<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">4. What will Chicago and Indiana do with their rosters? Before the draft, John Paxson sounded like he wanted to do a total makeover. That still applies. He rejected several offers for the No. 3 pick in Thursday's draft, including one from the Pacers' Larry Bird, and wound up with the one player almost everybody wanted: Ben Gordon. "If I could have got up to No. 3 and got Ben Gordon," Bird said, "this would have been a great draft for us." Among the moves Paxson is considering, is dealing Jamal Crawford to Seattle in a sign-and-trade. The Sonics have been scouting the Seattle native for more than a year.</div> <font size="1">From HoopsHype rumours page, courtesy of Mitch Lawrence and the New York Daily News.</font> Interesting. I know Crawford to Seattle, along with New York, has been badied about a lot for obvious reasons, in JC's roots. I am undecided on this - Crawford I think is a star in the making, and could explode if allowed to play the two guard in the West, maybe even to an All Star level. He is also 6'5, so it's not like he is unable to log big minutes at the two, and his ball handling and passing ability would only be a bonus (I like a backcourt of JC and AD or Ridnour). However, he is also a lazy defender and has a tendency to shoot a lot, and his shot selection often leaves a lot to be desired. We already have another guard on the roster who fits this bill, is it worth keeping him on the bench to aquire a guy like Crawford? And... The deal I like best. Whispers of Artest and some other Indiana bench players to Seattle for Allen. I don't have any official sources on this, only word of mouth, but I would love this. Artest playing under Nate would be brutal, and he is only 24 and very healthy. I would take the excess baggage purely for what he would bring to this team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">The deal I like best. Whispers of Artest and some other Indiana bench players to Seattle for Allen. I don't have any official sources on this, only word of mouth, but I would love this. Artest playing under Nate would be brutal, and he is only 24 and very healthy. I would take the excess baggage purely for what he would bring to this team.</div> Absolutely. The Artest rumor is still shady for now but I believe that if Francis and Mobley land in Orlando that this deal will PROBABLY happen. CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR RON RON, SEATTLE FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks Analyst:</div><div class="quote_post">Absolutely. The Artest rumor is still shady for now but I believe that if Francis and Mobley land in Orlando that this deal will PROBABLY happen. CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR RON RON, SEATTLE FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!</div> Yeah, I've heard that as well. I think all Orlando fans agree that Artest would fit great on the roster. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The deal I like best. Whispers of Artest and some other Indiana bench players to Seattle for Allen. I don't have any official sources on this, only word of mouth, but I would love this. Artest playing under Nate would be brutal, and he is only 24 and very healthy. I would take the excess baggage purely for what he would bring to this team.</div> That would be a helluva a deal for the Sonics. I think all Sonic fans agree that he would be a perfect fit for the team. Forget about the excess baggage - he's a great player.
Is it me or is the trade a little lopsided for Seattle? Artest and a bench player for Ray Allen? I think they would ask a lot more for the reigning DPOY. I'm not disparaging Allen's talents but I could hardly see this happening, even in a straight up Allen for Artest deal. Ron is 5 years younger than Allen and he still has time to develope into an amazing player, maybe even become a better player than Ray.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">Is it me or is the trade a little lopsided for Seattle? Artest and a bench player for Ray Allen? I think they would ask a lot more for the reigning DPOY. I'm not disparaging Allen's talents but I could hardly see this happening, even in a straight up Allen for Artest deal. Ron is 5 years younger than Allen and he still has time to develope into an amazing player, maybe even become a better player than Ray.</div> It's because A) Ron's attitude has been causing trouble in Indiana lately, and Indiana see to prefer Harrington to Artest, and if Al has to sit on the bench he's not going to stick around in Indiana. I agree that Seattle would be getting a great deal if it went ahead, but there's more to the deal than just a straight player swap, especially in Indiana's case when you look at the composition of their team. Anyway, it's all just talk.
^I'm just talking from a trade value perspective. Ray Allen's value IMO is not higher then Artest' so I find it very unlikely that they would add a bench player to sweeten up the deal for Seattle <font size="1">(Unless it is for cap purposes..)</font> <font size="1"></font> Anyways no point talking about this rumour, it probably will not happen.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post"> However, he is also a lazy defender and has a tendency to shoot a lot, and his shot selection often leaves a lot to be desired. We already have another guard on the roster who fits this bill, is it worth keeping him on the bench to aquire a guy like Crawford? </div> lazy defender and shoots a lot? same thign with jalen rose when he was in chicago. you HAVE to carry the load on offense when you're in chicago and when it comes to defense, they might be a little tired, making it look like thye are lazy. but i think JC could be a very good defender.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="1">(Unless it is for cap purposes..)</font> </div> That's exactly what it's for. I doubt Indy would give up more than they needed to. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Anyways no point talking about this rumour, it probably will not happen.</div> That's true, just thought I'd throw it up to see what sort of reaction it would get.
I'd like to see Crawford in Seattle, too, but not while Nate is the coach. If last season is any indication, Nate's having a hard time trying to get players to follow his philosophy. Jamal could be another Jerome James in that situation. I find the Artest deal hard to believe. Plus, how are we going to score with that lineup? Artest couldn't play small forward because of Lewis and Radman, so Murray couldn't start unless he played point. And if Murray plays point he can't concentrate on scoring. Artest and Lewis would have to average about twenty a game each. I just don't see how any lineup like that works.
I would love to have Artest. I would even trade Artest straight up for Ray Allen but the problem lies in that with that trade we still haven't addressed our front court issues. Again for all readers, we really can't trade Ray Allen right now w/o Allen's consent. He is in the last year of his contract so any team that would trade for him would only have him under contract for this season. He would then be a unrestricted free agent after the season and have his choice of signing wherever he wanted. For the Sonics to trade Ray he would most likely have to sign an extension and then get moved via sign and trade. Ray would want to know where he was going so I doubt that he'd sign the extension if there was speculation of him being traded to a team that he didn't want to go to. The Sonics really need to be active this offseason considering how the draft really didn't address any of the teams immediate needs. Hopefully the Sonics can do a better job this offseason w/ free agents and trades than they have in past offseasons.
That's very true, Shiek. Ray's situation makes him very hard to trade, and most teams would be wanting agreement that he would sign an extension, or that he already does in Seattle first. Still, just throwing up a few rumours to keep people talking Casual, I'd be starting Artest at the 2, and making him a second option on offense. His offensive game gets overshadowed by how good a defender he is, he is easily capable of putting up 18-20 a game if he gets the shots, IMO. Whether you can live with Rashard as your first option is a different story, it might get the best out of him and it might get the worst.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">That's very true, Shiek. Ray's situation makes him very hard to trade, and most teams would be wanting agreement that he would sign an extension, or that he already does in Seattle first. Still, just throwing up a few rumours to keep people talking </div> In sheer terms of championship winning potential, Ray couldn't turn down a trade to Indiana. I for one, love the deal. Take Scot Pollard off their hands to match up the contracts and we have a complete rejigging of our center rotation. Obviously, it would depend on how much the Pacers value Pollard (as a good player or simply a contract, 12mil over the next two). If it's the latter, we'd have a very good chance of an Artest/Pollard for Allen and considerations (say a future-first) deal, I'd imagine. Presuming Ray has 3-5 years left as an All-Star calibre player, and serving as the replacement for Uncle Reggie, the Pacers could arguably usurp the Pistons. Tinsley Allen/Miller Bender O'Neal/Harrington Foster But enough about Indiana, we could easily run a wing combination of Shard and Artest, as I don't think you'd find too many 2-guards that Artest would've have extreme problems with. Overall, this would improve our toughness, and even giving someone who will take the ball to the rack. Murray remains the 6th man, but would see 30mpg (10 at PG, 20 at SG with Artest sliding to the 3). Look at this young nucleus: Ridnour Artest/Murray Lewis Collison Pollard/Swift Now it remains to be seen whether or not Larry Legend would see this as an equitable deal, but I'd salivate at the prospect...
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But as a primer, here are a few situations that make sense for Crawford, with the likelihood gauged by temperature: Bulls Crawford and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, maintain that Chicago is their first choice. Paxson insists that drafting guards Ben Gordon and Chris Duhon doesn't preclude retaining Crawford. It's extremely unlikely the Bulls will commit to a big-money, long-term deal to keep Crawford. But if he doesn't get a long-term offer he likes, one possibility has Crawford playing one year on his qualifying offer of $3.5 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent after next season. Chances: Warm. New York Knicks General manager Isiah Thomas has long been a fan. He has tried to trade for Crawford before and indicated he would pursue him this summer. But the Knicks have only the midlevel exception to offer and are expected to make cursory calls to Rasheed Wallace and Kobe Bryant early in the free-agent period. If, as expected, they strike out there, they could turn to Crawford and offer him a six-year deal worth $37 million. The Bulls wouldn't match that. Would Crawford sign it? Chances: Hot. Denver Nuggets Denver has roughly $23 million in salary-cap room, and Crawford said last season he'd consider playing for the young, athletic Nuggets. General manager Kiki Vandeweghe has several off-season avenues he can take, so if he pursued Crawford, it would likely happen late. Chances: Lukewarm. Seattle SuperSonics Crawford's hometown team coveted him in the past, but the interest seems to have cooled. The Sonics have some assets that interest the Bulls, so a sign-and-trade is possible. Chances: Cool.</div> <font size="1">From HoopsHypes rumours page, courtesy of KC Johnson and the ChicagoSports.com.</font> Interesting, however if rumours of Shaq and New York wanting eachother turn out to be true and something is worked out, it's hard to see JC ending up in the big apple. It's also hard to see him wanting to be back in Chicago with the drafting of Gordon, but the Bulls have made a qualifying offer and he's a restricted F/A. Sign and trade seems the most likely option IMO.
