RealGM

TO HAWKS:
C Kwame Brown (expiring)
PG Chucky Atkins (expiring)


TO PISTONS:
C Zaza Pachulia
Atlanta's 2010 1st rounder



Gets you another $5 million in cap space for the offseason, and Brown fills Pachulia's role off your bench. We get a late 1st round pick....

Atlanta doesn't have any shot at cap space in the offseason between JJ & Childress' cap holds.

I was thinking the additional $5 million would help you guys keep JJ...

Piston Pete wrote:I was thinking the additional $5 million would help you guys keep JJ...

It might, but Zaza is a key rotation player. He's really the only true center on the roster who can play more than 5 minutes/game.

The Hawks' GM intentionally dipped the salaries for Bibby, Zaza, and Marvin next year to make it easier to re-sign JJ. My instincts tell me that the Hawks would trade these assets before Zaza:

1. Mo Evans
2. 2010 pick
3. Marvin Williams

I'm not sure other Hawks' fans would agree with that order, though.

While you're here, do you think there's any chance any of the Pistons' vets on the last year of their contracts get released after the trade deadline (Atkins, Wallace, Brown)?

no way we would do that there would be no need to give the 1st round pick up
zaza can actually contribute as opposed to kwame brown

I don't believe cap room next year (or luxury tax room) is a real obstacle to resigning Joe. The 1st year dollar value is within constraints. The question is whether a max contract makes longer term sense financially for the club.