RealGM

There has been a lot of stories on the Wiretap about teams trading player and draft picks. Plus a lot of teams need to make some fairly major roster decisions. What do you think some of these teams should do?



The Knicks

Unlike a lot of Celtics fans, I don't mind the Knicks franchise (but hate a lot of their players and former coach/execs) and would like to see their fans have something good happen for a change.

I think Walsh probably isn't going to do anything amazing but at least a bit of common sense after Thomas' reign will make them seem like they have improved significantly and at least have a plan and a future to work towards.

Do they keep the pick? They haven't had a good high draft pick for years thanks to Thomas but their cap and roster situation is still ridiculous, do they use the pick to get themselves out of Randophs contract? What should they do with Marbury? Let him expire or trade him before the deadline (what team would want him?).


The Bucks

A team I have always had a soft spot for and one that probably needs to build through the draft and trades as they are not much a of a free agent destination.

Skiles and Hammond should get them moving in the right direction though, and Bogut and Yi could be a pretty a very, very good 4/5 combo to build around but you just don know yet. Some talk about trading Redd and what do they do with the 8th pick?


The Clippers

Even when they seem to get things moving it somehow manages to fall apart. Two big questions, what to do with Brand and Livingston. Will Brand sign elsewhere (he probably should). Will Livingston ever live up to his potential? What about Maggette? They have the 7th pick, what do they do with it?


The Sonics

Another team I have a soft spot for. They have an uncertain future, Kevin Durant and 47 draft picks. What should they do? They need to get some decent veteran help for Durant and hopefully Green continues to improve.

Durant is the only definite on that roster, everyone else should be considered moveable in the right deal. Wilcox, Ridnour, Watson, Collison, Wilkins are all decent enough players but not really going to take this team anywhere.



Thoughts? Add other teams if you like.

The Knicks:

First, trade Zach Randolph for Kenyon Martin.

Why? Their contracts are the same length, so no loss there. With D'Antoni on board the Knicks are going to want to run and Kenyon is perfect for that, he's also a much better defender than Zach, which is a definate plus. Finally, he can shoot the 15-18 foot jumper which helps free up space down low.

But would the other team do it? I think so. Denver has no real low post bigman right now. Zach's scoring could help balance this team. Since the contracts are the same length, they aren't handicapping themselves for any longer length of time then they were with Kenyon's deal.

Second, trade Jamal Crawford and Mardy Collins for TJ Ford and Joey Graham.

Why? The Knicks clearly need a PG, especially with D'Antoni's system in place. Ford is as good as any available. He's fast, he can score and he can pass. Graham is just a throw in, an athletic project.

But would the other team do it? I think so. The Raps need a wingman who can score and Crawford can definately do that. Mardy Collins helps give them PG depth.

Third, trade Marbury's expiring, Renaldo Balkman, a future first, cash and swap firsts with Milwaukee (Knicks move down from #6 to #8.) for Michael Redd and Dan Gadzuric.

Why? The Knicks will need another shooter in D'Antoni's system. The Bucks seem to want to get rid of Redd and he'd by a perfect fit in the SSOL offense. A great kickout option for Ford. Gadz is a fairly athletic bigman, maybe he can play the role of a hopelessly impoverished man's Amare.

But would the other team do it? I think so. The Bucks look like they want to ditch Redd and his max contract in their rebuilding effort, this deal also lets them drop Gadzuric's oversized contract. They pick up a talented prospect in Balkman as well as a future pick and the oppurtunity to move up in this draft and pick a better player than they could have at #8.

Fourth, resign Fred Jones.

Why? He's a decent shooter and he provides needed depth at SG.

Fifth, draft BPA.

Why? You just need to get a good young guy out of this draft.

Final team:

PG Ford/Robinson
SG Redd/Jones
SF Q-Rich/Chandler/Jefferies/Graham
PF K-Mart/Lee/Rose
C Curry/Gadz/Jerome James

+ 2 draft picks. One of James, Rose and Graham is likely to be cut.

I think that's a playoff team in the east.

Notes: I have Q-Rich starting because he was a starter in Phoenix under D'Antoni and did have success there, Chandler is still young and inexperienced. Robinson can play the role of Barbossa in this system.