ESPN Insider Rumor: CLE-MEM

[Heart-of-RnR]

According to an ESPN insider article, the Cavs and Grizzlies are discussing a trade that would send Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Kyle Lowry to the Cavs in exchange for Donyell Marshall, Cedric Simmons, Dwayne Jones, and Ira Newble.


The way I theorize, it's actually two separate deals:

First: Newble, Dw. Jones, Simmons, and Marshall for Miller and Cardinal plus a future first round pick.

Second: Cavs use Trade Exception to acquire Kyle Lowry

Why would Memphis want to give up so much talent for so little? Rumor is that their owner is getting ready to sell the franchise and he wants to set things up so that the next owner and GM have optimum cap space and no long contracts so that the rebuilding process can be swift and smooth.

Using figures from The Storyteller let's look at the financial breakdown for the Grizzlies:

If they decide to go through with this trade, there is an immediate difference in salaries of $3,445,279 going in Memphis's favor. This is due to the margin in the first trade that falls barely within the 125% rule in trades plus the use of the TE on Lowry. Even taking pro-rating into account, that's still big immediate savings for Memphis.

By the end of this season if you compare the salaries of all players involved in the trade, there is a difference of $7,448,441 in Memphis's favor. That is additional cap space that Memphis can use to sign a free agent if they want to.

By the 3rd year, the difference in salaries amounts to $16,630,937 - The combined salaries of Mike Miller and Brian Cardinal for the 2009-2010 season. This is why it make so much more of a difference to Memphis to be able to move Cardinal along with Miller.

Thus, if they take this deal, the total payroll savings by Memphis will be $27,534,657 through the 2009-2010 season, which, by the way, is also the total cost to the Cavs (Not taking luxury tax into account).

In short, the reason why this deal could actually happen is because the Cavs can offer Memphis such a large amount of salary relief. The Cavs are one of the few teams in good position to include Brian Cardinal in the deal and that is the incentive for Memphis to take this deal over other offers for Mike Miller.

There are other teams who could potentially offer more salary relief (Seattle, for instance) but such teams may not be as willing as the Cavs are to take on so much extra salary.
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[Pugsley_2491]

great deals for the cavs. really a chance to step up and show lebron theyre as committed as he is

[PurpleTestament]

Gotta love Memphis assisting every NBA darling to his ring.

[RIPskaterdude]

Great deal for Memphis if they can dump Cardinal on the Cavs, though. But...I thought Cleveland wasn't willing to take on long term, terrible contracts?

[warren weel im]

This might actually work. CLE is desperate for a move... any move.

[LiquidFire]

good deal, but who would be the cavs big's after?

theres...

Z
AV
Cardinal?
?
?

cavs would be LOADED at gaurd.

[Heart-of-RnR]

If the Cavs can pull it off, they'll likely try to pick up recently waived Nick Fazekas.

At least, I hope they do.

[Blame Rasho]

good deal, but who would be the cavs big's after?

theres...

Z
AV
Cardinal?
?
?

cavs would be LOADED at gaurd.

I am pretty sure there is some 13/7 bigman that you are forgetting.

[warren weel im]

What's next? Darko to San Antonio?

[LiquidFire]

LOL i completely forgot about that idi... i mean key contributor.

everyone loves some drew gooden!

yea, i want this deal to go through

[Blame Rasho]

There is the whole cockblocking thing that can come into question with Jones nonetheless...

"1-Year Bird Must receive consent to trade players with a 1-year contract, excluding options, who will become Early Bird or Bird free agents at the end of the contract, or players who have accepted a qualifying offer for a 5th season following the 4th option season on the Rookie Scale. If the player consents, he will lose his Bird rights and become a non-Bird free agent at the end of the contract."

[Blame Rasho]

This might actually work. CLE is desperate for a move... any move.

I think the logic is there and it just makes sense given what Memphis has done as of late.

[Future Miami GM]

Memphis better get 2 future 1st rounders from Cleveland!!!!!!!!!!

[Heart-of-RnR]

I don't think that Dwayne Jones is in the same situation as Devean George, who only accepted the QO so that he could become an UFA at the end of this season.

Jones is journeyman material and I think he knows it. He has no reason to block this trade. Even if he does, the Cavs can sub in Shannon Brown or Devin Brown without it making too much of a difference.

[ezekielbear]

You have the Insider link for that my man? I can't find it

[Heart-of-RnR]

Sorry, I don't actually have insider. All I have is a paraphrase that was posted on the Cavs Boards. That's where I got my info.

http://cavaliers.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/78710881/m/6741017182/p/1

Supposedly, the information comes from an anonymous player agent.

[ezekielbear]

Ahh, thanks bro!

[Hunter]

Remember when everybody thought the Cavs really needed to get Michael Redd, but then they couldn't so they settled for overpaying Hughes? Well Miller isn't that same caliber of player but he's much closer to that Redd mold than Hughes. Very good shooter and could be that consistent 2nd or 3rd option the Cavs need. I think it'd be a great pickup for them if they could pull it off, especially at that price.

From a Pistons perspective I'm thinking to myself "get on the horn Joe!" I'd gladly give up expirings and a 1st for Miller. The hard part would be taking back Cardinal. We could probably pull it but our owner won't wanna pay the tax. =(

[GreenDemon]

The way I heard the trade on another board was:
Miller, Cardinal and Lowry to Cleveland
for
Ira Newble, Donyell Marshall, Shannon Brown, Cedric Simmons and Dwayne Jones along with cash and/or at least one first-round pick from Cleveland

As a Cleveland fan I would do this Cardinal's deal is rough but I think that the Cavs know that the only way that they can make this deal is by taking on his contract cause other teams can do more with expirings. Obviously Miller is the main piece to this deal and I would love to have him, he can shot the 3 pt shot well and has a 50 FG%. Lowry would be a nice young player as well, he would likely come off the bench and get around 10-15 mpg IMO. Cardinal would pretty much be = to Donyell other then a couple more years on his contract which I could deal with for the rest of the deal.

I think it works out well with Memphis as well they dump contract in Cardinal and they get some expirings (Newble & Jones and potentially Brown who I believe has a PO), big expiring next year (Marshall), a young project player (Simmons), and potenially some cash a late 1st rounder. With the owner looking to sell the team I think this pretty much fits what they want to get if they also want to get rid of Cardinal.

After the whole Bibby watch us Cavs fans had last year I am not going to believe anything till I know it is offcial but I just hope that this move goes down in the next day and a half, maybe we can fianlly get Lebron some help.

[Heart-of-RnR]

Cardinal would pretty much be = to Donyell other then a couple more years on his contract which I could deal with for the rest of the deal.

I agree, Cardinal is much the same player that Marshall is - a big man who specializes in hitting the 3. If anything, Cardinal seems like he might even be an improvement over Marshall. Donyell lost weight over the summer and has become a bit soft in the low post.

If the Cavs truly are the only team willing to take Cardinal, then I don't see why Memphis would choose to trade Miller anywhere else before the deadline.

Get it done, Ferry.