RealGM

I'm generally opposed to trading McCants in the off-season, and would prefer to see what he can be with six weeks of starts at the beginning of next season. However, a New Orlean poster inquired about him on the trade board, and I made this offer, that I kind of like.

MN GETS: Ely + Hilton Armstrong + Rasual Butler + "guy NO picks #27"

NO GETS: McCants + Jaric

For NO, they get McCants, who can be your SG, and Jaric's size, defense and passing would pair well with both Chris Paul, Pargo .. heck, even Jaric, and he'd be insurance in case Peja broke down. He's not worth his contract, but he's useful and as a vet, would be a helpful to the play-off Hornets.

MIN gets a couple prospects in Armstrong and the #27 guy (who's salary is needed to make this deal fly). They clear a a couple more mil for the 2009 free agency with the two prospects guaranteed salaries and about $4 mil of Butler still on the books in 2009-2010, a year before Jaric.

Not a bad deal. Armstrong would definitely fit a need and Ely would be a solid backup PF with us likely not re-signing Smith. Gets Jaric's contract off the books sooner too.

I wasn't sure on this, but I was under the impression they held Butler in a high regard and were less keen on trading him. He seems semi redundent and I do not see him getting many minutes behind Peja, West, Wright, etc., but thought NO wasn't as inclined to part with him. Also, when playing with trade checker, Ely came up with a problem on being traded. Not sure he is abel to be thrown in.

I do like getting a year earlier cap relief and would be inclined to do this trade, though don't see Butler's role with us either.

I don't follow the hornets very closely, so you may be right. Two years ago Butler was an OK NBA player, but he was simply awful for the Hornets this year. He shot 35% for the season.

I always thought Craig Smith would be decent there too, with Tyson Chandler behind him. I wonder if we included him, whether we could get Julian Wright? He never progressed like they hoped, but he still has the P-word .. potential.

Not sure where J. Wright fits into our rotation or what position we put him at, but you find a way to include him for C. Smith and I am on board and don't look back. Really like Smith, but fit is a concern and this would be getting great value for him I think.

shrink wrote:I don't follow the hornets very closely, so you may be right. Two years ago Butler was an OK NBA player, but he was simply awful for the Hornets this year. He shot 35% for the season.

I always thought Craig Smith would be decent there too, with Tyson Chandler behind him. I wonder if we included him, whether we could get Julian Wright? He never progressed like they hoped, but he still has the P-word .. potential.

Really? I'd say Wright was progressing nicely. He was a dynamo coming off the bench for them in the playoffs. My guess is they're about as happy with wright as we are Brewer.

I've never been a fan of trading quality for quantity. Hilton Armstrong was a reach in a weak draft.

I agree, we do not need a bunch of guys, we need a couple good pieces to add to our core. Move Shad only for value. That will either be with our 2nd rd draft pick to move up, or with Walker for a vet.

revprodeji wrote:I agree, we do not need a bunch of guys, we need a couple good pieces to add to our core. Move Shad only for value. That will either be with our 2nd rd draft pick to move up, or with Walker for a vet.

Its a bunch of guys because they are needed to salary match Jaric. I suspect we'd buy out Ely's $1 mil expiring, and maybe the Rasual's Butler deal which is under $4 mil a year for two.

The prize here is to change $21 mil of Jaric into $9 mil of no-production guys, and the price is trading McCants for two big man prospects. Three, if you consider Ely still a prospect.

Right now Armstrong is a third string big man. I think at his best he will be a serviceable backup.

The trade breaks down to McCants for salary shaving and the #27 pick. I think McCants should be able to net us more than that.