My idea: Portland receives TJ Ford Indiana receives Jerryd Bayless Steve Blake Martell Webster http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yaml36y Why Portland does it: TJ Ford is still just 26 years old, and he's put up solid PERs (last three years: 18.2, 20.3, 16.6) and solid Assist Rates (44.8, 44.4. 27.6). His last year was a bit of a down year, which may make him more attainable, but even in the down year, he had a healthy Assist Rate and PER (as opposed to star-level or near star-level the previous two seasons). Ford is a natural point guard and clearly successful at getting others involved. He's not a great shooter, but he's not miserable (32% career three-point percentage). He's not an efficient scorer, but on this team, his role would be to make plays for others. Left alone, he has the ability to score enough to make other teams pay. Why Indiana does it: They have essentially nothing at shooting guard. They can abandon the attempt to make Bayless an NBA point guard and let him play as their lead guard, a game that Bayless plays very well. Blake gives them a perfectly serviceable point guard for the present to step in for Ford and Webster is a non-trivial throw-in: someone young enough to still develop into more but already a worthwhile NBA player signed to a reasonable contract. Ford is a free agent at the end of the year, while Bayless and Webster are locked up for several more. This is essentially a trade of a proven NBA player for some prospects. Indiana isn't close to contention and it's quite possible that Ford, despite not being long in the tooth, won't be around or in his prime when Indiana is next relevant. Webster could be and Bayless could be a part of making them relevant. Concerns: Despite sending three perimeter players out for one (and two of the players on the depth chart at point guard for one), there are still playing time concerns, notably at point guard. Both Miller and Ford deserve starter minutes. Both are in their primes. I think this can be resolved by cutting away Outlaw's small forward minutes (he plays only as backup to Aldridge) and giving Roy substantial minutes at small forward. That frees up more guard minutes for Miller, Ford and Fernandez to share. Still, it's tricky. I'd have liked to send out Fernandez too, to allow for a three-guard rotation of Miller, Roy and Ford...but there's not much more for Indiana to add to deal (that they might be willing to, so no Granger). Murphy would make a nice backup power forward, but he makes far too much for salaries to be balanced in the deal in any reasonable way. It's certainly not a perfect deal, but Ford is quite intriguing and would be the right age...he's a proven, young veteran but Portland would still get a good chunk of his prime.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ya4wvpp Outlaw, Blake, Bayless for Haslem and Chalmers. Miller/Chalmers/Dickau Roy/Rudy/Ime Batum/Webster/Cunningham Aldridge/Haslem/Howard Oden/Przybilla
One other concern is TJ Ford's neck. He has a genetic defect that makes his neck way more susceptable to injury then normal. A few years ago he almost got paralyzed by Al Horford on a hard but not viscious foul. I honestly believe the kid should have retired after that. Not too sure I want to be at the RG to watch the last time TJ Ford gets to walk.
There is one problem with TJ Ford. TJ Ford has always been about TJ Ford, and not about the team. The reason he has gone from team to team, is because every team he has been on has got sick of the TJ Ford show, and shipped him down the road. Secondly, he can't defend to save his life.
Relieving the pressure? It's called a happy ending, and it usually costs about $10 extra. Here is HCP's wife's cell # 555-555-1212
