Will EG make a move before the trade deadline?

[clubbing_caveman]

We are approaching the trade deadline. Given the current availability of players, and teams willing to trade, do you think EG will make a move or stay put? If you think he will make a move, what do you think he will do (as opposed to what do you want him to do)?

[daSwami]

no chance. having gil waiting on the ir is a better talent upgrade than any trade we could make, unless we could dump etan's contract....

[Soup's Uncle]

I'd love to give up etan for mike james...EG's not gonna do anything though.

[MJG]

I'll go with Swami's "no chance". The team is simply playing too well without Arenas to make a move. They'd obviously move Etan if they could, but they can't, so we stand pat.

[nate33]

I'd trade Etan + Memphis pick for any contract that expires in 2009. Possible candidates include:

NY for Malik Rose
Memphis for Stromile Swift
Utah for Jarron Collins + Jason Hard + Ronnie Price
NJ for Jason Collins
Houston for Jackie Butler + Kirk Snyder + Justin Reed
Cleveland for Donyell Marshall
Cleveland for Eric Snow

[closg00]

Ernie will have nothing to lose by offering up Etan + the Memphis pick, I'm sure he'll try it.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

I don't think EG will make a trade... but, after watching Pech and Sogalia last night, I'm more convinced than ever that DSong must go. He is simply not athletic enough to match up with anyone and, despite being a pretty smart player on offense, doesn't bring anything that isn't replaceable.

[Dat2U]

I don't believe that Etan's even an option. Come on, the guy is coming off of major heart surgery! You think someone would trade for him considering his health, exorbitant salary & his trade kicker attached to any potential? Not to mention how unseemly it would look to deal a guy coming off a illness like this.

I think Etan will remain a Wizard, until he can demonstrate that he's returned to form. That he can once again be the high energy player that he's known for being. If Etan comes back this season and plays well, there might be a small chance he could be moved during the offseason, but not now, not before the trade deadline.

If anything, I'd look at a potential deal for Songaila. As we saw last night, Pech could quickly replace Songaila as EJ's designated big to help spread the floor when EJ wants more offense. What about dealing Songaila for some PG depth? Preferrably an expiring contract. Dealing Songaila could provide a bit more room under the luxury tax to deal with re-signing Gil & Antwan.

[Rafael122]

Ivan in his chat did hint that it could be Songaila's minutes that could be handed to OPEC, so Darius might be the odd man out. However, if I had to choose between trading Etan or Darius, I'd trade Etan first. The Memphis pick ain't gonna cut it b/c that won't be a first round pick any time soon.

[nate33]

I don't believe that Etan's even an option. Come on, the guy is coming off of major heart surgery! You think someone would trade for him considering his health, exorbitant salary & his trade kicker attached to any potential? Not to mention how unseemly it would look to deal a guy coming off a illness like this.

I think Etan will remain a Wizard, until he can demonstrate that he's returned to form. That he can once again be the high energy player that he's known for being. If Etan comes back this season and plays well, there might be a small chance he could be moved during the offseason, but not now, not before the trade deadline.

You're right of course. But a guy can dream.

The only hope is that Etan is healthy enough to play a few games before the Trade Deadline. At that point, a team desperate for an interior banger might take a shot since it really costs them almost nothing. Utah is probably the best match.

[closg00]

I don't believe that Etan's even an option. Come on, the guy is coming off of major heart surgery! You think someone would trade for him considering his health, exorbitant salary & his trade kicker attached to any potential? Not to mention how unseemly it would look to deal a guy coming off a illness like this.

I think Etan will remain a Wizard, until he can demonstrate that he's returned to form. That he can once again be the high energy player that he's known for being. If Etan comes back this season and plays well, there might be a small chance he could be moved during the offseason, but not now, not before the trade deadline.

If anything, I'd look at a potential deal for Songaila. As we saw last night, Pech could quickly replace Songaila as EJ's designated big to help spread the floor when EJ wants more offense. What about dealing Songaila for some PG depth? Preferrably an expiring contract. Dealing Songaila could provide a bit more room under the luxury tax to deal with re-signing Gil & Antwan.

One thing about D-Song is that he has touch around the basket, and can mix it up a bit down-low... something that Pech hasn't shown yet. Pech likes to hang around the perimeter.

[LyricalRico]

I'd trade Etan + Memphis pick for any contract that expires in 2009. Possible candidates include:

NY for Malik Rose
<snip>
NJ for Jason Collins
<snip>
Cleveland for Eric Snow

Those are the only deals I see both teams being interested in but even then I don't see them happening by the deadline. The NY deal would put us over the tax for this season so that will have to wait. The New Jersey deal could probably be done over the summer once Magloire is off their books.

The Cleveland deal would likely have already been done by now if 1) Etan was healthy and 2) Verajao was still unsigned. I don't think that one happens at all now (unless they move a few of their bigs for Bibby).

As for Grunfeld making moves in general, I don't think he will. First off, he has to walk a very fine line with the numbers because a few hundred grand could push us over the tax. He also can't do any 2-for-1 deals since we're already short handed as it is.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

-= original quote snipped =-


You're right of course. But a guy can dream.

The only hope is that Etan is healthy enough to play a few games before the Trade Deadline. At that point, a team desperate for an interior banger might take a shot since it really costs them almost nothing. Utah is probably the best match.

I could see Thomas coming back sooner and better than expected, putting up good numbers in 2-3 games and then being traded.

[hands11]

-= original quote snipped =-



I could see Thomas coming back sooner and better than expected, putting up good numbers in 2-3 games and then being traded.

1 What trades has EG made just prior to the trade deadline for the Wizard? None come to mind but I may be missing something.

Seems we always have some players returning from injury or young talent we need to see more of before we move them. EG does his best work in the off-season. But maybe we are due. Songaila does stand out as a movable piece.

2)1) What trades has EG has just prior to the trade deadline for other teams he worked for? I thought he did something when with MIL.

Not sure this has been posted but I found an article about teams and the Feb 21st deadline.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-2 ... Watch.html

[MJG]

-= original quote snipped =-
I could see Thomas coming back sooner and better than expected, putting up good numbers in 2-3 games and then being traded.

That's the dream. After all, doesn't Etan usually play his best ball in the first two weeks of the season? I wonder if that'll hold true if his first two weeks come in February?

[doclinkin]

Answer to the original question is: No.

The book on Ernie is when he sees a trade that is needed he's the most aggressive player at the table. But in the absence of need, he won't pull the trigger on speculation or a gamble. He'll play the long-view on team need, be patient. Play the hand dealt, bet conservatively.

Here the team is playing well with a game-changing all-star on back-burner. The talent infusion of re-integrating GA is better than any speculative swap available. Gil adds depth at both backcourt spots. Adds scoring to carry the team over the occasional cold spell.

The primary need right now is a bit more effort or energy from the guys we got on the bench. Right now, with a short roster, some of the young pups get minutes by default. But there is undeniable talent developing there, if not consistent effort. Long term it doesn't hurt the team to let them steep a bit, get minutes.

To that bench mob, as a mid-season offensive 'acquisition' we just added a 7 footer with 3pt range and a revving motor, strong work ethic. And just may add (late-season) a high-intensity big man with a passion for the weight room, who always comes back strong after a lay-off.

Beyond that? We have no pieces for which another team will overpay; insufficient/unproven depth. Not the strongest hand. Better play is to wait it out. Looks entirely possible whatever our mid-season record we could improve even more down the line, and be peaking at the right time.

[nate33]

I agree with doc. A trade deadline move is highly unlikely. Another consideration is that there is no luxtax problem next year. EG is not in position where he has to do anything.

The odds of moving Etan or Songaila will be much higher this summer or sometime next year when the Trade Deadline looms, because we have a luxtax problem in 2009/10.

The logical course of action for EG is to be patient. The guy we really need to move is Etan, and his value is at an all time low right now. We're better off waiting until next year when he'll be in better shape and his contract will be that much shorter.

[Josh]

The fate of this team for the rest of this season and in the playoffs--and perhaps the future as well--depends on whether our biggest star can be integrated into the whole new--and improved--style of play. This won't be easy. It would be foolish to put the team in a position of having to make additional adjestments.

[fishercob]

I agree with doc. A trade deadline move is highly unlikely. Another consideration is that there is no luxtax problem next year. EG is not in position where he has to do anything.

The odds of moving Etan or Songaila will be much higher this summer or sometime next year when the Trade Deadline looms, because we have a luxtax problem in 2009/10.

The logical course of action for EG is to be patient. The guy we really need to move is Etan, and his value is at an all time low right now. We're better off waiting until next year when he'll be in better shape and his contract will be that much shorter.

Is this solely because you don't trust EJ to give ET too many of Haywood's minutes? Because if we're looking at skill sets alone, I'd much rather move Songaila than Etan. Blatche and Pesh have some of the finesse, outside shooting that Songaila has, but none of them compare to Etan in brute force.

[hands11]

1

What trades has EG made just prior to the trade deadline for the Wizard?

Seems we always have some players returning from injury or young talent we need to see more of before we move them. EG does his best work in the off-season. But maybe we are due. Songaila does stand out as a movable piece.

2) What trades has EG has just prior to the trade deadline for other teams he worked for?

I stand before ya board of knowledge unworthy of answers but I humbly ask again, could you help a brother out. I would really like to know the answers of the questions I seek?