If West is Out There, the Nets Should be Calling

by Chris Alvino on April 30th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

The Hornets were thrashed in their series with the Nuggets. At the trading deadline, the Hornets looked to give away one of Chris Paul’s favorite running mates, Tyson Chandler. Once their trade fell apart, Chandler and the Hornets were not really the same. Amidst financial problems, this summer the Hornets will likely look to unload as many of their contracts as possible in an effort to rebuild. Many fans and analysts believe that the Hornets’ best chance to make noise in the playoffs was last year. Based on this season and this year’s playoffs, they are probably correct.

The Hornets would love to unload Peja Stojakovic and his massive contract. Peja is owed $14 + million for next season and $15 + million for the following season. While maybe not on the Eddy Curry level, Peja is probably untradeable. The Hornets can unload James Posey, who still has three years left at roughly $20 million. Posey, a proven playoff veteran, could not work the same magic this year as he did with the defending champion Boston Celtics a year ago. He is tradable, but I do not see the Hornets being in a major rush to deal him. Mo Peterson will be a tougher task to deal. Peterson had an abysmal season, playing in only 43 games at only 12 mpg. Peterson has two years and roughly $13 million left on his current deal. Hey, at least he can hit the 3 ball. Right?

Then come the more interesting names. Tyson Chandler appears to be a lock to be dealt this summer. Chandler, who is not a perfect player by any stretch, has a tendency to get into foul trouble early in games. He also does not provide a ton offensively on the blocks. He can score on put-backs and can score on dunks when he is fed, but overall Chandler will not wow anyone with his post moves. That said, Chandler, who had an inconsistent year due to injury and trade speculation, can still defend the hoop and can rebound the basketball. Many Knicks fans have called for Donnie Walsh to grab this guy while he can be had for next to nothing. While he fits the bill of what we are trying to find in a center, his huge cap number can kill any chance at a major free agent next summer. Unless Walsh deals Curry for an expiring contract (highly unlikely), Knick fans might have to forget about Chandler.

But if the Hornets are really looking to rebuild, and rebuild quickly, their best trade chip is by far and away their all-star power forward, David West. West, who arguably is tied for the most friendly contract in all of basketball with John Salmons ($9 million next year, $8.2 for 2010-2011, and a player option for $7.5 million for 2011-2012), can net the Hornets a major haul and nice young pieces to put around Chris Paul. Unlike some of their other veterans, the Hornets would not simply give away David West. His contract and his production will not allow that. West averaged 21 ppg and 8.5 rpg last season, and 20.9 ppg and 8.9 rpg two seasons ago. Translation, he is a premier talent.

While this is a Knicks blog, I keep tabs on all other NBA teams, including the other tri-state area team, the New Jersey Nets. I am sure most Knick fans living in the tri-state area have seen the Nets play a bunch of times. And I will bet that those fans will all agree that the Nets desperately need a force at the power forward spot. The Nets have not had a premier PF since they traded Kenyon Martin. Last year, the Nets paraded Sean Williams, Yi Jianlian, Ryan Anderson, etc. out to play next to rookie Brook Lopez, but none of those options really did the trick. The Nets have a bunch of young, promising big men, but none are the type of PF that they really need to get back to the top of the Eastern Conference. That is why if the Hornets put David West on the trading block, Kiki and Thorn should place a call. West would stabilize the starting rotation, providing a rock at the PF spot. The Nets have a similar type of PG as Chris Paul in the form of Devin Harris. The transition would not be drastic for West to fit in with Harris. If the Nets decided to keep Carter this summer, then a starting five including Harris, Carter, West, and Lopez would put them near the top of the East immediately. Lopez had a strong rookie campaign and only figures to get better. West can help that process.

If the Nets called the Hornets and offered a package including Bobby Simmons (to help make the salaries work), Ryan Anderson, Sean Williams, Chris Douglas-Roberts and their lottery pick this year in return for West and the brutal contract of Mo Peterson, I would imagine that the Hornets would have to at least listen. The Hornets will need another shot-blocking presence if Chandler gets dealt, so Sean Williams can help fill the void off the bench behind Hilton Armstrong. Anderson had a good rookie season and showed that with the minutes, he can produce. The Hornets desperately lack slashers, and CDR would give a nice boost off the bench in that department. With another lottery pick, the Hornets can go out and draft another young point guard to pair with Paul or a power forward like James Johnson from Wake Forest. That would be a decent package for the Hornets, and it would clear some cap space to make other moves. If that is not enough, perhaps another future 1st or 2nd round pick can go to the Hornets.

I am not sure what kind of plans Thorn has for the summer of 2010, but unless either Wade or LeBron plans on going to the Nets, I am not sure if the other potential free agents can fill a need for this team quite like West can immediately. And if Carter is dealt, that 2010 plan might not completely go out the window. I think this situation can be very interesting if in fact West is put onto the trading market.

Just a thought. What are you thoughts? Net fans? Hornet fans? Anyone?

About Chris Alvino

Chris Alvino grew up in Crestwood, NY. He graduated from Regis High School in 2005. There he played both basketball and baseball. Chris is currently a student at Boston College, where he practices with the varsity Women's Basketball Team (... seriously). Chris has been a Knicks' fan for years and can literally talk about them all day long, every day of the week. Chris enjoys writing on this blog and seeing what everyone out there has to say about it. View all posts by Chris Alvino →
  • funkel81

    not to be a jerk, but i don’t care about the nets…gotta throw in a “how does this concern me (a knick fan)” in there…guess i am a jerk

  • CircleLimit4

    I don’t think the Hornets are looking to rebuild so much as they are trying to get under the cap. The Hornets financial woes are apparent. They were 6th in the crowded west and gave up by the all-star break when they tried to move Chandler. They obviously weren’t looking at the playoffs by making Wilcox their starting center. Instead of making playoff moves when they were financial ones.

    Apparently Paul wasn’t digging that and keeping him happy has to be a priority for NO. I can only imagine his discontent if West was pawned off for Ryan Anderson and late lotto pick in a supposedly weak draft. If the Hornets can convince Paul that the organization needs to step before it can step forward, then I can see a deal like this working. I assume the Hornets care more about their finances than they do David West, but do they care about them more than Chris Paul?

    Let’s just say I hope Paul demands a trade.

  • Chris Alvino

    Yeah I do not know if West goes on the block, but I have read that he might. Sorry about writing something about the Nets, but I thought it made some sense. I try not to make too many posts about other teams, but there was nothing new with the Knicks to write about today.

  • Chris Alvino

    And trading West would be a financial measure more than anything. Normally, the Hornets would not give up Ty Chandler for practically nothing, but the business aspect comes into play.

  • Chris Alvino

    You are right. They want to ditch money. But they will not give away West without trying to rebuild.

  • NJirish7

    Whats the contract status of Chris Andersen on the Nuggets? I love his game, and could be a great complement to Lee. Both can rebound like crazy, with Lee being better offensively and Andersen being a much better defensive player.

  • Chris Alvino

    UFA agent after this year I think. For some reason, I think he found his niche in Denver. I think he’ll go back. He’d be a nice fit for us though. I agree.

  • DanL

    “Unless Walsh deals Curry for an expiring contract (highly unlikely), Knick fans might have to forget about Chandler.”

    I might be wrong but couldn’t this be almost cap neutral? You have to figure that the Knicks are going to have to give up Lee or Nate in a deal like this. If its Lee you have to deduct the amount you would have paid him, lets say 8 million. So you are just adding 3 million in salary. Not the end of the world, especially if you can trade Jeffries. Either way I still think there’s room for 1 free agent in 2010.

  • Jeff Cykiert

    They definitely are worried about the cap, but i think they want to rebuild as well; I actually think the two kind of go hand in hand. Needing to get under the cap means they want to get rid of their bigger contracts and look for cheaper ones to develop, and maybe one new big one in return. They clearly are going to try to surround Paul with a new core, and try to come up with a new chemistry and new direction, because this road has hit a dead end, both financially and basketball-ly.

    That being said, they could/should do much better in selling west, so you are right.

  • Jeff Cykiert

    I know we need a better inside presence with some defense and shot blocking, but i don’t think someone like Chandler, who pretty much does ONLY those things, would be very helpful to us. I Think the priorities are court vision, IQ, (which, while typically offensive traits, can both also apply to defense, especially in a fast paced system) and some sort of offensive skill or specialty. (besides getting thrown wide open ally oops from chris paul).

    Then, of all those guys, we take the ones that are difference makers because they know how to play good defense, and block shots, and read passing lanes and make calculated gambles.

    Chandler is just a big guy to put under the rim in a slow, half court set, when you have a dominant player on the perimeter. Someone like Okur would be so much better for us; he may not block as many shots but he can still guard the opposing center so that Lee can guard the PF, and at the same time give us Depth on offense and allow Lee to have space.

  • Mucha

    Tyson Chandler would be a terrible addition.

    He’s overrated, he’s injury-prone and he’ll have a player option for $13’000’000 and he’ll exercise it. Nobody will offer that amount of money for a player who doesn’t even get 10 points and 10 rebounds per game anymore.

  • jcmoney

    I dont think terrible is the right word. 13 Million is overpaying him, but if we could dump Jeffries its not so bad. And he really is the perfect center for our team, giving us athleticism, shot blocking, rebounding, and interior defense at the 5 which could mask the weaknesses at PF if we want to run someone like Chandler or Gallo like how the Suns used Marion and Diaw at PF. He also would be a good compliment for Lee if he is still around these parts.

  • Mucha

    If the salary cap shrinks – and that’ll most likely be the case – that’d be a horrible move in my opinion. Right now several projections have the salary cap lowering to $56.5 million for 2010-2011 – which is quite optimistic.

    Eddy Curry would take $11’200’000, Danilo Gallinari $4’100’000, Wilson Chandler $2’100’000, this year’s lottery pick $3’000’000 – that’s $20’400’000. Add Tyson Chandler’s player option (for $13’200’000 if I’m not mistaken) and you got $33’600’000 to pay in terms of salary assuming that Donnie Walsh will find a way to dump Jared Jeffries.

    There’s not enough space to sign two max free agents in that scenario – not only would that be a bad decision from a basketball standpoint in my opinion, the Knicks would lose a lot of attractivity as well.

  • Chris Alvino

    Chandler is not a $12 million dollar player. I would love to have him on the Knicks, but he makes more than Camby does, and Camby is a much better player than Chandler, even in his older age.

  • Mucha

    Quick question since we’re talking about Chandler and Camby. Couldn’t Jordan Hill be the type of big that Donnie Walsh loves? I’m thinking about Dale and Antonio Davis in Indiana.

  • jcmoney

    If you have a bonafide, All Star, starting Center, maybe you dont need two max free agents? The only players definitely worth max contracts are Lebron and Wade. Bosh will get one and may be worth it, Amare will probably get one and again may be worth it. Dirk is another maybe. So, you got four players who are (arguably) worth the max contracts. There is a (huge) chance Lebron and Wade both stay. I just dont see us getting two max free agents, or even needing them.

    You have, Chandler at C, Wilson Chandler and Gallinari at the fowards, then say we get Lebron/Wade for shooting guard and either draft a point guard or sign one with our left over free agent money. If those two were to resign (which I think is highly likely), and our max contract goes to Bosh or Amare, it is virtually the same lineup except Chandler plays the 2.

    If my second max contract is going to get me Joe Johnson, I think I rather have Tyson Chandler and two other reasonable players.

  • Mucha

    Tyson Chandler is far from being “a bonafide, All-Star, starting center”. I mean, FAR. I don’t like to talk about numbers but 8.8 ppg and 8.3 rpg in 32 (32!!!) games this year is NOT a good look and that really tells something. He’s so overrated in my opinion.

    And I’ll tell you, the opportunity to sign two max free agents is more attractive than Tyson Chandler. I mean he misses 40 games on a continuous basis and he fails to reach double digits in the most important categories for a big man! How is that attractive?

    Peace.

  • CircleLimit4

    Big men are expensive, that’s just the market. I think Chandler is worth $12m if he’s healthy, but he’s not.

    Jordan Hill seems to be and mediocre player with all upside, but considering this is one of the weakest drafts for bigs, he’s on everyone’s radar. He could be a lesser KG or a Renaldo Balkman. The rebounding and athleticism there, it’s his jumper and ability to get to the rim that’s in question.

    I do think, that he’s built for an up-tempo system like D’antoni’s and that his potential can be reached in NY. If he fell to 8, I would probably pounce, especially if we wrap up our PG sitch.

  • Chris Alvino

    To me, Jordan, who is listed at 6’9, looks bigger than that. Maybe it’s the hair. I am not sure on Hill. I think he’ll go before the Knicks pick. I am also not sure if he is the guy when there is so much PG talent in the draft.

    He can be a guy to keep an eye on though.

  • Mucha

    His ability to get to the rim won’t be a problem since he’ll be an inside player. He does not have a jumpshot and I rank 4 players ahead of him in my draft board but getting a cheap young big man with a great motor would be interesting. We are SO SOFT in the paint, Hill would be a nice fit from that perspective even though I put him behind Griffin/Rubio/Harden/Evans and maybe Curry.

    I don’t see a lot of KG/Balkman in him circlelimit, Al Horford and the Davis’s are better comparisons in my opinion.

  • KBT1615

    Wild Question but any chance Chris Paul is available.

  • KBT1615

    Well not on the trading block or anything but you know if somebody called about him they wouldn’t immediately shoot it down they will actually think about it?