2008-09 NBA Off-season moves

[billmac91]

I thought I'd start a thread on this, as talks are already beginning to heat up.

ESPN is reporting that the Nets are looking to swing a trade with Denver to acquire Carmelo.

Sounds like the contracts between Vince and Melo are a wash, and New Jersey will still be able to clear close to 18 million in cap space to make a run at LeBron even if they acquire Carmelo.

Steven A. continually brings up LeBrons advisors and how much he knows LeBron wants to go to the New York market. Steven A. also says LeBron loves Devon Harris and liked the idea of going to Dallas when Harris was there. I don't put much stock into what Steven A. says, but it's interesting the Nets might have Carmelo and Harris as complimentary pieces when they go after LeBron with a max contract.

 

[mross34]

The Knicks Blogis reporting of possible interest from Philadelphia in acquiring Zach Randolph.

Please let it be true.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I thought I'd start a thread on this, as talks are already beginning to heat up.

ESPN is reporting that the Nets are looking to swing a trade with Denver to acquire Carmelo.

Sounds like the contracts between Vince and Melo are a wash, and New Jersey will still be able to clear close to 18 million in cap space to make a run at LeBron even if they acquire Carmelo.

Steven A. continually brings up LeBrons advisors and how much he knows LeBron wants to go to the New York market. Steven A. also says LeBron loves Devon Harris and liked the idea of going to Dallas when Harris was there. I don't put much stock into what Steven A. says, but it's interesting the Nets might have Carmelo and Harris as complimentary pieces when they go after LeBron with a max contract.

Steven A is just talking out the side of his mouth...You don't think if LBJ advisers were just telling people that LBJ was going to New York that more people might be saying that other than him...

I am not saying that LBJ might not think about it, buthe and his advisers are not telling anyone that they are going to New York...

As for Melo and LBJ together, good luck with the contract situation...They will both be looking to get about 20 million...They both play the same position...

Not saying it can't happen, but I say good luck to whoever is trying to build that team..Harris would be looking to get a solid contract...You would be talking all mid level guys to even make a team like that work...

 

[LitlBuck]

Steven A is just talking out the side of his mouth...You don't think if LBJ advisers were just telling people that LBJ was going to New York that more people might be saying that other than him...

I am not saying that LBJ might not think about it, buthe and his advisers are not telling anyone that they are going to New York...

As for Melo and LBJ together, good luck with the contract situation...They will both be looking to get about 20 million...They both play the same position...

Not saying it can't happen, but I say good luck to whoever is trying to build that team..Harris would be looking to get a solid contract...You would be talking all mid level guys to even make a team like that work...

I agree with what you were saying plus Stephen A. likes to talk just to hear himself but saying that in your last paragraph isn't that what Boston sort of did this year.

 

[exhawg]

The Nuggets would be stupid to give up Melo for Carter unless they just want to get him out of town. If they did swing that trade and the owners don't mind a major luxury tax hit, that could be they type of move that I could see Lebron going for if Ferry can't get the Cavs right. I do believe that Ferry is going to get things fixed. Wouldn't the Nuggets be better off dealing Melo for an expiring contract and some draft picks than Vince?

 

[Piney]

Steven A is just talking out the side of his mouth...You don't think if LBJ advisers were just telling people that LBJ was going to New York that more people might be saying that other than him...

I am not saying that LBJ might not think about it, buthe and his advisers are not telling anyone that they are going to New York...

As for Melo and LBJ together, good luck with the contract situation...They will both be looking to get about 20 million...They both play the same position...

Not saying it can't happen, but I say good luck to whoever is trying to build that team..Harris would be looking to get a solid contract...You would be talking all mid level guys to even make a team like that work...

Those "advisors" could be closer to Jay-Z's advisors than anything else. Cuz really the Nets is the only team I can see LeBron leaving the Cavs for.

But you bring up a good point. Carmello and LeBron play the same position. And it isn't like either of them can guard SGs. So my guess is Carmello gets moved if they can get LeBron.

Really though as long as the Cavs are knocking on the door for a championship I cannot see how LeBron can leave. He would NEVER be able to go back to Ohio, he will get the Modell treatment and maybe worse.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I agree with what you were saying plus Stephen A. likes to talk just to hear himself but saying that in your last paragraph isn't that what Boston sort of did this year.

Yeah looking at it I guess they did...

But my thinking is that LBJ and Melo are going to need more money...I am talking in the 20 mill range...Only Garnett is there for the Celtics...

But the Celtics are made up of only guys with 4 mill contracts at the most...

Then the fact that you have your two highest payed players at the same position...Yeah they will play at the same time together, but Melo cannot guard the 2 position, and is it good for LBJ to guard the 2 position...Not saying he can't do it, but imagine against the Pistons him having to guard Rip and running off all those screens, that is going to hurt him on the offensive end...

Also Devin Harris is set to make 8 mill next season and this his contract is off the books, so to get him back they are going to at least have to pay him 8 mill, so you have a great backcourt, but at the expense of 50 mill...


Don't forget also the Nets have Jefferson on the books for 15 million in the year they would look to bring LBJ in...Then you have 65 mill in the back court before you even get to your front court and bench...

Not saying it can't happen, but there is going to have to be a lot of wigglin' to get it done...

 

[BuckeyeMafia]

Good points on all sides, and to be frank, I don't see LeBron leaving Cleveland. It just wouldn't be "right". Jay Z is his main motivation to move teams at all, and the Nets are about as good- probably worse with LeBron than the Cavs are.

Cleveland is 1 step away from Titles. I can't see LeBron leaving Ohio, especially after that whole thing they did with him and Akron.

We just lost to the team with the best record in the NBA from luck and injuries.

1 more fairly decent player away.

 

[OH10]

I agree with the point that CB40 made before. The Cavs need to sit down with Lebron and find out if there is any hope that he may stay long term, and what they need to do. If he has no intention of staying after 2010, I wish he would let the team know now so they don't mortgage the future with moves just to make him happy.

I still did not like the deadline trade. It did nothing for the team. Ben Wallace is a shell of his former self. Wally was wildy inconsistent. Joe Smith did contribute some. The big steal of the trade was probably Delonte. But it did nothing to advance this team at all this year. And it just felt like trade that was forced to make Lebron happy.

 

[BuckeyeMafia]

I don't really agree on the fact of the trade...

We went from, Gooden, Hughes, and a bunch of other inconsistent role players- to Delonte West, Ben Wallace, Wally, and Joe Smith.

Joe Smith is a more consistent, older, Drew Gooden.

Delonte West is an absolute great find, easily the best deal in the trade.

Ben Wallace- when he wants to play- he will. 0 threat offensively though, just gets in the way.

Wally- next year this man will come on, if not, big disappointment here.

One more decent all around player, and no injuries, and we will be championship level.

 

[LitlBuck]

I agree with the point that CB40 made before. The Cavs need to sit down with Lebron and find out if there is any hope that he may stay long term, and what they need to do. If he has no intention of staying after 2010, I wish he would let the team know now so they don't mortgage the future with moves just to make him happy.

I still did not like the deadline trade. It did nothing for the team. Ben Wallace is a shell of his former self. Wally was wildy inconsistent. Joe Smith did contribute some. The big steal of the trade was probably Delonte. But it did nothing to advance this team at all this year. And it just felt like trade that was forced to make Lebron happy.

I might be totally off base here but I do not think that a superstar (Lebron) would sit down with management and tell them that he has no intention of staying in Cleveland after 2010. That would be just plain stupid on his part. I have to believe that they would consult with him regarding what he might want them to bring into the organization but I do not think he would tell them his intentions. That would be crazy on his part.

I also don't believe that the trade brought them very much but I think they gave away much less. Even though Wallace is on the downside, they would have had no one to stop KG in the Boston series and without West they really wouldn't had a PG. I think the trade brought them the win over Washington and the almost with the Celtics and I am sure that the trade had the blessings of Lebron.

 

[OH10]

I might be totally off base here but I do not think that a superstar (Lebron) would sit down with management and tell them that he has no intention of staying in Cleveland after 2010. That would be just plain stupid on his part. I have to believe that they would consult with him regarding what he might want them to bring into the organization but I do not think he would tell them his intentions. That would be crazy on his part.

Agreed. I would still approach him on the issue if I were management. But I'm concerned that Lebron is really running this team - and if he leaves, he may well have run the team into the ground. If he has no intention of staying, I WISH he would saying something - but you're right - why would he?

I also don't believe that the trade brought them very much but I think they gave away much less. Even though Wallace is on the downside, they would have had no one to stop KG in the Boston series and without West they really wouldn't had a PG. I think the trade brought them the win over Washington and the almost with the Celtics and I am sure that the trade had the blessings of Lebron.

Delonte West and Drew Gooden were the only two solid rotation players in the deal. They're not stars, but they are solid contributors. I always felt that way about Drew Gooden.

Joe Smith and Wally Z are finished. Ferry had to know that - although Wally's expiring contract helps us out next year and Joe Smith did provide some solid minutes in the Celtics' series. Big Ben was already finished - and his contract is a black hole.

Ben and Larry's contracts cancel out pretty much. But, I still get the feeling that Larry could have fit in with this team with a competent offensive scheme. The reason he stunk up the joint night in and night was because the offense did not suit his style. But I think we all agree that the offense is shitty regardless of the personnel at this point. I would rather have Larry than Ben - that is for sure.

 

[billmac91]

Good points OH10........We don't even hit the 90 point barrier on a consistent basis with one of the best players of all time. Hughes was wildly inconsistent, and his game didn't fit in at all. But who has been consistent outside of LeBron over the last 3 years?

It is pretty sickening to think about how good this team could have been had Boozer not f'd us in the 'a'.

Hopefully Ferry can get another big-time player.....I worked a Sasha, Wild Thing, and Wally for Michael Redd and Dan Gadzuric in the generator today if anyone was interested.

 

[mross34]

Agreed. I would still approach him on the issue if I were management. But I'm concerned that Lebron is really running this team - and if he leaves, he may well have run the team into the ground. If he has no intention of staying, I WISH he would saying something - but you're right - why would he?



Delonte West and Drew Gooden were the only two solid rotation players in the deal. They're not stars, but they are solid contributors. I always felt that way about Drew Gooden.

Joe Smith and Wally Z are finished. Ferry had to know that - although Wally's expiring contract helps us out next year and Joe Smith did provide some solid minutes in the Celtics' series. Big Ben was already finished - and his contract is a black hole.

Ben and Larry's contracts cancel out pretty much. But, I still get the feeling that Larry could have fit in with this team with a competent offensive scheme. The reason he stunk up the joint night in and night was because the offense did not suit his style. But I think we all agree that the offense is shitty regardless of the personnel at this point. I would rather have Larry than Ben - that is for sure.

Bottom line is they weren't gonna win the East, much less a title with the cast they had before the trade, and I think they had a slightly better chance after. They made a trade with moderate upside and little risk of hurting them short-term or long-term.
I still don't think one solid all-around player would put them over the top, unless you're talking about someone on the level of Iguodala. I think he could play Pippen to Lebron's Jordan.

 

[billmac91]

Bottom line is they weren't gonna win the East, much less a title with the cast they had before the trade, and I think they had a slightly better chance after. They made a trade with moderate upside and little risk of hurting them short-term or long-term.
I still don't think one solid all-around player would put them over the top, unless you're talking about someone on the level of Iguodala. I think he could play Pippen to Lebron's Jordan.

I could really get down with a line-up of:

West
Redd
James
Wallace
Z

Boobie, Joe Smith, Damon Jones, and a rookie big off the bench.

It's a pipe dream, but I think that would put us right there with the top line-ups in the league.