Post by kmatrixg on Nov 25, 2010 22:22:10 GMT -5
With the trade deadline looming just 2 days around the corner, teams are scrambling to fit the final pieces into their playoff puzzles, with trade rumors, and buzz filling the SSBL Headquarters.
So far, there have been 4 trades considered "Deadline Deals". Two teams have been apart of all four deals, those being the Cavaliers (a surprise deadline team) and the Timberwolves who are trying to make final moves to come out on top of a very competitive Western Conference. Let's examine the four deals:
Cavaliers//Grizzlies
Finalized: TODAY
The Cavaliers sent Vin Baker to Vancouver for Bonzi Wells, Brent Price and 500 cash today.
The most recent deal was finalized early this morning by the commissioner, which had the Cavs trading longtime journeyman PF Vin baker, who is set to play for his 5th team in 6 years. Will this be his final stop? Unlikely. Baker is currently in the final year of his contract, and is no longer the player he once was. Vancouver most likely won't pay to keep him around as he will demand around 4 million a year average.
For the Grizzles, Baker is an upgrade at PF from Udonis Haslem who has been given a difficult position for just his 2nd year in the league. Haslem is averaging 8 points and 9 rebounds so far, however most of his points come off put backs and wide open looks down low. Nobody really knows how good he would do on the offensive end for a struggling team, or as an option. Either way, Baker brings a more experience offensive skillset, as well as a more efficient defensive ability.
Even though they got a very skilled veteran, the Grizzlies gave up next to nothing in Bonzi Wells and Brent Price - both in the twilight of their careers, and both having next to no role on the strong Vancouver squad.
Cleveland obviously made this deal for the cash involved, as they received $500 from the Grizzlies. This move also strips them of one of their most talented players in an attempt to win the upcoming lottery, now being one of the worst teams in the league on paper.
Winner: Vancouver Grizzlies for giving up two bench warmers for their new starting PF.
Cavaliers//Wolves
Finalized: TODAY
In the Cavaliers second trade of the day, with the other team making 2 of the 4 trades, Cleveland sent Cedric Cebellos and a 2004 First Rounder from San Antonio, for seldom used forward Richard Jefferson.
From Cleveland's perspective, they gain a highly touted college player in Jefferson, hailing from Arizona, while being a key component of the Wildcats while he attended. Jefferson still possesses amazing athletic ability, along with an incredible knack for getting to the basket - thus getting most of his points from the FT line. Minnesota is too wildly talented to have a project player like Jefferson see minutes, so they decided to take their chances with a rookie and whether or not their selection can prove to be a better option than Jefferson was.
From Minnesota's perspective, they simply add more options to their offseason. Whether or not they use the pick, or trade it away is still unclear, however either way, they get a future option in exchange for a player they had no interest in keeping. They shed Jefferson's 6 million dollars owed off the books (Cebellos is an expiring contract) while gaining an asset in the Spurs draft pick, what would be their only selection in this years draft.
Winner: Even though the Wolves got more future option, Cleveland received a potentially bigger playmaker in Jefferson.
Hawks//Blazers
Finalized: 11/23
The Hawks and Blazers locked horns once more in a deadline deal that saw the Hawks gain some quality depth in Theo Ratliff in exchange for two young players in Chris Anderson and Rashard Lewis.
The Hawks acquired perennial DPOY candidate Theo Ratliff and 700 cash from Portland 2 days ago to help provide more depth in their push for the championship in less than a month. Even though they gave up some promising young talent in Rashard Lewis and Chris Andersen, the 2 simply were not effective enough to be those role players the Hawks needed to take on the likes of Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal.
Coming with Theo Ratliff are his undeniable shot blocking threat and his 2000 All Defensive Team award, only adding more credibility to an already immensely talented starting lineup. The impressive thing, is that while Ratliff would start on most teams across the league, he plays an important backup role for Erick Dampier and a young Jelani McCoy. The Hawks now have one of the most defensively gifted team in all the league, as they employ some of the best defenders in the game 1st and 2nd team.
The Trailblazers got 2 excellent prospects in Andersen and Lewis, and look forward to giving them all the minutes they can handle. Andersen looks to be the first bigman off the bench, with Lewis possibly the first player overall off the bench. Whatever happens to the team (playoffs or not) the use of these two players to finish out the year is simply for experience purposes. Portland is believed to have started planning and executing deals to help during the offseason overhaul.
Winner: The Atlanta Hawks should value Theo much more than they did Lewis and Andersen - as Ratliff will bring them an incredible defensive presence and shot blocking ability that mutes the previous ability of Andersen.
Raptors//Timberwolves
Finalized: 11/23
The Raptors sent 2nd year forward Tayshaun Prince and 3rd year center Tyson Chandler, along with seldom used guard Juan Dixon to Minnesota for forward Stephen Jackson, Tito Maddox and 300 cash.
Even though two of the three players the Raptors shipped out weren't even with the team for a full season, the GM saw it fit that he traded them almost immediately after employing a league wide "mercenary" scout that rated their future potential at a sub par level in the managements eyes. They decided to take a chance on Tito Maddox, a 2nd year point guard that has shown signs of greatness in his young career in SSBL, along with a proven defender in Jackson.
Jackson brings two outcome possibilities for the franchise come this offseason. They could resign him to a valuable contract, given what he provides; or they could choose to let him walk, thus freeing up an additional 6 million dollars of cap space to work with however they choose. Tito Maddox, depending on his progression over the summer, could become the teams starting point guard, given Toronto doesn't draft a more talented one.
Minnesota makes the trade to balance out their depth more, gaining a solid shot blocker in Chandler, who is averaging about 2.5 blocks per game so far this season; along with Tayshaun Prince who has proven to be a very effective defender even though he doesn't put up defensive numbers like some. Minnesota decided to take a chance, and combined with some team camps for Prince, he could end up to be an effective player.
Winner: Toronto/Minnesota both gained solid pieces in this deal, and therefore, both teams come out on top as winners. The Raptors got a salary break if they decide to let Jackson walk, on top of a solid PG prospect, and the Timberwolves get two young players to add to their depth, especially at Center.
Even though the four trades examined haven't been blockbusters by any means, the trade deadline isn't for another 2 days. The SSBL could see a couple trades that completely shake up the playoff outlook for both conferences before things are set in stone. Stay tuned for more updates as they come.
So far, there have been 4 trades considered "Deadline Deals". Two teams have been apart of all four deals, those being the Cavaliers (a surprise deadline team) and the Timberwolves who are trying to make final moves to come out on top of a very competitive Western Conference. Let's examine the four deals:
Cavaliers//Grizzlies
Finalized: TODAY
The Cavaliers sent Vin Baker to Vancouver for Bonzi Wells, Brent Price and 500 cash today.
The most recent deal was finalized early this morning by the commissioner, which had the Cavs trading longtime journeyman PF Vin baker, who is set to play for his 5th team in 6 years. Will this be his final stop? Unlikely. Baker is currently in the final year of his contract, and is no longer the player he once was. Vancouver most likely won't pay to keep him around as he will demand around 4 million a year average.
For the Grizzles, Baker is an upgrade at PF from Udonis Haslem who has been given a difficult position for just his 2nd year in the league. Haslem is averaging 8 points and 9 rebounds so far, however most of his points come off put backs and wide open looks down low. Nobody really knows how good he would do on the offensive end for a struggling team, or as an option. Either way, Baker brings a more experience offensive skillset, as well as a more efficient defensive ability.
Even though they got a very skilled veteran, the Grizzlies gave up next to nothing in Bonzi Wells and Brent Price - both in the twilight of their careers, and both having next to no role on the strong Vancouver squad.
Cleveland obviously made this deal for the cash involved, as they received $500 from the Grizzlies. This move also strips them of one of their most talented players in an attempt to win the upcoming lottery, now being one of the worst teams in the league on paper.
Winner: Vancouver Grizzlies for giving up two bench warmers for their new starting PF.
Cavaliers//Wolves
Finalized: TODAY
In the Cavaliers second trade of the day, with the other team making 2 of the 4 trades, Cleveland sent Cedric Cebellos and a 2004 First Rounder from San Antonio, for seldom used forward Richard Jefferson.
From Cleveland's perspective, they gain a highly touted college player in Jefferson, hailing from Arizona, while being a key component of the Wildcats while he attended. Jefferson still possesses amazing athletic ability, along with an incredible knack for getting to the basket - thus getting most of his points from the FT line. Minnesota is too wildly talented to have a project player like Jefferson see minutes, so they decided to take their chances with a rookie and whether or not their selection can prove to be a better option than Jefferson was.
From Minnesota's perspective, they simply add more options to their offseason. Whether or not they use the pick, or trade it away is still unclear, however either way, they get a future option in exchange for a player they had no interest in keeping. They shed Jefferson's 6 million dollars owed off the books (Cebellos is an expiring contract) while gaining an asset in the Spurs draft pick, what would be their only selection in this years draft.
Winner: Even though the Wolves got more future option, Cleveland received a potentially bigger playmaker in Jefferson.
Hawks//Blazers
Finalized: 11/23
The Hawks and Blazers locked horns once more in a deadline deal that saw the Hawks gain some quality depth in Theo Ratliff in exchange for two young players in Chris Anderson and Rashard Lewis.
The Hawks acquired perennial DPOY candidate Theo Ratliff and 700 cash from Portland 2 days ago to help provide more depth in their push for the championship in less than a month. Even though they gave up some promising young talent in Rashard Lewis and Chris Andersen, the 2 simply were not effective enough to be those role players the Hawks needed to take on the likes of Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal.
Coming with Theo Ratliff are his undeniable shot blocking threat and his 2000 All Defensive Team award, only adding more credibility to an already immensely talented starting lineup. The impressive thing, is that while Ratliff would start on most teams across the league, he plays an important backup role for Erick Dampier and a young Jelani McCoy. The Hawks now have one of the most defensively gifted team in all the league, as they employ some of the best defenders in the game 1st and 2nd team.
The Trailblazers got 2 excellent prospects in Andersen and Lewis, and look forward to giving them all the minutes they can handle. Andersen looks to be the first bigman off the bench, with Lewis possibly the first player overall off the bench. Whatever happens to the team (playoffs or not) the use of these two players to finish out the year is simply for experience purposes. Portland is believed to have started planning and executing deals to help during the offseason overhaul.
Winner: The Atlanta Hawks should value Theo much more than they did Lewis and Andersen - as Ratliff will bring them an incredible defensive presence and shot blocking ability that mutes the previous ability of Andersen.
Raptors//Timberwolves
Finalized: 11/23
The Raptors sent 2nd year forward Tayshaun Prince and 3rd year center Tyson Chandler, along with seldom used guard Juan Dixon to Minnesota for forward Stephen Jackson, Tito Maddox and 300 cash.
Even though two of the three players the Raptors shipped out weren't even with the team for a full season, the GM saw it fit that he traded them almost immediately after employing a league wide "mercenary" scout that rated their future potential at a sub par level in the managements eyes. They decided to take a chance on Tito Maddox, a 2nd year point guard that has shown signs of greatness in his young career in SSBL, along with a proven defender in Jackson.
Jackson brings two outcome possibilities for the franchise come this offseason. They could resign him to a valuable contract, given what he provides; or they could choose to let him walk, thus freeing up an additional 6 million dollars of cap space to work with however they choose. Tito Maddox, depending on his progression over the summer, could become the teams starting point guard, given Toronto doesn't draft a more talented one.
Minnesota makes the trade to balance out their depth more, gaining a solid shot blocker in Chandler, who is averaging about 2.5 blocks per game so far this season; along with Tayshaun Prince who has proven to be a very effective defender even though he doesn't put up defensive numbers like some. Minnesota decided to take a chance, and combined with some team camps for Prince, he could end up to be an effective player.
Winner: Toronto/Minnesota both gained solid pieces in this deal, and therefore, both teams come out on top as winners. The Raptors got a salary break if they decide to let Jackson walk, on top of a solid PG prospect, and the Timberwolves get two young players to add to their depth, especially at Center.
Even though the four trades examined haven't been blockbusters by any means, the trade deadline isn't for another 2 days. The SSBL could see a couple trades that completely shake up the playoff outlook for both conferences before things are set in stone. Stay tuned for more updates as they come.
