A lot of people think we can do it without RJ.
Mathematically, yes we can, but realistically, almost definitely no.
I just don't see Ratner taking on all that extra salary, even if it is only for 2 years, especially if we want to resign him after his contract is up.
Even though a lot of the concensus is we would clear out cap space for a major free agent signing when his contract was up, unless JO was shot we would still want to sign him as well.
Now even if it does involve RJ, I don't see any reason Indianna would want RJ unless they had someone to take on the terrible contract(s) of either Murphy or Tinsley. Even though he is superior to anyone on that roster, they have too many wings and soft bigs with bad contracts, and an upcoming stud in Granger, who they need to resign after this year(unless they just give him the qualifying offer).
So...........we need a 3rd team in the mix that realistically might want RJ or Murphy.
Disclaimer: This all works on the premise Indianna actually will want to trade JO, and in conference, that Thorn will take on his injury concerns, and other said team wants RJ.
Also all trades assume said players will take their player options.
I also have yet to examine any possibilities involving Troy Murphy, cause this is getting way to complicated with 3 teams and numerous players, let alone more players and/or 4 teams.
So here are the 3 trades that work that make sense for all parties(all trades have Indianna strictly sending out JO to NJ and NJ recieving nothing else):
NJ sends:
RJ
Swift
Utah sends:
Harpring
Jarron Collins
Jason Hart
this years 1st round pick
future 1st
Utah recieves:
RJ
Why for Utah: They get a scorer/passer/defender, etc in RJ that they lack, but they have to play him at the 2. I don't see the big deal as even though RJ is a 3, his handle and jumpshot has steadily gotten better, he is always a good passer, decent rebounder and good defender. He will work well with Deron Williams as well.
2nd trade
Cleveland sends:
Wally World
2 1st rounders including this years
Cleveland recieves RJ.
Cleveland gets a nice complemantary scorer, actually star to put next to Lebron, who is hard nosed, something a lot of that team lacks, with the exception of Lebron himself, an aging and detiorating Big Ben and Big Z, who is getting older.
I don't know if NJ or Indy does this trade, for fear of creating a true monster that is almost unbeatable for years.
Portland sends:
Raef LaFrentz
2 1st rounders, protected, but including this years if it winds up non lottery
Portland recieves RJ
Why for Portland: Pretty obvious. They have an outstanding young core in Roy, Aldridge and if he comes back healthy, Oden. They have a young but very athletic and solid bench. They have a decent 2 man rotation at PG, with Blake and Jack. They could even use Roy at the point, although I feel he is better at the 2, playing the occasional stint at the 1 every game. Their bench is Outlaw, Webster, Joel, Frye and whoever doesn't start at PG. Not Shabby. They have the MLE to get an almost stud PG to start if one is out there, or they can explore another trade, if they want to improve that spot.
So what do they lack? In a word, RJ.
A young star veteran that knows how to win, knows what it feels like and really wants it. A guy that gives it his all, is hard nosed, but doesn't have a huge ego, a team 1st guy. A guy with high B ball IQ. He can score in bunches, but will accept his role on any given night. He is coachable but not reliant. He can create for himself but flourishes in the open court and with a pass first PG or other playmakers. He himself is a playmaker.
He can defend. He can rebound.
His contract is quite friendly considering his talents.
After the ghost contracts of Steve Francis and Darius Miles come off Portland cap, even with RJ on there and some extensions done, they are not in bad shape, and more than likely a perrenial playoff team, even in the West.
So, that is why Portland would probrably be his best destination.
Man typing his description makes me not want to trade him, but anyway that is a whole different topic.
At least all 3 scenarios send him to a winning situation, most likely better so then being here, just for the very reason if we get a stud 4/5 it probrably entails trading him, and if he stays we are like a Washington Wizards team. Probrably in the high 40's for wins, and a 1st to 2nd round playoff team.
Edit: I don't know what I did, but I did not mean to make so much of this post in boldintentionally.
Edit: Sort of fixed it.
