What can I say other than I was semi-bored and tried to get creative. What do you guys think? We def lose talent wise, but balance wise it might work out well and the pick could be a nice asset to have (especially low committed salaries as we head into new CBA) PHX outgoing: Amare, Barbosa, Dudley PHX incoming: Outlaw, Bayless, Redd, Warrick Nash/Dragic Redd/Bayless Richardson/Hill Warrick/Outlaw Frye/Lopez While Phoenix seems to lose talent-wise they take a gamble. Amare and Barbosa have semi-big contracts, and a lot of uncertainty surrounds Amare. In return they get Redd (w/ a near identicle contract) who's been hurt and has a bad contract, but it expires after next year. Redd could be a shooter who helps Phoenix a lot, and another smart player, but who knows with his injuries. But they also get the high potential and low cost of Jerryd Bayless, who can pretty much replace what Barbosa does (not as good of a shooter) at a cheaper rate. And Outlaw or Warrick may work very well being setup by Steve Nash (very low risk). In the long run this move costs PHX about the same amount of money as standing pat this year, saves them some money next year, and they get to gamble on the potential of Bayless. Not ideal for them, but not terrible, and no long term commitment. MIL outgoing: Redd, Ridnour, Thomas, Warrick, 1st round draft pick MIL incoming: Amare, Barbosa, Blake, Dudley Jennings/Barbosa/Dudley/Amare/Bogut Milwaukee doesn't lose any pieces that really matter to them, other than Redd. Redd had some great years for them, but has been very injury prone and is locked into that huge deal (even though it expires after next year). They need to make some changes, if nothing else to drum up fan interest. Thomas doesn't really make sense there as an old vet, and Warrick hasn't really fit so far. What Milwaukee truly gives up here is their first round pick (top 3 protected?). In exchange they get Amare Stoudemire. Now Amare can opt out of his deal next year, but Milwaukee is really in a win-win position here. If Amare stays, he's gonna work his butt off (for a new contract), and Milwaukee will get to see what Brandon Jennings looks like w/a big-time scoring threat in the open court. It would drum up fan interest (even if he didn't stay) and if he opts in, it's really an extended audition. If he opts out, Milwaukee saves a ton of money (basically selling their draft pick for 17 million dollars). Amare could look great too once again playing next to a post threat, though a lot of the defensive problems he faced with Shaq might not be as bad since Bogut is much more mobile than Shaq. Barbosa has a couple of years left, but also thrives in a up-tempo system and his shooting could really help Jennings out. Dudley is a role-player who could help Milwaukee for the next year and is on a reasonable contract, and Blake is an expiring shooter. Milwaukee is basically spending a draft pick to either audition Amare for a year and a half, or audition Amare for a year and then save a ton of money. POR out: Blake, Outlaw, Bayless POR in: Ridnour, Thomas, 1st round pick from Milwaukee Portland needs a big man desperately and Kurt Thomas can help in the short-term (w/the short term problem). Blake for Ridnour is probably a wash, as they're both expiring and nothing more than serviceable. But losing Bayless' and his potential hurts Portland a lot, however long term he may not mesh with Brandon as 2 penetrating guards w/o great shots and there just may not be a heavy place for him in the rotation at the moment. Eventually Portland will have to lose either Bayless/Rudy/or Batum and while I think they'd probably be most willing to part with Rudy, Bayless would likely fetch the most at the moment. In exchange for losing Bayless they get a pick in the 4-15 range this year and get to choose their next project. We know KP loves that. Miller/Ridnour Roy/Fernandez Webster/Batum Aldridge/Howard/Cunningham Pendergraph/Thomas (w/Oden and Pryzbilla returning next year and Ridnour, Howard, and Thomas expiring)
