--Official Trade/Transaction Thread--

[.GR]

Justin Rogers of MLive.com was driving home Wednesday night listening to a talk show discuss the possibility of trading Piston forward Tayshaun Prince to the Los Angeles Clippers for Central Michigan alum Chris Kaman. After looking at all angles, Rogers concludes the scenario would not be ideal for both teams.

Rogers writes: "A concept often neglected in hypothetical trade talk is the logic of the trade for the other team. Most Pistons fans agree that the team is in need of a post scorer, but do the Clippers have a need for a small forward with Prince's skill set, and do they have a plan in place to absorb the loss of Kaman? ... While Prince would add some veteran stability to the position, especially on the defensive end, it's hard to imagine the Clippers long-term plan is to continue bringing Al Thornton off the bench ... When No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin returns from injury, the Los Angeles front court will be crowded with physical front court players. Kaman being the odd man out isn't out of the question, but the player more likely to lose playing time to Griffin is Marcus Camby. ... The conclusion that we can reach is the trade is plausible, but not necessarily ideal for either squad. The idea that the trade would be a double homecoming for Kaman and Prince make it even more interesting to talk about."

All has been quiet on the Stephen Jackson front for the last week, but ESPN's Marc Stein checked in early last evening with word that we shouldn't count out the Bobcats as a possible destination for Jackson.

"We've briefly noted the Bobcats' interest in a couple of previous entries, but further checking reveals that the Bobs have seriously explored the prospect of trading for Jackson, apparently undaunted by the fact that they weren't mentioned when Jackson announced late in the summer that he wanted to be dealt to Cleveland, New York or one of the three Texas teams," he writes.

"It remains to be seen how far the Bobcats are willing to go, since taking on Jackson's contract doesn't exactly sound like owner Bob Johnson's kind of move. ... Unlike Cleveland or Denver, Charlotte actually might have the resources to put a workable deal together before Dec. 15, when players signed as free agents during the summer become eligible to be traded."

 

[elcheato]

The Kings are discussing a trade that would send Kenny Thomas to New Orleans in exchange for center Emeka Okafor.
The move would be a salary dump for New Orleans, as Thomas' $8.7 million is expiring this season. Okafor, on the other hand, is due about $62 million over the next five seasons. No deal is imminent -- if it does happen, Spencer Hawes' fantasy value would probably take a big hit, as might Jason Thompson's rebounding numbers.

 

[Mexi]

A source with knowledge of the situation says the Kings are discussing a trade with New Orleans that would send Kenny Thomas to the Hornets and bring center Emeka Okafor to Sacramento.

The deal would be ideal for the Hornets, as Thomas' expiring contract worth $8.7 million is just the kind of contract that would trim their enormous payroll. The question, of course, is whether the Kings see Okafor as a big man solution worth the five years and approximately $62 million left on his deal.

The 6-foot-10, 255-pound center who was the second pick of the 2004 draft out of Connecticut has averaged nearly a double-double (10.9 points, 9.2 rebounds) in his six-season career. He spent his first four seasons in Charlotte before being traded to New Orleans in late July for Tyson Chandler.

No deal is imminent and this is merely a discussion between the two sides at this point. - Sam Amick

salary dump for new orleans.

 

[.GR]

Oh f-ck yes! OMG, make this happen!

 

[elcheato]

I wouldn't mind trading Z for Okafor, even though his contract is a killer..

 

[Rios15]

It would be good for New Orleans to dump some salary, hope NO does it.

 

[The Young One]

If I was cp3 and they did that move id demand a trade.

 

[Pugz]

If I was cp3 and they did that move id demand a trade.

I'm starting to think he will, nothing that team does is making him happy..

 

[Yankees2772]

I heard a rumor that the Knicks were offered the entire western conference for Danilo Gallinari, and declined.

 

[Pugz]

I heard a rumor that the Knicks were offered the entire western conference for Danilo Gallinari, and declined.

I heard a rumor that you spam

Philadelphia general manager Ed Stefanski says that there is no truth to rumors that the club is shopping forward Elton Brand.

"Not true," Stefanski told the Philadelphia Daily News of an ESPN report that quoted two anonymous general managers as saying Brand was being made available.

Via Philadelphia Daily News

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Oh f-ck yes! OMG, make this happen!

What do you think of Donte Greene?

 

[.GR]

What do you think of Donte Greene?

TONS of potential. Still really really raw though. Why?

 

[elcheato]

NBA Insider: Stephen Jackson with the Cleveland Cavaliers? It's a matter of debate.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This week, Stephen Jackson will be in town with the Golden State Warriors for his one scheduled visit this season. The question that many fans seem to want to know is whether he will be back on a permanent basis.

The answer is definitely maybe.

It is understandable why the Cavs are so often attached to Jackson. For one, General Manager Danny Ferry has made big trades in each of the last three years. There's the uncertainty around Delonte West, who happens to play the same position as Jackson. Then there's Jackson's declaration that he wants to come to Cleveland to play, which frankly isn't something you hear every day from NBA players.

For those reasons, yes indeed, according to multiple league sources, the Cavs have had talks about Jackson and continue to monitor the situation. It is one of a series of conversations that the Cavs have with numerous teams at this time of year, a vast majority of which do not involve players who have made public trade demands.

In fact, say league executives, the Cavs actually have been just as active in finding out the market for good-shooting forwards as looking at shooting guards.

But with the West situation trending more toward volatile than stable, the front office is indeed evaluating its options. This is standard procedure that has been magnified to a degree. At some point they are going to have to make a decision of what to do with West -- it may be made for them -- and that reality makes the Jackson option all the more intriguing.

"Jack would be a great fit for that team, there aren't many guys who are available who play at a championship level at both ends and he does that," said a league insider who knows Jackson well. "It would only work for about two years and then he'll get restless and they'll have to trade him, but until then he'd be great."

That is indeed the book on Jackson. At 6-8 with great skill and quickness, Jackson has the size and willingness to be a great defender -- even if he's playing on one of the worst defensive teams in the league right now. He's not a great shooter, but is streaky and has the ability to both spread the floor, create his own shot and run the floor. He can also play point guard if needed, making him the kind of versatile player the Cavs like to put around LeBron James.

Jackson owns a strong playoff resume with three different teams and he's got a championship ring, won with the Spurs in 2003. Plus he does have a history of being a positive vocal leader on the floor and in the locker room, despite a track record of legal problems and battles with coaches. In his 10th season he's looking for his sixth team despite having impressive stats, and that says a lot.

The Cavs know him well. Mike Brown coached Jackson in San Antonio and Indiana, where he petitioned the team to trade for him because of their track record together. Brown loves how Jackson plays defense and has a strong personal relationship with him -- but not more so than his kids, who see Jackson like an uncle who used to come to their sporting events on off days in Indiana.

Ferry played with Jackson when both were with the Spurs and assistant GM Lance Blanks knew him when he was there with Ferry. Chris Grant, the front office's other main decision-maker, had Jackson for a year when both were with the Atlanta Hawks.

Yes, Jackson has a red flag contract that runs for three years and $27 million after this season. Some of the people in the Cavs organization who knew him best were even scratching their heads when Jackson got that contract last year, because when he arrives it is usually with an expiration date.

But team owner Dan Gilbert has constantly shown a willingness to take on large contracts if it makes sense, even if just in the short run (see Ben Wallace trade). As Gilbert likes to say, the Cavs are "all in" this season and trading for Jackson would be an all-in move. Even if it ends up being a problem 18 or so months later.

After Jackson made his trade demand, the Warriors said they'd try to deal him but were looking for value. League executives who have talked with Warriors General Manager Larry Riley said the team was hoping to wait until after Dec. 15, when rookies and players who were signed last summer become eligible to be traded. It will open up more options and Golden State has been hoping to get size back in return for Jackson.

But the Warriors are having moderate to serious chemistry problems and Jackson's agent has come out and blasted the team hoping to speed up the process. That just may work -- the Warriors are under growing pressure to move him at whatever the cost.

The Cavs do have some trade assets including four players who do not have fully guaranteed contracts this season, giving them flexibility. Plus they have West, who they could trade because his contract for next season is not fully guaranteed either and that makes him valuable beyond his talent.

All the ingredients exist for it to happen, but with the stakes so high it just isn't an easy deal to make.

 

[.GR]

Who would be involved? I don't feel like reading all of that. lol

 

[Benny21]

Hmm.. Interesting. I want Jackson gone, but at the same time, I want him to stay. It really depends on what we get back for him.

 

[elcheato]

It would basically be a salary dump for the Warriors, receiving just expiring contracts. Unless they wanna keep Delonte West, because he'd probably be involved, but he has a long contract with a buy out clause for 500K, not to mention all of his off the court problems.

 

[Benny21]

It would basically be a salary dump for the Warriors, receiving just expiring contracts. Unless they wanna keep Delonte West, because he'd probably be involved, but he has a long contract with a buy out clause for 500K, not to mention all of his off the court problems.

I do not want Delonte West. I'll be <Censored>ing pissed if we get him...

 

[Pugz]

He has a buyout clause, buy him out and he's gone..

 

[.GR]

Not expecting the Okafor-Thomas discussions to go anywhere. Sounds like more Kings-Hornets ideas thrown around beyond that one.

 

[.GR]

Sources told ESPN.com that the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings, in considering the feasibility of a Samuel Dalembert-for-Kenny Thomas swap, have discussed expanding that concept with Boston by trying to draw in the Celtics on a potential three-way deal that would land Andres Nocioni with the Celts.

Sources further stressed over the past 48 hours that this should be classified as an ongoing conversation as the teams involved decide how much they like what’s on the table.

But the full deal as it stands, if it eventually gets that far, would send Nocioni to Boston, Kenny Thomas, Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine to Philadelphia and Dalembert and J.R. Giddens to Sacramento.