trade proposal (Kings)

[elindholm]

Sacramento gets
Bo Outlaw ($5,955,000, 2005)
Jake Tsakalidis ($1,580,702, 2004)
#17 pick

Phoenix gets
Scot Pollard ($5,309,563, 2006)
Hedo Turkoglu ($1,995,611, 2004)
Sacramento's first round-pick in either 2004 or 2005 (Phoenix option)

Why Sacramento does it:
Turkoglu's name is constantly in trade rumors; it appears that the Kings have no use for him anymore. I think they still like Pollard, but now that Clark has been added, he is expendable. Tsakalidis might work out well in a situation where less is expected of him, and Outlaw brings the same kind of enthusiasm and energy that Pollard has (although Outlaw isn't as good a player). With the #17 pick, they have the chance to add a decent role player according to their needs, probably a scoring swingman. They will also save some salary in 2005-06, after Outlaw's contract expires.

Divac/Clark/Tsakalidis
Webber/Outlaw/Clark
Stojakovic/J. Jackson/#17/Wallace
Christie/J. Jackson/#17/B. Jackson
Bibby/B. Jackson

(Then they sign Juwan Howard with their median exception.)

Why Phoenix does it:
They don't seem to have anyone at #17 who is really going to help them -- at least not as much as Turkoglu (a former #16 pick himself) could. Tsakalidis may not be hopeless, but he'll never be the player that Pollard is. Pollard can handle himself at center against anyone, even Shaquille O'Neal (well, sort of). The Suns also get back a late first-round pick in a year that they might be better able to use it.

Pollard/Voskuhl/Williams
Stoudemire/Pollard/Turkoglu
Marion/Turkoglu
Hardaway/Johnson/Jacobsen
Marbury/Hardaway/FA

 

[slinslin]

I don't think the Kings would trade Hedo that easily.

I would also like to have Gerald Wallace maybe as much as I would like to have Hedo.

 

[SweetD]

IMO Pollard is not staring C material I would much rather have Big Jake and draft a SF instead of taking Turk. I just don't see how this will make the Suns better or help with the Cap.

 

[elindholm]

IMO Pollard is not staring C material

Probably not, but he's a lot closer than anyone who will be on the Suns' roster next season. Tsakalidis may become an adequate backup, but he'll never be starting material -- especially not for a Suns team which is built on athleticism.

I just don't see how this will make the Suns better or help with the Cap.

I think it's a pretty significant upgrade at C/PF. But it doesn't help for salary, that's true.

 

[JCSunsfan]

. Tsakalidis may not be hopeless, but he'll never be the player that Pollard is. Pollard can handle himself at center against anyone, even Shaquille O'Neal (well, sort of[/B]

This is the part I do not agree with. Pollard has not proven himself capable of handling Shaq. IMO Tsak has more potential than Pollard.

Tsak is a piece of the puzzle that we need to keep in place right now. Big men take more time to develop and he was injured for the entire season last year.

Pollard is not starting caliber, Tsak has the potential to be. With the Suns history with big men, we simply can't give up on Tsak yet.

If we can add another big guy without giving up Tsak, I'm all for it. Having options is good.

 

[elindholm]

This is the part I do not agree with. Pollard has not proven himself capable of handling Shaq. IMO Tsak has more potential than Pollard.

I agree that Tsakalidis seems to be better than Pollard at defending O'Neal. However, the Suns play the Lakers only four times per year, and O'Neal isn't going to be around that much longer anyway. Pollard is better in all other situations.

Pollard is not starting caliber, Tsak has the potential to be.

I disagree. First of all, giving Tsakalidis an excuse for last year's injury is a mistake: he has gotten injured every year in the league so far, never missing fewer than 15 games. (To be fair, Pollard is also injury-prone.)

But the big problem with Tsakalidis is that he is extremely slow. Some teams (Utah) can get by with a slow center, but I think these Suns can't. If you look at Dikembe Mutombo, even at 54 years old, he's a lot better than Tsakalidis -- and yet the Nets barely used him, because he didn't fit in with their team. The Suns would be in a similar situation with Tsakalidis even if he were to realize his "potential."

And finally, what is this so-called "potential" based on? Who determines whether some stiffs have potential and some don't? I'm not saying Tsakalidis is terrible or that he can't get better, but he'll certainly never be an average-level center in this league, because he just doesn't have the skills or talent.

Trading Tsakalidis for Pollard wouldn't be "giving up" on him, any more than trading Finley for Kidd was giving up on Finley. Pollard is an annoying thug, and I really dislike him, but he is a very good player. If the Suns could start with a #20-whatever pick and wind up with someone like Pollard, I don't see how that's anything to be disappointed about.

 

[fordronken]

Turkoglue is being rumoured to go to the Bulls for their pick, so I doubt he'd go anywhere for the #17.

 

[cheng]

I think this trade makes sense, it addresses the lack of depth at SF and C, and makes the rotation up to 8 quality players.

I don't think Big Jake will ever have impact like Pollard, at least not consistently. I wouldn't count on Big Jake to stop Shaq or Duncan anyway.

Pollard is somewhat like Outlaw, doesnt mind doing all the dirty work but his size allows him to rebound and guard PF and C better than Outlaw.

Hedo has proven he can step it up when called upon, he is ideal backup for Marion. And in case Hardaway gets injuried again, he can play some SG as well.

Not a bad trade.


It should be a fun and busy off season as so many teams have changed their coaches/GMs.

 

[fordronken]

Hedo has proven he can step it up when called upon

*Cough* Excuse me. I just choked on my liver.

 

[Joe Mama]

IMO, the biggest problem with this trait is that Turkoglu will be a restricted free agent after this season, and I don't think the Phoenix Suns can afford to keep him. They definitely won't be able to match any offer over the mid-level exception.

Scot Pollard's contract is just as bad as outlaw's except it's a year longer. Pollard would be the best center on the Phoenix Suns roster, but really that just tells you how bad the center rotation is.

Besides I'm not sure Sacramento would want Big Jake. They've seen just how slow he is. Remember when Chris Webber took the ball right around him. God, that was embarrassing.

Joe Mama

 

[hcsilla]

Not a bad idea.
I would do this trade at a heartbeat. Without SAC's pick as well.

Turkoglu would be a perfect 6th man.He is definitely worth more than #17, IMO. Pollard is better than Tsakalidis or Outlaw.

IF SAC likes Tsakalidis AND the available talent at #17 then they may do that trade but I doubt that they would.

 

[cheng]

Originally posted by fordronken
*Cough* Excuse me. I just choked on my liver.

He played much better than I thought in the playoff series against the lakers. You can't expect him to stop Kobe or carry a team by himself. But he is much better than say CJ or Langhi, especailly he proved that he could actually play in a playoff game.