IMO the following players should be on the block. Outlaw, Sergio, Frye, Ike, Raef, and Randolph. Now let's be clear there are only two players that have any value in terms of talent: Outlaw & Sergio. The other guys are simply salary cap pieces. Ike, Frye, Randolph, and Raef all can come off the books at the end of the season. So what we are talking about is giving up more salary relief that we are talent. So some of the trades I propose will simply be for teams to get a little help, but a lot of cap relief. I believe the Blazers can get more in trade than they can on the FA market, mainly because a lot of teams will get some decent sign and trade offers that we will not be in a position to make. Scenario #1 with OKC 12-28-08 Outgoing Players: Shavlik Randolph, Ike Diogu, Channing Frye Incoming Players: D.J. White, Nick Collison Why? Collison is an upgrade over Frye and Ike. He shoots a high FG & FT%, he also rebounds fairly well. The one thing I love about Collison is that the guy knows how to set a screen. D.J. White is involved simply for additional cap space for OKC. Why would OKC do this? Mainly because they suck and they will probably be drafting a big this year. Scenario #2 with Washington "The Butler Trade" 12-28-08 Outgoing Players: Shavlik Randolph, Ike Diogu, Raef LaFrentz, Sergio Rodriguez, Channing Frye, Travis Outlaw Incoming Players: Etan Thomas, Brendan Haywood, Darius Songaila, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler Why? I know it is a lot of players, but basically this is a move to get Caron Butler. Why would Washington give up it's best player? Simple because it would save them millions in cap space. They suck, nobody is going to take Agent Zero or Jamison off their hands. This gives us a Robin to Roy's Batman. It also gives us an all-star starting SF that plays both sides of the ball. We do take on a lot of salary, but Butler might be the guy that gets us to the next level. I think Songaila would be an interesting bench guy, and Etan Thomas brings toughness. You keep your core in place as well. Scenario #3 With Minny 12-28-08 Outgoing Players: Ike Diogu, Channing Frye, Travis Outlaw Incoming Players: Mike Miller, Ryan Gomes Why? This move makes us better on the outside, and gives us a solid starting SF with a nice bench guy. It gives Minny some cap relief. This gives more time for Martell and Nic to develop as well. Gomes is a nice player that can do everything that TO can do for the most part. The main motivation for Minny is cap space. I will post some more later
hmmm....lets see.... Scenerio #1: works pretty good Scenerio #2: Washington can get a more attractive deal from another team, involving young talent, cap space and picks. Scenerio #3: Miller and Gomes are worth more than Outlaw and filler...Gomes is a not a bad contract and Miller is a player many other teams would still want since he can help now and his 9mil contract ends in time for the 2010 free agent rush....so Miller will be in a deal to get someone good...maybe a package for Butler to Minnesota or to Charlotte for Wallace
Gut reaction: Scenario 1.....interesting. Getting a back-up PF who is willing to put a body on people would be a nice, albeit minor, upgrade. Scenario 3.....can't see it. Gomes has a good attitude, but is too short to actually be an effective PF. Miller has his uses on the right roster, but the last thing this team needs is another guy who settles for jumpers. Scenario 2.....too complicated and too lopsided.
Yeah I failed to mention that Miller (although nice) isn't exactly what they need. Gerlad Wallace should be targeted...but once again...other teams might offer more to the Cats And with the Washington deal...it is too lopsided...thier giving up pretty much discards and cap space for a borderline all-star caliber player...Washington can get a far greater deal then that
