Desperate GMs: NBA Trades and Draft
It has nearly as many story lines and loose ends as a daytime soap opera. The deals being mentioned are too numerous to track but I'm going to give it my best shot.
First off, the New Jersey Nets make a deal for their 2010 rosters. In a calculated gamble, they are sending Richard Jefferson to the Milwaukee Bucks for Yi Jiantien and Bobby Simmons, two rehabilitations that aren't likely to happen. Simmons is rehabilitating from injuries while Yi is rehabilitating from Midwestern culture shock.
More than likely neither will have as much of an impact on the Nets this coming season as Jefferson will have on the Bucks. However, what the Nets are hoping to do is to rehab their cap space by getting rid of Jefferson's large contract.
By doing this, they hope Jay-Z, a partial owner of the team, can persuade LeBron James to sign with Nets in 2010. Like I said, it's a gamble, one that should insure the Nets of another lottery pick next year even if they don't get Lebron James.
Speaking of lottery picks, the LA Clippers #4 pick for the Sonics #7 pick is one of those on again, off again deals. The clippers naturally are hopeful that O.J. Mayo will not go at #3, so they can pick him, But it is more than likely that Mayo will be picked by Minnesota at #3. So, the Clippers will give the #4 to Seattle in return for the #7 and a future first round pick. As of now, Seattle is not particularly interested in the deal.
However, if Minnesota doesn't pick Mayo, the Clippers will take him at #4. Then they will package him along with Elton Brand and for Miami's #2 pick and Shawn Marion. Miami is supposedly interested in both Mayo and Brand. Then why not just trade are close to completing a trade with the Seattle Sonics for the #4 pick. The Sonics would get the #7 pick from LA along with some other kind of compensation, likely a future first round pick. at the Pacers and the Raptors had agreed send O'Neal to Toronto in exchange for Ford, Nesterovic and the No. 17 pick in Thursday's NBA draft.
Then there's the confirmed unconfirmed Medicare trade between the Pacers and the Raptors. The Raptors will get the injured Jermaine O'Neal along with the 41st draft pick from the Pacers for the injured T.J. Ford, Nesterovic and the 17th draft pick along with as Raptors forward Maceo Baston to balance the deal in terms of contract money.
The deal couldn't be officially confirmed because T.J. Ford is in a base contract year, and the new NBA season doesn't start until the July 1st and then the free agency deals need to wait until July 9th to get consummated. Also, the respective health insurance providers need to be contacted.
Also, the San Antonio Spurs sent emails to all GM to let them know that their #26 pick was up for grabs. I'm paraphrasing of course: "Available - the Number 26 NBA Draft Pick. Will exchange for a 2009 Corvette OBO."
The Wizzards are hoping something magical will come of their offer to trade down. They want to send their #18 to Houston for the Rockets #25.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are not exactly hibernating this draft day. They are hunting around for offers on their #5 and #28 picks. They are looking for a veteran or two, but will stick with their picks if nothing decent turns up. Let's hope their cell line doesn't have roaming charges.
And finally, the Hornets traded off their #27 pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for cash, which is always nice to have when you are shopping for free agents.
