RealGM

Minnesota is obviously not going anywhere, and can readily trade cheap productive players on non-guaranteed contracts (Sarver likey?) for future considerations. None would be starters, but PHO bench seems pretty shallow but the team being one of 3-4 true contenders for a championship, you're making a run for a ring this year. Note, these are unguaranteed contracts (well, you could make a qualifying offer for Telfair), so they are cheap auditions to help you this season, and Sarver can decide whether to extend them in the future .. consider them expirings with production.

The asset MIN would probably give the most for is the ATL pick, which if the season ended today, is non-lottery. My guess is that ATL's young team improves in the second half, so I'm estimating maybe an #18, but an injury oculd move them back into the late lottery.

MIN's player, in my estimated order of importance to your team would be:

Ryan Gomes ($0.77 mil). A young vet who's started over 100 games, Gomes is a SF/PF swingman. He's strong enough to score inside, and smart enough to score outside with three-point range. He plays smart, he plays strong, and he works hard. I could see him playing 20 minutes for you, protecting Grant hill from big minutes and providing insurance for him when the games are important in the play-offs.

Gerald Green ($1.44 mil). Athletic freak, and won last year's slam-dunk contest. He works hard, but still doesn't have the head for basketball yet. He'd be scary-fun in the open court.

Craig Smith ($0.69). Undertall, but over-strong PF with great quickness to get his shot off. He would make mincemeat of defenders your running style tired out. He's big, so I question whether he could run with you.

Sebastian Telfair ($2.56). He's playing much better in MIN, and he's lightning quick, but he's got plenty to learn. He hasn't been an attitude problem in MIN, but he's got a history of it. I think in a Banks deal he might work.

MIN also has some future picks for balancing deals, including 2008 MIN 2nd, 2008 MIA 2nd, 2009 BOS 1st. They probably can't afford to use Ratliff's $11.7 mil expiring, but Doleac's $3.1 could be dealt and still stay under the lux, as well as 2 deals that expire in 16 months .. Antoine Walker ($9 mil) and Buckner ($4 mil).

On the PHO side, less developed prospects like Tucker or Strawberry might help (though they don't fit), or trading an unproductive contracts like Piatkowski for production. Banks is a possibility I suppose, but tough for MIN, who may have lux rpoblems next season.

As an example, Craig Smith + Ryan Gomes + future 2nd for Piatkowski + ATL 1st, nets PHO 20 PPG, 9 RPG for the play-offs. While these guys probably wouldn't get as many minutes, they'd certainly be far more helpful than Piatkowski, and give the Suns options and insurance.

So - any ideas? Who'd be useful on your team?

I started bracing for pop-ups halfway through your ad.

I saw this idea being brought up on the trade board yesterday already and liked it. I really think that Gomes and Smith are two hard-working young players that could help us, especially when it comes to rebounding, one of our main weaknesses. Looking at the Hawks' record so far, as well as at the way they play, I doubt the pick will even end up being in the lottery, but definitely not higher then #1, so trading it alongside a guy who gets close to no PT at all for two guys who aren't just young, but might also be very useful to us, as well as a 2nd round pick (non-guaranteed contract Sarver should love) would definitely make a lot of sense.

Personally, I prefer the deal you proposed over including Banks for Telfair, since I doubt this would be a good move for either side. Green sounds tempting, as well, since if he actually ever manages to live up to the expectations he'd clearly be by far the best player out of those 4, but looking at our team's needs, as well as at Gerald's evelopment so far, I definitely would take both Smith and Gomes over him.

Nice idea overall shrink, something I actually could (and would like to) see happening and also a deal that makes sense for both teams.

That would be excellent...

Place your orders -- we can make it to go?

How many would you like?

So we are going to trade the Atl pick for a 4 month rental on some guys that we don't have room for? I like Gomes but would much rather sign him this summer if Marion leaves. No thanks.

I would take...

Gomes + Telfair + 2nd Rounder for Piatkowski + ATL 08

I like our chances with the atl pick, or in a better trade than this. Lets not give our only pick away for nothing.

Knowing the suns' luck (curse), if we did trade the Atlanta pick, the Hawks would get decimated by injuries, miss the playoffs, and end up winning the lottery.

My problem with most of those players is that they need contract extensions pretty soon and we are at/near the luxtax meaning we would prolly let them go for nothing.

I think the financially responsible thing to do is just draft a rookie and have his cheap contract for 4 years. I don't really see any of these guys getting us over the hump. Gomes is good but with Marion and Diaw we don't really need any more combo-forwards and mins there is short.

I must admit, Gerald Green has always been intriguing and would suit our system where all he'd have to do is jack up 3s or dunk in transition.

I wouldn't touch Telfair and Smith just doesn't have enough run in him.