I’ve been busy with HOOPSWORLD lately — I have a Central Division trade deadline analysis up, as well as a progress report on Arron Afflalo and Rodney Stuckey:
Billups has noticed Stuckey’s improvement, as well. “I think the game is slowing down for him,” said Billups last week. “He is able to see different things that are happening before they actually happen. That is the intuition that point guards really need to have and he is able to start seeing that.”
Nothing breeds intuition like familiarity, which Stuckey says he now has with the entire second unit. “I know when I’m on the break and I got Amir and Max running with me, I know not to throw the ball down to their ankles because they can’t catch it there. So I just throw the ball up to the rim,” said Stuckey. “And with Afflalo, when he’s running the break, give him the ball on the wings so he can hit some open shots. I’m pretty comfortable with these guys already; it’s just all about getting more playing time with each other and getting more comfortable.”
Detroit’s Rookie Backcourt Makes Progress [HOOPSWORLD]
Deadline Analysis: Central Division HOOPSWORLD
Hey Matt,
With all these big trades going on, what do you think of something on the order of [McDyess+Brezec+Flip Murray] to Utah for Kirilenko. The Jazz pick up an excellent rebounder who can stretch defenses with shooting along with a backcourt backup in Murray. Plus, Murray and Brezec are expiring anyway. The Pistons get another interior scorer and defender(they have enough shooters as it is, and Kirilenko doesn’t need to have the ball in his hands all the time to score)
I was shocked to see that trade passes salary cap restrictions, but according to ESPN’s Trade Machine, it does. I’m actually intrigued by that trade. It’d give Utah a ton of salary cap flexibility, although a redundant roster with McDyess joining Boozer, Okur and Millsap. But still, considering they’d be able to dump AK’s salary while getting back a playoff-tested veteran, they just might be willing to do it.
Detroit would lose size, but that’s not quite as important considering there’s not really any big guys they need to worry about in the East.
I’m not sure how much this is worth, but I know McDyess loves it in Detroit and I’m pretty sure he said last year he’d rather retire than be traded. Plus, everybody on the team loves him, so it’d be hard to replace him in the locker room. So yeah, I doubt that trade would ever happen, but it’s certainly interesting to think about.
How could Detroit steal Chris Kaman from the Clippers?
For lols:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=94~3058~359~1777~2996~1982~2188~923&teams=12~12~12~12~12~8~8~8&te=&cash=
I think there’s an NBA rule that if Tayshaun and Kirilenko are on the same team, that team is no longer allowed to use a zone defense. Team them up with Amir, Cheick and Sheed in a 2-3 and they would be impossible to score on.
A lineup of AK47, Tay, and Amir would HAVE to be called “The Gangly Gang”
I’m not sure why Utah would bite on that, since it weakens their SF spot and gives them another big man. Granted, McDyess would probably give them one of the best frontcourt rotations in the league, but they’d be dependent on Harpring and Korver at SF. Both are okay, but clear downgrades from Kirilenko.
It’s a little more interesting from the Pistons’ perspective. In AK’s best years, he was playing power forward, unlike now, when he’s having to play on the perimeter. He’s really not a shooter, and he’s always done his best cutting and attacking the basket. Utah’s system now consists of Boozer on the block, running the good old Jerry Sloan offense with Deron Williams, and AK’s been a bit shut out by this. That explains a lot of his struggles last year, although he was effective against GS, which was a fast series where he was given free reign to attack weaker defenders. Plugging him in for McDyess would probably be an upgrade in some ways. He’d be able to play PF and attack the basket, although he would still get pushed around by stronger guys.
A trade that I think is a bit more realistic is this:
http://realgm.com/src_checktrade.php?tradeid=4520148
Its reported that Miller is being shopped and I think hes willing to sacrifice to help a team win (Ex: This year in the fiba summer games.). Plus Memphis wants expiring contracts.
Dumars would probably have to throw in a 1st rounder but it would get that shooter off the bench in Miller (clear upgrade over Hayes) and it really wouldn’t weaken the bench that much. The bench would be Stuckey, Hunter, Afflalo, Miller, Amir, Maxiell, Samb, going into the playoffs.
Matt, Miller is 28 years old (tomorrow, actually). He’s still within his prime range and would likely never be relegated to a bench position. He’d be an improvement over many SFs in the league, and if he does end up as a 6th man somewhere, he’d be more like a ginobili or a barbosa who may not start, but still gets 30 mins a game. we don’t have room for that in Detroit.
Here’s a better trade:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=94~3058~1777~497&teams=12~12~12~8&te=&cash=
*Corey Maggette would be the perfect sub for Prince. Joe Dumars can pull this off in a heart beat, especially since LAC seems to be going nowhere this year.
Maggette wants out because he wants playing time. Not going to get that here.
And I see what you’re saying Mike. If I had to guess, no trades are going. But this is the most interesting trade season I’ve seen, thats for sure.
Oh and in the mailbag Keith Langlois had this to say regarding Maggette:
“Jerry (Walled Lake): I’m not completely sold on Jarvis Hayes because he’s not as consistent as he should be. I’ve heard teams are calling the Clippers regarding Corey Maggette. He’d be a nice fit – a slasher who goes to the foul line at a high rate. Do you think a few expiring contracts and a No. 1 pick would be enough to get that deal done?
Langlois: Hard to know what the Clippers are thinking, Jerry. They don’t seem to be on the same page in that organization. The owner is apparently a big Maggette fan and has quashed previous attempts to deal him. There are also many around the NBA who think Maggette drags a team down. Yeah, he gets his points, but he seems to do at the expense of others, not as a complement to others. That’s not a universal opinion. Many value his one-on-one ability. But the Pistons found with Flip Murray that players who specialize in one-one-one basketball play havoc with an offense that functions best when it gets ball and player movement.”
Here goes one that’s been thrown out there. lol
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=94~3058~1777~25&teams=23~23~23~8&te=&cash=
Just… no. Please no. No?
Maggette’s getting starting minutes as is, I doubt that’s all he wants. But yeah, he wouldn’t get nearly as much burn here, even if he were spelling both Rip and Prince. Even if he were happy with around 25 minutes a game, he does have tunnel vision and may hamper the development of the younguns.
And Clippers management probably won’t trade him because they’re “still in the thick of the Western playoff race.” Cue laughter.
What I meant was, last year when Maggette was rumored to be traded, he wanted more minutes. So if hes unhappy with 30 mins, hes going to be unhappy with 15 or 20 mins.
How’s this Central Division trade?
Bulls move Ben Wallace & Joe Smith to Indiana for Jermaine O’Neill
It opens minutes for the Bulls young bigs and it exchanges the money headaches of O’Neill and Wallace. Big Ben almost has a scarlet letter in Chicago at this point because he’s compared to Garnett and Gasol in deals the Bulls DIDN’T make. O’Neill might thrive in Chicago as a 25 minutes a game player ala Bill Cartwright. Wallace might thrive in Indiana where fans might have lower expectations and appreciate Wallace’s grit more than his always overblown superstar credentials.
Problem with your deal, joejoejoe, is that I’m pretty sure Wallace is regarded in Indy the same as Artest and Stephen Jackson are in Detroit. Wallace is the one who provoked Artest befor the Malice at the Palace, shoving him on the court and then tossing his headband at him after people separated them.
why does everyone include walter herrmann in these prospective trades? yea yea, i know he has an expiring contract. but, if only flip utilized him more, he could be the scoring punch that all of you are apparently wishing for.
i think a lot of fans get excited just seeing any trade movement happening, even if its a bad trade. it gives them something to talk about. seems like the only thing herrmann does when he gets in the game is make good decisions and work within the offense- and score when he is given the chance. for some reason though, it seems like flip never runs any plays for him when he’s in.
Walter Herrmann is AWESOME.
Hermann isn’t going to stick around and wait for minutes for a few years. He could start for a lot of teams, and he’ll sign a one year contract to prove himself.
I think we’d have a better chance in the playoffs keeping Brezec and Hermann and having Flip try and develop Hermann a bit. To be honest, I don’t think its “development” per se that Hermann needs, but time working within the offensive system in a game.
He’s got a good touch, is solid on defense (He is the Anti-Dirk.), takes the ball strong, and has hands the size of baseball mitts.
He’d be a good change of pace to Hayes and is clearly a defensive advantage over Hayes. I would love to see Flip give Hermann more burn at the 3 spot though. It seems like as of late he only puts him in when he wants to go small and he puts him in at the 4…
I like Hermann’s game too, but the problem is he’s the 11th guy in the rotation. Only way I see him getting minutes if there’s an injury or Jarvis plays his way out of the rotation.
Herrmann . . . “most similar at age” . . . Chris Crawford.
Hayes . . . Jud Buechler.
Hermann is a quality player, but we don’t have a spot for him. If we get to a point where Brezec is playing meaningful minutes in the playoffs, we are in trouble.
Miller was 6th man of the year a couple of seasons ago, so it wouldn’t be a stretch for him to play that role for the stones. Maggette has been a player i liked for the stones for years, but I’m sure his professionalism is what keeps Joe uninterested. I thought Korver would have been another great addition to the bench. Hermann is a player who is capable of playing big minutes, but I think Joe has a plan that includes Hayes gunning when he gets minutes. Not sure if Hermann has that same mentality that joe wants. My first choice would be Miller, if he could be had for expiring contracts and draft picks. Didn’t think I’d be saying this, but it really doesn’t look like we need to do anything, though.
I wonder if Paxon would take expiring contracts for Gordon? Probably not, but damn, that would give us a huge punch off the bench.
I gotta believe we’re moving Flip for a draft pick, or something… but even if he doesn’t play another minute, his contract is expiring, so that’s no big deal either. I can’t think of a season where the team was so well structured. If Hayes doesn’t work out, we got Herrmann. If Aflallo doesn’t work out (which he will) we got Flip. Stuckey’s backed up by Hunter.
It seems to me that Joe D should go on a corporate speaking tour and talk about putting together great teams…
I understand that Hermann probably won’t get meaningful minutes in the playoffs but wouldn’t it be smarter to have Flip Saunders get him more time in our system regardless? Fact is, is if there is an injury to Hayes or God forbid, Tayshaun, then Hermann will be playing and I’d much rather have him be a bit more comfortable in the system by playing him now.
Isn’t this exactly what Joe D. said? In order to play them in the playoffs you have to play them now? Going 10 deep in the playoffs is almost unheard of anymore, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t to our advantage to have a team that COULD go 11 or even 12 deep if need be.
Chances are the Pistons aren’t going to catch the Celtics, and even if they do, do they really want to be the 1 seed? Sure easy first round, but the 2nd seed will have an easy time too.
Second round on the other hand, assuming 1-4 wins, Boston would be playing Cleveland and we’d be playing Orlando.
I’d much rather play Orlando knowing how well we play them in the playoffs than play the Cleveland Lebrons.
Apparently Toronto is shopping Jason Kopono aruond…… I’m just saying.
um yeah i would take kapono and his 50.4% shooting from beyond the arc any day o’ the week.
I don’t know how interested Joe D will be in taking a contract that still has 3 years left on it, but could be an interesting move. I wouldn’t be surprised if Toronto would be interested in Hermann as he would fit their style of play very well.
A package of Hermann and Brezec, or preferably Brezec and Murray would clear up enough salary for Toronto to make a play at a legit 4th/5th option, or offer Delfino a larger contract as his contract is up at the end of this season.
Interesting trade though. I really like it.