So once again we have reports that Bryant met in Spain with Jerry Buss and reiterated his demands for a trade. The Lakers have very little around Kobe, but they have tradeable assets. Bynum, Brown and Odom are all players most teams in the league would be interested in. However the Lakers, who were on the verge of trading for Jermaine O'Neal, seem to have cooled off in their pursuit in light of Bryant's trade demand. Why would they trade for a aging borderline superstar with a big contract when you might be in re-building mode.
The T-Wolves have a similar problem with Kevin Garnett. They have very little around him, very little tradeable assets, and one unhappy superstar. Much like the Lakers they refuse to trade KG because it's impossible to find equal value for such a mega-star. However the team is in quicksand right now because they simple don't have the ability to build a good enough team around KG to be a threat in the West.
Or do they?
Since I should rule the free world I have come up with a completely insane/sane 3-Way or if you want to go crazy 4 way Trade that solves all of the problems for the Knicks, Wolves, Lakers and Suns!
Ok, Now Here's the 3-way version of the trade, courtesy of ESPN.com's trade checker
Here's the 4 way version including the Suns
Let's break it down for each team:
Why would the Lakers do it
The Lakers need to get a mega star back for Bryant, in this case they get back KG. Also they are getting Curry and Crawford from the Knicks back in the deal. Crawford in the Lakers triangle offense could even play the point. KG and Curry would give the Lakers the most dominant post presence in the entire league. They would cause mismatches with every team. Also an added benefit of this trade is cap relief. They get rid of dead weight Vladimir Rodmanavic in the trade and really don't take back any bad contracts in the deal. In fact if you look at the Laker's roster after this trade they are a team completely devoid of bad contracts.
After this trade they could send out this starting lineup
Eddy Curry
Kevin Garnett
Luke Walton
Jamal Crawford
Smush Parker
Plus they would have money to use the mid-level exception if they choose, they also have the 19th pick in a deep draft. Where they can add someone like Nick Young or Acie Law. I think this is a championship caliber lineup. I don't know how you stop them down low, it's perfect for Walton, and Crawford is a dangerous enough scorer to benefit from double teams down low. Add in the benefit of cap flexibility and I think this is a no brainier.
Why the T-Wolves do it.
The T-Wolves are a mess. They have one promising young player; Foye, An aging mega-star in KG and not much else. They have a plethora of awful horrible contracts and in this deal they get to fix all there problems. They dump Jaric and Hudson's awful contracts, they also swap Blount for James's contract (even though Blount is more useful his contract runs a year longer than James's). In the deal they also acquire Odom, who's a very solid player and Bynum and Brown who both have immense potential. Acquiring Francis's contract is negated by the fact that they get to dump Jaric and Hudson, Francis's contract only has 2 more years left on it. Plus a change of scenery may bring him back to life.
With this trade they can trot out this starting lineup;
Andrew Bynum
Kwame Brown
Lamar Odom
Randy Foye/Rick Davis
Steven Francis/Randy Foye
They also hold the 7th pick in the draft. Now they have alot of options with that pick, they can add another big man to rotate in with Bynum and Brown. They can add a point guard like Mike Connely, they can add a SF/SG Like Brewer and play Foye at point. They can take a flier on Yi if he falls. The fact is they have options, a ton of options in fact.
Another crazy scenario for them could be packaging Kwame Brown, Ricky Davis (expiring contract) and the number 7 pick to the Suns for Shawn Marion. They then could put a small, athletic, quick lineup to run with the best of them.
Bynum
Odom
Marion
McCants
Foye
That's a fun team.
Once again the team acquires more flexible salary, an established player and young players with massive upsides. It's a package that gets great value back for KG.
The Suns would do that trade because it provides them cap relief, both Brown and Davis's contracts are expiring as well as acquiring the number 7 pick. In fact Brown might blow up in their offense and Davis could certainly be a serviceable role player.
Why the Knicks would do it
Kobe sells out MSG every night. As I have written before if Bron Bron James and a cast of misfits can make the NBA Finals Kobe and company should run through the East. Look at the lineup the Knicks would put out
Blount
Fyre
Q-Richardson/Jared Jefferies
Bryant
Marbury
That sounds pretty good to me. We'd have some depth off the bench, with Lee and Q-Rich or Jeffereis. We'd keep some of our other young developing players like Balkman and Robinson. Yes we'd be taking on a ton of longterm contracts but when has that stopped us before. Were never going to be under the cap anyway, we have money to spend...so let's spend it. Plus we can use the Allan Huston rule to eventually get the players off the books at least in terms of luxury tax.
I don't see why with that lineup and decent depth we can't make the east finals right away.
Unfortunately this trade will never happen...but it should. It fixes all 4 team's problems.
I need to be an NBA GM.
Showing posts with label Kobe Bryant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kobe Bryant. Show all posts
5/30/07
Hindsight Makes Me Look Dumb
UFC Recap
-Well as we all know all ready…I’m an idiot. I was wrong on a couple of my UFC picks. Belcher made short work Sean Salmon. Salmon has no business being in the UFC if he can’t beat a smaller fighter who’s coming in on short notice. I was right about Leben vs. Starnes, It was a close fight but Leben should be relegated to under card status, he simply isn’t that good. Karo looked amazing against Burkman. I honestly thought Burkman would put up a good fight, he’s a tough dude. Karo just outclasses him standing, cardio and with his judo. If Karo’s in top shape he’s going to be a force for a long time. With that being said I think the UFC totally screwed up the welterweight division by not having the title be defended till December (till the end of TUF6). In terms of the main event…wow. All I can say is wow. Rampage looked awesome. Stylistically he’s a nightmare for Liddell. Rampage is patient and his good boxing, he’s not going to chase Chuck around the ring and wait for him to counterpunch. Plus when Rampage gets inside he can dirty box/slam Chuck on his head. It was interesting how Rampage was in counter punch mode also, even putting his hands up at one point to say “C’mon Chuck.” I hate to say it was a fluke punch that ended the fight but I don’t think that fight ends the same way every time. Kudos to Rampage, he gives the UFC a great poster boy and he is insanely charismatic /marketable.
Around The Sports World
-The 49ers and Bears are making the most headway signing draft picks. The Niners have already locked up Jay Moore, Joe Cohen and Terrell Brown. According to rotoworld.com they have began negotiations with both first round picks, Joe Staley and Patrick Willis.
I’m a big fan of getting everyone into camp on time. I don’t get why holdouts occur so often. Look draft your guys, get them into camp. If you have a high draft pick and don’t want to pay a guy that much money than trade down. Not only do these players need to adjust to the speed and rigors of the NFL season but they need to adjust mentally as well. Learn the playbook, bond with teammates, create chemistry. I don’t think it will be a coincidence if the teams who have trouble getting everyone signed on time also struggle out of the gate this year.
-Vick in the clear?
It doesn’t look like Vick will get suspended this year since he hasn’t been charged with anything yet. If anything he’ll be suspended in 2008. Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t Pac-Man Jones not technically charged with anything stemming from his Vegas incidents? Speaking of which the ruling on Pac-Man’s appeal comes in soon, I expect his penalty to be shortened.
I think stronger conduct polices needed to be adapted in the Sports World. Take Elijah Dukes, who threatened to kill his wife. C’mon…like that’s so disturbing. I’m going to be a school teacher soon. Do you think I would have my job still if I threatened to kill my wife?
-All Kneel Before the King
Ok, Anyone who bashes La Bron Bron from here on out should be spayed or neutered (We’ll miss you Bob Barker.) Seriously though he has a supporting casts of misfits and rejects. Drew Gooden and whatever creature is growing on the back of his head is probably the 2nd option on this team. Larry Hughes and Big Z are overrated and overpaid. This is the worst team in the NBA without LaBron. With him however they are tied 2-2 with the best team in the East. I know it’s the “L-Eastern” conference and in the West the Cav’s probably get bounced a lot sooner but with a player of James’s stature they are in every single game. Could you imagine James playing with a real team, or even one All-Star teammate, let’s say Carlos Boozer for example. Besides drafting James the Cav’s team has been so mismanaged, I’m surprised heads haven’t rolled. I reiterate NBA GM’s are the dumbest in sports. I think I could run an NBA team.
- (To the tune of Jose Jose Jose) Kobaaayyy-Kobaaayyy-Kobaayyyy
Dear Isaiah Thomas,
Please do whatever you can to get Kobe Bryant on the Knicks. No one on our team should be untouchable. Let me explain my logic. Kobe is better than LaBron James at this point in his career. LaBron is single-handedly carrying his team into the Eastern Conference finals and maybe into the NBA Finals. I’m positive Kobe could do the same on the Knicks. While you have made some awful decisions in the past Mr. Thomas now is your time to rectify every mistake you made. James Dolan has empty pockets, the Knicks have the type of big name market Kobe would love to play for, and the Knicks have the right amount of young talent and big contracts to work a trade for Kobe. Don’t hesitate to trade Eddy Curry or Jamal Crawford. They aren’t franchise players. Kobe Bryant is a franchise player.
Sincerely,
Everyone in New York.
I know tons of Knicks fans that would balk at trading Eddy Curry. I say why? Sure he’s a young developing center, but he isn’t a dominant franchise player yet. In fact he might never be. The way this team is shaped right now there is no way the make any headway in the playoffs, if they even make the playoffs. We don’t have any draft picks and we are cashed strapped. With Kobe, for starters it re-energies Knick basketball, it makes us relevant again even if we lose. However, I don’t think we would lose. If we traded Curry we’d be able to hold on to other players and actually given Kobe a decent supporting cast. Yes it’d be an overrated and overpaid supporting cast but it’d still be better than anything LaBron has scene, and Dolan has the empty pockets to make it happen. If we trade say Marbury, Crawford, Frye and so on we’d still have Curry, Jefferies, Lee, and Q and so on. Isaiah for the love of god make it happen.
-Are The Yankees Done?
Anthony has done a lot of writing about the Yankees lately but I must throw in my opinion. The Yankees have been doomed since they signed Jason Giambi; it marked the trend of signing over the hill veterans to huge contracts. Also it began the era of trading away blue chip prospects for spare parts. Dioneer Navaro could have been the heir apparent to Jorge Posada. Instead we don’t have one, and the player Navarro was traded for isn’t even on the team anymore. This is the most poorly put together team in years. They don’t run, bunt, hit for contact or even hit for power apparently. It’s depressing to look at the standings at see the Yankees in the cellar.
How do we salvage this?
Well I would love to see Cashman convince the Boss to give up this year to better help us in the future. I’m talking about full fire sale mode. That’s not going to happen though. With Clemens on board we need to win this year or else all that money spent on Clemens is a waste.
Since a sale is out of the question we need to be buyers. We need bullpen help and offensive help. We need to make a trade with the Rockies. Todd Helton has a pretty much untradeable contract it’s also killing the small market Rockies financially. The Yanks never shy away from spending money and Helton is a perfect fit for their offense. He’s an OBP machine and can fit in the 3 spot much like Abreu did last year. The Yanks with their financial flexibility can also convince the Rockies to give up closer Brian Fuentes. If they throw in Fuentes the Yanks would simply just agree to pay for more of Helton’s contract. In turn the Yanks can give the Rockies Farnsworth and a bunch of mid level small upside prospects (much like the Abreu trade last year) and a truck full of cash.
In theory…on paper we might have the best team ever assembled when everyone is healthy.
Damon
Jeter
Helton
A-Rod
Matsui
Giambi
Posada
Abreu
Cano
Wow…and the staff would be
Wang
Pettite
Clemens
Moose
Hughes
Staying put shouldn’t be an option for this team. Either give this year up or make a big move to inject some life into this team.
-Well as we all know all ready…I’m an idiot. I was wrong on a couple of my UFC picks. Belcher made short work Sean Salmon. Salmon has no business being in the UFC if he can’t beat a smaller fighter who’s coming in on short notice. I was right about Leben vs. Starnes, It was a close fight but Leben should be relegated to under card status, he simply isn’t that good. Karo looked amazing against Burkman. I honestly thought Burkman would put up a good fight, he’s a tough dude. Karo just outclasses him standing, cardio and with his judo. If Karo’s in top shape he’s going to be a force for a long time. With that being said I think the UFC totally screwed up the welterweight division by not having the title be defended till December (till the end of TUF6). In terms of the main event…wow. All I can say is wow. Rampage looked awesome. Stylistically he’s a nightmare for Liddell. Rampage is patient and his good boxing, he’s not going to chase Chuck around the ring and wait for him to counterpunch. Plus when Rampage gets inside he can dirty box/slam Chuck on his head. It was interesting how Rampage was in counter punch mode also, even putting his hands up at one point to say “C’mon Chuck.” I hate to say it was a fluke punch that ended the fight but I don’t think that fight ends the same way every time. Kudos to Rampage, he gives the UFC a great poster boy and he is insanely charismatic /marketable.
Around The Sports World
-The 49ers and Bears are making the most headway signing draft picks. The Niners have already locked up Jay Moore, Joe Cohen and Terrell Brown. According to rotoworld.com they have began negotiations with both first round picks, Joe Staley and Patrick Willis.
I’m a big fan of getting everyone into camp on time. I don’t get why holdouts occur so often. Look draft your guys, get them into camp. If you have a high draft pick and don’t want to pay a guy that much money than trade down. Not only do these players need to adjust to the speed and rigors of the NFL season but they need to adjust mentally as well. Learn the playbook, bond with teammates, create chemistry. I don’t think it will be a coincidence if the teams who have trouble getting everyone signed on time also struggle out of the gate this year.
-Vick in the clear?
It doesn’t look like Vick will get suspended this year since he hasn’t been charged with anything yet. If anything he’ll be suspended in 2008. Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t Pac-Man Jones not technically charged with anything stemming from his Vegas incidents? Speaking of which the ruling on Pac-Man’s appeal comes in soon, I expect his penalty to be shortened.
I think stronger conduct polices needed to be adapted in the Sports World. Take Elijah Dukes, who threatened to kill his wife. C’mon…like that’s so disturbing. I’m going to be a school teacher soon. Do you think I would have my job still if I threatened to kill my wife?
-All Kneel Before the King
Ok, Anyone who bashes La Bron Bron from here on out should be spayed or neutered (We’ll miss you Bob Barker.) Seriously though he has a supporting casts of misfits and rejects. Drew Gooden and whatever creature is growing on the back of his head is probably the 2nd option on this team. Larry Hughes and Big Z are overrated and overpaid. This is the worst team in the NBA without LaBron. With him however they are tied 2-2 with the best team in the East. I know it’s the “L-Eastern” conference and in the West the Cav’s probably get bounced a lot sooner but with a player of James’s stature they are in every single game. Could you imagine James playing with a real team, or even one All-Star teammate, let’s say Carlos Boozer for example. Besides drafting James the Cav’s team has been so mismanaged, I’m surprised heads haven’t rolled. I reiterate NBA GM’s are the dumbest in sports. I think I could run an NBA team.
- (To the tune of Jose Jose Jose) Kobaaayyy-Kobaaayyy-Kobaayyyy
Dear Isaiah Thomas,
Please do whatever you can to get Kobe Bryant on the Knicks. No one on our team should be untouchable. Let me explain my logic. Kobe is better than LaBron James at this point in his career. LaBron is single-handedly carrying his team into the Eastern Conference finals and maybe into the NBA Finals. I’m positive Kobe could do the same on the Knicks. While you have made some awful decisions in the past Mr. Thomas now is your time to rectify every mistake you made. James Dolan has empty pockets, the Knicks have the type of big name market Kobe would love to play for, and the Knicks have the right amount of young talent and big contracts to work a trade for Kobe. Don’t hesitate to trade Eddy Curry or Jamal Crawford. They aren’t franchise players. Kobe Bryant is a franchise player.
Sincerely,
Everyone in New York.
I know tons of Knicks fans that would balk at trading Eddy Curry. I say why? Sure he’s a young developing center, but he isn’t a dominant franchise player yet. In fact he might never be. The way this team is shaped right now there is no way the make any headway in the playoffs, if they even make the playoffs. We don’t have any draft picks and we are cashed strapped. With Kobe, for starters it re-energies Knick basketball, it makes us relevant again even if we lose. However, I don’t think we would lose. If we traded Curry we’d be able to hold on to other players and actually given Kobe a decent supporting cast. Yes it’d be an overrated and overpaid supporting cast but it’d still be better than anything LaBron has scene, and Dolan has the empty pockets to make it happen. If we trade say Marbury, Crawford, Frye and so on we’d still have Curry, Jefferies, Lee, and Q and so on. Isaiah for the love of god make it happen.
-Are The Yankees Done?
Anthony has done a lot of writing about the Yankees lately but I must throw in my opinion. The Yankees have been doomed since they signed Jason Giambi; it marked the trend of signing over the hill veterans to huge contracts. Also it began the era of trading away blue chip prospects for spare parts. Dioneer Navaro could have been the heir apparent to Jorge Posada. Instead we don’t have one, and the player Navarro was traded for isn’t even on the team anymore. This is the most poorly put together team in years. They don’t run, bunt, hit for contact or even hit for power apparently. It’s depressing to look at the standings at see the Yankees in the cellar.
How do we salvage this?
Well I would love to see Cashman convince the Boss to give up this year to better help us in the future. I’m talking about full fire sale mode. That’s not going to happen though. With Clemens on board we need to win this year or else all that money spent on Clemens is a waste.
Since a sale is out of the question we need to be buyers. We need bullpen help and offensive help. We need to make a trade with the Rockies. Todd Helton has a pretty much untradeable contract it’s also killing the small market Rockies financially. The Yanks never shy away from spending money and Helton is a perfect fit for their offense. He’s an OBP machine and can fit in the 3 spot much like Abreu did last year. The Yanks with their financial flexibility can also convince the Rockies to give up closer Brian Fuentes. If they throw in Fuentes the Yanks would simply just agree to pay for more of Helton’s contract. In turn the Yanks can give the Rockies Farnsworth and a bunch of mid level small upside prospects (much like the Abreu trade last year) and a truck full of cash.
In theory…on paper we might have the best team ever assembled when everyone is healthy.
Damon
Jeter
Helton
A-Rod
Matsui
Giambi
Posada
Abreu
Cano
Wow…and the staff would be
Wang
Pettite
Clemens
Moose
Hughes
Staying put shouldn’t be an option for this team. Either give this year up or make a big move to inject some life into this team.