With Odom looking like he is gone(to Miami).......? Does Miami look to explore trading Eddie Jones for a big man. The question is then, what could they acquire? There aren't too many options out there for them. Teams generally dont trade big for small in equal value. So Miami will have to settle for less. What teams are shopping big men? Seattle and NJ are the ones most likely. Seattle has Jerome James, Vitaly Potapenko, and Calvin Booth. NJ has Dikembe Mutombo. Seattle's centers are younger, but with longer contracts. NJ has an old center, but with 2 years left. Miami needs size, and wants to unload Jones' contract. NJ makes the most sense. I know some didn't like this trade proposel(namely Spartanfan), but should Miami land Odom, this makes sense. Dikembe, Zoran Planinic for Eddie Jones. I have already explained why NJ should do this. Miami should as well. They need a big man. Dikembe is that. He will be servicable for 25 min/game for the next 2 years. And then what? Miami unloads his near $20 million in salary. Miami will then have around $25 million in committed salaries(Grant, Wade, Butler, 2003 1st, 2004 1st). Figure in Odom's near 10 million, and thats around $35 million. Add in a probable $5 million in other bench players, and thats $40 million. The salary cap could be at $50 million in 2 years. Whats that mean? Miami could go after a full boat, max FA again. Ho-hum. Its a gamble, but teams take gambles all the time. And what player wouldn't like to play for the great coach Pat Riley, when they have a great nucleaus in Planinic, Wade, Butler, Odom? Plus, Fla is w/o state tax.........adding more incentive. Gamble? Yes. But it could pay off.
Planinic's profile: NBA Comparison: Jiri Welsch Strengths: Owns great size for a point guard ... Smart player who understands how to run an offense efficiently ... Has a quick release on his jumper ... Competent shooter from behind the 3-point line ... Defensively he shows quick hands and solid anticipation skills that enable him to play the passing lanes for steals ... Does a good job of pushing the ball up the court to initiate the fast break ... Possesses above average court vision ... Patient, calculated player who reads the defense before attacking ... Great ball handler who owns an excellent left to right crossover to get by defenders ... Effective passer who looks to dish the ball off when he breaks down the defense ... Really has become a great shooter off screens when working without the ball ... Above average first step enables him to drive with some regularity ... Selective shooter who will not force up anything he deems not a great shot ... Uses his body well to shield off his defender on the drive ... Makes solid decisions when the ball is in his hands ... Weaknesses: Really needs to bulk up and add some upper body strength to his slight frame ... Athletically he isn't a possessor of great quickness or leaping ability ... Needs to become a better post passer when traffic is in the lane ... Offensively his mid-range shooting off the dribble is inconsistent at times ... Has a tendency to leave his feet too early and force passes that can result in turnovers ... Has some problems finishing after contact because of upper body strength ... The injuries that he suffered last year have disrupted his progression this year ... This could have some teams wondering if he will be injury prone ... Has some leadership skills but could stand to be more vocally assertive as a point guard ... Although a solid shooter Planinic isn't all that great when it comes to making free throws ... Because he drives to the basket so aggressively he tends to get out of control ...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Vintage:</div><div class="quote_post"> And what player wouldn't like to play for the great coach Pat Riley, when they have a great nucleaus in Planinic, Wade, Butler, Odom? </div> dont forget rasual butler too....he had many flashes of brilliance, could turn out to be a decent player too :thumbsup:
The Clippers did not match the offer. But i have 1 question were will he play Wade Jones Butler Grant and some 1
^^I think they were planning on using Odom as the PF, but he would also be the guy to bring the ball up the court.
New Jersey is high on Zoran Planinic. They envision him as their future PG after Kidd hangs them up. I don't think he will be traded. I also think the Nets will hold on to Mutombo because of the health concerns with Alonzo Mourning, and if they do make the Finals again it won't hurt to have two 7 foot shot blockers on the court. And just like all of us have come to know, Eddie Jones is the invisible man come post-season. I still have a feeling Jerry West is going to come into the picture to try and get Eddie Jones. The Grizzlies have Person and Knight (both expiring contracts) to offer for Eddie Jones, and they have plenty of young talent. Maybe a scenario with Brevin Knight and Stromile for Eddie Jones. I checked to see if it would work, and it does. Memphis trades: SG Wesley Person (11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.7 apg in 29.4 minutes) PF Stromile Swift (9.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.7 apg in 22.1 minutes) Memphis receives: SG Eddie Jones (18.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.7 apg in 38.1 minutes) Change in team outlook: -2.2 ppg, -3.8 rpg, and +1.3 apg. Miami trades: SG Eddie Jones (18.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.7 apg in 38.1 minutes) Miami receives: SG Wesley Person (11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.7 apg in 66 games) PF Stromile Swift (9.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.7 apg in 67 games) Change in team outlook: +2.2 ppg, +3.8 rpg, and -1.3 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED Due to Memphis and Miami being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. Memphis and Miami had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. -------------- Since the Grizzlies are likely to lose Stromile after this season they might as well get a player back for him. Eddie Jones contract expires right around the time the Pau Gasol & Shane Battier become free agents. Eddie also gives them a solid SG and will improve their defense immediately. With Jones in the lineup the Grizzlies put a solid starting 5 on the court and they have a bunch of athletic players coming off the bench. Grizzlie Roster PG - JWill SG - Jones SF - Miller PF - Gasol C - Wright Miami Roster PG - Wade SG - Odom SF - Butler PF - Grant C - Swift The Heat finally get a legit center and this allows Grant to finally play his true position at PF. Odom can then be used as the swingman and won't have to worry about getting banged around if he were to play PF, because we all know how fragile he is. Brevin Knight is a solid backup for Wade, and the Heat can definately use his cap space next season.
The Nets may be high on Zoran as their future PG, but Kidd still has another 6-8 years left in him. Thats way down the future. They don't need to find a PG yet to replace him. And it will take Planinic to make enough incentive for Miami to do this deal. And yes, NJ wants to dump Mutombo. Badly. They are over the luxury tax threshold now. They stand to lose a few million to that, plus $10 million in NBA paybacks that they would have received had they been below it. NJ is a small market team. Trust me, they want rid of Mutombo. I dont know if this deal works capwise anymore, since Miami signed Odom, but a: Mutombo, Planinic for Eddie Jones helps both sides. Miami wants to dump Jones for a big man, and get rid of his salary. Mutombo has a 2 year contract, which will free up more cap room for the Heat. In the meantime, Miami gets a Center who can give them 20-25 solid minutes, and a good PG prospect in Planinic. The Grizzlies trade wont happen. They promised James Posey the starting SG spot. Its a lot like the draft. When you promise a player to pick him at your spot, you keep your promise, regardless. Thats how it works. It establishes good repoires with the agents, as well as the players. Break it, and agents/players will make it difficult on you, and your team might be avoided completely. They promised Posey a starting job if he signed for the MLE. They will honor that. Jones would then become and expensive backup. Unlikely. Not to mention that Memphis needs a big man, not another swing(even if he is more talented than Person). Look for Memphis to trade either Brevin Knight for Jerome James, or a Person/Battier package for Dampier. Reportedly, GS is holding out for both Person and Battier for Dampier.
I like shapecity's deal better. I can more easily see Odom at the 2 than the 4. He's too skinny to bang with 4s, but he's got the skills to play the 2.
