Telfair to NOH .. somehow?

[shrink]

After yesterday's trade, NOH has the following guys under salary:

PG- Paul
SG- Thorton/Willie Green/Belinelli
SF- Ariza/Peja/Pondexter
PF- West/Jason Smith
C- Okafor/Gray

and Mustafa Shakur, Joe Alexander and Pops Mensa-Bonsu in camp.

I assume that they think that one of their SG's will play PG when Chris Paul is not on the floor or dinged up. Regardless, it seems like there is a giant hole at back-up PG.
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Meanwhile, at the time of the Sessions trade, it was rumored that the team would try to move Telfair elsewhere. Perhaps they feel that he isn't what they need, or that they think he's too good, or will become unhappy when he racks up a ton of DNP-CD's behind Flynn (who needs minutes to raise his trade value) and Ridnour (who we invested a lot of money in longterm). We still need a back-up PG until Flynn gets well, and it was rumored that the Wolves would try to move Telfair for a vet-min PG, to provide leadership at a cheap cost

It seems to me there is no better team in the NBA to send Telfair than the Hornets. He is not worth $2.7 mil, but he'd be more useful (or at least, useful for a longer period of time) in New Orleans. MIN can

While it carries numerous TPE's, NOH is about $3 mil under the lux, but with only 11 on the roster. Most likely candidates would be expiring deals from:

Willie Green $3,976,000
Marco Belinelli $2,380,270
Jason Smith $2,187,913

Ideas?

Willie Green + 2011 top 20 protected 1st for Telfair + $1.2 mil in cap space

NOH will get a lot more use from Telfair than Willie Green, and the additional cap space will either be swallowed or used for more flexibility under the lux to fill the roster. MIN pays $1.2 mil in cap space, and $850,000 to hire a vet-min PG, but gets a late 1st for it.

Belinelli for Telfair straight up

NOH would get more use from Telfair, especially with Willie Green on board. MIN adds $300,000 to the cap space kitty, and Belinelli is a better player. This may work best in a three way trade, sending Belli elsewhere, otherwise he would just ride the bench while MIN paid its $850,000 for it's PG

Jason Smith + Belinelli + 2nd for Telfair + Koufos + $0.5 mil cap space

NOH gets a better fit, and MIN gets better players, but it costs them $0.5 mil.

Jason Smith + $1.8 mil cap space + 2nd for Telfair + Koufos

Koufos replaces Smith and NOH gets its back-up PG, with room to fill the roster. MIN gets a comparable big back in Smith, a 2nd, and nets some more cap space to sign the vet min PG. This is the best one to simply save money to afford the vet-min PG.


OVERALL, this looks like reasonable side-deals as a part of a three-team trade. If MIN can add a veteran PG, even when he doesn't play he can help in the clubhouse, help coach the youngins', and not mind riding the bench as long as he is still in the league getting a paycheck. I'm hoping for the Madsen role.

[the_bruce]

The real question is does either team care?

Smith has been injured most of his NBA career. Koufos has been a bench player. They are equal value and have similar face up style games. I think Smith is a better athlete and Koufos is more polished.

Bellinelli can play some PG minutes, Bassy might be a bit better as a true PG. They probably fit better if swapped, but still does anyone actually care?

[Krapinsky]

NOH did the trade b/c they think Greene can switchover and be a back up point for 10 minutes/game.

[Worm Guts]

I think it's worthless to move Telfair to pick up another scrub point guard, but it doesn't seem like Kahn feels the same way so who knows?