Sund / Trade Talk

[theatlfan]

I've come to the opinion that Rick Sund may be the shrewdest GM in the game. Why? Look at some of the rumors that have surrounded us since he's been here:
- Last year, Smith to PHI and somewhere else (sorry, can't remember. but when he was an RFA 2 or 3 teams were really looking @ him... was it LAC?) . What came of those rumors? Nothing. No names attached in what we'd receive in return, no real heat to them. Just that if they signed him to an offer sheet of any amount, we'd match. Meaning: "If you want him, come with it. It'll take more than cash."
- Again last year, Chills to PHO. This one had some heat - Chills for Barbosa. A little more behind that: supposedly, we put that out. Didn't think of it much @ the time, but in hindsight it's interesting to note that we a) didn't really like Chills all that much and b) eventually signed Flip, a poor man's Barbosa, and Flip did very well for us last year. I'd bet that Sund floated that so because PHO fans would at that time would prolly have preferred a starting SF to the team's 6th man while all we had to give was a player we weren't crazy about.
- During the season, Marvin for cash. Sund doesn't want to put a name or another team on the rumor, so it comes out as simply for cash... smart, the last thing you want is some other team's fans screaming about how they wouldn't give up some prospect and / or player for Marvin (just read a couple of threads in the "Trades & Transactions" room... some teams are worse than others, and it varies by site). Also, it creates a market for him since other teams will be more likely to inspect the merchandise if they think that all it'll take is cash. Then once it comes down to actually making the offer, then they find out it'll take more. Meaning: "Go ahead and negotiate with him. Now, either give us our take or we'll simply match."
- Now, Smith is being shopped due to "financial concerns". Again, no team attached, no actual return set. Meaning: "Just call and make an offer so that we can have something to negotiate off of."

As you can see, until we're ready to make a fair (according to us) offer, Sund doesn't tip his hand to any expected return or play a team against it's fans (I feel that it was this dynamic that kept CHI from ever getting Gasol). He simply creates a market and let's it set the price, then decides to hold 'em or fold 'em. Personally, I think that this is genius in the GM game (or, at least compared to BK... but I guess that like saying your gf is hot compared to the Planter's Peanut chick). Why bid against yourself in RFA? Why allow other teams to know what you expect for return of one of your better players? Let them make the offers - if it's close, counter; if not, pass. As I said at the beginning, Sund is shrewd.