What Does it mean to the Grizz?
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 8:36 pm
Today the New Orleans Hornets traded
Omeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza
to the Washington Wizards for Rashard Lewis and a 2nd round pick #46 overall in this years draft.
What are the implications if any for the Grizz? The Hornets while a division foe did not improve on the court initially with this move. They did however gain a lot of financial flexibility this year as a player in the free agent market and next year. It is widely believed that the Hornets will choose to waive Lewis since his salary for the upcoming year is only partially guaranteed. Hence saving themselves over 8 million dollars this year. Since both Ariza and Okafor were on the books for the 2013/14 season they also get from under their salaries to the tune of more than 20 million dollars.
The Hornets are expected to draft college player of the year Anthony Davis of Kentucky with the 1st overall pick in next weeks draft. They will have a very young core with Davis, Aminu and former Grizz players Greivis Vascuez and Xavier Henry. They will also likely resign Eric Gordon. The Hornets also own the #10 overall selection to add an additional talent. It would seem that the Hornets are in rebuilding mode around young talent on rookie deals and not necessarily in a win now mode. This is good news for the Grizz today but may be a problem down the road when the young talent comes of age.
As for the other side of the ledger, the Washington Wizards now have a very interesting mix of players that if they come together and understand there roles should at least make the playoffs in the eastern conference. More importantly it now removes the Wizards from any possible Rudy Gay sweepstakes since they acquired Ariza without giving up their 3rd overall pick. Acquiring Ariza seems to guarantee that Bradley Beal is the selection if he is still on the board when they select.
Therefore a trade with Charlotte is improved if a third team is willing to give up an asset the Grizz like and take on Corey Magette which will be no easy accomplishment. The Grizz can not risk a trade and the player they would want most is not available. #2 was to high to draft Beal but Harrison Barnes and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are young players that could improve the club and rectify the financial side as well.
The likelihood of a Charlotte deal for Rudy Gay and #2 overall pick increased by 10 - 20% because of this deal today. Those of us who would like to see change in the form of trading Rudy should at least smile because of this news. While we are not there yet this deal brings us a step closer to getting a deal done.
Omeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza
to the Washington Wizards for Rashard Lewis and a 2nd round pick #46 overall in this years draft.
What are the implications if any for the Grizz? The Hornets while a division foe did not improve on the court initially with this move. They did however gain a lot of financial flexibility this year as a player in the free agent market and next year. It is widely believed that the Hornets will choose to waive Lewis since his salary for the upcoming year is only partially guaranteed. Hence saving themselves over 8 million dollars this year. Since both Ariza and Okafor were on the books for the 2013/14 season they also get from under their salaries to the tune of more than 20 million dollars.
The Hornets are expected to draft college player of the year Anthony Davis of Kentucky with the 1st overall pick in next weeks draft. They will have a very young core with Davis, Aminu and former Grizz players Greivis Vascuez and Xavier Henry. They will also likely resign Eric Gordon. The Hornets also own the #10 overall selection to add an additional talent. It would seem that the Hornets are in rebuilding mode around young talent on rookie deals and not necessarily in a win now mode. This is good news for the Grizz today but may be a problem down the road when the young talent comes of age.
As for the other side of the ledger, the Washington Wizards now have a very interesting mix of players that if they come together and understand there roles should at least make the playoffs in the eastern conference. More importantly it now removes the Wizards from any possible Rudy Gay sweepstakes since they acquired Ariza without giving up their 3rd overall pick. Acquiring Ariza seems to guarantee that Bradley Beal is the selection if he is still on the board when they select.
Therefore a trade with Charlotte is improved if a third team is willing to give up an asset the Grizz like and take on Corey Magette which will be no easy accomplishment. The Grizz can not risk a trade and the player they would want most is not available. #2 was to high to draft Beal but Harrison Barnes and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are young players that could improve the club and rectify the financial side as well.
The likelihood of a Charlotte deal for Rudy Gay and #2 overall pick increased by 10 - 20% because of this deal today. Those of us who would like to see change in the form of trading Rudy should at least smile because of this news. While we are not there yet this deal brings us a step closer to getting a deal done.