Atlanta trying to move Speedy & 19th

Post #1 » by **HMFFL** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:45 pm

Atlanta is reportedly looking to package the #19 pick along with Speedy Claxton’s contract, in order to clear additional cap room, likely to resign Mike Bibby. 80% of Claxton’s contract (5.2 million) will be picked up by an insurance company, making this a relatively cheap investment for a team with cap room looking to acquire another pick. Link

evildallas · Post #2 » by **evildallas** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:32 pm

That's a bit disappointing, I just don't see the roster going deeper in the playoffs even if it was returned intact. Of course, it all depends what they can do with the space.

I was hoping they would use Speedy's deal to acquire talent not to just shed cap for resigning existing free agents. If they give away the pick to make it happen then I think they miss an opportunity to add an inexpensive rotation player that will really help down the road. Look at Courtney Lee's contribution for Orlando in the playoffs before assuming that a late pick can't pay quick rewards.

BTW, if the insurance part is true and the rumors of our own team's financial difficulties are also true then it would seem that we would be more interested in the cash savings rather than free cap to make a move. Am I missing something?

parson · Post #3 » by **parson** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:33 pm

Ok, I'll play. If NJ is looking to move down (in order to draft Omri Casspi), then who are we trading for? Not their pick (11th overall), since that'd be an even greater cap hit. What player could we ask for? Boone, maybe, but there'd have to be more added to make the deal #s work, and I'm not sure it could.

Other than that little, little deal, the only players that I'd have interest in are Harris and Lopez. If Harris (which is possible if we added Law and Morris and NJ also sent us Anderson and Shawn Williams), then we wouldn't need Bibby. If Lopez, I suppose I could make a deal work but I'm sure NJ would say nay.

Are we so worried that Speedy is finally healthy and that we're going to have to pay him that we'd give up the 19th just to be rid of him?

JoshB914 · Post #4 » by **JoshB914** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:37 pm

Strange rumor. If we are trading those two I would hope we are at least moving up in the draft?

niffoc4 · Post #5 » by **niffoc4** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:16 pm

JoshB914 wrote:Strange rumor. If we are trading those two I would hope we are at least moving up in the draft?

how would we trade up without including an asset/ taking back a contract? If we are trying to save money maybe we are packaging the two to trade down for a lower pick, with taking Claxton being the price for the team moving up. That would explain working out guys like Thornton and Douglas who are late 1st early 2nd type guys. Maybe memphis would do it?

raleigh · Post #6 » by **raleigh** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:23 pm

I think these "rumors" are half-truths.

The Hawks may be exploring deals, but I doubt they're doing them in hopes of simple salary dumps. They may be thinking of moving Smith, but only for a better frontcourt player. They're definitely looking at moving Claxton, and they're definitely going to consider moving the #19, but probably not for anything less than a solid veteran rotation player...

JoshB914 · Post #7 » by **JoshB914** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:19 pm

niffoc4 wrote:
JoshB914 wrote:Strange rumor. If we are trading those two I would hope we are at least moving up in the draft?

how would we trade up without including an asset/ taking back a contract? If we are trying to save money maybe we are packaging the two to trade down for a lower pick, with taking Claxton being the price for the team moving up. That would explain working out guys like Thornton and Douglas who are late 1st early 2nd type guys. Maybe memphis would do it?

Good point. That would explain the Thornton rumors as well.

My thought was that a team (like NJ) just want to move down in the draft and don't want to waste a higher pick on a guy they can snag later. In the meantime, they get to clear cap in '10 via the Speedy expiring deal.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Post #8 » by **HMFFL** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:42 pm

I don't think NJ is serious about moving down. I actually believe NJ and Charlotte plan on drafting Terrence Williams.

I don't like the idea of signing Mike Bibby for 3 or 4 years. I personally think it would be more ideal to only have him for two more seasons. We have the opportunity to go a different direction and I would be fine with that.

-GIL- · Post #9 » by **-GIL-** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:50 pm

I'm sure the Cavs might be interested with Sasha Pavlovic's contract. Him and Speedy make similar amounts but only around $1.5 of his contract is guaranteed.