elindholm
edited for content
Phoenix gets
Darius Miles ($4,130,701, 2004)
Chris Mihm ($2,809,494, 2004)
DeSagana Diop ($2,118,840, 2004/05)
Cleveland gets
Bo Outlaw ($5,955,000, 2005)
Joe Johnson ($1,850,160, 2004/05)
Jake Tsakalidis ($1,580,702, 2004)
return of owed first-round draft-pick
Why Phoenix does it:
Both Johnson and Tsakalidis still have promise, but neither of them has a personality that fits in with the direction the Suns are heading. Miles, although a huge question mark, is more likely to make an effective running mate with Marbury and Marion than Johnson ever will. Mihm is as good an option as other center options that are being discussed (Drobnjak, Campbell), and while his numbers have gone down since his rookie season, he might benefit from a different system. Diop is included to make the salary numbers fit; he does not appear to be able to compete physically in this league and the Suns would likely decline their option on him for 2004-05. If Miles has a breakout year, re-signing him could be problematic, but avoiding a trade just because the player you get might turn out to be great doesn't make any sense. Besides, with Outlaw's contract out of the way, the Suns would have more money to play with in the 2004-05 season.
Why Cleveland does it:
Cleveland wants to move Miles, but it isn't clear how much they'll be able to get for him, and the Suns are offering a fairly attractive package. Since the Cavs already have one plodding white center (Ilgauskas), their system should be able to accommodate Tsakalidis fairly easily; indeed, Tsakalidis may turn out to be something of a force in the center-poor East. Johnson is a smooth, versatile team player who will be happy to defer to the young stars on the roster, rather than be worried about his own numbers. Outlaw brings exactly the kind of veteran attitude that this young team needs and will give them more than Mihm and Diop put together.
Darius Miles ($4,130,701, 2004)
Chris Mihm ($2,809,494, 2004)
DeSagana Diop ($2,118,840, 2004/05)
Cleveland gets
Bo Outlaw ($5,955,000, 2005)
Joe Johnson ($1,850,160, 2004/05)
Jake Tsakalidis ($1,580,702, 2004)
return of owed first-round draft-pick
Why Phoenix does it:
Both Johnson and Tsakalidis still have promise, but neither of them has a personality that fits in with the direction the Suns are heading. Miles, although a huge question mark, is more likely to make an effective running mate with Marbury and Marion than Johnson ever will. Mihm is as good an option as other center options that are being discussed (Drobnjak, Campbell), and while his numbers have gone down since his rookie season, he might benefit from a different system. Diop is included to make the salary numbers fit; he does not appear to be able to compete physically in this league and the Suns would likely decline their option on him for 2004-05. If Miles has a breakout year, re-signing him could be problematic, but avoiding a trade just because the player you get might turn out to be great doesn't make any sense. Besides, with Outlaw's contract out of the way, the Suns would have more money to play with in the 2004-05 season.
Why Cleveland does it:
Cleveland wants to move Miles, but it isn't clear how much they'll be able to get for him, and the Suns are offering a fairly attractive package. Since the Cavs already have one plodding white center (Ilgauskas), their system should be able to accommodate Tsakalidis fairly easily; indeed, Tsakalidis may turn out to be something of a force in the center-poor East. Johnson is a smooth, versatile team player who will be happy to defer to the young stars on the roster, rather than be worried about his own numbers. Outlaw brings exactly the kind of veteran attitude that this young team needs and will give them more than Mihm and Diop put together.
