Charlotte Observer: Bobcats nearing a deal with Suns

[George O'Brien]

Bobcats nearing a deal with Suns

The Charlotte Bobcats and Phoenix Suns are close to a deal in which the Bobcats would get a future first-round pick and cash in return for taking the final season of Jahidi White's contract.

White, a 6-foot-9, 290-pound center/forward, will make about $5.9 million next season. NBA sources confirming the trade talks did not disclose how much cash or which future pick the Suns were offering.

This sort of deal could be either part of Tuesday's expansion draft or a separate transaction.

Under NBA rules, the Suns could pay the Bobcats up to $3 million as part of the transaction.

Though undersized at center, White, 28, could help the Bobcats next season. He's a solid rebounder who could provide some of the toughness expansion teams generally lack. He's also known as a high-character player who could be a good mentor. He averaged 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game for Phoenix last season, after a trade from the Washington Wizards.

The Wizards drafted White in the second round in 1998 out of Georgetown.

His best season was 2000-01, when he started 56 games, averaging 8.6 points and 7.7 rebounds.

Bobcats management is familiar with White; general manager/coach Bernie Bickerstaff was the Wizards coach during White's rookie season, and team president Ed Tapscott worked briefly as a television studio analyst on Wizards games.

As large as White's contract is -- he'd take up a fifth of the Bobcats' projected $30 million cap next season -- it fits Bickerstaff's plan of inheriting players with no more than two seasons left on their deals, in part so the team could enter the free-agent market in the summer of 2006.

It's obvious why the Suns are looking to deal White without taking back a veteran contract: They have been trimming salary since the middle of last season, hoping to have the cap room to acquire a player such as Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady this summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers' Bryant opted out of his contract on Friday, making him a free agent in July, and the Orlando Magic might have to trade McGrady rather than risk losing him to free agency in the summer of 2005.

Notes

• After working out second-round candidates Bryant Matthews (Virginia Tech) and Bernard Robinson (Michigan) on Friday, Bickerstaff confirmed he had made a trade offer to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Bobcats hope to trade up from No. 4 in Thursday's draft to the Clippers' No. 2 slot.

"There's a good possibility that we'll move to" No. 2, Bickerstaff said. "Now it's out of our hands; what we would be willing to do is on the table."

Bickerstaff said a deal with the Clippers wouldn't have to be consummated by Tuesday's expansion draft.

The Atlanta Hawks, who have the sixth pick, also are trying to trade up to the Clippers' slot.

• Bickerstaff confirmed that first-round candidates Devin Harris (Wisconsin), Kris Humphries (Minnesota) and North Carolina recruit J.R. Smith are scheduled to work out for the Bobcats.

• Stanford's Josh Childress will come in for a second workout Monday.

 

[elindholm]

That sounds like a pretty good deal for the Suns. Since the Suns hope to be a playoff team for the forseeable future, their first-round picks don't have enormous value. Most likely the future pick is Cleveland's.

But if Bryant isn't leaving, what to do with the money?

I'm wondering if they might be considering a McGrady trade where the Suns use most of their space to take on McGrady's salary -- in other words, not giving up Marion, and giving Orlando a bunch of cap space in return. Joe Johnson, Cabarkapa, and the #7?

 

[Biclops]

Hopefully this article shows the C's are pretty confident that
either Kobe or T-Mac is coming to the Suns

Because I dont want to send another future first round pick just to overpay
Steve Nash and Okur

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I'm wondering if they might be considering a McGrady trade where the Suns use most of their space to take on McGrady's salary -- in other words, not giving up Marion, and giving Orlando a bunch of cap space in return. Joe Johnson, Cabarkapa, and the #7?

I think F-Dog brought something like that up a month or so ago. IIRC the overall consensus was it was actually a better trade for both teams (definitely the magic). We all know Marion will still priduce as the third option, but we are far from sure JJ will.

Orlando would be clear of 15 million in salary, and if Hill retires, it could loose 30 million by next summer. They will always be a FA destination if they have to cap space to work with.

Of course, I think most agreed that it would be a MUCH harder sell to Orlando fans.

We traded McGrady for some prospects and an allstar/olympian.

or

We traded McGrady for some prospects and a guy that did REALLY REALLY REALLY good for 2 months last year (after years of nothing really)

 

[Skkorpion]

Eric, I disagree. Trading away #1 picks guarantees long term mediocrity. And I don't think Tracy McGrady makes us a playoff team if we give up Marion.

All the rumors are interesting though.

 

[slinslin]

Unless we trade the Cavs future pick to San Antonio to complete the Barbosa deal the only future pick we can send to Charlotte is Clevelands which is protected.

I am not a fan of trading future picks but we are in a different situation now. We are under the cap and don't need picks right now or in the next 2 years because of the youth of our team.

If you are a team 20M$ over the cap and an average age of 30 you wouldn't want to do that.

 

[slinslin]

I would be interessted in following that up with #7 and Eisley to Utah for #14 or something like that.

And please don't respond again that no team would take Eisley for #7 because some of you guys are the same guys that said in the past that a top lottery pick is worth much more than just Shawn Marion.

 

[Joe Mama]

I would be interessted in following that up with #7 and Eisley to Utah for #14 or something like that.

And please don't respond again that no team would take Eisley for #7 because some of you guys are the same guys that said in the past that a top lottery pick is worth much more than just Shawn Marion.

I still believe you would be hard-pressed to find a general manager that would give you one of the top two picks in this draft or any other for Shawn Marion. This year, a team like Chicago might be willing to do it for the third pick.

Regardless, Utah is not going to take Howard Eiseley for the #7 draft pick. I'm 98% sure of that. I'm 100% sure that they wouldn't make that deal and give the Phoenix Suns one of their first-round draft picks in return. Not a chance.

Joe Mama

 

[JCSunsfan]

When all is said and done, the best option might still be to sit tight, pick well at #7, and add a FA or two.

It might be that we want to trade White in order to pick up Dampier, Nash, and Dice.

We could get Dampier for $7 million, Nash for $5-6, and Dice for the vet minimum.

That would be a nice, deep, team. Its just one option.

 

[Joe Mama]

When all is said and done, the best option might still be to sit tight, pick well at #7, and add a FA or two.

It might be that we want to trade White in order to pick up Dampier, Nash, and Dice.

We could get Dampier for $7 million, Nash for $5-6, and Dice for the vet minimum.

That would be a nice, deep, team. Its just one option.

I've been thinking more about the Phoenix Suns just making some nice pickups in free agency as well. The only problem is that they appear might sign for $7 million if they give him a long enough deal, but I don't think they will get Nash for $5-6 million or Dice for the veteran minimum. I believe Nash is going to get at least $8-9 million per season although it might be for only four years or so. I also think McDyess will get a shorter contract that starts at at least $3-4 million.

Joe Mama

 

[Yuma]

I've been thinking more about the Phoenix Suns just making some nice pickups in free agency as well. The only problem is that they appear might sign for $7 million if they give him a long enough deal, but I don't think they will get Nash for $5-6 million or Dice for the veteran minimum. I believe Nash is going to get at least $8-9 million per season although it might be for only four years or so. I also think McDyess will get a shorter contract that starts at at least $3-4 million.

Joe Mama

The whole set up as I see it, is how long do we sign Dampier for in that scenario? He had a great year this year, but has not been doing that long enough to have proved himself in my mind. Also, he has had issues with injuries. What do you think, Joe, does Dampier take a 2-3 year contract? I have the feeling he will try for a 4-6 year range from all his suitors, and I would not want to lock him up that long. Out of the above scenario, I would most likely pass on Nash for that kind of money. It's not like we couldn't get a defensive point guard, epand the JJ experiment at point, or at least giive Vujanic and Barbosa more time, too. McDyess would be a nice back up if he's cheap enough.

 

[PhxGametime]

My Roster for the day:

Manu Ginobili - $7,500,000
Stromile Swift - $5,500,000

#7 (or trade down) = PF/C or C

Pavel Podkolzine could be choice (although not too high on him) but he would give team size at C that Lampe, Voskuhl, or Swift don't have.

I decided not to make trade offer for McGrady - nobody including myself (most of time) don't like my Trade Proposal's, so I will try to stick to Draft/Free Agents...

 

[slinslin]

Manu Ginobili isn't worth 7M$. He isn't that young anymore and is extremely erratic. JJ is much better.

 

[PhxGametime]

JJ would be a PG - G/F. I'd rather have Ginobili for $7 than Nash for $8 - as I would rather have Stromile Swift at $5 than Okur for $6. Ginobili and Swift are younger (not sure on Swift/Okur - Yearbook says both were 23 few years back, not sure who's b-day was first) better defenders, more athletic, etc.

Suns wouldn't lose anybody from current roster (assuming White is already gone) - Vujanic would stay overseas a year though.

 

[slinslin]

Ginobili is going to turn 27 next month already. No way he is even close to worth 7M$.

And I would much rather have Steve Nash than Ginobili for only 1M$ more.

Ginobili is way too erratic for me. I would rather sign Derek Fisher even and play JJ with Fish.

 

[Joe Mama]

It really wouldn't surprise me if the Phoenix Suns make a run at Ginobili. They might not be able to outbid the San Antonio Spurs for him, but at the least they would force a rival in the Western Conference to pay as much as possible for him.

I'm not sure I believe that guys like Ginobili, Okur, etc. are really going to get the money that people are talking about right now unless they are willing to go to awful teams like Atlanta.

Joe

 

[Yuma]

It really wouldn't surprise me if the Phoenix Suns make a run at Ginobili. They might not be able to outbid the San Antonio Spurs for him, but at the least they would force a rival in the Western Conference to pay as much as possible for him.

I'm not sure I believe that guys like Ginobili, Okur, etc. are really going to get the money that people are talking about right now unless they are willing to go to awful teams like Atlanta.

Joe

Wow Joe! That's what I have been moaning about all year! I am just afraid we will get one of these guys, or both! That's a waste of money IMHO! Okur is like every other center we have now. He's a duplicate of Lampe and Jake. Great, another nonshot-blocker who has problems blocking out and shoots from the outside! Ginobli would be a much more expensive, MUCH MORE, highly touted Casey Jacobson type player! We already have guys who have trouble making their own shots. PLEASE SUNS, back away from Okur!

 

[Joe Mama]

Wow Joe! That's what I have been moaning about all year! I am just afraid we will get one of these guys, or both! That's a waste of money IMHO! Okur is like every other center we have now. He's a duplicate of Lampe and Jake. Great, another nonshot-blocker who has problems blocking out and shoots from the outside! Ginobli would be a much more expensive, MUCH MORE, highly touted Casey Jacobson type player! We already have guys who have trouble making their own shots. PLEASE SUNS, back away from Okur!

I don't want Okur either, but you are selling him short. If there's one thing he does do well on defense its box out. I still think he is at least as good as Jake Voskuhl defensively. With Amare Stoudemire and others he would get wide-open shots, and I think he could hit them. Jake Voskuhl cannot. But I do agree that he duplicates Lampe. I expect Lampe to be quite improved next season, and I think he is a better shooter than Okur.

Ginobli is just a lot better than Casey Jacobson. He's better on both sides of the ball. It really isn't even close. That said, I don't think he's worth $7 million per year. I will certainly give him the mid-level exception though. My guess is that he will get somewhere between those numbers. I think he will get something similar to Maggette unless a team like Utah offers him a big contract. They could really outbid everyone for ginobli and Okur who would fit wonderfully into their system.

It is just very, very difficult to project what is really going to happen this summer. At least we should get some answers by next week.

Joe Mama

 

[Yuma]

I don't want Okur either, but you are selling him short. If there's one thing he does do well on defense its box out. I still think he is at least as good as Jake Voskuhl defensively. With Amare Stoudemire and others he would get wide-open shots, and I think he could hit them. Jake Voskuhl cannot. But I do agree that he duplicates Lampe. I expect Lampe to be quite improved next season, and I think he is a better shooter than Okur.

Ginobli is just a lot better than Casey Jacobson. He's better on both sides of the ball. It really isn't even close. That said, I don't think he's worth $7 million per year. I will certainly give him the mid-level exception though. My guess is that he will get somewhere between those numbers. I think he will get something similar to Maggette unless a team like Utah offers him a big contract. They could really outbid everyone for ginobli and Okur who would fit wonderfully into their system.

It is just very, very difficult to project what is really going to happen this summer. At least we should get some answers by next week.

Joe Mama

I think Jake improved his offense, at least driving to the basket. His defense seemed to take a step back last year. You see how many Luc Longley quick fouls he was getting starting quarters, then was out for stretches for us? Okur did get burned defensivly, but I think you are right he boxes out better. I don't know if he's worth the money he will want, though. Do you think he can handle the other Western Conference centers? He did seem a little slow on lateral foot speed.

Yeah, there are other players I would rather see get 7 million from us rather than Ginobli. We have a lot of skinny guys right now. We need a couple more Amares on our squad!

 

[Joe Mama]

I think Jake improved his offense, at least driving to the basket. His defense seemed to take a step back last year. You see how many Luc Longley quick fouls he was getting starting quarters, then was out for stretches for us? Okur did get burned defensivly, but I think you are right he boxes out better. I don't know if he's worth the money he will want, though. Do you think he can handle the other Western Conference centers? He did seem a little slow on lateral foot speed.

Yeah, there are other players I would rather see get 7 million from us rather than Ginobli. We have a lot of skinny guys right now. We need a couple more Amares on our squad!

I don't think the Phoenix Suns need a center that can handle every other center in the Western Conference as much as they just need a defensive presence in the middle. They need someone who will make the other team's perimeter players think twice about going all the way to the basket. Like I said before, I would rather have Foyle who will likely get $2-4 million per season less than Okur.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

I don't think the Phoenix Suns need a center that can handle every other center in the Western Conference as much as they just need a defensive presence in the middle. They need someone who will make the other team's perimeter players think twice about going all the way to the basket. Like I said before, I would rather have Foyle who will likely get $2-4 million per season less than Okur.

Joe Mama

In a sense there are two kinds of strategies. One is to go for a top starting center type who can take the team to the finals. Second is an "OK" defense oriented center who may end up backing up Lampe if he becomes the center we hope he will be.

Right now Dampier is the only guy even vaguely close to the being the first. If the price gets out of line or he demands six years, then he is out of the question due to his history of injuries.

Foyle, Etan Thomas, and Mark Blount are of the second category. They only make sense if they are affordable.

Okur does not fit either category. He is not an established power big man like Dampier and is not a defensive specialist like the second category people. He is looking to make well above the MLE and may get it.