Feb. 13th, Insider - trade talk dominates All-start weekend

[sunsfn]

Trade talk will dominate All-Star Weekend

By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
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Friday, February 13

The NBA doesn't have winter meetings like baseball, where owners and GMs can get together and talk trade. But the NBA All-Star Game is as close as it gets. With just about everyone in the league flying into Los Angeles today, here's the latest scuttle from around the league . . .


Juwan Howard
Forward
Orlando Magic

Profile

2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM
PPG
RPG
APG
FG%
FT%
54
15.8
6.8
2.0
.447
.796

Will Juwan Howard finally end up in Miami? The Magic, now clearly desperate, have reportedly inquired about Brian Grant's availability. It would take half of the Magic's roster to land Grant, but considering that the only guys on the roster who the Magic want to keep are Tracy McGrady and Drew Gooden -- why not?

The Wizards are in the hunt for a team willing to take on the last year of Christian Laettner's deal. The team could get around $10 million under the cap next season if it can find a taker for Laettner. What's their best shot? The Raptors are trying to add another big man to shore up their front line and have shown interest in Laettner. The Raptors have several expiring contracts (Michael Curry, Morris Peterson, Michael Bradley) that they're willing to dump in an effort to secure a playoff spot this season. Laettner is in the mix along with Portland's Dale Davis.

That's not the only deal the Wizards are working on. The team is also reportedly pursuing a deal that would ship Brevin Knight to the Clips for Keyon Dooling and Melvin Ely. However, if the Wizards can move Laettner, they probably won't make the trade for Ely, who would eat into their salary-cap room next season.


Doug Christie
Shooting Guard
Sacramento Kings

Profile

2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM
PPG
RPG
APG
FG%
FT%
50
8.7
3.7
3.9
.469
.853

The Kings' Doug Christie is now on the block, but will anyone want to pick up the last two years and $16 million left on his contract? Christie was once the defensive heart of the Kings, but his production has really slipped this season.

Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor said he thinks the team will make a trade by the deadline? With whom? Right now the Jazz are more than seven million under the cap, which means they can absorb one big salary. The talk since December has the Jazz swapping Keon Clark for Tom Gugliotta and at least one first-round pick from the Suns. While both players are in the last year of their contracts, swapping Gugliotta's $11.7 million salary for Clark's $5 million puts the Suns under the luxury-tax threshold for the year. Given the salary, luxury-tax savings and rebates from the league, that could be worth up to $15 million in long-term savings to Phoenix. That's probably worth the pick.


Jahidi White
Center
Phoenix Suns

Profile

2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM
PPG
RPG
APG
FG%
FT%
49
4.4
4.4
0.1
.519
.510

The Suns are also trying to dump center Jahidi White and, according to one league source, are using Casey Jacobsen as the bait. White has one more year at $6.1 million left on his deal.

In addition to the never-ending Marcus Fizer sweepstakes, the Bulls are looking to find a new home for Jerome Williams. Despite his energy on the court and his popularity with fans, Williams' relationship with some of his teammates has been rocky in Chicago. He's been especially down on Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler because of constant mental lapses. It's gotten to the point that coaches had to ask him to quit pulling aside players who blow plays in practice.

The Pistons are still talking to teams about a way to trade either Corliss Williamson or Chucky Atkins in an effort to get their contracts off the books. With two first-round picks at his disposal that the Pistons don't really need, you've got to believe Joe D will make something happen.

For those of you always wondering why there are so many trade rumors and so few trades, I give you Danny Ainge. "There's lot of conversations going on. I'm hopeful, but it's got to be the right deal. I listened to over 500 deals since I took the job and I've made two. It's got to be a good deal." Since when, Danny?

 

[elindholm]

The Suns are also trying to dump center Jahidi White and, according to one league source, are using Casey Jacobsen as the bait.

ROFL, this message board is now being cited by Insider as a "league source."

 

[fordronken]

Originally posted by elindholm
ROFL, this message board is now being cited by Insider as a "league source."

They may have heard it from Jerry Colengelo.

But the Suns couldn't really trade Casey, could they? That would mean Marion would have to slide down to the small forward position.

 

[George O'Brien]

I cannot see the Suns going from four guards to three and from two centers to one unless they are getting a potential starter in return.

I am not recommending this, but the numbers would work in a trade of White and Jacobsen for Curry and Fizer of the Bulls. Getting Jacobsen would mean the Bulls would be able to trade Crawford. I can't see it, but stranger things have happened.

 

[B-Dogg]

why wouldnt you recommend that trade... that would be an absolute steal for the suns... but what they should be trying to do is to trade Eisley and use CJ as bait...

 

[slinslin]

Originally posted by fordronken
They may have heard it from Jerry Colengelo.

But the Suns couldn't really trade Casey, could they? That would mean Marion would have to slide down to the small forward position.

They couls also get a SG back in the trade, sign some NBDL player or play Barbosa and Eisley more.

It is not like we would miss Jacobsen or try to win games really anyway.

 

[scotsman13]

mcdyess will be coming off the ir shortly and he can play some center for us. also it would mean that lampe could get some more playing time.


i like white a lot, personally i hope he doesnt leave for sometime. it is nice to have someone on the team who only someone who is really dumb would even think about messing with.

 

[Joe Mama]

I have a hard time believing Casey Jacobsen is really "trade bait". If I was an NBA GM and the Phoenix Suns called me looking to unload Jahidi White I would say, "what are you offering?" If they replied, "we'll throw in Casey Jacobsen," I would probably laugh out loud. It's going to take more than that.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I have a hard time believing Casey Jacobsen is really "trade bait". If I was an NBA GM and the Phoenix Suns called me looking to unload Jahidi White I would say, "what are you offering?" If they replied, "we'll throw in Casey Jacobsen," I would probably laugh out loud. It's going to take more than that.

Joe Mama

I wasn't really serious about the deal except that the Bulls are frantic to move Fizer. I'm guessing that that a White/Jacobsen for Curry/Fizer deal would require a draft pick at a minimum.