NBA Off-season Trades/news

[Ridders]

First real big trade right before the draft with Richard Jefferson being traded to the Spurs, from Milwaukee Bucks, for the corpses of Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas. A plus for the Bucks is that this might allow them to resign both Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions. If so, then i think that the Bucks actually get the better of this deal.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4281291

Pretty much a steal along the lines of the Gasol trade, where one team is willing to give up a good player in order to dump salary. Nice addition for the Spurs, although they do lose their front court depth. I suppose this move would allow Ginobili to come off the bench more.

 

[Ridders]

Also reports that the Celtics offered to Detroit a trade offer that would send Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen to the Pistons in exchange for Hamilton, Prince and Stuckey. If reports are correct, it was Detroit who rejected to deal.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-celticspistons062209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

I can see why Detroit wouldn't want to give up their entire scoring core, but why is Boston shopping Rondo :crazy:. Don't know how accurate the reports are but Rondo must be a real jerk off the court because it would be suicidal for a franchise to give up a future superstar when you have an ageing squad.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Great trade for the Spurs. Makes sense for Milwaukee, on some levels, and certainly not as big a theft as Gasol (although close!) - Gasol was a legitimate All-Star, Jefferson boderline at best.

Jefferson should take some pressure off Parker & Duncan, can create his own shot and is a decent enough shooter to play the spot-up guy role previously played by Bowen. A smart, unselfish player as well, should easily adapt to the Spurs system. Not sure it's enough to put them back up with the elite, but with one or more moves to shore up the front line, it's a step in the right direction.

 

[Ridders]

Yeah if this deal allows the Bucks to resign Sessions, shedding Jefferson is worth it. No doubt Jefferson will play out of his skin after being stuck in Milaukee for a while. This really is the final hurrah for this group of Spurs. Duncan has maybe 1 or 2 more years of quality left in him. Jeez, i wouldn't want to be a spurs fan when Duncan is done, will be a brutal period.

 

[Ridders]

Just looking back on that Rondo-Allen trade offer, it would be interesting to know how much Detroit considered it before turning it down. If rumours are true that they are pursuing Boozer and Ben Gordon in free agency, it wouldn't be a bad line-up to have Boozer-Rondo-Gordon as your Big 3.

 

[Special K]

The Washington Wizards have acquired Minnesota Timberwolves Randy Foye and Mike Miller in exchange for Etan Thomas, Oleksiy Pecherov and Darius Songaila and the fifth overall pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, a league executive with knowledge of the deal told Yahoo! Sports.

Mike Miller and Foye for #5 and change? wow. Considering two years ago they wouldn't give Foye up to team AI with KG!

The Bucks have flipped Fabricio Oberto to the Pistons in exchange for Amir Johnson, according to a source.

A cap move by the Pistons and a sweet pick up for the Bucks!

I love draft madness. I hate working full time now and missing this tomorrow.. Oh to be back at uni

 

[Noa]

Yeah if this deal allows the Bucks to resign Sessions, shedding Jefferson is worth it. No doubt Jefferson will play out of his skin after being stuck in Milaukee for a while. This really is the final hurrah for this group of Spurs. Duncan has maybe 1 or 2 more years of quality left in him. Jeez, i wouldn't want to be a spurs fan when Duncan is done, will be a brutal period.

Yep.

Also allows us to bring Ersan Ilyasova back from europe, he was one of the best players in Europe this year. Like the trade on of Oberto for Amir Johnson as well.

I thkn this spells the end of the Bucks drafting Jordan Hill. Look for us to take one of Jennings, Derozan or Holiday.

 

[Ridders]

Also news that Atlanta are in the process of making a deal for Jamal Crawford, which would send Acie Law and Claxton go to GS. Wonder what affect this will have on Bibby's contract situation.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Don't particularly like the trade for Atlanta. We need a pure point, Crawford isn't one. Still, he is unquestionably an upgrade over Law & Claxton. Personally, whilst Bibby has had a positive impact on the club since his arrival, I wouldn't be in a rush to re-sign him, especially if he wants either a long-term contract, or a rich one. There are plenty of point guards in this years draft, a few will still be on the board come our pick and we still have Childress' rights (if needed for trade bait).

He is slipping, but I think Mills might be a halfway decent fit on our team. With the athletes we already have, we have GOT to get out and run. Mills can push the pace, might not be the best pure point, but as an energizer off the bench you could do worse.

 

[Special K]

Law imo should become a solid PG. I loved his college game however he never got out of first gear for the hawks..

 

[Stonecutter]

Spurs also have 2 2nd round picks this year. Includeing one in prime position to pick up Patty Mills. Spurs need a back up PG, Spurs assistant coach is the Boomers headcoach.

Spurs also have 4 or 5 Euro league contracted players they can bring in. Depth is not an problem with mason, Udoka, Bonner, Finley and Mahinmi on the bench.

The Spurs are building for post Duncan. They will not be automatically out of playoff picture once TD retires. And With a starting lineup of C: Dunca PF: Gooden SF: Jefferson SG: Ginobili PG: Parker right now they can definitely give LA a run for glory.

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2009/

 

[Stonecutter]

Just in on ESPN news!

Shaq trade to cavs 90% complete.

 

[Special K]

Some more on stonecutters post..

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns are nearing agreement on a blockbuster trade involving Shaquille O'Neal, according to two sources with knowledge of the discussions. The deal is more than "90 percent" complete, according to the sources, and is merely awaiting final approval from the team's owners.
Cleveland will send Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix.

Should be fun to see Shaq and LeBron..

 

[Ridders]

I like it from the sense that its a no loss trade. Even if Shaq bombs, Ben Wallace wasn't exactly giving them much. This is definitely a desperation trade in regards to Lebron's free agency. My question is that does this really sway Lebron to stay in Cleveland. Its not like Shaq is going to be around for the distant future. If Rajon Rondo was really available, he's someone i thought Cleveland would really go after. Him and Lebron would be a combination that could carry a franchise for the next 8-10 years.

 

[Stonecutter]

They have Mo Williams, why would they go after Rondo? I would've thought they'd go after Bosh or Stoudamire if they wanted to try and sway Lebron to stay for a long time.

 

[Special K]

They still can given Shaq's contract runs out at that time anyway

 

[Stonecutter]

So will Amare's though. And it's clear once his deal is over he won't re-sign so the suns are looking to get value out of him in a trade. Something could be done on draft day.

 

[McLovin]

Shaq and Lebron will be massive....

 

[herbert henry1908]

I didnt watch much of the NBA this year due to my team being punted, so i was surprised to see the stats shaq put up this past season.

If he can do that again next year the cavs should give it a real shake.

Those that saw the suns play a bit last season was shaq as impressive as his stats suggest?( for a 37 year old that is)

 

[Ridders]

They have Mo Williams, why would they go after Rondo? I would've thought they'd go after Bosh or Stoudamire if they wanted to try and sway Lebron to stay for a long time.

There is a massive difference between a true PG who will be a Top 5 PG in this league for years to come and a shooting guard imitating a PG. This league is full of Mo William's, players like Rondo are rare.

I agree thought that i thought they would go after someone else. Shaq is a great short-term option but doesn't offer anything moving forwards. I suppose they are gambling on the fact that they can draw a player like Bosh in 2010 if they can win the title this upcoming season.