Amare to Minnesota for Jefferson and the #6?

[fordronken]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2009/06/jefferson_on_mo.html

Jefferson on move again?
Posted by Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff June 17, 2009 09:30 PM

An NBA executive told the Boston Globe today that the Minnesota Timberwolves is working a deal with the Phoenix Suns that would send former Celtics forward Al Jefferson and their sixth pick in next week's NBA Draft for All-Star Amare Stoudemire.

The Suns, which have dangled Stoudemire for some time, fiound a suitor in Minnesota that is in transition. The team announced today that coach Kevin McHale has ended his 15-year association with the team. New basketball of operations David Kahn is looking to take the franchise into another direction.

 

[The Commish]

Too good to be true. There's no way that could happen.

 

[Black Jesus]

that would be pretty good. Jefferson, Brandon Jennings, and James Johnson or Budinger...

 

[cly2tw]

Again, before moving Amare, you gotta ask what Nash and Shaq's roles are on the new team. Al is a great lowpost scorer and avg. defender, but isn't he a bad fit to Nash like Shaq has been? Well, Al and Shaq play the same way so we gotta move Shaq too.

 

[AsUdUdE]

So... Let me say this...

If this is true... I will personally buy a Steve Kerr Fan CLub T-shirt and Start a Cult....

PLEASE PLEASE, let this be true!

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Again, before moving Amare, you gotta ask what Nash and Shaq's roles are on the new team. Al is a great lowpost scorer and avg. defender, but isn't he a bad fit to Nash like Shaq has been? Well, Al and Shaq play the same way so we gotta move Shaq too.

Not necessarily. I think that having two lost post guys, while it might not be ideal, can still work out. But, I do agree that it would be preferrable to move somebody (Nash, Shaq, or both depending on the offer). With Jefferson, or without, I still doubt that we could be a serious contender. So if we can't get good value for the Diesel, then just let him teach Big Al a few things and sign a quality free agent when his contract comes off the books.

I would be ecstatic if this trade went through. Jefferson is younger, less injury prone, and franky a better player than Amare right now. I'd do this in a heart beat. And we get the #6?! My faith in Kerr would be restored if he pulled this off.

 

[overseascardfan]

Not necessarily. I think that having two lost post guys, while it might not be ideal, can still work out. But, I do agree that it would be preferrable to move somebody (Nash, Shaq, or both depending on the offer). With Jefferson, or without, I still doubt that we could be a serious contender. So if we can't get good value for the Diesel, then just let him teach Big Al a few things and sign a quality free agent when his contract comes off the books.

I would be ecstatic if this trade went through. Jefferson is younger, less injury prone, and franky a better player than Amare right now. I'd do this in a heart beat. And we get the #6?! My faith in Kerr would be restored if he pulled this off.

Didn't Jefferson just have microfracture or reconstructive surgery on his knee?

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Didn't Jefferson just have microfracture or reconstructive surgery on his knee?

I know he had knee surgery, although I don't think it was microfracture. Either way, Amare's knee problems are just as bad, and now he has this eye problem too.

 

[AsUdUdE]

To make it work financially the Suns would also recieve Mark Madsen as well...

I am thinking that there HAS to be more to this deal then they are reporting.. Either we are giving up another player (IE Dudley?) or the #14 pick, Jefferson and Madsen for Amare does on the surface sound too good to be true...

That said Even if we did give up the #14 pick, I would still do the deal... Jefferson is not THAT big of down grade from Amare, and one could make the argument when taking into consideration Defense as well, he could be just as big of an Assest for the Suns...

IF this story does have legs, and thats a huge IF, I really hope it doesn't turn out to be something like Amare and Barbs, for Jefferson and Brian Cardinal, along with the #6 pick.....

But again I think its about time the Suns get to fleece someone in a deal, heaven knows we have been on the other side PLENTY of times...

Come on Steve, MAKE ME A FAN!

 

[cly2tw]

Not necessarily. I think that having two lost post guys, while it might not be ideal, can still work out. But, I do agree that it would be preferrable to move somebody (Nash, Shaq, or both depending on the offer). With Jefferson, or without, I still doubt that we could be a serious contender. So if we can't get good value for the Diesel, then just let him teach Big Al a few things and sign a quality free agent when his contract comes off the books.

I would be ecstatic if this trade went through. Jefferson is younger, less injury prone, and franky a better player than Amare right now. I'd do this in a heart beat. And we get the #6?! My faith in Kerr would be restored if he pulled this off.

The deal would be a great one. Actually, I have always used Jefferson as an example of letting young player make, and learn from, mistakes. He really got it as the first option with the Wolves. I think he is already now a better lowpost player than Kemp and Brand in their prime, he needs to learn better defense which is doable. I just don't see Nash fitting with him.

 

[JerkFace]

No way Minnesota would do this deal..........imo

 

[Dan H]

Salary dump by the T-Wolves, perhaps? Isn't Jefferson signed to a long-term, max deal?

Amare is essentially an expiring contract if he's sent somewhere he doesn't want to be.

 

[cly2tw]

To make it work financially the Suns would also recieve Mark Madsen as well...

I am thinking that there HAS to be more to this deal then they are reporting.. Either we are giving up another player (IE Dudley?) or the #14 pick, Jefferson and Madsen for Amare does on the surface sound too good to be true...

That said Even if we did give up the #14 pick, I would still do the deal... Jefferson is not THAT big of down grade from Amare, and one could make the argument when taking into consideration Defense as well, he could be just as big of an Assest for the Suns...

IF this story does have legs, and thats a huge IF, I really hope it doesn't turn out to be something like Amare and Barbs, for Jefferson and Brian Cardinal, along with the #6 pick.....

But again I think its about time the Suns get to fleece someone in a deal, heaven knows we have been on the other side PLENTY of times...

Come on Steve, MAKE ME A FAN!

I wouldn't call it fleecing unless Amare never came back from his eye injuries. But I seriously doubt it goes down. How could Minn keep Amare if Memphis had the same concern to get him just for Gay?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Are you kidding me? I would be stunned if this actually went through, it would be a dream come true. Jefferson is already a superior player to Amare, and to get the 6th as well? No way this goes through.

 

[cly2tw]

Salary dump by the T-Wolves, perhaps? Isn't Jefferson signed to a long-term, max deal?

Amare is essentially an expiring contract if he's sent somewhere he doesn't want to be.

For that, they'd accept Shaq better?

Al/Amare frontcourt would rock! Make it happen!

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

To make it work financially the Suns would also recieve Mark Madsen as well...

I am thinking that there HAS to be more to this deal then they are reporting.. Either we are giving up another player (IE Dudley?) or the #14 pick, Jefferson and Madsen for Amare does on the surface sound too good to be true...

That said Even if we did give up the #14 pick, I would still do the deal... Jefferson is not THAT big of down grade from Amare, and one could make the argument when taking into consideration Defense as well, he could be just as big of an Assest for the Suns...

IF this story does have legs, and thats a huge IF, I really hope it doesn't turn out to be something like Amare and Barbs, for Jefferson and Brian Cardinal, along with the #6 pick.....

But again I think its about time the Suns get to fleece someone in a deal, heaven knows we have been on the other side PLENTY of times...

Come on Steve, MAKE ME A FAN!

If we have to give up Barbs, I would be fine with that. Granted, he's a great player, but all he really brings to the table is scoring, and we can live without that. We have a more than capable 2 in J-Rich.

The deal would be a great one. Actually, I have always used Jefferson as an example of letting young player make, and learn from, mistakes. He really got it as the first option with the Wolves. I think he is already now a better lowpost player than Kemp and Brand in their prime, he needs to learn better defense which is doable. I just don't see Nash fitting with him.

I hear you on Nash. Jefferson is a player that thrives when the offense is run through him, and Nash just isn't the type of point guard to facilitate that. I'm not sure what we could get for him, but we could probably get at least Blake/Outlaw from Portland, which is better than just letting him walk.

And this is all the more reason to move Shaq for Chandler. Since (hopefully) this will be the end of the run n' gun era, a guy like Chandler would really compliment Big Al. And we'd have a ferocious frontline in the future of Chandler/Al/Studley or Outlaw that would dominate on the boards.

 

[cly2tw]

Are you kidding me? I would be stunned if this actually went through, it would be a dream come true. Jefferson is already a superior player to Amare, and to get the 6th as well? No way this goes through.

Jefferson eats Amare live if matched one-on-one. But they are just different players playing different positions. Suns fans assessment tend to be hugely biased by who had career games against us.

 

[AsUdUdE]

Here is another way of looking at all this... McHale is gone after 15 years, Don't ever underestimate the impact of a New guy in charge mentality...

Minnesota has been a pretty poor franchise for a LONG time, outside of a couple years with Sprewell, Cassell, and Garnett, for the most part they haven't done jack...

At #6 there isn't really a player they want that could turn their franchise, so why not roll the dice with a potential superstar who is an incredible scorer and would fit well next to Love...

It would be Kahn's BIG move, and that kind of leadership can lead to some suspect moves (See Denver Bronco's new guy Josh McDaniels)

Maybe I am drinking the Kool-aid, but there has been a presedence for this before..

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Here is another way of looking at all this... McHale is gone after 15 years, Don't ever underestimate the impact of a New guy in charge mentality...

Minnesota has been a pretty poor franchise for a LONG time, outside of a couple years with Sprewell, Cassell, and Garnett, for the most part they haven't done jack...

At #6 there isn't really a player they want that could turn their franchise, so why not roll the dice with a potential superstar who is an incredible scorer and would fit well next to Love...

It would be Kahn's BIG move, and that kind of leadership can lead to some suspect moves (See Denver Bronco's new guy Josh McDaniels)

Maybe I am drinking the Kool-aid, but there has been a presedence for this before..

Well there definitely is some precedent to this. After all, this is the NBA, and GMs do stupid stuff all the time (just ask Steve Kerr what happened to next year's pick). Let's just hope that fortunes reverse themselves for a change.

 

[AceP]

Just my opinion, it is purely a rumor. Amare wouldn't want to play in Minnesota at all and he can opt out next summer.

Though it makes some sense for the Wolves. They need a flashy star like Amare to sell tickets and draw audience. After KG left, they lost quite a lot of fans, and Jefferson didn't help them much.

If this has any ground at all, there must be more pieces involved, such as Barbosa and J.Rich (Maybe they like him?). And we have to take something bad in return, such as Cardinal.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Jefferson eats Amare live if matched one-on-one. But they are just different players playing different positions. Suns fans assessment tend to be hugely biased by who had career games against us.

Heh, true, although that would qualify a lot of guys...Andrew Bynum is the next Wilt.

 

[mojorizen7]

If the SUNS coud somehow make this happen AND move Shaq to NO for a Tyson Chandler package then W_O_W.
We could then surround these guys with some shooters and a defensive PG and get legit.

 

[AsUdUdE]

Soo.. I was doing a little digging into this rumor, and found a couple of VERY interesting things,This came from a breakfast on Wednesday morning and an interview with Kahn:

http://www.twolvescentral.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25988

- I then asked if his previous comment about wanting 7-10 new players by 2010 was true. He said yes, and that he's basically building a 16 month window starting with the 09 draft to remake the roster. I commented that that seemed like a lot of turnover, and he simply said "we have to". He very much understands, better than most of the fans actually, how thoroughly uncompetitive the current roster is. Thank God for that

- I mentioned that I doubted any coach would want to deal with 5 rookies all in one year, but he said that that was a non-factor. If using all 5 picks is what's best for the team, than he'll use all 5. He did mention that there were a lot of trade opportunities, and that there are teams looking to trade down from the top of the draft. I got the impression that he wants to use 3 of the picks, and then probably deal the rest for other assets

Very interesting comments, it really seems more and more that this might ACTUALLY have legs, something that I honeslty didn;t think before, but the bottom line is if Kahn is serious about changing the Culture doing this trade, and at the very worst clearing 17 million in cap room for next summer could be reason Kahn is using...

 

[cly2tw]

Heh, true, although that would qualify a lot of guys...Andrew Bynum is the next Wilt.

To be fair, none of them could stop Amare either. And Amare is harder to defend for more teams than Jefferson and Bynum are.

 

[AsUdUdE]

This was mentioned on another site... and it made a little more sense...

The thought was maybe the source heard Jefferson and 2009 1st round pick and assumed it was the #6 pick but in reality was really the #18 or #25 pick..

To me, if I am being objective, the more likely scenerio would be Jefferson and #18 for Amare.. I would still LOVE the deal and do it in a heartbeat, but if I could, I would rather trade Amare and #14 and get the #6 pick in return...

I only have one reservation, reading a lot of what Wlves fans are saying, Jefferson is more of a slow it down, grind it out player, how will he do in Phoenix with Nash? I am not too concerned, but it would wave a little flag in the scheme of things I guess..