Official Trade Thread XIV: 6/14/10 - 12/22/10

[Wizardspride]

[AceDegenerate]

[DaRealHibachi]

Okay... I'll leave now...

[penbeast0]

Are you THAT desperate to get rid of Arenas that you want to take on a large contract of equal length AND give up value for an undersized center with overrated defense??

Seriously you've got to be trolling.

I'm really getting sick of this "dump Arenas at all costs" mentality, and I'd expect a Wizards fan to know better.

I actually like Arenas, just don't think he's a great fit. I happen to like Okafor a lot too though. People are acting like he's Elton Brand but he's a very solid defender, a strong big bodied player who can play some offense too, and while the contract is too big, so is Arenas's and Okafor is a better fit. He can play with either Blatche or Mcgee who are both potential offensive threats and we still have Wall, Hinrich, and Nick Young who I am still hopeful for at guard.

As for Seraphin, Ernie has a history of falling in love with Euros that don't pan out to much. Remember the pursuit of La Bombo, the 1st round selection of Pecherov, etc.? I haven't heard much about Seraphin that makes him more than a project big who may or may not ever amount to anything and from the reports, he's a bit smaller than Okafor plus we have Hamadi and Booker to develop. Maybe I'm wrong, but Seraphim doesn't make my nipples tingle either.

[Kanyewest]

As for Seraphin, Ernie has a history of falling in love with Euros that don't pan out to much. Remember the pursuit of La Bombo, the 1st round selection of Pecherov, etc.? I haven't heard much about Seraphin that makes him more than a project big who may or may not ever amount to anything and from the reports, he's a bit smaller than Okafor plus we have Hamadi and Booker to develop. Maybe I'm wrong, but Seraphim doesn't make my nipples tingle either.

This is a weak argument against Seraphin especially since Pecherov and Seraphin are different kinds of players. Someone like Dumars who picked Darko was able to find a solid piece in Jerebenko. That being said, Seraphin is an unknown, some reports indicate that he's just about as big as Okafor. I feel much better about the Seraphin pick given that reports say that the Thunder were willing to take him with the 18th pick, which they traded immediately after Seraphin was taken.

[nate33]

I actually like Arenas, just don't think he's a great fit. I happen to like Okafor a lot too though. People are acting like he's Elton Brand but he's a very solid defender, a strong big bodied player who can play some offense too, and while the contract is too big, so is Arenas's and Okafor is a better fit. He can play with either Blatche or Mcgee who are both potential offensive threats and we still have Wall, Hinrich, and Nick Young who I am still hopeful for at guard.

While I see your point that Okafor might fill a need more so than Arenas, I don't think you make an $80M decision based on "fit". We're too early in the rebuilding process to worry so much about fit. An important trade like this should be done to maximize value and/or salary flexibility.

I consider Okafor to have even lower value than Arenas on a production/cost basis. I'd rather pay an all-star caliber combo guard $20M a year rather than play a role playing big man $13M a year.

[Bickerstaff]

As for Seraphin, Ernie has a history of falling in love with Euros that don't pan out to much. Remember the pursuit of La Bombo, the 1st round selection of Pecherov, etc.?

This is such bs. You put "etc." because you have no other examples. And La Bomba was Jordan's draftee. All Grunfeld did was trade his rights. And either way, none of that has anything whatsoever to do with whether Seraphin is any good.

[penbeast0]

Fair enough, I have no clue whether Seraphin will amount to anything . . . but overstated the case. The main difference we have seems to be that I think Okafor is a very good player of the type which contributes to winning teams which doesn't seem to be accepted wisdom here.

[Kanyewest]

Yeah, Okafor brings a lot of playoff experience.

[Ji]

Rudy Fernandez is on the block. Im sure Portland would do Nick Young plus some garbage for him

[nate33]

Rudy Fernandez is on the block. Im sure Portland would do Nick Young plus some garbage for him

I like Young better than Fernandez, but evidently, management doesn't. If I was GM, I'd keep Young and play him more. But If Young is going to be relegated to a 4th guard with minimal playing time, I'd rather go ahead and pull the trigger on a Young for Fernandez trade. If nothing else, Fernandez is locked into his rookie contract for a year longer than Young.

[rockymac52]

But Fernandez has recently publicly stated that he doesn't want to play in the NBA anymore, and he just wants to be bought out so he can return to Spain.

Even if he changes his mind, I don't know how loyal he'd be to the Wizards, and it sounds like he's not content being a role player, and he's simply not good enough to be a large contributor for any NBA team.

I like his game more than Young's mainly because of his consistency, and the fact that his ability to come off screens would flourish in Saunders' system, but given his demands to be traded/released, I'd rather stick it out with Young for another year to see if he can develop some consistency.

But I do agree that the recent indications of Young's limited minutes are quite concerning.

[LyricalRico]

But Fernandez has recently publicly stated that he doesn't want to play in the NBA anymore, and he just wants to be bought out so he can return to Spain.

Darko said the same thing a few months ago and now he's re-signed with Minnesota. Anything can happen.

As for giving up Young, I'm still not sold on N1 despite what the stats may say. Fernandez is actually long enough to be a legit SF and he's got more skills. Trading for him would mean not having to re-up Josh Howard. And then all we'd have to do is sign a veteran SG who can play emergency minutes, which should be pretty easy to do. I'd love to do Young+2nd for Fernandez.

[WizarDynasty]

8'5 standing reach for Fernandez...just barely cuts it for a sg. Not even close to a s/f standing reach. He has a pretty poor no step vertical of 26 inches which is why he doesn't get alot of lift jumping off one foot when driving to the basket. Nick young's 8'4 standing reach is pretty horrible too. He has nice length to put a hand in someone's face but 9'0 standing reach is what you need for a small forward...not 6'5. Almost 7 inches too short.

[Kanyewest]

The T-Wolves are also paying a lot of money to the next Vlade-Webber. I don't know if it will be worth locking up Rudy long term if that what it takes to keep him.

[rockymac52]

I'm sorry but a 185 pounder isn't playing SF in the NBA, at least successfully.

[fugop]

I'm in favor of keeping Arenas, but were we looking for a salary dump, I prefer:

Arenas to Dallas
Butler and Terry to Milwaukee
Redd to Washington

We clear our last veteran from the books. Maggette's deal is a problem, but Salmons, Butler, and Magette are at least an intriguing trio of swingmen (and Butler's going home). Terry would provide some backup pg and a vet mentor for Jennings. Redd would retire or be cut.

[verbal8]

I'm in favor of keeping Arenas, but were we looking for a salary dump, I prefer:

Arenas to Dallas
Butler and Terry to Milwaukee
Redd to Washington

We clear our last veteran from the books. Maggette's deal is a problem, but Salmons, Butler, and Magette are at least an intriguing trio of swingmen (and Butler's going home). Terry would provide some backup pg and a vet mentor for Jennings. Redd would retire or be cut.

And what is the grand plan for all this cap space this deal frees up? Why not just move Hinrich if you want cap space?

[nate33]

I wonder what the Cavs intend to do with Varajeo. He's a good role player, but the kind of player who only fits on a winning team surrounded by good offensive players. He's also fully paid at $8M a year.

He'd be a nice fit on our club as a dirty-work defender to pair alongside Blatche. (Seraphin and McGee would form the 2nd unit.) Would Cleveland essentially give Varajeo away to save money?

How about
Washington trades: Yi + N'Ddiaye
Cleveland trades: Varajeo

I like the look of our front court much better with Varajeo in place of Yi

PG Wall/Hinrich
SG Arenas/Young
SF Thornton/Booker
PF Blatche/Seraphin
C Varajeo/McGee

If we can move Hinrich for expirings by the trade deadline, we'd be left with max cap room next summer to address our void at SF.

Hmmm. It might be an idea better used at the Trade Deadline. Cleveland may have more motivation to tank hard by February so dumping Varajeo will seem like an even better idea. If we can work out a 3-way with Hinrich going to a contender, an expiring going to Cleveland and Varajeo to us, it'll set us up well for next year.

[rockymac52]

^ I don't think that deal has any chance, mainly because Dan Gilbert is delusional and wants to win a championship now (ironically more than he did before), and thinks that the Cavs aren't that far away.