(Mods I know there are approximately 3,000,000,000 CP3 threads but I felt this kind of team by team analysis hadn't been done. Please don't merge this.) Going by media reports especially the most recent out of CBSSPORTS supposedly the Hornets are looking Eastward for a trading partner with NJN, NYK, CHA and ORL all mentioned as likely trading partners. In the following analysis I assumed no 3 way trades due to the incredible complexity it would add to my job and how rare they are especially when a Superstar is involved. EDIT: Here is Dallas since they were mentioned at one point: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2b64rkc Lots of salary relief and broken down vets with R. Beabouis as the jewel. Meh. ------ Next you have Charlotte, Ignore Dampier's Trade Restriction the salaries match and that restriction in gone in September: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2cx2ojn Yes, they save quite a bit of money and Wallace is a nice piece but he's old. Not much if any young talent lots of relief. ---- Next we have Orlando: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2aw8meq Again mostly relief and Jameer Nelson replicates Collison. Keep in mind Carter is due for one more guaranteed season at 4 million so actually Joel + Miller is way better as it means immediate relief from insurance plus it's a slightly larger amount. ------ Next we have New Jersey, I used Lee and Humphries to simulate a trade of Derrick Favors http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=28r4lqq This one makes very little sense as it replicates two positions they have although they could trade West afterwards and keep Favors. Not a bad trade, but Harris replicates Collison and while not super spendy certainly isn't cheap either. His PER sucked last year. ---- Finally, you have NYK the one that scares me a bit: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2fs49cc The real gems are Anthony Randolph (good player for sure) and Gallinari who is IMO over rated due to playing in NYC and also under D'Antoni's system. NOH might be tempted by that as they could then trade West onwards. However, will the Knicks totally gut their roster from head to toe? This would force NOH to waive a ton of guys and pay them not to play. Also A. Randolph needs to be extended fairly soon. Gallinari is also expensive compared to the youngsters we can offer. Don't let Azubiake's PER trick you he only played a few games before hurting his knee and being out for the season. Again this is the scary one. -------- Now compare the above to this. Here is Portland's best offer without including Roy/Oden/LMA http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=25y6fz3 Miller is talented and can help Collison learn the tricks of the trade and fill in if there are injuries, Camby is an immediate defensive presence in the paint who can defend and rebound helping to teach Collison and Thorton about winning. Camby is owed about the same as Okafor for two years shorter. Posey is owed the same as AMEC but for one year longer and he is a shell of his former self where as Miller helps the Hornets win games. JPEC provides immediate salary relief and may very well come back next season to create a great defensive/rebounding center combo with Camby. Bayless I believe would really explode with more minutes and could back up both Collison and Thorton and might be end up starting next to either one 20 games in. Batum is the crown jewel of course and sets NOH up for a few years to come at SF. This saves NOH boat loads of money over the next four years, sets them up to season the rookies and teach them winning habits from savvy vets. Nets two good to great young players in Bayless and Batum and gives them a wildcard player with Rudy. In addition, they receive immediate relief from Joel who may not ever play a game in which case they get $7 million off the top immediately with $5 million saved from Posey next year if they don't extend Miller (likely) and 23 million by upgrading from Okafor to Camby at the center. Anyone care to add to this with other teams like Boston (per Simmons) or other Eastern or for that matter Western teams?
