Chris_Broussard

Chris Broussard

@Chris_Broussard: Knicks, Nuggets, Twolves discussing 3-team trade. Melo to NYK; Chandler, Corey Brewer, Minny 1st rnd pick to Den; ECurry, ARandolph to Minny

Feb 6, 2011 @ 04:20 AM from Echofon

This deal doesn’t seem 100% fair from Minnesota’s standpoint, but the Wolves seem a logical 3rd team..

Broussard believes the Knicks are hoping to land Mayo, and then possibly package him with some combination of Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, or Landry Fields along with a 1st-round pick that they can land in a separate deal for Anthony Randolph.

Another day, another story, take it for what it’s worth…

With trade speculation swirling around him, Chris Paul said Wednesday that he’s open to a trade if the New Orleans Hornets aren’t committed to winning championships.

“My first choice is to be in New Orleans,” Paul said in a telephone interview from London. “I just want to make sure we’re committed to winning. If we’re not committed to winning and trying to get better so we can contend with the Lakers, the Celtics and all these other top teams, then I’m open to being traded.”

Reports that clubs have been making offers for Paul surfaced earlier this week. Hornets general manager Jeff Bower denied that the club was shopping its three-time All-Star point guard, but admitted to having dialogue with other teams concerning “all of our players.” New Hornets coach Monty Williams said he expects Paul to remain in New Orleans.

But around the league, speculation remains that the Hornets may move Paul. With owner George Shinn’s proposed sale to Gary Chouest being delayed for financial reasons, opposing executives believe New Orleans may have to trade Paul and the $50 million owed to him over the next three seasons.

“If George Shinn can’t sell the team, I think Chris Paul will be traded,” an executive from an Eastern Conference team said. “Shinn’s strapped for money. He’s going to have to move him.”

Paul said he does not have a wish list of teams he’d like to play for and emphasized that his desire is to remain in New Orleans — as long as the Hornets are doing all they can to compete for a title.

After reaching the second round of the playoffs two years ago, the Hornets have been on the decline and failed to make the postseason last year. Opposing executives aren’t convinced the club has the financial resources to build the team into a consistent contender.

“I’m fine with staying in New Orleans, but I want to make sure we’re committed to winning,” said Paul, whose been lauded for the community work he’s done in New Orleans. “I don’t want to rebuild. I want to win now. It’s nothing personal against the city. I love that city. But my biggest thing is winning.”

Paul admitted that the free-agent frenzy surrounding LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and others is making him long to be in the best possible situation in terms of winning.

“I’m friends with D-Wade, LeBron, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson and all these other free agents,” said Paul, who’s in London promoting his Brand Jordan sneakers. “I’m watching them try to figure out what they’re going to do to put themselves in a position to win championships. I’d love to be a part of that stuff.”

Coming straight from CP3, this will only add to the buzz around the Hornets from teams trying to pry Paul away from New Orleans.  The article goes on to mention rumored deals from Orlando (which GM Otis Smith denies) and the Nyets.  While he left LeBron out of the list of free agents (does he think he’ll be fined, too?), one can only dream of LBJ and CP3 being paired up in MSG for years to come.

The longer the negotiations take for the sale of the Hornets, the better the odds Paul is traded. But while we’d all love to just ship Eddy Curry, that’s not enough to bring Paul to NY.    I don’t know if the Knicks have enough to get Paul.  What kind of package do you think it would take to get Chris here from the New Orleans?  Post your thoughts in the comments.

Quite frankly, I do not blame that organization for doing this.  Their potential at their peak was of an above average team, well above the likes of the Eastern Conference bottom feeders, but still well below the likes of the power houses in Orlando, Cleveland, and Boston.  Two summers ago, the organization dug its own grave, giving out major deals to Jamison and Gilbert Arenas.  Now, it appears that they are trying to dig themselves out depending on whether or not they trade Butler and Jamison, and depending on how they handle Arenas.

I have said for a while that the Wizards were a prime candidate to make trades.  They have veteran talent.  They have expiring contracts.  They have young pieces.  And most importantly, they seem unable to get out of their own way.  I envisioned two scenarios that could have faced this team. Either they would have had the chance to make some noise in the middle of the Eastern Conference and would trade for veteran help (I thought this would happen before the season started), or they would collapse as they did last year and be able to deal away their desirable talent.  The latter is seemingly the case.

Whether their fans realize this or not, the Wizards are making the right decision to start over.  Much like the Knicks, but to a much lesser extent, the Wizards need to clear salary and need to create flexibility.  Sometimes in the NBA, teams have one or two shots to win big.  The Wizards’ chance has since passed.

The Wizards will be perhaps the most interesting team come February 18.

**Regarding the Amare to the Cavs rumor, I simply cannot see it.  I believe that there is legit interest, but I cannot believe that the Cavs would have the best offer.  Trading for Jamison, who has a ton of money coming his way, is one thing.  Trading for a super-star with a possible expiring deal is another.  Unless a third team actually gets involved (that is the rumor), I just do not see Amare to the Cavs happening.

Wilson Chandler, love him, hate him, or fall in between, is a productive player. Forget about the nonsense that he would not be a good player in a more traditional system. Chandler has game. He showed it under Isaiah two years ago. Last year, he was near the top of the sophomore class. As an inconsistent 21 year old, Chandler was essentially a 15 ppg and 5 rpg SF that was arguably the team’s best defender. Playing the 2, 3, or 4, Chandler was also arguably the most versatile player on the team. Right now, Chandler is a starter on a mediocre team, and perhaps the 6^th man on a championship caliber team. He is that good now, and he has the potential to be a very, VERY special player. If he was in this year’s draft (he is younger than many of the 1^st round prospects), Wilson would be a lock for the lottery, and perhaps a lock for the top 10.

So why the rumors about trading him for a player that has never played one second in the NBA? Plenty of great college players have floundered in the NBA, while many decent college players have emerged as studs in the pros. Why again are we thinking about dealing him for an unknown? The answer is simple. To be a champion, Donne Walsh might think that he has to gamble a little bit. In all likelihood, Walsh will not mess around with his 2010 plan. So that leaves him with the ability to make good draft picks and acquire underrated talent with the MLE. Walsh might be tempted to gamble away one of his most valuable chips in order to reap a bigger bounty. While Chandler has all-star potential, Walsh might want to find a kid that has all-pro potential. The Knicks need star power. Aside from the Pistons a few years ago who has multiple all-star type players, most championship teams have a mega-star. Look at this year’s Final Four. The Lakers have Kobe. The Nuggets have Melo. The Magic have Howard. The Cavs have the King. Wilson Chandler will not be one of those players. No matter how effective he has been and how much potential he has shown in his first two years as a pro. Tyreke Evans, Steph Curry, and Ricky Rubio all have that potential as pros. They all have the potential to put the Knicks on the map again. They all have the potential to be a league icon. They might not be. In fact, the odds are heavily against all three being all-pro players. Very heavily. But that would be the hope if Donnie Walsh was to trade one of only beacons of light leading the Knicks through their darkened tunnel. In trading Wilson, Donnie would hope to throw dynamite into that tunnel and to blow it out of existence.

So does Donnie go all in and gamble away Wilson Chandler for the right to draft a college player (or Rubio)? That is an extremely tough call. If Walsh could ensure a crack at Rubio, then I would probably do that. Otherwise, I would have to think long and hard about it.

History has shown that it is easier to find a player like Wilson Chandler than it is to find an elite PG. If the Knicks deal away Chandler, they will still have Al Harrington and Danilo Gallinari to man the position. If Harrington is in the long term plans, then this trade makes more sense to me. Also, come next summer, we all know that Donnie will target LeBron James, who just so happens to play the same position as Wilson Chandler. Again, that is a major gamble. Also, one of my favorites, Ron Artest is a free agent and might be lured to the idea of playing for his favorite team, even if it means playing for the MLE. There are potential replacements for Wilson Chandler.

Solution: I am not opposed to dealing away Chandler. Not in the least. I love how hard he plays, but he is inconsistent. But is dealing him for the 5^th pick getting equal value? Would including him in a deal for, perhaps, Amare Stoudemire make more sense? The Wizards rejected the idea of trading Caron Butler for Amare, and if Butler is the ceiling for Amare’s trade value, then the Knicks might be able to work something out for the star PF. The best bet for the Knicks would be to try and find a way to buy a pick before Thursday. If they can somehow acquire a mid-first round pick, they can use that to sweeten the Larry Hughes for Thomas, #5, and James pot. That is easier said than done, but that scenario could work. Or would adding Duhon / Jeffries to the mix better our offer? I am not sure. This rumor has the potential to get very interesting. But if Chandler can be moved for a bona fide star, then I am not sure that the #5 pick is worth Chandler.

Dealing Wilson Chandler for a draft pick has major boom or bust potential.
Walsh has been around this league and this game to understand that it does not matter where a player gets drafted in the draft. It matters if that player can actually play.If the 5th overall pick can play better than Wilson, then go for it. If not, then do not. It is as simple as that. I’ll trust Donnie on this one.

If Houston will take Mobley and Hughes for McGrady, I would do it only it that is the best way to use Mobley’s contract.  If Walsh cannot find a better use for it, then I would gladly ship him and Hughes for McGrady.  Mobley obviously cannot help us on the court.  That would make it essentially a swap of Hughes and McGrady.  Even with McGrady missing the beginning of the season, his upside is potentially worth the wait.  He can potentially help this team much more than Hughes.

Otherwise, stay far, far away from McGrady, unless of course the Rockets would be interested in Curry.

Yeah, I did not think so either.

Hopefully this is the last time we have to write about this topic.

This blog appears to be drastically split on Thabeet. Some would love to see Thabeet in blue and orange. Others, such as Tommy, would steer clear of him at all costs. Consider me somewhere in the middle.

The Knicks do not have the assets to move up in this draft to take Thabeet. The Knicks’ best assets include Cuttino Mobley’s contract and Wilson Chandler. Oh, that is not including the 8th pick. Is Thabeet worth trading up for? Of course Walsh can have a trick up his sleeve to get a higher pick, but that is not for sure.

Thabeet will be a good shot-blocker in my opinion. His offensive game is suspect, but as with any young kid, there is always room for growth. Thabeet also is not a lumbering big man. He can run the floor well and he can keep up on the fast break.  He could help this team a lot. But will he help this team more than Curry, Flynn, or Holiday? Will he help the team more than DeRozan or Evans? Perhaps he might, but I am not sure.

There is no denying where Thabeet’s buzz is coming from in this draft. The next best center in the draft is Ohio State’s BJ Mullens (who works out today for the Knicks). Mullens, who floundered in his first and only year at Ohio State, is not even projected to go in the lottery. Would Thabeet be a top 3 pick if Cole Aldrich or Greg Monroe declared this year? Probably not. As the only true center, Thabeet has a lot of leverage this year.

If the Knicks stay at 8 and Thabeet falls to them, I would be shocked if Walsh passed on him. At 8, without giving up other consideration, Thabeet has stronger value to the Knicks. But if Walsh trades up to the second spot and David Stern does not announce Ricky Rubio’s name, the Garden crowd might charge the stage like a scene out of ‘Braveheart’. However, if Thabeet does not go in the top 3 (which is highly unlikely), there is a shot that he could fall to #8. Sacramento has two recent lottery picks as it’s starting front-court. Washington is a possibility. Minnesota has Love and Jefferson. Golden State has Biedrins and would probably rather take Jordan Hill than Thabeet. That leaves the Knicks at 8. Again, Thabeet will likely not slip beyond OKC at #3, but it is possible.

Drafting Thabeet would look more appealing to many Knick fans if Walsh was able to acquire another draft pick to use on a player like Ty Lawson, Brandon Jennings, or another PG that might slip down the draft board. But just like trading up for Thabeet, Walsh has yet to acquire that later pick. He will not do so until either very close to the draft or during the draft. Decisions will be made quickly on draft night. As is this site on this topic, I am torn on Thabeet. Part of me wants to see much more out of this kid. Part of me wants to see all-star center potential from him. But in many games that I watched, he was a dominant shot-blocker and not much else. Foul trouble and a lacking offensive repertoire let my hopes down a bit.

Someone brought up ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan in an earlier comment. If you have not read it, then do it now (or after you finish reading my post). Sheridan, who I am convinced is a Knick fan, talks about Commissioner Stern’s “bomb” that the payroll will not increase in two years. Sheridan points out that even without resigning Lee and Nate, the Knicks still might not be able to sign two free agents to max deals in 2010. Essentially, Sheridan points out that Curry’s contract might be the absolute killer (nothing new there).

If Curry’s contract cannot be moved, then so be it. LeBron James is the key to that off-season. Two big free agents would be great, but LeBron is the absolute key. Would I be completely against signing James in 2010 and then signing another superstar in 2011 when Curry and Jeffries come off the books? I have not looked at the free agents available that off-season, but I am sure that there has to be someone who can be had. Why deal Lee, and to a lesser extent Nate, if there is no guarantee that we will be able to sign two big free agents in 2010?

Also, another commenter (KnicksFanInPlano) led me to a link from the Sacramento Bee that talked about interest from the Knicks for either Miller and/or John Salmons . via the Bee:

“The interest in the center remains lukewarm leaguewide, but sources said he remains on New York’s radar. The Knicks have indicated that they are interested in Miller or swingman John Salmons, with the potential players coming to Sacramento including Malik Rose ($7.6 million expiring contract), Nate Robinson ($2 million expiring contract) and Jerome James ($6.2 million this season, player option for $6.6 million next). New York also is believed to have told the Kings it has no intention of trading exiled guard Stephon Marbury and his $20.8 million expiring contract.”

First of all, how can we not deal Marbury if we can get a legit starter for him that will not ruin our long-term plan? Plenty of people will say that the Knicks should simply let the contract expire and open up a roster space for next year. As far as I am concerned, that would be the only reason not to deal Marbury. If the Knicks would like to add another young player to the mix, then they might be better off with the open roster spot. As of right now, the Knicks should have 4 open roster spaces for next year in Marbury, Rose, Roberson, and Mobley.  If Jerome James retires, that is five.

I truly believe that Dolan has to be a spender in this market.  It is not my money, but I trust that Donnie knows what he is doing and that he can turn Dolan’s money into value.  If the Knicks can get Bobby Jackson and Miller for Marbury, that has to be done!

As far as John Salmons goes, I think that he can be a real player in the D’Antoni system.  He reminds me a bit of Raja Bell.  However, there have been reports about Salmons’ poor attitude.  That attitude might have to do with his uncertain future, or it might simply be that he is a troublemaker.  I have never met him, so I cannot tell you that.  I can, however, attest to his talent.  He is a good scoring two guard that has a good all-around game.  His salary extends into 2010, but at a fairly low rate.  If Walsh can somehow ship Jeffries in that deal, I would make it happen.  Chad Ford said today in his chat that the Knicks insist on the Kings taking on Jeffries and the Kings want Nate Robinson.  To me, the question becomes whether or not you would deal John Salmons for Nate Robinson?  If so, then throw Jeffries and Mikki Moore into the equation and get the deal done.

Multiple NBA sources have confirmed to HOOPSWORLD that the Thunder are aggressively shopping Earl Waston and are willing to part with a first round pick in the process.

As I have written before, I am a strong believer in acquiring assets such as draft picks because you never know when they will either turn into a premier player or be a valuable trade chip.  It is no secret that the Knicks need a backup point guard and a starting shooting guard.  To acquire a 1st rounder in either this upcoming draft or in 2010, I would strongly consider using Malik’s expiring deal in order to take on Watson.  The Thunder have 5 first round picks over the next two years, in large part because of the Kurt Thomas trade in which the Sonics received Thomas and 2 first round picks from the Suns in exchange for a conditional 2nd round pick.

Perhaps the Knicks can deal Malik and Anthony Roberson for Watson and Damien Wilkins while receiving two first rounders (one this summer and one in 2010) and sending a 2010 second rounder.  That would clear close to $10 million more off the Thunder’s books for this summer’s free agent class.  Couple a potential #1 pick (Blake Griffin) with a big free agent acquisition or trade (perhaps a premier shooting guard such as Michael Redd if he is on the block), and the Thunder will explode, much like the Hornets did a couple of years ago.

For the Knicks, they can receive stop gap guards to play for the next year and a half and receive draft picks to replenish the young talent on the team.  Rebuilding teams build through young talent.  In this case, Watson and Wilkins have the ability to provide the depth and back court help to make a playoff push this year and next.  Both of their contracts come off the books before the summer of 2010.

Thoughts?

In a recent post, I discredited the idea that the Mavs would be able to get G Ray Felton in a deal while only giving up Diop and Stackhouse. Apparently the Cats did not like that idea either.

This deal seems fair for both sides. The Mavs need another shooting guard and Larry Brown has been looking for a center to add to his rotation pretty much all season. I also like Ryan Hollins. I have thought for a while that he could be a nice asset on the Knicks.

I guess that the Eddy Curry to the Cats rumors will cease. However, the Mavericks may be in the market for a center. There have been rumors that they were looking for one, but with Diop’s departure, that desire might increase. A Curry for Stackhouse and either Brandon Bass or Gerald Green deal would work. The Mavs have been rumored to have Bass on the block, but I am unsure to the extent that they would be looking to move him.

Recent reports have also claimed that the Mavs have been actively shopping Josh Howard. A Curry for Howard deal would work under the cap, but Donnie Nelson would be OUT OF HIS MIND to ship Howard in a deal for Curry. I would sign for Stackhouse and Bass in a heartbeat though. Bass is a good active player that plays bigger than his size. Stackhouse would be the starting two in NY and is a veteran player.