like beating a dead horse. I would do it without the pick, but I would imagine that Donnie would require it.

    It makes all the sense in the world for Toronto and for the Knicks. And you are right. The Knicks need more of a presence in the paint to keep the Pau Gasols of the league from devastating us.

    As for Tinsley, I can see the Magic making a play for him. The Magic are absolutely desperate and are made to win now. Tins is a trouble-maker, but he is a pretty good point guard.

  • Chris Alvino

    Good call on that one.

  • belikmike23

    I love those suggestions. They sound awesome.

  • Chris Alvino

    There is just no way we take Dalembert without ridding ourselves of Curry. In 2010, we would then have 24 million tied up between the two.

    I would rather Lee at 10 million.

  • belikmike23

    OK, I changed the first trade scenario to an equally elaborate one.

    NY gets: Josh Howard (DAL), Jermaine O’Neal (TOR), Bargnani (TOR), Kapono (TOR), and Stackhouse (DAL)

    Toronto gets: Marcus Banks (MIA), Marion (MIA), Malik Rose (NY), Magloire MIA), and Jeffries (NY)

    Miami gets: Marbury (NY), Curry (NY), Roberson (NY), and Gerald Green (DAL)

    Dallas gets: Mark Blount (MIA), Daequan Cook (MIA), and David Lee (NY)

    Seems too good to be true for the Knicks but it all works out. Miami gets all contracts that are up right when Wade hits free agency which is a plus for them, also it doesn’t make them any worse this season so it doesn’t hurt their chance of making the playoffs. Toronto is rebuilding so they’d end up with 3 expiring deals in Malik, Marion and Magloire, Dallas gets D-Lee to play alongside Dirk, and if D-Lee plays PF Dirk can slide to SF with Howard being moved to NY. Each contract the Knicks would get all expire before 2010, and it would make the team even more competitive for the next 2 seasons. It may be too elaborate to happen, but seems like a good deal to me from all sides. Opinions?

  • BiggieSmalls

    I cont see taking Jo for an extra year and paying 20 plus mil for a second rund pick..

    Ive said Id do it for a first rounder.. and that is an expensive purchase.. But it would probably help up front.. if not just blow out JO next year.

    I like the Vazquez idea.. WE’d have to sort of ensure he comes over through..

  • Chris Alvino

    That would be unreal for New York.

    But getting five new players?

    If that happened over the summer, the Knicks would be a top 5 team in the Eastern Conference right now. In fact, three of those players would immediately be starting on this team.

    Duhon
    Howard
    Al
    Barg
    O’Neal

  • belikmike23

    So what’s the problem? In D’Antoni’s system it doesn’t seem like it takes too long to adjust. Harrington picked everything up quickly so it shouldn’t be too bad. Every team in that trade gets something good out of it, I just with GM’s were creative.

  • belikmike23

    I just wish GM’s were creative**

  • BiggieSmalls

    thats crazy enough that it just mioght work.. we’d have to take Tony Battie back.. but he expires year before Lebron so not a deal breaker..

    good creative scenario.

  • Qaspec

    I agree that would be un-real for New York. The Knicks would be giving up Lee and pretty much nothing else and getting back good players including 3 possible starters. Plus I think Colangelo gets fired if he trades Bargnani, O’neal and Kapono and all he got back was Shawn Marion (notoriously moody and unpredictable), a couple of bench guys (Banks, Jeffries) and a couple of guys still in the league simply because of their contracts (Rose,Magliore).

    I also don’t think the Magic would have any interest in Nate Robinson. He is not a distributor and the Magic’s system requires a point guard that can run an offense and consistently deliver the ball into the post, a guy that can catch and shoot if the ball comes back outside. Nate doesn’t posses any of those qualities. While Nate has energy, and provides excitement, the Magic have great team chemistry and really seem to play for each other as a team. Nate the Great’s self promotion and celebrations after every good play he makes would wear out fast with his Orlando teammates and land him in Stan Van Gundy’s doghouse. I could see Orlando being way more interested in Duhon than Robinson.

  • Chris Alvino

    And we would get rid of Curry.

    There would be a statue of Donnie Walsh erected in mid-town.

  • Qaspec

    It might sound crazy but I think there’s a chance Marbury may join the Magic out of this. The Magic have shown they are commited to winning this year. If Nelson should be able to come back for the playoffs and the even if the Knicks buy out Marbury after the trading deadline (which makes him ineligible for the playoffs) then Orlando really becomes his onyl choise. Boston would want Marbury for a playoff run and I think Orlando takes the risk so that they can obtain the highest possible seed for the playoffs with the hopes of Nelson re-taking the reigns.

    I really believe Marbruy would play his heart out and avoid being a locker room distraction. He would basically be playing for his last contract of his career and a 2 month tryout with a playoff caliber team would be an opportunity even he wouldn;t mess up. I also think at that point the Magic need to take a risk of they are trying to play for it all. The risk is minimized for them if they get him at the vets minimum.

  • Chris Alvino

    One problem there…. Marbury is a Knick unless Walsh is ENTICED to get rid of him.

  • Qaspec

    I agree totally, I think Curry is absolutely un-tradeable this season. Between his contract, being out of shape, his general malaise and his desire, teams also have to be questioning his mental state right now.

    From the home invasion, to the limo driver accusations, to the horrible tragedy that his son witnessed – I think teams would want to see how he fares this offseason before taking that kind of risk. I think if he were to use the negativity in his life as a motivator to change by maturing, increasing his work ethic, getting in shape and demonstrating a genuine desire to reach his potential then teams would be willing to take a look. Thats an awful lot of if’s though.

  • Qaspec

    You’re right Marbury is a Knick. I think Donnie wants to see if he can get anything for him in a trade. If he can’t then when the trade dealine passed and there are no trade possibilities then I beleive they will just buy him out since they would have to pay the entire salary if they keep him anyway and they may feel it’s worth it to save a million dollars (Dolan) and start the post-Marbury era 2 months early as soon as possible and move on. Especially if the Knicks are in the hunt for the 8 seed. I can imagine how they would want to avoid some kind of Marbury distraction in the first round. If they get rid of him and he signs with another east team after the trade deadline they don’t even have to worry about facing him in the playoffs.

  • Mucha

    I think we can get a lot more for Nate Robinson. He’s undersized but he’s still a 15-22ppg player and a showman. I’m convinced that we can get Anthony Randolph through Milwaukee.

    Biggie, I would deal Marbury for O’Neal and a second round draft pick whatever the price is (20’000’000$ in that case) for two reasons. O’Neal – if healthy – is always willing to bang inside and that would allow us to throw a big body against the Gasols etc. That would help us in order to make the playoffs next year. And a second round draft pick could always turn out to be a gem like Monta Ellis or Stephen Jackson in the future, or it could just be a valuable trade asset for the summer. It would cost a lot though – I agree with that – but I think that would be a good move. Now, getting Bargnani in the process would make it GREAT move.

  • JohnnyG

    I’m not sure on how these foreign contracts work, but if Vasquez’s deal expires at the end of this season, wouldn’t he have to join the the team in the NBA that has his rights?

    Anyone know?

  • JohnnyG

    Meaning join the NBA team in 09-10, of course.

  • jcmoney

    Why would we trade a steal from the 2005 draft for a bust that never even made it over here. Everyone knew Vazquez was dumb when they made the pick and they havent looked any better since. Reddick too is seen as a bust, and while his outside shooting is always welcome in D’Antoniball, it just sounds to me like an Anthony Roberson situation where he wouldnt make it on the court because of his other flaws in his game.

    Also, I have to think the risk JJ accepts that offer is too much, because I really can see him taking it. When Kapono got that contract, if I am not mistaken he had just led the league in three point shooting, the economy was in a completely different place, and Toronto was still ripped for making that deal.

    If Nate had a long contract then maybe I’d consider ridding ourselves of the contract, but to trade Nate, we need to get something of value, whether it be a pick, or someone who will be here in 2010. Neither of these two would be.

  • dwalz15

    Jcmoney is on the money with that last one. Let’s not have any more Fredrick Weis’s to deal with (or not deal with). Reddick is a shooter, yeah. But bringing him in here now isn’t going to help us make the playoffs this year. As much as there is plenty more work to accomplish, this year has been mad exciting. There is a buzz at the garden during games. People are excited. Why trade a way a big part of the excitement for a guy who can’t dribble, distribute, or play any defense. Come on fella’s. Let’s make the playoffs. Let’s not force trades upon ourselves like Nate to the Magic for nothing. If it can help now, than I’m sure every Knick fan is down to see it happen. But for nothing? Not worth it.

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