One Trade, Three Fixes for the Mavericks, Rockets, and Grizzlies

Joel C. CordesJul 18, 2009

It's time for Round Two of the "Dr. Trade" column here on Bleacher Report. Most articles will not be such lengthy tomes as was written the first time around, but you'll always be guaranteed to get a heavy dose of expert-level NBA knowledge on all types of player transactions past, present, and future.

Today's article deals with another hypothetical trade that makes almost too much sense for all teams involved, and has been cross-referenced to make sure that the contract numbers actually work. Comments and feedback are welcome!

PROPOSED DEAL:

Dallas gets: C Marc Gasol (from Memphis) and G/F Tracy McGrady (from Houston)

Houston gets: G/F Josh Howard and C Erick Dampier (from Dallas)

Memphis gets: F Shane Battier (from Houston) and F/C Nathan Jawai (from Dallas)

BACKGROUND:

Is it possible for everyone to get what they want/need out of an NBA trade? This obviously is the goal behind any deal, but in reality, we all know that it rarely works out that way. Today's proposed deal takes care of three teams heading in three different directions.

Dallas is loading up on talent to make a serious title-run in the West. Their hopes were dampened when they lost out on their bid for Orlando Magic C Marcin Gortat, but their roster is still looking like one of the most offensively potent in the League. They still would like to upgrade their center position, and are also slightly concerned whether Josh Howard can switch from small forward to shooting guard in order to accommodate Shawn Marion's arrival from Toronto.

Houston is still reeling from the news that they will be without Yao Ming for the foreseeable future. What's more, they were already thin at the center position with Dikembe Mutumbo’s retirement. They'd like to stay competitive, but also need to concede defeat and turn Tracy McGrady into something useable for their squad at the moment.

Memphis continues to add young talent, and actually may have a very productive starting five: Thabeet, Randolph, Gay, Mayo, and Conley. Unfortunately however, the team lacks any serious depth off the bench at every position, except center. At that spot, the Grizzlies still have last year's productive big man, Marc Gasol, and a talented unknown in Iran's Hammed Haddadi, who also enters his second year.

TRADE RATIONALE:

For Dallas: They admittedly have to give up 2/5 of their starting lineup, but receiving Gasol in return at center is not only a major upgrade over Dampier's limited game, but it is also actually a better option than had they signed Gortat from Orlando. Gasol is the rare NBA big man who is not only a multi-skilled player offensively, but is an absolute physical punisher at both ends of the floor.

We all know that Tracy McGrady may not play much, but could Dallas be willing to roll the dice and add the immensely talented swingman to their starting lineup? McGrady is more of a natural two-guard than Josh Howard, and his all-around game would likely make a healthy(?) Dallas starting five of Kidd, McGrady, Marion, Nowitzki, and Gasol—some of the most talented in the league.

For the games that McGrady invariably misses, Dallas can still plug Jason Terry into the lineup. If McGrady doesn't work out, his contract is off the books next year, whereas keeping Dampier would have tied up more than half that money for two seasons. This trade gives Dallas better depth and immensely more firepower for the current NBA elites' arms race.

For Houston: The Tracy McGrady Era is effectively over in Houston, and everyone knows it. This deal allows the Rockets to not only unload Tracy's enormous contract (albeit, an expiring one) on an interested party, to not only receive a talented replacement for McGrady's position, but also to acquire a starting-caliber center to hold down the fort for a year or two!

Dampier is no longer talented enough to help Dallas' championship aspirations, but he's still serviceable enough to give productive starting minutes to a team looking to be competitive. What's more, Erick's contract expires in two years, allowing him to be Yao's backup if he returns in 2010-2011, or to be the starter until a player can be drafted.

Josh Howard would get plenty of chances to score in this lineup, especially when one considers that he'd be replacing a player who rarely makes it through the entire season. Losing Shane Battier would be a blow to the Rockets' chemistry, but they have plenty of other forwards to replace his production.

A core group of Brooks, Howard, Ariza, Scola, Dampier, Lowry, Wafer, Landry, and Hayes might just be enough for the Rockets to remain relevant while they await final word on Yao's career.

For Memphis: The Grizzlies simply do not have enough minutes to go around at the center spot now that they have drafted Hasheem Thabeet. Gasol, Haddadi, and Thabeet cannot naturally switch over to power forward, and that spot belongs to both Zach Randolph and Darrell Arthur anyway.

This trade allows Memphis to use one of their few areas of depth to address a need. This young squad does not have bench depth at its other positions, playoff experience on its roster, or a "glue guy" type leader. Bringing Shane Battier back to the Grizzlies would add all of the aforementioned traits, while not breaking up the projected starting five.

Is a Marc Gasol for Shane Battier trade a fair one straight up? That is probably the most debatable aspect of this deal, but for both teams involved it makes a lot of sense when one looks at their current rosters.

SUMMARY:

The fact that the numbers can be made to work for a deal that helps each squad out is quite remarkable. Now, would the executives involved be willing to take the risks? Dallas has the most to give up, the most to lose, and the most to gain out of this deal. They are also the team that many people see as just needing one last piece to make their Championship dreams a reality.