Knicks a perfect trading partner for Cavs?
Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:16 pm
I just posted this on my blog
www.elitethatsme.com
and wanted some Cavs Fans oppinions on this, i think i bring up some very good points.
I was looking at some of Lebron James's comments after the game 7 loss against Boston and i found this quote:
"I think what we have is very good, but we need to continue to get better. We know that," James said. "If that means some personnel changes that need to happen, then so be it. The teams around us in the league are continuing to get better."
Now think about this. The Cavs could have as much as $27 Million in expiring contracts to work with this summer. Here are a list of their expiring players and contracts:
Player 2008/2009 Salary
Wally Szczerbiak $13 Million
Eric Snow $7.3 Million
Damon Jones $4.4 Million
Delonte West $2.7 Million
Lets analyze each of these players and what they mean to the cavs
Eric Snow was inactive and not even on the playoff roster so he is basically just a contract at this point. The Cavs actually expect him to retire this summer but maybe he would agree to a offseason trade to help the team.
Damon Jones barely played in the playoffs for the Cavs so he seems to be an afterthought.
Wally Szczerbiak was a starter but certainly did not earn his paycheck, he only averaged 10 ppg in the playoffs and shot a very low percentage for someone who is on the floor to be a shooter. You could argue he is one of the main reasons the Cavs were unable to advance and I'm sure most Cavs fans would have no problem letting him go.
The only player i see Cleveland wanting to hold on to is Delonte West, He seems to be a decent young player and they can probably resign him for a reasonable price at this point in his career.
With all that said... Why is this all so attractive to the Knicks?
Donnie Walsh has made it clear that we need to get under the cap for the summer of 2010 when the super talented class of 2003 become free agents. The only way to do this is to package some of our higher paid more talented players for expiring contracts. Most of our players are overpaid, but some of them are actually talented they just do not fit with our roster. Some of these guys could possibly help a team like Cleveland that already has its superstar in Lebron and needs a #2 option. For instance Zach Randolph is scheduled to make 14.6 million next year and is signed past the 2010 season so he hurts our chances at getting under the cap. He has fit in horribly here in New York but he is still a 20 point 10 rebound big man with a excellent post game. Imagine Lebron being able to throw the ball down low to Zach in the half court or run the pick and roll/pop with such a offensively capable big man. Not to mention being paired with Ben Wallace might help hide his defensive liabilities which are pretty glaring here in New York.
The main problem is, one of those players that New York has targeted just so happens to be LEBRON JAMES. Would Cleveland really want to make a move to HELP New York pry Lebron away from them? Probably not, but at the same time.. They want to keep Lebron happy and give him a shot at WINNING while he still IS a in Cleveland. A move like this might be a step in the right direction for both teams:
Zach Randolph (14.6 mil) + Quenten Richardson (8.8 Mil) = $23.4 mil total
for
Wally Szczerbiak (13 mil) + Eric Snow(7.3 Mil) + Damon Jones ($4.4 Mil) = $24.7 mil total
Its close but I believe that would work under the salary cap.
For New York, we get nearly 24.7 million in salary cap relief which is desperately needed but I'm sure Cleveland would have to throw in a few Lottery Picks to make this fair in terms of talent. The Knicks would have absolutely no use for the players they would be receiving, however in this case i see it as addition by subtraction. Losing Q Rich allows us to move Wilson Chandler to the starting 3 spot and finally get Balkman some consistent minutes. Losing Zach Randolph opens up the middle for Eddy Curry again and slides David Lee back into the starting position where he belongs.
For Cleveland they basically upgrade Wally Z with Q Rich who is a similar player but a better version of Wally especially on the defensive end. A great 3rd option for Lebron and can knock down the open 3. I already explained why Zach Randolph would fit but he still would have to learn to share the ball and sacrifice because 'Bron won't stand for any of this nonsense:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lvYf08X6tc
Even if this is not the exact trade that goes down, I think Cleveland is a team Donnie Walsh needs to be on the phone with this summer. They are a match in terms of what they need, what we need, what they have to offer and what we have to offer.. The trick is making it work. But that's why your here Donnie!!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!
www.elitethatsme.com
and wanted some Cavs Fans oppinions on this, i think i bring up some very good points.
I was looking at some of Lebron James's comments after the game 7 loss against Boston and i found this quote:
"I think what we have is very good, but we need to continue to get better. We know that," James said. "If that means some personnel changes that need to happen, then so be it. The teams around us in the league are continuing to get better."
Now think about this. The Cavs could have as much as $27 Million in expiring contracts to work with this summer. Here are a list of their expiring players and contracts:
Player 2008/2009 Salary
Wally Szczerbiak $13 Million
Eric Snow $7.3 Million
Damon Jones $4.4 Million
Delonte West $2.7 Million
Lets analyze each of these players and what they mean to the cavs
Eric Snow was inactive and not even on the playoff roster so he is basically just a contract at this point. The Cavs actually expect him to retire this summer but maybe he would agree to a offseason trade to help the team.
Damon Jones barely played in the playoffs for the Cavs so he seems to be an afterthought.
Wally Szczerbiak was a starter but certainly did not earn his paycheck, he only averaged 10 ppg in the playoffs and shot a very low percentage for someone who is on the floor to be a shooter. You could argue he is one of the main reasons the Cavs were unable to advance and I'm sure most Cavs fans would have no problem letting him go.
The only player i see Cleveland wanting to hold on to is Delonte West, He seems to be a decent young player and they can probably resign him for a reasonable price at this point in his career.
With all that said... Why is this all so attractive to the Knicks?
Donnie Walsh has made it clear that we need to get under the cap for the summer of 2010 when the super talented class of 2003 become free agents. The only way to do this is to package some of our higher paid more talented players for expiring contracts. Most of our players are overpaid, but some of them are actually talented they just do not fit with our roster. Some of these guys could possibly help a team like Cleveland that already has its superstar in Lebron and needs a #2 option. For instance Zach Randolph is scheduled to make 14.6 million next year and is signed past the 2010 season so he hurts our chances at getting under the cap. He has fit in horribly here in New York but he is still a 20 point 10 rebound big man with a excellent post game. Imagine Lebron being able to throw the ball down low to Zach in the half court or run the pick and roll/pop with such a offensively capable big man. Not to mention being paired with Ben Wallace might help hide his defensive liabilities which are pretty glaring here in New York.
The main problem is, one of those players that New York has targeted just so happens to be LEBRON JAMES. Would Cleveland really want to make a move to HELP New York pry Lebron away from them? Probably not, but at the same time.. They want to keep Lebron happy and give him a shot at WINNING while he still IS a in Cleveland. A move like this might be a step in the right direction for both teams:
Zach Randolph (14.6 mil) + Quenten Richardson (8.8 Mil) = $23.4 mil total
for
Wally Szczerbiak (13 mil) + Eric Snow(7.3 Mil) + Damon Jones ($4.4 Mil) = $24.7 mil total
Its close but I believe that would work under the salary cap.
For New York, we get nearly 24.7 million in salary cap relief which is desperately needed but I'm sure Cleveland would have to throw in a few Lottery Picks to make this fair in terms of talent. The Knicks would have absolutely no use for the players they would be receiving, however in this case i see it as addition by subtraction. Losing Q Rich allows us to move Wilson Chandler to the starting 3 spot and finally get Balkman some consistent minutes. Losing Zach Randolph opens up the middle for Eddy Curry again and slides David Lee back into the starting position where he belongs.
For Cleveland they basically upgrade Wally Z with Q Rich who is a similar player but a better version of Wally especially on the defensive end. A great 3rd option for Lebron and can knock down the open 3. I already explained why Zach Randolph would fit but he still would have to learn to share the ball and sacrifice because 'Bron won't stand for any of this nonsense:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lvYf08X6tc
Even if this is not the exact trade that goes down, I think Cleveland is a team Donnie Walsh needs to be on the phone with this summer. They are a match in terms of what they need, what we need, what they have to offer and what we have to offer.. The trick is making it work. But that's why your here Donnie!!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!