january jonesin

With the midseason divide almost here, I look back and realize I haven't been updating that much. Work, work, work. I'll try to have something before the all-star break.

First, my all star picks:

STARTERS

EAST: Garnett, LeBron, D Howard, Wade, Billups

WEST: Dirk, Duncan, Boozer, C Paul, Kobe

BENCH

EAST: Caron Butler, Pierce, Bosh, Kidd, Rip, Joe Johnson, and ... who? I don't have a seventh guy. Seriously, no one stands out. Jamison, Josh Smith, Rich Jefferson, Redd, and Ray Allen could all make a case. I guess I like Jamison to give us some size... the Wizards are doing good without Arenas and that's worth something.

WEST: Melo, Yao, Baron, Nash, Iverson.... and I suppose Amare.... and a tie between Ginobli and B Roy. I felt like I missed a guard there... there are four guys under 6-3 there.... no, I'm good. I made that tie. I think we should let the west team have 13 and the east only 11. That's fair this year.

I want to see these people in the rookie game: Roy and Alrdidge; Durant and Jeff Green; Horford; Jamario Moon (great sleeper); Navarro and Rudy Gay; Corey Brewer; Yi; and ummm..... where are the second year guys? Bargnani is hurting but he's probably still in the top ten. 2006 is lacking for now.


Random trade ideas: I tried to figure out a deal for Kidd to Dallas for Devin Harris and other players, but that can't work because Dallas doesn't have many tradable guys. They could give up Erick Dampier, but that actually makes Jersey's cap worse. All of their expensive guys are too important or have too long contracts. Who knew Cuban could put himself in a spot where he couldn't make deals? Even a third team wouldn't help that much - Dallas just has nowhere to go with a big deal.

Kidd to Sacto, Bibby to Cleveland, and draft picks to Jersey? I figured out a way to make it work. But then Jersey doesn't get much for now, and they'd have cap relief in two years anyway when Kidd leaves.... and Kidd goes to the Kings, who might be near his hometown, but aren't a real contender. I doubt that he wants to go there.... so we're back to square one.

Maybe they can get involved with Dallas (Dallas gets Kidd, Jersey gets Harris, Cleveland gets Bibby, Sacto gets.... ummm.... )

Okay:

Sacto gets cap space and draft picks, mostly.... Jersey gets Harris, Dallas gets Kidd, Cleveland gets Bibby, and a lot of people are involved. This trade is contingent on some behind-the-scenes handshakes:

1. Dallas promises to New Jersey that if they accept Dampier now, they will trade for him over the summer with contracts that expire. So the Nets will have cap space heading into Brooklyn.

2. Sacto will cut Jerry Stackhouse, once acquired, so he can go back to the Mavericks. Cuban will send the Maloofs some cash and many draft picks for taking on his contract.

Dallas receives: Jason Kidd, Mikki Moore, Damon Jones (the latter two will be shipped to Jersey after the season is over to get back Dampier)

Cleveland receives: Mike Bibby, Eddie Jones (they might cut him)

New Jersey receives: Devin Harris, Nick Fazekas, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Devean George, and the-merely-for-rental Erick Dampier.... besides, Harris all those guys (and the two they'll get for Dampier later) have contracts that are up soon.

Sacramento receives: Cedric Simmons, Shannon Brown, Jamal Magliorre, Ira Newble, Dwayne Jones, and Jerry Stackhouse (who will have something worked out)... plus draft picks from Cleveland and Dallas

Sacramento Kings
Incoming Players
Cedric Simmons Salary: $1,629,120 Years Remaining: 2
Shannon Brown Salary: $1,044,120 Years Remaining: 1
Jamaal Magloire Salary: $4,000,000 Years Remaining: 1
Ira Newble Salary: $3,441,900 Years Remaining: 1
Jerry Stackhouse Salary: $6,750,000 Years Remaining: 3
Dwayne Jones Salary: $770,610 Years Remaining: 1

New Jersey Nets
Incoming Players
Nick Fazekas Salary: $427,163 Years Remaining: 2
Shareef Abdur-Rahim Salary: $5,800,000 Years Remaining: 3
Devean George Salary: $2,369,111 Years Remaining: 1
Erick Dampier Salary: $10,590,500 Years Remaining: 4
Devin Harris Salary: $3,995,003 Years Remaining: 6
Outgoing Players: Jamaal Magloire, Jason Kidd

Dallas Mavericks
Incoming Players
Mikki Moore Salary: $5,356,000 Years Remaining: 2
Damon Jones Salary: $4,172,432 Years Remaining: 2
Jason Kidd Salary: $19,728,000 Years Remaining: 2
Outgoing Players: Nick Fazekas, Devean George, Erick Dampier, Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, Eddie Jones

Cleveland Cavaliers
Incoming Players
Mike Bibby Salary: $13,500,000 Years Remaining: 2
Eddie Jones Salary: $1,830,000 Years Remaining: 1
Players: Cedric Simmons, Shannon Brown, Damon Jones, Ira Newble, Dwayne Jones


I think this might work. Obviously the Kings might want more for Bibby, like Drew Gooden or another forward.... but they still don't know what to do with Artest, and this gives them some financial flexibility. Simmons and Brown might do more with time. And they'll get lots of draft picks, so in this draft, they can probably find a good point guard and work from there.

This is contingent on a lot of secret deals, but that seems to help teams out sometimes. Because of all the craziness involved, I'd say it has about a 0.0003 % chance of happening.

But you have to admire that I came up with a four team deal that worked.