This rumor was on ESPN radio a few days ago. I could see this happening if, as others have mentioned, Batum is going to be shipped elsewhere for a young, top 5 point guard. I could also see it happening as a result of GM candidates telling us that we need a better roster before they would consider accepting the GM position we have offered. Chicago is also reportedly looking to move James Johnson and Taj Gibson. Coincidentally, I saw James Johnson in town about three days before the NBA draft. I believe we have trade exceptions in hand so we could move for one or both of those players and give Chicago back nothing but cap room in return. http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chi...l/2010/07/deng-for-przybilla-and-bayless.html
Rondo is not coming here. He is the MVP of the Celtics and Doc Rivers is coming back to make another run at a title with last year's group. DWill is not coming here either. He is the face of the Jazz. Paul is the only possibility since they have Collison but their GM has insisted Paul will not be traded.
I don't see Deng as a huge threat to Batum: Deng actually plays decently as backup 4. I see this as a way to keep Batum's minutes reasonable (because we don't want to aggravate that shoulder) but also play alongside him. 30 mpg Batum, 36 mpg Aldridge, that leaves 30 mpg for Sixth Man of the Year Deng.
Well, Deng plays a position of one of our core guys and has a HIDEOUS contract. Unless there is a follow up trade it's a cap killer. Deng is ok I suppose, obviously vastly over paid. Again if we're trading for an elite PG with Batum (or better Deng) then fine. I would grudgingly accept a trade for Collison for Batum straight across. Even that I'd have to REALLY think about. Other then Rondo, Rose (obviously not going anywhere), CP3 and D Will, no pg excites me enough to trade Batum for. I would definitely trade Deng for a decent PG (Harris caliber) or perhaps another big now that Joel is gone.
What does this mean...."cap killer"??? It's one contract. On a team owned by a Billionaire. I don't get the hysteria. Deng's contract is large, and for 4 more years IIRC, but he is a near all-star level player and could be the Robin to our Roy-Batman character. Doesn't anyone remember this last playoffs where we needed a second scoring option???? Sheesh!!
I think you guys are vastly overselling the "vastly overpaid" bit. Deng produces at SF like your PF who you all wanted to see get a MAX deal last summer. I do think that Rudy Gay is a tad better offensively, but not as good defensively... And Deng makes $5M/year less.
Interesting idea having Deng as a backup small mismatch 4. Sort of like a super trout, not scoring wise, but actually defending, getting rebounds and scoring when needed.
Excuse me? I can't remember a single person saying LMA should get the max. (You're right, he is better than Gay)
Fine, he's getting Deng sized dollars, but many people didn't want the Blazers to haggle. And Deng's production still is about the same as LMA but from the SF position. In fact, you have a strong rebounding SF and a weaker rebounding PF and you're in pretty good shape.
Boy you're sure trying to sell him, sounds like you vastly can't wait to get rid of him, and his vast contract. I vastly wonder why that is.
I like Deng quite a bit. I'd be thrilled to have him at SF for us if we got Bosh and Wade. And more than I'd want Batum.
I wish you guys would keep Deng not a big fan and Batum is better. I could live with Deng if we are trading Batum for CP3 or one of the other top PG's but I don't want Deng on the roster and give Nate any reason to not play Batum 30+ minutes a game.
Let me explain my view by analogy. The Bulls drafted Elton Brand. He was co-rookie of the year. He made noises about leaving if the Bulls didn't put together a winner. The Bulls did have Artest and Brad Miller to go with him. And they would have been pretty awesome if the three stayed together. Did Artest make the all-star game? If so, that's three all-stars. Anyhow, Jerry Krause traded Brand for the #2 pick in the draft and selected Tyson Chandler. All the potential in the world, and he was seen before the draft taking and making shots beyond the 3pt line and everything. P-P-P-P-POTENTIAL! The moral of the story is, the 20/10 PF bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush. And Deng is the 18/7 SF who has received as many all-nba defensive team votes as Batum, and Batum is the P-P-P-P-POTENTIAL guy. But in the world of CBA economics, if having a SF on his rookie deal is part of the strategy, then Batum is a good one. If it's Paul Allen's money, I'd rather have Deng.
Deng is ok but and I have seen enough of Batum to know if he got the minutes Deng got he would have just as good and probably better. I just don't want Deng on the team because he is a veteran and we will end up with something similar to Blake and Miller last year. Right now we have a rookie Babbitt backing up Batum. So, I think Nate will have to play Batum 30-35 minutes. He has screwed with Batum for 2 years now. He starts plays great is taken out after 8 minutes and many times doesn't see any more time until the second half. Some games Batum is our best player and Nate still doesn't play him outside of his screwed up schedule of 8 minutes at the start of the game. We got rid of Webster and I want no part of Deng messing up Nate's head with playing time. Batum is the real deal IMO. He plays great defense, good shooter and has all the tools. I have seen many of these guys with hype potential but Batum IMO is the real deal.
