Seattle/Atlanta help for cap relief

[evildallas]

Premise: Seattle is going nowhere this year and Atlanta isn't going far.

The offer:
Seattle sends
Earl Watson PG (2 yr 12.8M left on deal)
Johan Petro C (1 yr 1.9M left on deal)
a 2nd rounder (Seattle has several coming in)

to Atlanta
for
Ty Lue PG (expiring deal)
Lo Wright C (expiring deal)


The logic:
Seattle could use a little cap relief in rebuilding. Specifically, they are paying 2 PGs over 6M per with 2 more years on both of their deals. Delonte West is becoming a free agent at the end of the year, so if they decide to keep him that would be 3 PGs eating up cap room. Depending on how the draft lottery goes Seattle will be in a position to add a C, PF, or PG to their roster.

This deal clears 8.1M off of next years cap for Seattle without trying to stick them with a bad contract or steal any of their other assets (like Kurt Thomas who I'd love to acquire but realize that as an expiring deal they have little incentive to move him). Lue and Wright just expire at the end of the year, but in the mean time provide 2 veteran guys who are known as great locker room guys to hang around the youth on the Sonics roster.

For Atlanta, they get another PG with good D and some 3 pt range. Petro gives height off the bench for about 12 minutes a night which is something the Hawks are little short on. The 2nd rounder is a good faith gesture since the Hawks are taking on so much salary next season they could use the 2nd round pick (most likely the one from Houston) to fill a roster spot with a minimum salary player.

It isn't a blockbuster for the Hawks, but they aren't giving up any of their key assets either. The solidification of the PG position should be enough to get the Hawks into the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference. The Hawks are sacrificing flexibility in free agency, but it was never certain that they could do anything with extra cap room anyway. Also, it is important to give the young Hawks players a taste of the playoffs before they become too jaded.