So Damp to Indiana is probably no longer an option. Sorry, I don't have a link for it, but Aldridge is reporting it on espn news. It looks like Dallas, LAL, Phoenix, and Memphis are still realistic options. LA doesn't have anything that I'd be willing to trade Damp for, although I could see a three way trade with Miami sending Damp to LA and Odom here. I've always liked Odom's game and I'd be much more okay with him being the reason Dunleavy got sent to the bench than Harrington. Dunleavy and Odom have very similar games, but Dunleavy is a better shooter while Odom is a much better athlete. Here is how I would rank the potential deals (no real rumors for these, just those I would consider that make sense for both teams): 1. Phoenix trades Eisley, Chicago's pick, and either Voskuhl or Lampe for Damp. 2. Dallas trades Walker, Laettner, and either Podkolzine or Harris for Damp and NVE. 3. Phoenix trades Marion and a future first rounder for Damp and Dunleavy or Pietrus (I've heard a rumor like this, but it involves Murphy being traded, but that doesn't make sense for Phoenix). If I was Mullin, I'd try to hold out for the Chicago pick instead of Phoenix's 4. LAL/Miami/GSW deal where GSW trades Damp to LA and receives Odom from Miami. 5. Memphis trades Swift and Battier for Damp. I can't tell you how much I dislike this idea. Unless I'm rating Swift WAY lower than he's worth and he's actually likely become an all star in the next 3-4 years, I see absolutely no reason to delay Murphy and Biedrins development AND severely limit their ability to be players in the '05 offseason. In my mind, there is a clear line between the top 3 deals and the bottom two. The first two deals allow the Wariors to retain their cap flexibility next year while adding a young piece basically for free. The Marion deal would allow the Warriors to add their all star right now. He might not be worthy of a max deal, but given the contracts that are being signed this offseason, there's a good chance Marion would be getting the max if he was a FA this offseason. As for the last two deals, there is almost as big a line between the #4 and #5 as there is between the top 3 and bottom 2. Odom isn't as good as Marion and he's more of a risk, but he comes about 2 mil cheaper than Marion. As for Swift, he isn't nearly the player Odom or Marion is, though he's got at least as many off court question marks as Odom. He's going to demand at least 7 mil, and at that price I just don't think he's worth it.
I'd like that deal for Marion over Odom. I've always been a fan of him, he's a good defender, execellent athlete, grabs boards, gets to the foul line with good frequency and he won't be that big of a question mark as Odom when it comes to injuries. Odom is however is a better mismatch against other small forwards (6'10) and he can swat some shots. Some people wonder about his attitude as well.
