Miscellaneous Musings

[George O'Brien]

1. It has been fascinating and yet a bit discouraging to follow the inability of the Pistons to unload Chucky Atkins to clear cap space to re-sign Okur. Atkins is scheduled to make $4.2 million next year and $4.5 the following year. He is "shoot first" point guard, but is only scoring 6.3 ppg on a dismal 38.6% (33% for 3) in 18.7 minutes. He is cheaper than Eisley, but he is a deal killer in every trade the Pistons try to do.

It is not entirely clear how much the Pistons are willing to give up in term so of draft picks to move Atlkins. In any case, all indications are that the Pistons do not believe they will be able to offload either Atkins or Campbell to the Bobcats.

If the Pistons continue to struggle unloading Atkins or Campbell, they may need to do something despirate like trading Darko Milicic for future draft picks. At $3.8 million for next year, his contract is the only one that it would make sense for someone to accept to clear enough space to re-sign Okur.

2. The Celtics have been shopping Chris Mihm hard without takers. The consensus on the Celtics discussion boards appears to be that the Celtics will not keep Chris. He will be a restricted FA this summer with a qualifying amount of $3.9 million.
His numbers are not bad for someone his size 7'0" 265 - 6.7 ppg on 48.3% shooting, 6 rpg in 18.4 minutes. His number of minutes suggests Chris is very weak defensively. With 2.9 fouls in 18.4 minutes appears to be very foul prone as well.

3. Injuries and just poor play have led the Heat to shop Caron Butler. Last year he averaged 15.4 ppg on 41.6% shooting. This year he is scoring only 7.4 ppg on 33.8% shooting and only 9.5% from beyond the arc. Ouch.

4. The success of the Nuggets has led a lot of teams to decide that shedding bad contracts is the key to success. (Drafting Carmelo helps). Atlanta has been the most agressive. Right now they are entering next season with only 5 players under contract and Stephon Jackson at $1.1 could opt out. Once Brandon retires, it will leave only $15 million committed.

No one can figure out what the Hawks think they are going to do, but they will get mentioned in every trade discussion this summer.

5. Toronto has been shopping for a "big man" without success for the last couple of months. They are playing Chris Bosh at center which is a challenge for guy listed at 210 pounds.

Toronto has tried to include Mo Peterson (he will be a restricted FA) and Donyell Marshall without luck. I'm sure the Suns would send White for Marshall and change, but it does not appear the Raptors are THAT despirate.

 

[Joe Mama]

I will guarantee you right now that the Detroit Pistons are not at all willing to trade Darko unless they are getting something very special in return.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I will guarantee you right now that the Detroit Pistons are not at all willing to trade Darko unless they are getting something very special in return.

Joe Mama

I'm guessing it would take at least two draft picks. As I said, the situation only comes up if they are completely unable to get rid of Campbell or Atkins to have the cap to re-sign Okur. We saw last year the problems that the Warriors got into over Arenas, although the Pistons situation is not as dire.

 

[sly fly]

Not sure where this rumor is coming from.

Detroit is not going to give up on Darko. At least not this soon.

I've caught bits and pieces of him this year... and I really like what I see. He's going to be a good one.

Heck, he's not even 9 years old.

 

[Errntknght]

I like George's thinking on this - it doesn't require that Detroit be unhappy at all with Milic, just that they see Okur as more timely. It does make sense to go for it when you see your team as having a window of opportunity. Of course, Detroit has to be stymied at coming up with cap space via any other route short of leaving Wallace unprotected in the expansion draft. They may not be stymied... the Bobcats may pick Atkins given 3 mil + first rounder as a bribe. So while it's highly unlikely, I think it's something for the Suns to keep in mind as the pressure mounts on Detroit - it's tough to get good bigs but situations like this do come up so you need to be on top of them.

With the Suns having such a poor record and a very young team their picks for the 05 & 07 drafts might not look too bad to the Pistons. It doesn't have to be something Detroit relishes, just the best way out of a tough situation.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Errntknght
I like George's thinking on this - it doesn't require that Detroit be unhappy at all with Milic, just that they see Okur as more timely. It does make sense to go for it when you see your team as having a window of opportunity. Of course, Detroit has to be stymied at coming up with cap space via any other route short of leaving Wallace unprotected in the expansion draft. They may not be stymied... the Bobcats may pick Atkins given 3 mil + first rounder as a bribe. So while it's highly unlikely, I think it's something for the Suns to keep in mind as the pressure mounts on Detroit - it's tough to get good bigs but situations like this do come up so you need to be on top of them.

With the Suns having such a poor record and a very young team their picks for the 05 & 07 drafts might not look too bad to the Pistons. It doesn't have to be something Detroit relishes, just the best way out of a tough situation.

Thank you. As I said, it's a long shot. The ideal situation is to be able to exploit another team's problem to get a good deal.

 

[Joe Mama]

Based on what Joe Dumars has said I think you guys are underestimating how highly they value Darko in Detroit. I think they would just as soon let Okur sign elsewhere as trade away Darko.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
Based on what Joe Dumars has said I think you guys are underestimating how highly they value Darko in Detroit. I think they would just as soon let Okur sign elsewhere as trade away Darko.

Joe Mama

I take what Dumars says with a grain of salt. They passed over Anthony to take Darko and no GM is willing to admit that he simply blew it. In any case, I think tht if they risked losing Okur and the Suns offered a strong enough package the Piston's would bite. But it is hardly something they would seek out.