Five trades we'd like to see
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Updated: August 6
Now that the NBA free-agent frenzy has finally wound down, it's time for the NBA trading season to get into full gear. To date, there has been only one major trade -- the four-team deal that swapped four guys no one else wanted -- Latrell Sprewell, Keith Van Horn, Glenn Robinson and Terrell Brandon.
The Mavericks haven't answered the moves by the Lakers, Spurs, Kings and T-Wolves. The Jazz replaced two Hall of Famers, Karl Malone and John Stockton, with, Keon Clark. That $20 million-plus in cap room has to be good for something. The Blazers are conspicuously quiet, the Pacers have been on the verge of something for six months, and the Knicks can't rest on Van Horn and "optimistic" Antonio McDyess.
With the "A" and "B" list free agents off the board, trades are the only way for teams to upgrade their roster, clear cap space or take care of a logjam. So far the rumor mill has been surprisingly quiet. It's about time that changed.
While we can't save everyone, here's our best shot at fixing the Bulls, Celtics, Sonics, Hawks, Blazers, Mavs, Wizards, Pacers, Sixers, Cavs, Warriors and Grizzlies in one fell swoop.
In an effort to jump start the process a little, Insider takes a look at several trades that should happen this summer. Please note that these are NOT trade rumors or speculation, just trades we'd like to see. However, in the name of realism, all the trades do conform with collective bargaining agreement guidelines.
TRADE 1
Antoine Walker to Chicago; Donyell Marshall, Marcus Fizer, Jerome James and Eddie Robinson to Boston; Shareef Abdur-Rahim to Seattle; Vladimir Radmanovic, Brent Barry, Eric Williams and Bulls' No. 1 to Atlanta
Antoine Walker
Forward
Boston Celtics
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
78 20.1 7.2 4.8 .388 .615
Why the Bulls should do it: It appears that the Bulls have settled on the three young players they intend on building around -- Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford. Now it's time to think playoffs. The addition of Scottie Pippen this summer was a move in the right direction, but adding Walker to the mix finally propels them into playoffs. In return the Bulls must give up three bench players, which shouldn't be hard to do. They've been trying to dump Robinson's contract all summer and neither Marshall nor Fizer has the talent that Walker does. Walker's ability to handle and pass the ball are perfect in the triangle offense, and spies in Chicago claim that Walker, a Windy City native, is in the best shape of his career after intensive workouts this summer. A front line of Chandler, Walker and Curry will be among the biggest and most versatile in the East. Put them together with Crawford and Jalen Rose and the Bulls should make plenty on noise this season. The downside? The Bulls lose some depth on the bench by dumping Fizer and Crawford.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Jamal Crawford
SG Jalen Rose
SF Tyson Chandler
PF Antoine Walker
C Eddy Curry
Why the Celtics should do it: Danny Ainge claims that he hasn't been shopping Walker, but the rampant trade rumors surrounding Walker suggest that where there's smoke there's fire. The Celtics' problem the last few years has been depth. If Walker or Paul Pierce are having off nights, the team was doomed. Not anymore. Marshall and Fizer are both versatile enough to play the four or three. James is the closest thing to a center the Celtics have had in a long time, even if he is a project. And Robinson's athleticism should be a nice complement in the backcourt to rookie point guard Marcus Banks. The downside? Cap flexibility. The Celtics were due to have Williams off the books next summer. Marshall and James have two years left on their contracts. Robinson has three. Fizer will be a restricted free agent next summer. Can the Celtics afford to pay him?
Projected Starting Five:
PG Marcus Banks
SG Eddie Robinson/Kedrick Brown
SF Paul Pierce
PF Donyell Marshall/Marcus Fizer
C Tony Battie/Jerome James
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Power Forward
Atlanta Hawks
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
81 19.9 8.4 3.0 .478 .841
Why the Sonics should do it: Despite having three 7-footers collecting more than $15 million in salary next year, the Sonics lack a real power forward or center who can command double teams in the post. Without one, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis can't get the open looks they need to knock down the big shots. While Abdur-Rahim isn't a classic four, he's the best guy available. He's young, athletic, rebounds and can score in the paint. The Sonics actually flirted with acquiring him two years ago in a swap for Gary Payton. A core of Allen, Lewis and Abdur-Rahim is about as good as the Sonics are going to get given their cap restraints. The downside? The Sonics give up a lot to get him. Radmanovic still has the trappings of a star, but he just can't get enough minutes behind Lewis. Barry has played a big part in the Sonics' success the past two seasons, but he's a free agent next summer and the team can't afford to keep him. And for all of James' problems last year, he's still has upside in the middle.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Antonio Daniels
SG Ray Allen
SF Rashard Lewis
PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim
C Vitaly Potapenko
Why the Hawks should do it: Cap space. New owner David McDavid is going to want to come and put his stamp on the team sooner rather than later. Abdur-Rahim isn't the problem in Atlanta, but he also isn't a guy you build around either. Radmanovic is a restricted free agent next summer and Barry and Williams are unrestricted free agents. If the Hawks pulled the trigger on the deal, they would be roughly $10 million under the cap next season, assuming they re-sign Terry. Radmanovic is the key to the deal. He's young, versatile and should have a breakout year in Atlanta given plenty of playing time at the three. Barry could also turn into a valuable asset down the road. His ability to swing between both guard positions should help Terry's game. The downside? The apathy in Atlanta over the Hawks is already rampant. Will dumping Rahim, a Georgia native, drive the 15 fans the Hawks have left away?
Projected Starting Five:
PG Jason Terry
SG Brent Barry
SF Vladimir Radmanovic
PF Theo Ratliff
C Nazr Mohammed
Trade 2
Rasheed Wallace to Washington for Kwame Brown, Jahidi White and Christian Laettner
Why the Blazers should do it: It's time to clean house. New Blazers GM John Nash has to rethink everything the Blazers have done the last five years. On paper, they still have the talent to compete in the West. But in practice, the team just doesn't work. With five teams in the West already primed and ready for a run at the title, what's the point of a first-round playoff exit and more embarrassing off-the-court problems. The team should start the process right away by shipping Wallace out of town. For all of his talent, what has he really done for the team? He's an unrestricted free agent next summer, and third-year forward Zach Randolph is already their best low-post scorer. Adding Brown takes the sting out of losing Wallace. Brown has been disappointing his first two years in the league, but he's still very young and really needs a change of scenery. White and Laettner are cap fillers. The good news is that they both have only two years left on their contracts. The downside? Brown continues his listless play.
Projected Starting Five:
See Trade 3 below.
Rasheed Wallace
Power Forward
Portland Trail Blazers
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
74 18.1 7.4 2.1 .471 .735
Why the Wizards should do it: With the addition of Gilbert Arenas, the Wizards now have one of the best backcourts in the East. They need a frontcourt veteran to complement them and Wallace is a low-risk proposition. Wallace already has one tour of duty in Washington and spent two years in North Carolina playing with Stackhouse. If he plays up to his potential, the Wizards should be one of the top five teams in the East next season. If he doesn't, he comes off the books next year and the Wizards drop $17 million below the salary cap during the summer of 2004. The downside? Kwame catches fire in Portland and averages 20 and 10 for the rest of his career.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Gilbert Arenas
SG Jerry Stackhouse
SF Jarvis Hayes/Jared Jeffries
PF Rasheed Wallace
C Brendan Haywood
Trade 3
Raef LaFrentz and Michael Finley to Portland for Dale Davis, Ruben Patterson and Bonzi Wells
Michael Finley
Guard-Forward
Dallas Mavericks
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
69 19.3 5.8 3.0 .425 .861
Why the Blazers should do it: Because removing one bad apple won't be enough to change the karma in Portland. If the Blazers can also dump Wells and Patterson, they have, over night, changed the character of this team for the better. Finley is an all-star-caliber swingman without the baggage or inconsistency that Wells brings to the table. LaFrentz isn't the tough interior defender that Davis is, but when given the minutes, he's one of the best shot blockers in the league. The downside? The Blazers lose a little on the talent, but the gains in chemistry should more than make up for that. Forget about cap space. Both LaFrentz and Finley are locked into long-term deals.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Derek Anderson
SG Michael Finley
SF Kwame Brown
PF Zach Randolph
C Raef LaFrentz
Why the Mavs should do it: The Mavs are one of the most exiting teams, offensively, in the NBA. But they lack the toughness on defense to get deep into the playoffs. Mark Cuban and Co. have struck out in every attempt to get a blue collar big man. This is the best they can do. Davis may not do much on offense, but he's a relentless rebounder and a tough low-post defender. The Mavs will also upgrade their backcourt toughness. Wells is one of the most physical two guards in the league and Patterson has made a living shutting down athletic swingmen. The downside? Do you really want to mess with a good thing? Will the upsurge in toughness kill the great chemistry the Mavs have? Losing Finley is a high price to pay.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Steve Nash
SG Bonzi Wells
SF Dirk Nowitzki
PF Dale Davis
C Shawn Bradley
Trade 4
Eric Snow and Dajuan Wagner to Indiana; Al Harrington, Jamaal Tinsley and Sam Clancy to Cleveland; Darius Miles and Fred Jones to Philly
Eric Snow
Point Guard
Philadelphia 76ers
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
82 12.9 3.7 6.6 .452 .858
Why the Pacers should do it: They haven't given up on Tinsley, but they need a veteran to run the point and an explosive two guard who can hit from the perimeter and get to the basket. Snow is ideal for them because of his consistency and superior on-the-ball defense. Pair him together in the backcourt with Artest and you have a lockdown on the perimeter. Put him together with Wagner, and you could be looking at the next Iverson. The downside? The Pacers don't want to trade Harrington or Tinsley. Jonathan Bender will really have to step up for this trade to work for Indy.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Eric Snow
SG Dajuan Wagner
SF Ron Artest
PF Jermaine O'Neal
C Scot Pollard
Why the Cavs should do it: The Cavs don't want to admit it, but they've got a big logjam in the backcourt. Wagner, Ricky Davis, Miles and LeBron James is just too much. The team could really use some size, interior scoring and a real point guard to run the show -- at least until James gets a little more accustomed to playing in the NBA. In Boston at the Reebok Pro Summer League, he looked much better playing small forward than he did at point guard. Miles also looked good in the summer league, but he becomes a restricted free agent next summer. Can the Cavs afford to keep him? Harrington gives them a young, athletic big body who can play the three or the four. Tinsley ranked sixth in the league in assists last year. While he struggles to be a 40-minutes-a-night guy, with James and Kevin Ollie, there are plenty of guys out there who can relieve him when he struggles. The downside? Both Wagner and Miles have big upsides. The Cavs may not be ready to give up on them just yet.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Jamaal Tinsley
SG Ricky Davis
SF LeBron James
PF Al Harrington/Carlos Boozer
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Darius Miles
Guard-Forward
Cleveland Cavaliers
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
67 9.2 5.4 2.6 .410 .594
Why the Sixers should do it: Second-year point guard John Salmons looked great in both summer leagues this year. He has the size, scoring ability and defensive toughness to step right in and take the starting point guard job. That leaves the Sixers with a unique opportunity to steal a young, athletic forward in Miles. Glenn Robinson won't be playing in Philly forever and Miles looks to still be another year or two away from being a star. But eventually, an Salmons-Iverson-Miles combination looks pretty intriguing. The downside? Losing Snow is a tough. He's so steady and such a superb defender.
Projected Starting Five:
PG John Salmons
SG Allen Iverson
SF Glenn Robinson
PF Kenny Thomas
C Marc Jackson
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Updated: August 6
Now that the NBA free-agent frenzy has finally wound down, it's time for the NBA trading season to get into full gear. To date, there has been only one major trade -- the four-team deal that swapped four guys no one else wanted -- Latrell Sprewell, Keith Van Horn, Glenn Robinson and Terrell Brandon.
The Mavericks haven't answered the moves by the Lakers, Spurs, Kings and T-Wolves. The Jazz replaced two Hall of Famers, Karl Malone and John Stockton, with, Keon Clark. That $20 million-plus in cap room has to be good for something. The Blazers are conspicuously quiet, the Pacers have been on the verge of something for six months, and the Knicks can't rest on Van Horn and "optimistic" Antonio McDyess.
With the "A" and "B" list free agents off the board, trades are the only way for teams to upgrade their roster, clear cap space or take care of a logjam. So far the rumor mill has been surprisingly quiet. It's about time that changed.
While we can't save everyone, here's our best shot at fixing the Bulls, Celtics, Sonics, Hawks, Blazers, Mavs, Wizards, Pacers, Sixers, Cavs, Warriors and Grizzlies in one fell swoop.
In an effort to jump start the process a little, Insider takes a look at several trades that should happen this summer. Please note that these are NOT trade rumors or speculation, just trades we'd like to see. However, in the name of realism, all the trades do conform with collective bargaining agreement guidelines.
TRADE 1
Antoine Walker to Chicago; Donyell Marshall, Marcus Fizer, Jerome James and Eddie Robinson to Boston; Shareef Abdur-Rahim to Seattle; Vladimir Radmanovic, Brent Barry, Eric Williams and Bulls' No. 1 to Atlanta
Antoine Walker
Forward
Boston Celtics
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
78 20.1 7.2 4.8 .388 .615
Why the Bulls should do it: It appears that the Bulls have settled on the three young players they intend on building around -- Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford. Now it's time to think playoffs. The addition of Scottie Pippen this summer was a move in the right direction, but adding Walker to the mix finally propels them into playoffs. In return the Bulls must give up three bench players, which shouldn't be hard to do. They've been trying to dump Robinson's contract all summer and neither Marshall nor Fizer has the talent that Walker does. Walker's ability to handle and pass the ball are perfect in the triangle offense, and spies in Chicago claim that Walker, a Windy City native, is in the best shape of his career after intensive workouts this summer. A front line of Chandler, Walker and Curry will be among the biggest and most versatile in the East. Put them together with Crawford and Jalen Rose and the Bulls should make plenty on noise this season. The downside? The Bulls lose some depth on the bench by dumping Fizer and Crawford.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Jamal Crawford
SG Jalen Rose
SF Tyson Chandler
PF Antoine Walker
C Eddy Curry
Why the Celtics should do it: Danny Ainge claims that he hasn't been shopping Walker, but the rampant trade rumors surrounding Walker suggest that where there's smoke there's fire. The Celtics' problem the last few years has been depth. If Walker or Paul Pierce are having off nights, the team was doomed. Not anymore. Marshall and Fizer are both versatile enough to play the four or three. James is the closest thing to a center the Celtics have had in a long time, even if he is a project. And Robinson's athleticism should be a nice complement in the backcourt to rookie point guard Marcus Banks. The downside? Cap flexibility. The Celtics were due to have Williams off the books next summer. Marshall and James have two years left on their contracts. Robinson has three. Fizer will be a restricted free agent next summer. Can the Celtics afford to pay him?
Projected Starting Five:
PG Marcus Banks
SG Eddie Robinson/Kedrick Brown
SF Paul Pierce
PF Donyell Marshall/Marcus Fizer
C Tony Battie/Jerome James
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Power Forward
Atlanta Hawks
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
81 19.9 8.4 3.0 .478 .841
Why the Sonics should do it: Despite having three 7-footers collecting more than $15 million in salary next year, the Sonics lack a real power forward or center who can command double teams in the post. Without one, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis can't get the open looks they need to knock down the big shots. While Abdur-Rahim isn't a classic four, he's the best guy available. He's young, athletic, rebounds and can score in the paint. The Sonics actually flirted with acquiring him two years ago in a swap for Gary Payton. A core of Allen, Lewis and Abdur-Rahim is about as good as the Sonics are going to get given their cap restraints. The downside? The Sonics give up a lot to get him. Radmanovic still has the trappings of a star, but he just can't get enough minutes behind Lewis. Barry has played a big part in the Sonics' success the past two seasons, but he's a free agent next summer and the team can't afford to keep him. And for all of James' problems last year, he's still has upside in the middle.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Antonio Daniels
SG Ray Allen
SF Rashard Lewis
PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim
C Vitaly Potapenko
Why the Hawks should do it: Cap space. New owner David McDavid is going to want to come and put his stamp on the team sooner rather than later. Abdur-Rahim isn't the problem in Atlanta, but he also isn't a guy you build around either. Radmanovic is a restricted free agent next summer and Barry and Williams are unrestricted free agents. If the Hawks pulled the trigger on the deal, they would be roughly $10 million under the cap next season, assuming they re-sign Terry. Radmanovic is the key to the deal. He's young, versatile and should have a breakout year in Atlanta given plenty of playing time at the three. Barry could also turn into a valuable asset down the road. His ability to swing between both guard positions should help Terry's game. The downside? The apathy in Atlanta over the Hawks is already rampant. Will dumping Rahim, a Georgia native, drive the 15 fans the Hawks have left away?
Projected Starting Five:
PG Jason Terry
SG Brent Barry
SF Vladimir Radmanovic
PF Theo Ratliff
C Nazr Mohammed
Trade 2
Rasheed Wallace to Washington for Kwame Brown, Jahidi White and Christian Laettner
Why the Blazers should do it: It's time to clean house. New Blazers GM John Nash has to rethink everything the Blazers have done the last five years. On paper, they still have the talent to compete in the West. But in practice, the team just doesn't work. With five teams in the West already primed and ready for a run at the title, what's the point of a first-round playoff exit and more embarrassing off-the-court problems. The team should start the process right away by shipping Wallace out of town. For all of his talent, what has he really done for the team? He's an unrestricted free agent next summer, and third-year forward Zach Randolph is already their best low-post scorer. Adding Brown takes the sting out of losing Wallace. Brown has been disappointing his first two years in the league, but he's still very young and really needs a change of scenery. White and Laettner are cap fillers. The good news is that they both have only two years left on their contracts. The downside? Brown continues his listless play.
Projected Starting Five:
See Trade 3 below.
Rasheed Wallace
Power Forward
Portland Trail Blazers
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
74 18.1 7.4 2.1 .471 .735
Why the Wizards should do it: With the addition of Gilbert Arenas, the Wizards now have one of the best backcourts in the East. They need a frontcourt veteran to complement them and Wallace is a low-risk proposition. Wallace already has one tour of duty in Washington and spent two years in North Carolina playing with Stackhouse. If he plays up to his potential, the Wizards should be one of the top five teams in the East next season. If he doesn't, he comes off the books next year and the Wizards drop $17 million below the salary cap during the summer of 2004. The downside? Kwame catches fire in Portland and averages 20 and 10 for the rest of his career.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Gilbert Arenas
SG Jerry Stackhouse
SF Jarvis Hayes/Jared Jeffries
PF Rasheed Wallace
C Brendan Haywood
Trade 3
Raef LaFrentz and Michael Finley to Portland for Dale Davis, Ruben Patterson and Bonzi Wells
Michael Finley
Guard-Forward
Dallas Mavericks
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
69 19.3 5.8 3.0 .425 .861
Why the Blazers should do it: Because removing one bad apple won't be enough to change the karma in Portland. If the Blazers can also dump Wells and Patterson, they have, over night, changed the character of this team for the better. Finley is an all-star-caliber swingman without the baggage or inconsistency that Wells brings to the table. LaFrentz isn't the tough interior defender that Davis is, but when given the minutes, he's one of the best shot blockers in the league. The downside? The Blazers lose a little on the talent, but the gains in chemistry should more than make up for that. Forget about cap space. Both LaFrentz and Finley are locked into long-term deals.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Derek Anderson
SG Michael Finley
SF Kwame Brown
PF Zach Randolph
C Raef LaFrentz
Why the Mavs should do it: The Mavs are one of the most exiting teams, offensively, in the NBA. But they lack the toughness on defense to get deep into the playoffs. Mark Cuban and Co. have struck out in every attempt to get a blue collar big man. This is the best they can do. Davis may not do much on offense, but he's a relentless rebounder and a tough low-post defender. The Mavs will also upgrade their backcourt toughness. Wells is one of the most physical two guards in the league and Patterson has made a living shutting down athletic swingmen. The downside? Do you really want to mess with a good thing? Will the upsurge in toughness kill the great chemistry the Mavs have? Losing Finley is a high price to pay.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Steve Nash
SG Bonzi Wells
SF Dirk Nowitzki
PF Dale Davis
C Shawn Bradley
Trade 4
Eric Snow and Dajuan Wagner to Indiana; Al Harrington, Jamaal Tinsley and Sam Clancy to Cleveland; Darius Miles and Fred Jones to Philly
Eric Snow
Point Guard
Philadelphia 76ers
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
82 12.9 3.7 6.6 .452 .858
Why the Pacers should do it: They haven't given up on Tinsley, but they need a veteran to run the point and an explosive two guard who can hit from the perimeter and get to the basket. Snow is ideal for them because of his consistency and superior on-the-ball defense. Pair him together in the backcourt with Artest and you have a lockdown on the perimeter. Put him together with Wagner, and you could be looking at the next Iverson. The downside? The Pacers don't want to trade Harrington or Tinsley. Jonathan Bender will really have to step up for this trade to work for Indy.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Eric Snow
SG Dajuan Wagner
SF Ron Artest
PF Jermaine O'Neal
C Scot Pollard
Why the Cavs should do it: The Cavs don't want to admit it, but they've got a big logjam in the backcourt. Wagner, Ricky Davis, Miles and LeBron James is just too much. The team could really use some size, interior scoring and a real point guard to run the show -- at least until James gets a little more accustomed to playing in the NBA. In Boston at the Reebok Pro Summer League, he looked much better playing small forward than he did at point guard. Miles also looked good in the summer league, but he becomes a restricted free agent next summer. Can the Cavs afford to keep him? Harrington gives them a young, athletic big body who can play the three or the four. Tinsley ranked sixth in the league in assists last year. While he struggles to be a 40-minutes-a-night guy, with James and Kevin Ollie, there are plenty of guys out there who can relieve him when he struggles. The downside? Both Wagner and Miles have big upsides. The Cavs may not be ready to give up on them just yet.
Projected Starting Five:
PG Jamaal Tinsley
SG Ricky Davis
SF LeBron James
PF Al Harrington/Carlos Boozer
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Darius Miles
Guard-Forward
Cleveland Cavaliers
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
67 9.2 5.4 2.6 .410 .594
Why the Sixers should do it: Second-year point guard John Salmons looked great in both summer leagues this year. He has the size, scoring ability and defensive toughness to step right in and take the starting point guard job. That leaves the Sixers with a unique opportunity to steal a young, athletic forward in Miles. Glenn Robinson won't be playing in Philly forever and Miles looks to still be another year or two away from being a star. But eventually, an Salmons-Iverson-Miles combination looks pretty intriguing. The downside? Losing Snow is a tough. He's so steady and such a superb defender.
Projected Starting Five:
PG John Salmons
SG Allen Iverson
SF Glenn Robinson
PF Kenny Thomas
C Marc Jackson
