Encouraging news that may affect Clippers and Q

[Biclops]

I just got this from RealGM...

Nets turn their eyes to Wilcox

Now that Shareef Abdur-Rahim is out of their grasp, the New Jersey [url="http://nets.realgm.com/"]Nets[/url] are still trying to trade guard Kerry Kittles, now setting their sights on Clippers backup bigman Chris Wilcox according to a report in today's New York Post by Marc Berman.

The Clippers have more than enough room to accept Kittles without taking on any additional salary, and after receiving three first round draft choices from the Nuggets in exchange for Kenyon Martin there is hardly a neeed for more.

The Nets are trying to find a replacement forward for Martin who bolted for the Nuggets, and they are using Kittles as their primary source of trade bait. Kittles, despite his $9.8 million salary, has value on the market since he is entering the final year of his contract, meaning in twelve months he becomes valuable cap space to the team who owns his rights.

The Nets and Portland Trail [url="http://trailblazers.realgm.com/"]Blazers[/url] appeared to be perfect trading companions should they have decided to swap Kittles plus extras for Abdur-Rahim, but the Blazers decided to sign Minnesota restricted free agent Trenton Hassell to a large offer sheet instead, eliminating their need for a guard.
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If this is true and they are able to work something out this GREATLY increases the chance of Q joining the Sun

 

[George O'Brien]

There is a similar story in the NY Post:

NY POST: NETS EYE WILCOX IN KERRY DEAL

NETS EYE WILCOX IN KERRY DEAL

By MARC BERMAN
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July 26, 2004 --
With Shareef Abdur-Rahim now out of their grasp, the Nets continue to shop Kerry Kittles and have had serious talks with the Clippers, according to league sources.

The Clippers, spurned by Kobe Bryant, are under the cap and can accept Kittles' $9.8M salary without giving up a player. However, the Nets hardly need a fourth first-round draft choice.

The Nets have interest in Chris Wilcox, the Clips' backup power forward who had a nice second year after getting limited playing time as a rookie. The Nets could do worse than getting the forward whom the Knicks targeted in the 2002 draft.

With Kittles in the final year of his contract, he has definite trade value. But the Blazers were not interested enough in a Kittles/Aaron Williams/first-round pick offer for Abdur-Rahim.

No longer in the hunt for Kittles, the Blazers instead tendered an offer sheet to Minnesota shooting guard Trenton Hassell, who's nowhere near the offensive player Kittles is. The Wolves don't have room to match the offer.

Abdur-Rahim's agent, Aaron Goodwin, wants his client out of Portland.

"Portland blew an excellent opportunity and the Nets blew a chance to replace Kenyon Martin," Goodwin said. "I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't disappointed

 

[F-Dog]

The Clips would have to be complete idiots to trade Wilcox for Kittles. They're cheap, but I don't think they're idiots.

Kittles = negative trade value
Wilcox = (high) positive trade value

Even if the Nets included Zoran Plananic and the three first-rounders they just got from Denver, I'm not sure it matches up.


The only thing New Jersey has that the Clips would really want is the Clips' own first-round pick, and that doesn't come due until 2006.

 

[hafey2]

The Clips would have to be complete idiots to trade Wilcox for Kittles. They're cheap, but I don't think they're idiots.

Kittles = negative trade value
Wilcox = (high) positive trade value

Even if the Nets included Zoran Plananic and the three first-rounders they just got from Denver, I'm not sure it matches up.


The only thing New Jersey has that the Clips would really want is the Clips' own first-round pick, and that doesn't come due until 2006.

I disagree. A kittles-Wilcox trade makes perfect sense for the clippers. Kittles is as good a player as Q, different but still good. Finnancially it makes sense for the clippers. We know the Clippers are historically cheap. So by aquiring Kittles for a back-up player they adequately replace Q. Not only do they replace Q, but they do for 1 year at 10 million dollars rather than being locked up for 6 years and 42-48 million dollars. Plus i would imagine kittles would bring the clippers very close to the min salary cap number. Also I would guess Wilcox + Q = Kittles in terms of money this year.

 

[George O'Brien]

Kittles is older and smaller than Q to go along with being more expensive for one year. But on a one year basis, he is probably a better player: better shooter and better defender. He is also a better fit to go with Maggette than Q who plays close to the basket a lot.

That being said, Wilcox is a steep price. The bits and pieces coming from the Nets would have to be pretty impressive to make this look like a real deal.

 

[Joe Mama]

That would be an awful trade for the Clippers. Chris Wilcox is no Amare Stoudemire, but he is an emerging frontcourt player. You just don't trade away guys like that for someone like Kerry Kittles. Frankly I think this is wishful thinking from the New Jersey Nets and probably more so the New York media. I doubt that Wilcox has ever seriously been discussed.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

That would be an awful trade for the Clippers. Chris Wilcox is no Amare Stoudemire, but he is an emerging frontcourt player. You just don't trade away guys like that for someone like Kerry Kittles. Frankly I think this is wishful thinking from the New Jersey Nets and probably more so the New York media. I doubt that Wilcox has ever seriously been discussed.

Joe Mama

Another article says it may be just draft picks for Kittles. I'm not sure why the Nets would do that other than just to save money, but it would almost certainly mean Kidd getting traded as soon as he could pass a physical. that being said, I'm not sure anyone would want Kidd with his contract.

 

[coloradosun]

I disagree. A kittles-Wilcox trade makes perfect sense for the clippers. Kittles is as good a player as Q, different but still good. Finnancially it makes sense for the clippers. We know the Clippers are historically cheap. So by aquiring Kittles for a back-up player they adequately replace Q. Not only do they replace Q, but they do for 1 year at 10 million dollars rather than being locked up for 6 years and 42-48 million dollars. Plus i would imagine kittles would bring the clippers very close to the min salary cap number. Also I would guess Wilcox + Q = Kittles in terms of money this year.

This offseason for the Clippers and their pursuit of Kobe may have been a smoke screen by Sterling as a reason to dump players. Clearing cap before the summer and even with two different deals with the Bobcats. The first one to move down in the draft and dump Drobnak. The second to dump two more players just because the salary cap was lower than expected. The excuse to chase Kobe gave him great camofluoge to cut costs. If does not match Q his cover will be blown.

 

[NJYAJ09]

Now that I've heard we have a chance to get Dampier... I might rather have Dampier then Q, Q might be a better player, but Dampier could definitly help the team more then QRich.

 

[George O'Brien]

This offseason for the Clippers and their pursuit of Kobe may have been a smoke screen by Sterling as a reason to dump players. Clearing cap before the summer and even with two different deals with the Bobcats. The first one to move down in the draft and dump Drobnak. The second to dump two more players just because the salary cap was lower than expected. The excuse to chase Kobe gave him great camofluoge to cut costs. If does not match Q his cover will be blown.

Cover blown with whom? Everybody with even the faintest knowledge of the NBA knows that Sterling is CHEAP. He would rather make money than win. I would guess the Clippers have lost more players to free agency or forced trades (usually for draft picks or cheap guys on rookie contracts) than any other team in the NBA. This team is a graveyard for coaches who find every player more interested in auditioning for free agency than in winning.

Last year they had five guys elibible for free agency and all five signed offer sheets with other teams. Only two returned when the Clippers matched. In 2001-02 the Clips won 39 games, but it did not take them long to tear apart that team.

 

[coloradosun]

His Kobe cover is blown.

 

[NJYAJ09]

Cover blown with whom? Everybody with even the faintest knowledge of the NBA knows that Sterling is CHEAP. He would rather make money than win. I would guess the Clippers have lost more players to free agency or forced trades (usually for draft picks or cheap guys on rookie contracts) than any other team in the NBA. This team is a graveyard for coaches who find every player more interested in auditioning for free agency than in winning.

Last year they had five guys elibible for free agency and all five signed offer sheets with other teams. Only two returned when the Clippers matched. In 2001-02 the Clips won 39 games, but it did not take them long to tear apart that team.

I agree, they put a valiant effort to get kobe, but they knew their chances were slim. So mostly, they just cut lots of salary.

 

[coloradosun]

I agree, they put a valiant effort to get kobe, but they knew their chances were slim. So mostly, they just cut lots of salary.

We don't know if it was valiant, it could have all been hyped by Clipper leaks.

 

[George O'Brien]

We don't know if it was valiant, it could have all been hyped by Clipper leaks.

Or Kobe leaks

 

[devilalum]

Now that I've heard we have a chance to get Dampier... I might rather have Dampier then Q, Q might be a better player, but Dampier could definitly help the team more then QRich.

I don't know any NBA players personally but from what I've read about these 2 players I'd much rather have Q.

You have to ask yourself, "Self, why is a huge capable center like Eric Dampier sitting untaken when there are about 25 NBA teams that need a descent center?" Even the lowly hawks won't extend him much more than a mediocre contract.

Everything I read about Q states that he is a hard worker and a leader. The kind of guy that works hard everyday and wants to win more than anything.

The Suns need a good center but not unless he's a good fit.

 

[cly2tw]

Yap, you might get the "winner's curse" with Dampier. It's low risk at 6 mil, though. I prefer Q.

For Kittles/Wilcox trade to work, the nets might have to give up 3 mil cash and at least two picks with one of them lottery-bound.

 

[George O'Brien]

I don't know any NBA players personally but from what I've read about these 2 players I'd much rather have Q.

You have to ask yourself, "Self, why is a huge capable center like Eric Dampier sitting untaken when there are about 25 NBA teams that need a descent center?" Even the lowly hawks won't extend him much more than a mediocre contract.

Everything I read about Q states that he is a hard worker and a leader. The kind of guy that works hard everyday and wants to win more than anything.

The Suns need a good center but not unless he's a good fit.

I think Q will bring a lot to the team if the Suns get him, but the Suns really do need a big center who can play defense AT LOT. The Suns gave up an average of 4 more points per game than than they scored. Some of that can be attributed to weak defense in the paint and no straight on shot blocker.

That being said, I had written Dampier off because he is simply not worth what he was asking. Over his career, he has been a slightly better than middle of the road center defensive center with OK but not great stats. He's 30 years old and has had a history of minor injuries. No one wants to give a guy $75 million based on one year.

But at $45 million Dampier is not that overpaid. He is a tough, physical defender who can block shots and grabs a lot of rebounds per minute played. When he got the minutes this past season 32.5 (Fortson was traded and Foyle was injured), Dampier put up some impressive numbers: 12.3 ppg, 53.5% from the field, 12 rpg, and 1.85 blocks per game. This ranked him 4th in rebounds per game, 3rd in total rebounds, and first in rebounds per 48 minutes. He was ranked 15th in blocks and 3rd in field goal percentage.

One other thing, Dampier has not played on a good team since he went to GS. It is at least possible that he might feel more motivated to play well if his team is winning.

For $45 million, I'd take the risk. If he could play even close to the level he put up this past season, he could make a huge difference. But even if he regressed back to being just "OK", he could still be a valuable role player. Remember, we are talking about the same amount White is being paid.

 

[NJYAJ09]

I would definitly take the risk too, i mean look at this lineup:


Nash
JJ
Matrix
Amare
Damp

 

[mark1]

Bickley, just said on his morning show that the Suns are interested in Dampier.

Gambo keeps saying that the Suns have no interest in Dampier.

IMO, if the Suns end the summer with Nash and Dampier, they have improved dramatically from last year.

 

[Joe Mama]

I just read that the New York Knicks are all but out of the running for Erick Dampier. That article said the best deal on the table is a six-year deal from Atlanta for $50 million. I believe the Richardson deal is six years, $48 million.

For the money I would have preferred Divac (two-year deal) over Richardson. For the same money I would definitely prefer Dampier over Richardson. It would honestly be the difference between battling for a playoff spot and being a team that is battling for home-court advantage.

I didn't like Eric Dampier at six years, $70 million. I would be extremely happy with him for the same deal Richardson was offered.

Two more days.

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

For the same money I would definitely prefer Dampier over Richardson. It would honestly be the difference between battling for a playoff spot and being a team that is battling for home-court advantage.

Yep. Boy, I wish I knew whether the Suns and Dampier are talking. Should we be hoping for the Clippers to match on Richardson?

 

[Joe Mama]

For the same money I would definitely prefer Dampier over Richardson. It would honestly be the difference between battling for a playoff spot and being a team that is battling for home-court advantage.

Yep. Boy, I wish I knew whether the Suns and Dampier are talking. Should we be hoping for the Clippers to match on Richardson?

I would not be disappointed with Richardson (unless we later hear that Dampier was coming here if the Clippers had matched), but I've been hoping that Clippers will match or about the last 10 days.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

The latest rumor of Atlanta offering $50 million to Dampier over six years suggests the Suns could get close if it came up. You would have to think the Suns are much more attractive team.

On the Q Richardson front, the New Jersey papers are saying that a straight Kittles for draft picks deal with the Clippers is still being discussed. On the surface that looks like a terrible trade for the Nets (they already have a bunch of draft picks), but it might be a precursor to a deal for SAR. This is because they would get a trade exemption for Kittles to go with their trade exemption for Martin. Considering that the Blazers are at $73 million, unloading SAR would be worth $29 million to them after luxury tax.

 

[coloradosun]

The latest rumor of Atlanta offering $50 million to Dampier over six years suggests the Suns could get close if it came up. You would have to think the Suns are much more attractive team.

So what are the Suns going to give up, Marion? From what I understand GS has not rescinded the rights to Dampier and that is why there is all this sign and trade talk. Atlanta was never an option because they had nothing to send back and he has to accomodate GS on that end. So their offer did not have any value at all.

 

[Joe Mama]

So what are the Suns going to give up, Marion? From what I understand GS has not rescinded the rights to Dampier and that is why there is all this sign and trade talk. Atlanta was never an option because they had nothing to send back and he has to accomodate GS on that end. So their offer did not have any value at all.

the Phoenix Suns are far enough under the salary cap, so they don't have to give something up that is for the full value of Eric Dampier. They could give up someone like Jake Voskuhl or Casey Jacobsen (just throwing out names). That would give them that much more money to spend on Dampier's contract.

Joe Mama