RealGM

I still think the best and most reasonable way to improve the team for a playoff run is to revamp the bench. My main target is Kurt Thomas from Seattle.

1) Seattle is out of the playoff hunt.
2) Seattle is rebuilding.
3) Thomas while playing well isn't in their long term plans
4) Seattle wants to move a PG because Ridnour and Watson both are on the books for 2 more years after this for approx. 13M each.
5) Thomas has playoff experience playing D against top big men

When I first brought up a deal weeks ago it was said to be too 1 sided because my stated goal was clearing contracts for the off season to make a run at Jose Calderon or Beno Udrih as a fall back. This proposal is more realistic in that it doesn't do it. It takes one of the PGs off of Seattle's hands in order to get them to part with Thomas.

The trade would be:
Zaza
Shelden
Lo Wright
Ty Lue
for
Kurt Thomas (6.5 ppg and 9.8 rpg in 25 mpg)
Johan Petro (7 ft tall, 4ppg and 3.5 rpg and 0.5 bpg in 12 mpg)
Luke Ridnour (PG, 34% career 3pt shooter) (Watson also works)

works in trade checker, revamps our bench without giving up a major cog this year (Childress), saves them Ridnour's salary from the last year of his deal (next season is a wash of Ridnour/Petro = Zaza/Shelden in contract), and it doesn't dump a bad contract on them. Delonte West would really be the guard I prefer, but the appeal to Seattle is in dumping one of their larger PG contracts. Earl Watson or Luke Ridnour accomplishes that, but Delonte does not. Petro hasn't shown enough signs of breaking out for them to be a long term cog and they still have Sene as a young project.

The only thing I don't like about it is that it keeps us out of the free agent market next year because we don't shed any contract. We still will have to exceed the cap to resign Josh and Josh in all likelihood, but the trade gives us a PG to pair with Acie for next season and a 7 ft backup C to come off the bench next season as well. Thomas is for the playoff run and is producing exactly what I would have hoped for our bench bigs. Furthermore, he's drawn a lot of tough playoff defensive assignments and that experience would be good to expose Al to.

Lineup for rest of season
AJ/Ridnour/Law
JJ/West/Salim
Marvin/JChill
JSmoove/Solomon
Al/Kurt Thomas/Petro

We'd have 1 roster spot to add a 3pt specialist from the D league to fill it out.

For Seattle, they get to dump the contract they wanted to dump, don't pick up bad contracts (Zaza has 1 more year at the very affordable 4M and Shelden is under rookie contract), and if change of scenery works they pick up 2 serviceable bigs to see if they blossom or at worst to use as trading assets.

I've been after Ridnour/Petro for a while too. I'd love to cut KT and Shelden out though. Maybe replace him wigh Solo if they just want someone.

I've also thought about seriously re-balancing our roster with Marvin coming this way for the above players and their first.

Not to get the pick, it could then be traded also.

I feel Kurt Thomas is the key. He's an expiring contract and actual gives quality rebounding off the bench. We are getting no production out of Zaza and Shelden right now. I don't see Shelden getting serious tick as long as Woody is coach and even if Woody isn't the coach I don't see him getting an extension past his rookie deal, so I have little desire to keep him around. He may blossom for them, but I'd rather have someone who can produce now.

Kurt Thomas would be a VERY welcome addition to the Hawks' lineup. His veteran savvy, defensive prowess and leadership would be invaluable to this young Hawks team. We have all the youth and potential we need.

Experience and leadership is what's lacking and is what will get us to the next level. Kurt Thomas has been around a very long time and has played deep into the postseason with the Suns and Knicks.

I don't know if Seattle would want to throw in Petro. But I could see them doing it. But at the same time, why would they want to give up an expiring contract and take on unneccessary cap space with Zaza and Shelden?

JoshB914 wrote:I don't know if Seattle would want to throw in Petro. But I could see them doing it. But at the same time, why would they want to give up an expiring contract and take on unneccessary cap space with Zaza and Shelden?

It's the price to deal Ridnour, because although a lot of teams want to improve PG depth, few want to commit over 6.5M a year for two more years to a player that may or may not be starter quality. Also a lot of people knock his defense. There is no way I would trade expiring contracts for Ridnour alone. It just doesn't give enough value for the risk. If Seattle wants to reduce their back court contracts they need to include something with it (KT) and take something back (Zaza and Shelden's short deals).