Trade with New Orleans

I just read this:

Baron Davis could cure what ails Timberwolves

BY ISRAEL GUTIERREZ

Knight Ridder Newspapers


MIAMI - (KRT) - It's difficult to gauge who is unhappier at the moment, Baron Davis, the best player on the worst team in basketball, or Kevin Garnett, arguably the best player in basketball on a team that, for the first time since he has been on it, is terribly underachieving.

There is one way to perk both of them up immediately: Bring them together. And it's a lot easier than it sounds.

The Hornets could ship Davis, the injured Jamal Mashburn and, say, Lee Nailon to the Timberwolves for Latrell Sprewell and his expiring contract and the aging Sam Cassell, who only has one year left on his deal.

The Hornets are fielding offers for anyone on their roster because they are already flirting with worst-team-ever status and have been rejected by mid-level players like Jim Jackson.

The most recent talk was of a possible trade with Memphis that would send Jason Williams and Shane Battier to New Orleans for Davis.

But teaming Davis with Pau Gasol doesn't create the type of excitement that a Davis-Garnett pairing would - two of the most emotional personalities and dynamic players at their position.

Right now, there is nothing dynamic about the Timberwolves. Since complaining this preseason about Minnesota's offer for a contract extension, Sprewell has offered career lows in scoring, rebounds and assists, making him worth about half of the $7 million-a-year extension he turned down prior to the season.

Cassell's scoring numbers have also dropped slightly, but what's more disconcerting about the 35-year-old guard is his decrease in minutes played (less than 30 a night), even though the Timberwolves don't have a backup who they feel very good about at the moment. This comes after Cassell finished last year's playoffs on the bench with an injured hip.

The combination of Cassell and Sprewell has not been the complement to Garnett that it was last year, when a healthy Cassell could have led Minnesota to the NBA Finals. Case in point: Garnett scored an efficient 47 points and grabbed 17 rebounds at home against the Phoenix Suns, and the Timberwolves still lost, 122-115.

Granted, everyone seems to be losing to the Suns this season, but Sprewell offered six points in 33 minutes.

Cassell had 24 points and nine assists against Phoenix, but that came one game after a four-point effort in a loss to the Grizzlies.

They are simply not the same team, and General Manager Kevin McHale needs to address it before Garnett starts another streak of first-round playoff exits.

Assuming the Timberwolves don't trade Wally Szczerbiak, which is a possibility every year at this time, moving Sprewell would put him back at the shooting guard position, where Szczerbiak has had his best seasons.

What would the Hornets gain from getting rid of their best player? Nothing in the short term other than two bitter guards who want to get paid more than they're already making. But with Sprewell's contract expiring, and getting rid of Mashburn's contract, the team would have plenty of salary-cap space to begin building anew, possibly in a new city (Kansas City) with new owners.

Cassell still has another year left on his deal, but at a relatively small number (about $6.1 million). The Hornets could likely find a suitor for Cassell, or just buy out the guard's contract so he can sign with the team of his choice and lessen the damage on the Hornets payroll.

Davis and Garnett would be the closest the Western Conference has to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal since the two parted ways. And Davis would be a better fit for the Timberwolves than Jason Kidd because Davis can carry the scoring load more often than Kidd, taking some of the pressure off Garnett.

It might never happen, but it would make two superstars a lot happier if it did.


I thought you all might find this interesting

 

At first, I was all against this trade. But, the more I watch the Wolves play, the more I think we need this.

Davis would provide a spark, and hopefully would bring a good attitude to a winning team. Then, we would have a more flashy and younger big three (Garnett, Wally, Davis).

 

Trading Cassell and Sprewell to New Orleans is disrepectful imoi. Just like Mark Jackson said when the Rockets did it to Jim Jackson. In one season they did more for this franchise as a player then anyone not named Kevin Garnett. I know this league is a business but I think you have to show guys that have done something for your franchise at least a little respect. Neither one of those guys deserve to get pushed to New Orleans.

Baron Davis needs more shots then Cassell & Sprewell combined. So on a team looking to find the right mix of guys, how is adding a guy that takes 20 shots per game an effective splution to the problem. The problem isnt Cassell, its the way he is being used. Everytime Cassell has been used in his proper manner he has been effective this year. Flash dont mean victories..I would love to see how a team that lives & dies by offensive efficiency will work with a perimeter player who shoots 38% from the field.

 

Hency, i know what you mean about having to have respect for the players but also the players have to have respect for the team. Which is something that both cassell and spree havnt shown by skipping the opening media session, spree saying things like with my 14.6 million dollar contract and not being able to feed my family. Both of these players are looking for contract extisions but at the moment only Sam has started to play to deserve one.

Also i do think the T wolves have the right to trade anyone to any other team they think is going to help them. I do know what u mean about if we traded spree and sam to New Orleans they wouldnt like it very much cause New Orleans isnt a very good team, but if the T wolves do make the trade spree and sam could do the sam thing that jim jackson is doing by not showing up and then not getting paid. Which in spree's case may make his family even hungrier.

I dont even know if i totally like this trade for the T wolves, but in a way we would be getting 3 players for 2 but in reality only 2 of the players can play, but with jamal mashburn being injuried and most likely not being able to play again he would clear cap space which is basicly what spree would be doing for a lot teams right now. It would make use a lot younger and lee nalion has been playing pretty well this year.

if we pulled this trade we could have a starting line up
of Baron Davis, wally, trenton, KG, kandi....with lee nalion coming of the bench

One thing that would be great about trading spree before the deadline would be that we would be able to get something in return for him instead of not being able to resign him and just clearing the cap space.

okay i have just rambled on here but i would love to hear what you all think of my rambles...good night all

 

I doubt the Hornets want Latrell or Sam. They want a young player who could make an impact for years to come. They can do better than what the Wolves can offer.

 

Well, I think that like Kenny Smith said Sam has gotten unfairly put in the same boat as Spree. Yes, Sam was upset at the beginning of training camp and maybe a little at the start of the season. But Cassell is not running around now that theseason is in full swing complaining about money. The main problem with Cassell's lack of production early, is the fact that him & Troy Hudson were playing almost equal minutes. And Cassell hasnt split equal minutes with a player since he became an everyday starter. I think getting your minutes reduced like that is an extremely hard adjustment. And it took time for him to adjust.

I can understand people upset about Sammy's defense, But the Wolves knew Sammy played no defense before he came to Minny, so how much can they complain. They brought Cassell here to score the basketball, but this year they only giving him 12-13 shots per game, how many points do you really want him to score, when his shot attempts swing up & down so much. Sammy still shoots 48% from the field, he just has less plays called for him.

Sending Cassell to New Orleans is like a punishment. yet what are you punishing him for he isnt doing anything different from last year. He just scores less due to the play calling for him.

 

Is Jimmy Jackson an option if the T-Wolves are looking to get BDiddy?

I think he would be a solid fit for the T-Wolves team.