WT:T'Wolves eying 5th pick?

[Krapinsky]

That's a good point, but I'd ask them to look at it this way: If the Grizz were going to buy out Buckner for $4 mil anyway, getting Stevenson production for $4 mil is OK. Songalia in 2009 and both in 2010 is about $11 mil.

I agree though -- WAS gets too good a deal with all those savings, and MEM gets too light. WAS should give MEM a good prospect.

I'd hate to play devil's advocate this year, but this is the way I see it:

Why would they buy out Buckner? I can't really see anyone buying out players until after the trade deadline this year. Expiring deals will be assets until then, even for teams already under the cap.

Stevenson productive you say? You must be talking about the one in 2008, before he got paid, not the one that shot 32% from inside the arc and 27% from beyond last year, to go with only 53% from the line. As a matter of fact, Stevenson made a strong case for being the worst player in the entire league last year to get over 20 minutes a game. (He got 27) If anyone should be bought out, it's him.

In my opinion, McGee would have to go to Memphis in this deal, which would make up for them losing out on Thabeet. But do the Wiz want to give up the #5 AND McGee just to dump salary?

[Winter Wonder]

If Thabeet makes it to 5, there's a good chance he's there at 6.

Problem is, if he makes it to #5, most likely someone else we go after Washington's pick since it sounds like they are dealing it. Someone else will jump up to #5 and grab him before MN (for better or worse) due to they're ranking Thabeet higher than that pick's value and the potential teams need.

I don't think Washington picks him for Washington, but with all this trade talk, odds are Washington picks him for someone else if he slips to there...

[the_bruce]

I don't think Washington picks him for Washington, but with all this trade talk, odds are Washington picks him for someone else if he slips to there...

From a combined financial and player talent perspective I don't think any team can touch what MN can offer.

[shrink]

Stevenson can still play some defense though. I didn't say he was productive, but he'd have more production than the same $4 mil spent on Buckner .. bought out or not.

Bruce, you're actually one of the guys I most like to read, and perhaps your trade was stuck in the back of my mind somewhere. I had just got done reading posts at RubeChat complaining how the #5 + #6 > #2 (I agree), but I was trying to come up with a way to split the costs.

I have made a lot of deals around the #5 for talent and a big TPE, and my current fave is still the Miller/Foye deal with DAL.

[the_bruce]

I have made a lot of deals around the #5 for talent and a big TPE, and my current fave is still the Miller/Foye deal with DAL.

I'm not to fond of including foye in this sort of deal. I think he's undervalued

[Winter Wonder]

I don't think Washington picks him for Washington, but with all this trade talk, odds are Washington picks him for someone else if he slips to there...

From a combined financial and player talent perspective I don't think any team can touch what MN can offer.

I agree, MN can do more than most out there in terms of an attractive deal. I am just saying it is false to assume the prospect we may want will fall to us due to Washington not having a need (Thabeet or whoever). With Washington wanting to deal the pick for cap relief/whatever, we should look to deal with Washington and not sit on our hands hoping no one else does, because it sounds like Washington is looking for somebody/anybody to give them an average package for the pick.

[Tekkenlaw]

Harden+Flynn could be special with 5 and 6.

[cingular]

I've read several people dislike trading the #5 and #6 for the #2, but one option that I haven't seen discussed is MIN helping move the #5 by sharing the price. If MEM get the #5 and #6, but ateone of the Wizards 2010 contracts , preserving our 2010 cap space ...

A deal off the top of my head is"

MIN GIVES: #6 + Mike Miller + Telfair
MIN GETS: #2 + Etan (exp) + Mike James (exp)

WAS GIVES: #5 + Stevenson + Songalia + Etan + Mike James
WAS GETS: Mike Miller + Telfair + $12 mil TPE (saves them $23 mil)

MEM GIVES: #2 + Buckner
MEM GETS: #5 + #6 + Stevenson (2 yr) + Songalia (2 yr)

This is an interesting deal. Unfortunately it has one of the cheapest owners taking on a whole lotta money.

I think Memphis and Wash would strongly consider this trade. Essentially everyone gets what they want however I think Memphis is not to keen on taking that much salary and two high lotto picks $$ as well
Can you give them anything like 3 mill cash to pay for one of the picks essentially?

The grizz can get the hometown Evans or Curry which satisfies the owners and coaches wants. Or go with a wing/3 if they really don't wanna pay Rgay. Nevertheless Heisley does need to take on some salary anyway to prove hes not a joke and he is probably not signing any free agents of note this offseason.

That is much better than the Knicks offers to Wash I've seen.

[skorff26]

That's a good point, but I'd ask them to look at it this way: If the Grizz were going to buy out Buckner for $4 mil anyway, getting Stevenson production for $4 mil is OK. Songalia in 2009 and both in 2010 is about $11 mil.

I agree though -- WAS gets too good a deal with all those savings, and MEM gets too light. WAS should give MEM a good prospect.

I'd hate to play devil's advocate this year, but this is the way I see it:

Why would they buy out Buckner? I can't really see anyone buying out players until after the trade deadline this year. Expiring deals will be assets until then, even for teams already under the cap.

Stevenson productive you say? You must be talking about the one in 2008, before he got paid, not the one that shot 32% from inside the arc and 27% from beyond last year, to go with only 53% from the line. As a matter of fact, Stevenson made a strong case for being the worst player in the entire league last year to get over 20 minutes a game. (He got 27) If anyone should be bought out, it's him.

In my opinion, McGee would have to go to Memphis in this deal, which would make up for them losing out on Thabeet. But do the Wiz want to give up the #5 AND McGee just to dump salary?

The trouble is Buckner's buyout is only guaranteed a little over 1 million for each of the next 2 years (2 million total), Stevenson would be making 4 million each of those years (8 million total) so in total Stevenson would cost the Grizzlies 6 million dollars + Songalia's 9 million or so over 2 years means that the Grizz pay an additional 15 million dollars in the next 2 years which is something they would really not want to do. Right now Buckner has a lot of value since he has an partially guaranteed contract (like Stackhouse, he can be traded for another 4 million dollar player but waived and cost that team only 1 million)

And Buckner will be waived before the end of November since in December his deal becomes fully guaranteed.

[Dewey]

MIN GIVES: #6 + Mike Miller + Telfair
MIN GETS: #2 + Etan (exp) + Mike James (exp)

WAS GIVES: #5 + Stevenson + Songalia + Etan + Mike James
WAS GETS: Mike Miller + Telfair + $12 mil TPE (saves them $23 mil)

MEM GIVES: #2 + Buckner
MEM GETS: #5 + #6 + Stevenson (2 yr) + Songalia (2 yr)
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sorry to grind on this one, but...

That's really does seem like a good deal all the way around.
- Washington gets a player they really like plus a $12 million TPE. That's huge.
- Memphis gets #5/#6. Give one 2-year deal and take back two 2-year deals.
- Wolves get their #2 and expiring contract debut - while keeping Love in tact.

Yes, Memphis does take on a contract, but it's the draft where we all roll the dice. The #5 and #6 picks could very possibly be two future starters. The Wolves burn Millers expiring deal right up front, but we do dump Telfair. Etan is serviceable, especially, after having Collins for a year.