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

[Benjammin]

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.

Varajeo is probably a fan favorite and coupled with Gilbert's unrealistic expectations I don't see him being moved. If he were available, I think there would be more competition for his services than basically expirings. I agree he would be a great fit with Blatche and McGee, but it would probably take something of real value to get him if he were available.

[dandridge 10]

For what is is worth, I played basketball with Mike Wise yesterday and he also thinks Gil is not going anywhere based on what he has heard.

[LyricalRico]

^ 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.

[AceDegenerate]

For what is is worth, I played basketball with Mike Wise yesterday and he also thinks Gil is not going anywhere based on what he has heard.

[nate33]

^ 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.

Fast forward to the Trade Deadline and things might look different. Cleveland could be 12-38 at the time and looking to make a move to win the race to the bottom of the standings. A Varajeo for Yi swap allows them to lose more games and save money, while giving them RFA rights on an athletic PF with "upside".

[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.

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?

Read my first sentence. I don't want to deal Arenas, and don't have any grand plans for cap space.

Redd's contract is the obvious financial complement, though, and should the front office erroneously decide to deal Arenas for cap relief, that's the place to look.

[Dat2U]

^ 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.

Fast forward to the Trade Deadline and things might look different. Cleveland could be 12-38 at the time and looking to make a move to win the race to the bottom of the standings. A Varajeo for Yi swap allows them to lose more games and save money, while giving them RFA rights on an athletic PF with "upside".

The Cavs roster is arguably the worst in the league. That's a 15-18 win team if I ever saw one. Jamison, Mo Williams & Sessions are their top 3 scoring options. J.J. Hickson is their best young player. That team will be absolutely brutal to watch. They need to tank. In that particular situation they need to tank for the next two years, at minimum.

PF Antawn Jamison / Leon Powe
SF Jamario Moon / Danny Green
CE Anderson Varejao / J.J. Hickson / Ryan Hollins
SG Ramon Sessions / Christian Eyenga
PG Mo Williams / Daniel Gibson

Yikes! I don't know where to begin. Who's the shot creator on that team? Jamison should be happy, because he'll have every opportunity to set a career high scoring average. I'd probably keep Varejao b/c low post defense is such a premium and give Hickson a long look but everyone else could & should get dumped. Cleveland is Ground Zero of the NBA right now.

[nate33]

The Cavs roster is arguably the worst in the league. That's a 15-18 win team if I ever saw one. Jamison, Mo Williams & Sessions are their top 3 scoring options. J.J. Hickson is their best young player. That team will be absolutely brutal to watch. They need to tank. In that particular situation they need to tank for the next two years, at minimum.

PF Antawn Jamison / Leon Powe
SF Jamario Moon / Danny Green
CE Anderson Varejao / J.J. Hickson / Ryan Hollins
SG Ramon Sessions / Christian Eyenga
PG Mo Williams / Daniel Gibson

Yikes! I don't know where to begin. Who's the shot creator on that team? Jamison should be happy, because he'll have every opportunity to set a career high scoring average. I'd probably keep Varejao b/c low post defense is such a premium and give Hickson a long look but everyone else could & should get dumped. Cleveland is Ground Zero of the NBA right now.

I agree with most of this. The Cavs are horrible and are in need of a complete rebuild from ground up. The only players on the roster who the Cavs should even consider keeping around past 2012 are Hickson, Hollins and Sessions, and those guys are just role players. Everybody else is too old, too sucky, or too expensive.

I disagree about keeping Varajeo. I agree that Varajeo has value because he is a low post defender, but the last thing Cleveland needs to worry about is keeping a 28-year-old, $8M a year, role-player. Cleveland should exploit his value in a trade as soon as possible. Given his salary, I'm not sure what they could get in return -maybe a late 1st plus an expiring.

[Ruzious]

It's going to be so much fun to wallow in the misery of the Gilbert in Cleveland. Hmm, both Gilberts in Cleveland... that would be... a real disaster. But their owner has painted his franchise into a corner, so anything's possible.

[nate33]

Arenas for Varajeo plus expirings would really pave the way for Melo to join us next year:

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

[Terpman]

Arenas for Varajeo plus expirings would really pave the way for Melo to join us next year:

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

This is just craziness... Kirk Hinrich and JaVale McGee would start over Young and Chia Pet in any sane man's lineup! (sorry nate - I usually agree with you on just about everything!)

[fishercob]

Here's some Thursday morning fun:

Wizards trade: Hinrich, McGee
Wizards get: Casspi, Thad Young, Speights

Wiz cash in on McGee's big summer. They move Hinrich's deal for a potentially elite role-playing SF (Casspi) and two other good prospects in Young and Speights

Philly trades: Speights, Young, Willie Green, Jrue Holiday
Philly gets: McGee, Hinrich

They get the highest upside player in the deal (McGee) and a real Doug Collins guy in Hinrich.

Sacramende trades: Casspi
Sacremendo gets: Holiday, Green.

They take on a little money this year to trade a position of surplus (SF) for one of need (PG). Their future would like very bright with the physicality, defense, and athleticism of their squad.

[REDardWIZskin]

^^ I don't like the trade fish McGee's ceiling is much higher than Spaghetti's (Mareese). and what Mareese offers we could potentially get from Seraphin and less potential at that. Also it would take a vice grip to get Holiday from Philly. Casspi is still raw which wouldnt help now anyways

[dangermouse]

I like Thad Young as our SF, and then when Howard comes back he can come in off the bench as a SF or a PF in small-ish ball. Hes a good fit, better than Thornton imo. Dealing him in another deal or including him would be prudent. Hes good incentive in a deal, I dont think hes that bad of a player. Casspi i havent seen any of but ive heard nothing but good things.

If Melo inks on with Denver again, its a pretty good backup plan. And we would have money left over to chase a centre like Perk or Gasol.

[nate33]

Arenas for Varajeo plus expirings would really pave the way for Melo to join us next year:

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

This is just craziness... Kirk Hinrich and JaVale McGee would start over Young and Chia Pet in any sane man's lineup! (sorry nate - I usually agree with you on just about everything!)

I'm higher on Young than most. It doesn't really matter though. The point is we'd have a three-guard rotation of Wall, Hinrich and Young. I don't really care who starts. (I think the expectations for Hinrich are too high. He's not THAT good of a player.)

Right now, Varajeo is a much better player than McGee. Varajeo's +12.7 on/off differential wasn't a fluke. He helps teams win games. More importantly, he's a defense and intangibles guy which is what would be needed on a roster featuring Wall, Melo and Blatche. McGee clearly has more upside, but it may be a while before he reaches it (if ever).

[nate33]

Here's some Thursday morning fun:

Wizards trade: Hinrich, McGee
Wizards get: Casspi, Thad Young, Speights

Not a fan of this at all.

Speights is much like McGee (good offense, terrible D) only he has a much lower upside and lacks the length to be a true center. Casspi is a solid role player but not one worth trading assets for. We'll find a guy like him sooner or later with a mid-round draft pick or through free agency. And I don't see much benefit in adding both Casspi and Young since they play the same position.

[Silvie Lysandra]

Actually, I'd combine those two trades:

Wizards trade:
Yi
Thornton
Young
McGee

Wizards get:
Varejao
Thaddeus Young

Philadelphia trades:
Thaddeus Young
Marresse Speights
Jason Kapono

Philadelphia gets:
Javale McGee
Yi
Parker
Thornton

Cleveland trades
Varejao
Parker

Cleveland gets:
Nick Young
Speights
Jason Kapono

Why for Cleveland? They start the rebuild by clearing Varejao's contract (though I think Varejao can still be a long term piece) and getting decent assets in return.

Why for Washington? They get an elite defensive C who can potentially anchor the defense, as well a young, athletic SF who can defend and hit the 3.

Why for Philly? They get the guy with the highest upside, and gets some solid vets to fill out the bench. They also get to give a former top 10 pick a tryout.

I'd prefer to keep Hinrich because of the potential of him mentoring Wall, and we need a backup 1/2 in any case.

[nate33]

Not bad Chaos. We dump all of our soft, weak-minded "upside" players and get a couple of tough, productive players in return.

I'm still not that infatuated with Thad Young. If Cleveland will trade Varajeo for youth and expirings, I'd try to give them Young and Yi straight up for Varajeo, and cut Philly out of the trade. The ideal scenario for me would be to keep McGee and still acquire Varajeo. Those two together would make a good tandem at center.

[fishercob]

Not bad at all, Chaos. I'd prefer Casspi to Young because I think he has better upside as that "elite role playing 3", and especially because he's not due an extension this summer (unlike Thad).

I think Speights is much more appealing to Cleveland than anything we could offer (outside of Blatche/Mcgee).

I agree that with Nate that Varajeo for trash is preferable, but you gotta give to get. You only make a deal like this if you believe McGee will never "get it" or if he maxes out as Chris Andersen type. If the FO really sees McGee as a future all-star, they won't move him.

[fishercob]

Okay, here's my follow-up 4-way:

Wiz give: Thornton, Young, McGee
Wiz get: Varajeo, Casspi

Philly gives: Holiday, Speights, Young
Philly gets: McGee, Jason Thompson, Darnell Jackson, Danny Green

Sac gives: Casspi, Thompson
Sac gets: Thad, Holiday

Cle: gives Varajeo, Green Jackson
Cle gets: Speights, Young, Thornton

My general impressions are that WAS and SAC get too much and PHI and CLE get too little. I'm thinking Holiday is going to be a sticking point for PHI in general, even though they do well to get Thompson back. Some tweakage or pick consideration needs to added to balance this. Philly may look at this differently if they think Evan Turner can run the point.