Updated: Feb. 14, 2005, 3:29 PM ET
Bulls, Sonics face tough decisions
By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider
UPSIDE
Other teams are caught somewhere in the middle between the good and the bad. Trades aren't necessary, but if the right deal came along, it could put them over the top.
Here's a look at eight teams that have goods to make a deal, but appear to be sitting on the fence. Will they pull the trigger before the trade deadline?
Chicago Bulls: GM John Paxson is being lauded for his patience with his young team. With the way the Bulls have been playing lately, can you blame him if he decides not to move Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler before the deadline?
Maybe not, but there are other issues at play in Chicago right now. Both Curry and Chandler hit restricted free agency this summer and will demand large deals. Curry, especially, seems to think he's a max-type player.
He isn't and the Bulls know that. Curry doesn't have the work ethic on or off the floor to justify that type of contract.
What the Bulls don't want to get into is a situation where a team with cap room gives him a huge offer sheet and they are forced to match it or let him go for nothing. Neither is a great scenario for Chicago at this point.
That's why Curry and, to a lesser extent, Chandler, aren't on the untouchable list. In a perfect world, you keep them and let this young team grow together. But in a world of salary caps and luxury taxes, the decision isn't a slam dunk.
Several league GMs claim that Paxson hasn't hung up the phone on them when they've inquired about Curry, but his asking price has increased dramatically over the past few months.
Teams like the Warriors, Sonics and Grizzlies still are interested.
Right now, it seems likely the Bulls will keep both and take their chances this summer. The new collective-bargaining agreement could limit contract lengths, minimizing any risks the Bulls might take signing Curry to a long-term deal.
Given how Paxson's patience has been rewarded so far, it's a gamble that might make some sense.
Seattle SuperSonics: It's tough to break up a team that is a lock for the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Sonics are 11-and-a-half games ahead of the Timberwolves in their division. It would take a meltdown of epic proportions to blow that lead.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Vladimir Radmanovic[/size]
[size=-2]Power Forward
Seattle SuperSonics[/size]
[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]49[/size][size=-2]12.7[/size][size=-2]4.8[/size][size=-2]1.3[/size][size=-2].428[/size][size=-2].771[/size]
But long term, the Sonics have serious issues. They've yet to work out a contract extension with Ray Allen, meaning he could leave this summer. Vladimir Radmanovic hits restricted free agency and he's going to want to move out of his current sixth-man role into a starting job next summer. Antonio Daniels, another key component, also is an unrestricted free agent.
Less important pieces like Jerome James, Vitaly Potapenko and Ronald Murray also are free agents this summer.
If GM Rick Sund believes that the Sonics are serious contenders, he can throw big paychecks Allen, Radmanovic and Daniels' way and keep the team together.
However, doing that takes away any cap room the team would have this summer and would leave it with just rookie Robert Swift in the middle.
If Sund believes the Sonics still are a piece or two away from being a serious contender, a trade might be the best way to get there.
Teams seem especially interested in Radmanovic, Daniels and Murray. While Radmanovic and Daniels are leading candidates for the Sixth Man Award, if the Sonics could add a big man to shore up the team in the long term, they might have to make a deal.
Chances are the Sonics will stand pat as the deadline approaches with the possible exception of moving Murray.
Memphis Grizzlies: Last week Jerry West said he wasn't inclined to make a deal before the deadline. The team is playing well and West didn't seem to want to mess with the team's great chemistry.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Earl Watson[/size]
[size=-2]Point Guard
Memphis Grizzlies[/size]
[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]50[/size][size=-2]8.1[/size][size=-2]1.7[/size][size=-2]5.0[/size][size=-2].441[/size][size=-2].681[/size]
Still, the Grizzlies have some interesting players teams will pursue. Bonzi Wells and Earl Watson are in the last year of their contracts. The team is especially high on Watson and doesn't want to trade him, but acknowledges that he'll likely get a substantial offer this summer – a raise Memphis might not be able to match.
The team also knows that it might have overpaid Brian Cardinal last summer. Cardnial is one of those hustle guys who every team would like to have – just at half the price. Given that the Grizzlies already are chock full of those types of players, he could be expendable if the team could get cap relief in return.
One guy who isn't on the trading block is Stromile Swift. Swift signed the Grizzlies' one-year tender offer last summer. Under NBA trading rules, he can't be traded this season and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Boston Celtics: Several weeks ago the Celtics were flirting internally with blowing up the whole team. Now they appear to have considerably backed away from that. Two sources told Insider last week that it was highly unlikely the team would move Paul Pierce, ending any talk of a major blow-up.
Still, the Celtics have a number of interesting trade options and Danny Ainge has a quick trigger finger. Gary Payton, Michael Stewart and Tom Gugliotta are in the final years of their contracts. Right now the team is leaning toward keeping Payton with an eye toward trying to re-up him in the summer. The team really needs the cap relief Stewart and Gugliotta's contract could provide.
Ainge would like to trade Mark Blount, though his base-year status means he'd have to be included in a much bigger deal or sent to a team like the Rockets that has a trade exception.
There have been a few rumblings this weekend that Jiri Welsch might be available, but given his small salary, it wouldn't be a major trade.
Utah Jazz: Late last week, responding to a report in Insider, GM Kevin O'Connor emphatically denied to Salt Lake beat writers that the team was interested in trading Carlos Boozer.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Carlos Boozer[/size]
[size=-2]Power Forward
Utah Jazz[/size]
[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]50[/size][size=-2]17.9[/size][size=-2]9.0[/size][size=-2]2.8[/size][size=-2].521[/size][size=-2].706[/size]
What we wrote Friday still stands. We said the Jazz are not shopping Boozer and aren't holding a fire sale, but if the right deal comes along (preferably a top-flight point guard) they'd consider.
O'Connor said as much on Friday.
"Is anybody un-tradable?" O'Connor said. "No. But we're not looking to trade Carlos. Don't want to trade him. Want him to be here for the six years of his contract.
"I'm not going to say we'd never trade a player, because you always listen to options you can come up with. But we have no interest in trading Carlos Boozer."
Several teams have made inquiries, but to our knowledge, there are no serious trade proposals on the table.
But what might a trade that works for Boozer look like? If the Mavs were willing to offer something like rookie Devin Harris and the expiring contract of Alan Henderson for Boozer -- that would be the type of deal the Jazz might consider.
Dallas Mavericks: Speaking of the Mavs, the team is talking like there won't be any major changes before the trade deadline. They've shaken up the roster quite a bit the past few years and continuity might do them some good right now.
However, keep a few options in mind as the trade deadline closes in. Alan Henderson has an expiring contract and will draw interest.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Michael Finley[/size]
[size=-2]Guard-Forward
Dallas Mavericks[/size]
[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]34[/size][size=-2]17.4[/size][size=-2]4.5[/size][size=-2]2.7[/size][size=-2].425[/size][size=-2].875[/size]
Of more interest is the flak that Michael Finley has been getting of late. Coach Don Nelson has been on him about his general aggressiveness as Finley tries to battle his way out of a long shooting slump.
"All I need to do is have him make a contribution and understand that when he's not shooting the ball well, he can't not rebound as well and not guard as well," Nelson said. "We need him to be more aggressive, and he's going to try to do that."
Finley drew Nelson's fire after he went 5-for-16 from the field and had only one rebound in 43 minutes in a 107-100 loss last Tuesday.
"I can go out there and get one rebound in 44 minutes," Nelson said. "With one arm. With my bad arm. One is going to fall to you."
That's led to a number of rumors that Finley is on the trading block. Insider hasn't heard of any actual deals with Finley in them. That's probably because Finley turns 32 in March and still has three more years and $51 million left on his contract.
Or maybe it's because Mark Cuban doesn't want to trade him. When asked whether there was any chance the Mavs would consider trading Finely before the trade, here was Cuban's one-word reply to Insider.
"None."
Orlando Magic: GM John Weisbrod doesn't like the direction in which his team is heading.
The Magic are ranked 27th in the league in points allowed per game.
"You can win based on emotion and fight -- and no one likes guys with heart, guys who compete and play with emotion more than I do -- but those are things you have to put on top of discipline. It can't replace discipline," Weisbrod told Florida Today.
"The bigger issue to me is that if you are a team that wins or loses based on emotion, you aren't going to be a successful playoff team," Weisbrod said. "We win the games we do based on emotion and fight and that's a great thing, but we rarely win games because we out-execute teams or because we have good, disciplined habits. I say all the time that the teams that win in the playoffs are the ones with the better habits and are conditioned to do things the right way whether they are on an emotional high or low. We're struggling to develop those habits, especially defensively, so it puts us at the mercy of our emotions."
That critique would seem to point directly at coach Johnny Davis, who has been criticized before for being too friendly with his players.
But it's also yet another, not so subtle dig at Steve Francis, who often is the guy breaking down on the defensive end. Weisbrod isn't afraid to pull the trigger on a deal and Franics has value, so watch Orlando closely.
New Orleans Hornets: The Baron Davis and Jamaal Magloire rumors have quieted, but look for teams to make one last push.
The Hornets are still going nowhere and with the emergence of Dan Dickau, perhaps it's time to see if anyone is willing to take Davis and his bad back off their hands.
There's also interest in P.J. Brown.
By all accounts, it sounds like Magloire isn't going anywhere.
THE REST
A number of other teams don't have the need and/or assets to make a trade. Who will likely be quiet as the trade deadline approaches?
Unless the Bucks decide to give up Michael Redd, the Cavs likely will save their money for the summer so that they can re-up Zydrunas Ilgauskas and to try to lure Redd out of Milwaukee. Players such as Dajuan Wagner and DeSagana Diop also are available, but if they're dealt, they will be small deals for more expiring contracts. … The Pistons would like to add another big man to the roster, but their trade assets are really gone. They like everyone on their roster. And no, they aren't trading Darko Milicic. … The Pacers face the constant temptation to swap Ron Artest or the constantly injured Jonathan Bender for someone who can help them now. They'll resist. … The Suns already have added Jim Jackson and Walter McCarty. To do anything else, they'd have to ship out Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion or Quentin Richardson. Given the way they've played lately, don't count on it. … The Kings would like to find a new home for Chris Webber, but the only team that really wants his contract, the Knicks, can't offer much in return. Look for them to give this team one more shot at making it to the Finals. … Adding Alonzo Mourning to the roster likely will be it for the Heat. They'd love to get Donyell Marshall and dump Wesley Person, but right now things don't look good unless they are willing to part with draft picks and a young asset like Dorell Wright. … The Spurs continue to shop Malik Rose but can't find any takers. … The Clippers have three interesting expiring contracts with Kerry Kittles, Marko Jaric and Bobby Simmons. Kittles is gone, the team wants to re-sign Simmons and Jaric is somewhere in the middle. The Clips also seem to be way down on Chris Wilcox. They have a lot of options right now, but knowing the Clippers they'll do nothing and sort things out in the summer. … The Wizards aren't going to mess with a good thing. There might be some interest in moving Kwame Brown, but with his injury this year, his stock is at an all-time low. They'll probably get him for cheap this summer. … The Bobcats' plan is to save cap room for 2007. They are in no hurry and want to wait and see what the draft brings them next year. Expect them to stay patient unless a team offers them a young prospect they can't pass on.
Bulls, Sonics face tough decisions
By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider
UPSIDE
Other teams are caught somewhere in the middle between the good and the bad. Trades aren't necessary, but if the right deal came along, it could put them over the top.
Here's a look at eight teams that have goods to make a deal, but appear to be sitting on the fence. Will they pull the trigger before the trade deadline?
Chicago Bulls: GM John Paxson is being lauded for his patience with his young team. With the way the Bulls have been playing lately, can you blame him if he decides not to move Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler before the deadline?
Maybe not, but there are other issues at play in Chicago right now. Both Curry and Chandler hit restricted free agency this summer and will demand large deals. Curry, especially, seems to think he's a max-type player.
He isn't and the Bulls know that. Curry doesn't have the work ethic on or off the floor to justify that type of contract.
What the Bulls don't want to get into is a situation where a team with cap room gives him a huge offer sheet and they are forced to match it or let him go for nothing. Neither is a great scenario for Chicago at this point.
That's why Curry and, to a lesser extent, Chandler, aren't on the untouchable list. In a perfect world, you keep them and let this young team grow together. But in a world of salary caps and luxury taxes, the decision isn't a slam dunk.
Several league GMs claim that Paxson hasn't hung up the phone on them when they've inquired about Curry, but his asking price has increased dramatically over the past few months.
Teams like the Warriors, Sonics and Grizzlies still are interested.
Right now, it seems likely the Bulls will keep both and take their chances this summer. The new collective-bargaining agreement could limit contract lengths, minimizing any risks the Bulls might take signing Curry to a long-term deal.
Given how Paxson's patience has been rewarded so far, it's a gamble that might make some sense.
Seattle SuperSonics: It's tough to break up a team that is a lock for the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Sonics are 11-and-a-half games ahead of the Timberwolves in their division. It would take a meltdown of epic proportions to blow that lead.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Vladimir Radmanovic[/size]
[size=-2]Power Forward
Seattle SuperSonics[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]49[/size][size=-2]12.7[/size][size=-2]4.8[/size][size=-2]1.3[/size][size=-2].428[/size][size=-2].771[/size]
But long term, the Sonics have serious issues. They've yet to work out a contract extension with Ray Allen, meaning he could leave this summer. Vladimir Radmanovic hits restricted free agency and he's going to want to move out of his current sixth-man role into a starting job next summer. Antonio Daniels, another key component, also is an unrestricted free agent.
Less important pieces like Jerome James, Vitaly Potapenko and Ronald Murray also are free agents this summer.
If GM Rick Sund believes that the Sonics are serious contenders, he can throw big paychecks Allen, Radmanovic and Daniels' way and keep the team together.
However, doing that takes away any cap room the team would have this summer and would leave it with just rookie Robert Swift in the middle.
If Sund believes the Sonics still are a piece or two away from being a serious contender, a trade might be the best way to get there.
Teams seem especially interested in Radmanovic, Daniels and Murray. While Radmanovic and Daniels are leading candidates for the Sixth Man Award, if the Sonics could add a big man to shore up the team in the long term, they might have to make a deal.
Chances are the Sonics will stand pat as the deadline approaches with the possible exception of moving Murray.
Memphis Grizzlies: Last week Jerry West said he wasn't inclined to make a deal before the deadline. The team is playing well and West didn't seem to want to mess with the team's great chemistry.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Earl Watson[/size]
[size=-2]Point Guard
Memphis Grizzlies[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]50[/size][size=-2]8.1[/size][size=-2]1.7[/size][size=-2]5.0[/size][size=-2].441[/size][size=-2].681[/size]
Still, the Grizzlies have some interesting players teams will pursue. Bonzi Wells and Earl Watson are in the last year of their contracts. The team is especially high on Watson and doesn't want to trade him, but acknowledges that he'll likely get a substantial offer this summer – a raise Memphis might not be able to match.
The team also knows that it might have overpaid Brian Cardinal last summer. Cardnial is one of those hustle guys who every team would like to have – just at half the price. Given that the Grizzlies already are chock full of those types of players, he could be expendable if the team could get cap relief in return.
One guy who isn't on the trading block is Stromile Swift. Swift signed the Grizzlies' one-year tender offer last summer. Under NBA trading rules, he can't be traded this season and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Boston Celtics: Several weeks ago the Celtics were flirting internally with blowing up the whole team. Now they appear to have considerably backed away from that. Two sources told Insider last week that it was highly unlikely the team would move Paul Pierce, ending any talk of a major blow-up.
Still, the Celtics have a number of interesting trade options and Danny Ainge has a quick trigger finger. Gary Payton, Michael Stewart and Tom Gugliotta are in the final years of their contracts. Right now the team is leaning toward keeping Payton with an eye toward trying to re-up him in the summer. The team really needs the cap relief Stewart and Gugliotta's contract could provide.
Ainge would like to trade Mark Blount, though his base-year status means he'd have to be included in a much bigger deal or sent to a team like the Rockets that has a trade exception.
There have been a few rumblings this weekend that Jiri Welsch might be available, but given his small salary, it wouldn't be a major trade.
Utah Jazz: Late last week, responding to a report in Insider, GM Kevin O'Connor emphatically denied to Salt Lake beat writers that the team was interested in trading Carlos Boozer.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Carlos Boozer[/size]
[size=-2]Power Forward
Utah Jazz[/size]
You must be registered for see images
[size=-2]Profile[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]50[/size][size=-2]17.9[/size][size=-2]9.0[/size][size=-2]2.8[/size][size=-2].521[/size][size=-2].706[/size]
What we wrote Friday still stands. We said the Jazz are not shopping Boozer and aren't holding a fire sale, but if the right deal comes along (preferably a top-flight point guard) they'd consider.
O'Connor said as much on Friday.
"Is anybody un-tradable?" O'Connor said. "No. But we're not looking to trade Carlos. Don't want to trade him. Want him to be here for the six years of his contract.
"I'm not going to say we'd never trade a player, because you always listen to options you can come up with. But we have no interest in trading Carlos Boozer."
Several teams have made inquiries, but to our knowledge, there are no serious trade proposals on the table.
But what might a trade that works for Boozer look like? If the Mavs were willing to offer something like rookie Devin Harris and the expiring contract of Alan Henderson for Boozer -- that would be the type of deal the Jazz might consider.
Dallas Mavericks: Speaking of the Mavs, the team is talking like there won't be any major changes before the trade deadline. They've shaken up the roster quite a bit the past few years and continuity might do them some good right now.
However, keep a few options in mind as the trade deadline closes in. Alan Henderson has an expiring contract and will draw interest.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Michael Finley[/size]
[size=-2]Guard-Forward
Dallas Mavericks[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]34[/size][size=-2]17.4[/size][size=-2]4.5[/size][size=-2]2.7[/size][size=-2].425[/size][size=-2].875[/size]
Of more interest is the flak that Michael Finley has been getting of late. Coach Don Nelson has been on him about his general aggressiveness as Finley tries to battle his way out of a long shooting slump.
"All I need to do is have him make a contribution and understand that when he's not shooting the ball well, he can't not rebound as well and not guard as well," Nelson said. "We need him to be more aggressive, and he's going to try to do that."
Finley drew Nelson's fire after he went 5-for-16 from the field and had only one rebound in 43 minutes in a 107-100 loss last Tuesday.
"I can go out there and get one rebound in 44 minutes," Nelson said. "With one arm. With my bad arm. One is going to fall to you."
That's led to a number of rumors that Finley is on the trading block. Insider hasn't heard of any actual deals with Finley in them. That's probably because Finley turns 32 in March and still has three more years and $51 million left on his contract.
Or maybe it's because Mark Cuban doesn't want to trade him. When asked whether there was any chance the Mavs would consider trading Finely before the trade, here was Cuban's one-word reply to Insider.
"None."
Orlando Magic: GM John Weisbrod doesn't like the direction in which his team is heading.
The Magic are ranked 27th in the league in points allowed per game.
"You can win based on emotion and fight -- and no one likes guys with heart, guys who compete and play with emotion more than I do -- but those are things you have to put on top of discipline. It can't replace discipline," Weisbrod told Florida Today.
"The bigger issue to me is that if you are a team that wins or loses based on emotion, you aren't going to be a successful playoff team," Weisbrod said. "We win the games we do based on emotion and fight and that's a great thing, but we rarely win games because we out-execute teams or because we have good, disciplined habits. I say all the time that the teams that win in the playoffs are the ones with the better habits and are conditioned to do things the right way whether they are on an emotional high or low. We're struggling to develop those habits, especially defensively, so it puts us at the mercy of our emotions."
That critique would seem to point directly at coach Johnny Davis, who has been criticized before for being too friendly with his players.
But it's also yet another, not so subtle dig at Steve Francis, who often is the guy breaking down on the defensive end. Weisbrod isn't afraid to pull the trigger on a deal and Franics has value, so watch Orlando closely.
New Orleans Hornets: The Baron Davis and Jamaal Magloire rumors have quieted, but look for teams to make one last push.
The Hornets are still going nowhere and with the emergence of Dan Dickau, perhaps it's time to see if anyone is willing to take Davis and his bad back off their hands.
There's also interest in P.J. Brown.
By all accounts, it sounds like Magloire isn't going anywhere.
THE REST
A number of other teams don't have the need and/or assets to make a trade. Who will likely be quiet as the trade deadline approaches?
Unless the Bucks decide to give up Michael Redd, the Cavs likely will save their money for the summer so that they can re-up Zydrunas Ilgauskas and to try to lure Redd out of Milwaukee. Players such as Dajuan Wagner and DeSagana Diop also are available, but if they're dealt, they will be small deals for more expiring contracts. … The Pistons would like to add another big man to the roster, but their trade assets are really gone. They like everyone on their roster. And no, they aren't trading Darko Milicic. … The Pacers face the constant temptation to swap Ron Artest or the constantly injured Jonathan Bender for someone who can help them now. They'll resist. … The Suns already have added Jim Jackson and Walter McCarty. To do anything else, they'd have to ship out Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion or Quentin Richardson. Given the way they've played lately, don't count on it. … The Kings would like to find a new home for Chris Webber, but the only team that really wants his contract, the Knicks, can't offer much in return. Look for them to give this team one more shot at making it to the Finals. … Adding Alonzo Mourning to the roster likely will be it for the Heat. They'd love to get Donyell Marshall and dump Wesley Person, but right now things don't look good unless they are willing to part with draft picks and a young asset like Dorell Wright. … The Spurs continue to shop Malik Rose but can't find any takers. … The Clippers have three interesting expiring contracts with Kerry Kittles, Marko Jaric and Bobby Simmons. Kittles is gone, the team wants to re-sign Simmons and Jaric is somewhere in the middle. The Clips also seem to be way down on Chris Wilcox. They have a lot of options right now, but knowing the Clippers they'll do nothing and sort things out in the summer. … The Wizards aren't going to mess with a good thing. There might be some interest in moving Kwame Brown, but with his injury this year, his stock is at an all-time low. They'll probably get him for cheap this summer. … The Bobcats' plan is to save cap room for 2007. They are in no hurry and want to wait and see what the draft brings them next year. Expect them to stay patient unless a team offers them a young prospect they can't pass on.
