another work in progress

Trade updates part deux:

If the NBA was really interesting in biasing things toward the East, they'd make it possible for Chicago to acquire Kobe and KG. But it's not possible under salary cap rules... unless they gave up Ben Wallace, which would leave 1. them with no help for those two, and 2. he's the last guy any other team wants to have. If they could swing it so they had KG, Ben, Nocioni, Duhon, and Kobe... I mean, that's almost enough to win the East, right? They'd have no bench and not much scoring besides the big duo ... but if LeBron can carry a team where no on else is going for more than 15 a night to the finals, they'd have to do it, right? The MJ-Pippen Bulls had basically two superstars, one good rebounder, one decent third scorer, and a bunch of misfits.... this is almost like that. And they'd have two big guys who can defend, which would destory the East. Duhon has worked to be a decent shooter, and Nocioni can defend and hit threes, so that wouldn't be a terrible lineup. No bench, but they might have a few exceptions and trade rules left.

But every scenario I've tried to come up with doesn't work. Even if they use the sign-and-trade leverage for P. J. Brown, they can't afford three colossal contracts when two of them are incoming. They might, MIGHT be able to do it if they get big sign-and-trades for Brown and Nocioni, but then they really gut their roster and they have to hope other people are interested in paying big bucks for those guys. In the end, it's nearly impossible to get both.

It's a shame, because this would totally re-energize the East, give the league a marquee team in Chicago again with marquee names, and give the Lakers and Wolves some great young talent. I don't think the Bulls are really so interesting in gutting their team to get KG or Kobe, when they could make a simpler move (like Pau Gasol) and have a young team that could compete for years. But then again, they made that big deal for Ben Wallace, indicating that they'd like to win now.

Well, we know this:

KG will not play for Boston.

Shawn Marion will not play for Boston or Minnesota.

Kobe will only play for Dallas, Phoenix, or Chicago, if he's really done with the Lakers.

Phoenix and LA are weary of dealing with each other because of their rivalry.

Does that create anything? Not yet.

ANOTHER NEWS NOTE:

As Henry Abbott noted today, Danny Ferry and the Cavs haven't made all great moves, but they have at least opened up the vault to sign people. They'll pay the tax and invest. That's better than being cheap for everything. They've been able to take bad contracts off other teams (I do appreciate them taking Eric Snow, if they could only take every other move Billy King made...) and help those teams out. Now that Steve Kerr is in Phoenix and Sam Presti is in San Antonio, both guys Ferry knows from San Antonio, the Cavs could offer help to thos teams with their contract problems, because both of them are being cheap and both are also happy to deal to an Eastern team. As Abott said, this means that the Cavs could be the destination for Rashard Lewis or Shawn Marion.

That makes sense, but of course, both of those guys have options (Lewis is on one now), so they'll have to be convinced to go there. Marion might not like it, but Lewis is a great fit. I said they should resume talks with Seattle about Ray Allen.... but they could just go after him instead and not have to give up as much. I didn't see what their deal space was like, but if they're willing to take on bad contracts, they become a little more attractive trade partner. Lewis could solve a lot of problems for them....

Here's one to think about:

NEW JERSEY trades

Richard Jefferson, Bernard Robinson, Josh Boone, Bostjan Nachbar, Hassan Adams, Cliff Robinson, Antoine Wright (all expire in a year), # 16 pick to MINNESOTA

MINNESOTA trades

Kevin Garnett to PHOENIX, Trenton Hassell to NEW JERSEY

PHOENIX trades

Shawn Marion, James Jones to JERSEY, Eric Piatkowski, # 22 pick, future pick (from Atlanta) to MINNESOTA

Minnesota gets to drump Hassell, pickup Jefferson, draft picks, and a lot of guys whos contracts are up soon. Jersey exchanges Jefferson for Marion and Jones, which I think is an upgrade (he needs to play with either Nash or Kidd and no one else). Phoenix gets KG without giving up Amare, as they wish. Phoenix also sends Marion eastbound, and makes it harder for the Lakers to make deals, since, as I already proposed, Jersey is one of the few teams that might not mind picking up Lamar Odom. You could say that Minnesota isn't getting much worth back for KG, but they need to start getting rid of salaries, and Jefferson and a bunch of draft picks isn't a terrible start. Three first rounders this year gives them depth; then next year, they hope that Atlanta's pick is good. It's something.