2. Shaq to the Suns. I think I'm in the minority here but I like this trade for Phoenix. I don't quite love it like the Gasol trade, but I think it's a good look for Steve Nash and company. At this point Marion is obviously a better overall player than Shaq but he was apparently bad for team chemistry and Phoenix was way too soft inside. Whether people want to acknowledge it or not, Shaq is still one of the most intimidating presences in the block. He forces teams to single-coverage Amare and will open up the lanes for Barbosa, Grant Hill and Diaw. Not to mention Nash will get him some open looks off of drives.
3. Marion to the Heat. Shawn Marion is more than the Heat could have ever hope to get in exchange for Shaq. The way things are going this season, the Heat are going to get a top-three pick in the lottery. That means the Heat will have Wade, Marion, a lottery pick and Haslem to build around. If they can sign or trade (send Ricky Davis asap) for some quality post play, they will be back on top in the east immediately.
4. Korver to the Jazz. I don't think anyone even knew that Gordan Giricek played for the Jazz. But he did. Now Korver has them in first place in the Northwest division and on a hot streak. The Jazz needed a solid two-guard and got one. I think they should have moved Kirilenko for someone of equal value as it looks like he just doesn't fit what the team is trying to do.
5. Harris to the Nets. The Nets gave up a perennial all-star in Jason Kidd but for the past couple years their team has stunk. Devin Harris has been a good player for the Mavs in limited minutes. As Richard Jefferson continues to emerge, it was a smart move for the Nets to get younger. Harris won't make any type of impact this year but definitely has a lot more potential to help them contend in the future than Kidd did.
6. Wallace, Sczerbiak, West to the Cavs. I see Ben Wallace in the same position that Shaq was in. He was unhappy with his team and it showed on the court. Lebron James has always made his teammates better and I think Wallace's game will improve drastically. He'll make for a strong frontcourt with the quiet beast Big Z and when you add in Lebron's eight rebounds, they will be in good shape on the boards. Sczerbiak is a wild card but is a proven scorer and will be the beneficiary of Lebron's great passing. I've always bee high on West and I think this is a good role for him to be a solid all-around role player.
7. Thomas to the Spurs. Obviously the Spurs think they can win this year as they just made an old team older. Thomas is a good team player with a nice mid-range jumper. He's a broke, poor, homeless man's Tim Duncan because he can run the floor well and hits the boards so he's a much better back-up than Elson. I don't like the fact that they gave up Barry but with Manu destroying opponents of late they must have felt that they didn't need Barry anymore.
8. Kidd to the Mavericks. I don't like this trade. I could very possibly be wrong but I think that Devin Harris was a great player for the Mavericks. I think Mark Cuban made the move just to make headlines when all these other teams were making moves in the west. Jason Kidd is old. He's still a good all-around point guard but I don't think he can change Dallas' title hopes. Plus Dallas had to give up Diop, who is a good defensive presence down low. We won't really know if the Kidd trade was good or bad until the playoffs when Dallas has to play someone but on the other hand they can't do worse than they did last year.
1 comment:
You forgot the KG to Boston/Al Jefferson to Minnesota trade.
Post a Comment