HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Marc Narducci

The names have been bandied about for some time and will obviously be until the Feb. 19 NBA trade deadline. Contenders looking to get that extra edge will have a choice at a number of available current stars, once-stars and serviceable players.

You’ve heard all the rumors and here’s a speculative look at some of the possible destinations for those listed prominently in rumorsville.

Amare Stoudemire. The 26-year-old Phoenix power forward appears to be the best player available. He is on the books for more than $15 million this year can opt out of his player contract after the 2009-2010 season.

It’s apparent that Phoenix wouldn’t mind parting with him, but this has to be more than just a salary dump, although receiving an expiring contract won’t hurt. The Suns also need players who can help them immediately.

It has been suggested in various media outlets that the Bulls could offer the expiring $7.1 million contract of Drew Gooden, Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas and a possible first round pick for Stoudemire. This would be a dangerous move for Phoenix, because it would be accepting back two players, Noah and Thomas, who are athletic, but have been wildly inconsistent.

CBSSportsline.com has reported among others that Portland has talked to Phoenix, with LaMarcus Aldridge, Jerryd Bayless and the expiring $12.7 million contract of Raef LaFrentz being rumored. (To make this trade work, Phoenix would also have to throw in another players such as Goran Dragic).

Still, one would have to wonder if Phoenix really wants to make a trade with a Western Conference team, although the Suns likely would pull the trigger if it meant they got the best value.

Miami continues to be mentioned as a possible destination but for that to happen, the Suns might have to take back the expiring $17.1 million contract of Shawn Marion and that doesn’t seem likely to happen.

One trade that would work without including Marion is if the Heat sent Michael Beasley, Marcus Banks and Udonis Haslem to Phoenix for Stoudemire. Again, would that be enough?

Toronto has been another rumored destination, but it doesn’t appear as if the Raptors have enough to interest Phoenix.

There will be plenty of other teams that will make pitches to Stoudemire for one simple reason – they know he is available.

Vince Carter. Had the New Jersey Nets been a winning team, Carter may have been an all-star this season. He still has plenty left in his game, but also two more years on his contract after this season, plus a team option.

If the Nets are just looking to dump salary, then Carter to Cleveland for Wally Szczerbiak’s expiring $13 million contract and rookie J.J. Hickson would work. However despite a contract that will have more than $33 million the next two years, the Nets should look for more value for Carter.

Cleveland would be the perfect fit for Carter, who would give the Cavs a great third option along with LeBron James and Mo Williams.

Mike Miller. Last season he was on the trading block at the deadline but stayed with Memphis and didn’t get dealt to Minnesota until draft night. Miller would be a good fit in Cleveland and at $9 million this year and $9.7 million next season, would be a less expensive option than Carter.

Again, this would probably only work if the Wolves are looking to dump salary. The biggest chip the Cavs have is to trade is Szczerbiak’s expiring contract. Cleveland could trade Szczerbiak and Hickson to Minnesota for Miller and Brian Cardinal (owed $6.7 million next year). Both Miller and Cardinal have contracts that expire after next the 2009-2010 season.

San Antonio would also be a good destination for Miller.

Tyson Chandler. The New Orleans center will make nearly $12 million next season and has a player option for 2010-2011. Sports Illustrated had a potential rumor of Chandler going to Detroit for Rasheed Wallace and his expiring contract. That is probably a deal the Pistons would make quicker than the Hornets. New Orleans would receive cap relief but the Hornet would then be looking for a center after this year if they couldn’t re-sign Wallace.

With Andrew Bynum hurt again, the Lakers would be a good place for Chandler, but would New Orleans want to trade him to a Western Conference team? Plus the Lakers don’t have anybody of consequence that they would apparently be willing to trade. Lamar Odom’s name always comes up, but with Bynum hurt again, and the Lakers playing to win it this year, it wouldn’t make sense to trade him.

Miami, with Marion being the best bait, has also been among the teams listed in rumorsville for Chandler.

Two salaries that match up are Chandler and Philadelphia’s Samuel Dalembert. Each have been inconsistent this year and could a change of scenery help both?

Again, this is purely speculation, something that is rampant this time of year.

Shawn Marion. Finding a team that Marion hasn’t been mentioned in a trade rumor is a difficult proposition. With an expiring contract worth more than $17 million, Marion’s name has been linked to many teams, with Cleveland and Toronto heading the list. One thing is for sure – no matter who Marion signs with after this season, it will be difficult to command the salary he is earning now.

Brad Miller and anybody else on the Sacramento Kings. It appears as if any member of the Kings, with the possible exception of Kevin Martin, is available. Miller, whose contract expires next season when he will earn more than $12 million, has been linked with teams such as New York, Chicago and Miami. (Which player on the trading block hasn’t been linked with Miami?). Miller has been out with a left hip flexor strain and one wonders if that would hurt his trade value. John Salmons is a name that has drawn interest and there are some contenders such as San Antonio, where he could be a contributing rotation player.

Jamaal Tinsley. The Pacers have told him to stay home all season so he has been collecting his salary of nearly $7 million, one that has an additional $14 million remaining the next two years.

There was a rumor that Charlotte was considering a multi-player deal that would include Raymond Felton for Tinsley. Charlotte shot that down and rightly so. Felton is emerging as a highly productive point guard.

With Jameer Nelson possibly out for the season, Orlando is in need of a point guard, but the Magic recently acquired veteran Tyronn Lue.

If Indiana is able to unload Tinsley it would be a solid move regardless of what the Pacers got back.

Joe Smith. Not the biggest of name, but he’s a player who many contenders would covet if available. Smith has an expiring $4.7 million contract with Oklahoma City and if he became available in a trade (or if the Thunder bought him out), contenders such as  Boston, San Antonio and his former Cleveland team would surely inquire about his services.

The O’Neals. Phoenix probably wouldn’t mind parting with Shaquille O’Neal and things haven’t worked in Toronto for Jermaine O’Neal. The problem is that both players have seen their better days and each has a huge contract that doesn’t expire until after the 2009-2010 season. Jermaine is owed nearly $23 million next year and Shaq is on the books for $20 million in 2009-2010.

Miami, which traded Shaq, is still mentioned as a potential suitor for Jermaine.

Share:

There is still plenty of time for players to redeem themselves this season, but either due to injury, poor performance, or a combination of both, there are a number are candidates for the most disappointing player this year in the NBA.

Here is a list of some of the players who haven’t met expectations to this point. Many of these players are having solid statistical seasons, but based on their past, it’s still below their expected level of production.

Check in with us at the end of the season to see if any of these players will be able to lift themselves off this undesired list. Also, we’d love to hear any suggestions of players who aren’t included, but very well could be.

The players are listed in alphabetical order.

Mike Conley, Memphis. He has gone from being the fourth pick in the 2007 draft to somebody on everybody’s all-rumor trade team. Conley is averaging just over 3 assists in 25 minutes per game and has lost his starting job to Kyle Lowry.  Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey, who was selected 15th in the first round of the 2007 draft, has already far exceeded Conley as a point guard.

Samuel Dalembert, 76ers. Dalembert is among the most congenial people in the NBA, but also among the most inconsistent. Last season he made huge strides, but this year the Sixers center has regressed and now he’s playing fewer minutes. He had started every game, but was averaging under six points and more than eight rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots in under 25 minutes per game. Last season he averaged 10.5 points and 10.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots in more than 33 minutes a game. This season he hasn’t been thrilled about his reduced minutes, but he must give the Sixers a reason to play him more.

Ricky Davis, Los Angeles Clippers. A player who has been known for giving instant offense, Davis has struggled with knee problems and has also received a five-game suspension for violating terms of the NBA’s drug program. He hasn’t played since Nov. 22 due to a left knee injury. Known for his ability to create instant offense, Davis has averaged just 4.3 points in 13 games.

Luol Deng, Chicago. An ankle injury has kept him out of the lineup since late December, but even when playing, Deng seemed to have lost his shooting touch. Before the season he signed a six-year contract for more than $70 million. Deng is averaging 13.3 points, but hasn’t come close to looking like the dangerous player of 2006-2007 when he averaged 18.8 points and shot 51.7 percent from the field.

Allen Iverson, The grading scale is much tougher on this nine-time all-star. Since being dealt earlier in the season from Denver, Iverson has averaged 18 points, which is about nine below his career average. True, with Detroit, he won’t get as many shots because of  the Pistons’ depth and his own reduced minutes. Iverson was averaging about three minutes less per game for Detroit from his career average. To his credit, he has tried to defer to his teammates.  Maybe it seems as if Iverson has been disappointing because the player he was traded for, Chauncey Billups, has made a world of difference in Denver and should be selected to the all-star team. Iverson is still a productive player, but he’s just not performing at an all-star level.

Jason Kidd, Dallas. Kidd has never really been the expected dominant player since being traded at the all-star break last season from New Jersey. The numbers look respectable – more than eight points and eight assists per game. He is averaging more than 35 minutes, which is about two minutes under his career mark. Many point guards would take Kidd’s numbers in a heartbeat, but this is a nine-time all-star, so like Iverson, he is judged on a higher level. Kidd will be 36 on March 23 and while he has some solid basketball left in him, he hasn’t begun to look like the dominant player of the past.

Tracy McGrady, Houston. McGrady has attempted to play despite a painful sore left knee that has kept him in and out of the lineup. To his credit, he has tried to play through the pain, but just hasn’t been the same following surgery in May. A seven-time all-star, McGrady is shooting under 40 percent from the field and isn’t close to the being the player who has averaged 21 or more points per season for eight straight years.

Mike Miller, Minnesota. Somebody with the shooting ability of Miller who is playing more than 31 minutes per game should not be averaging below double figures in scoring. Miller has missed several games this season with an ankle injury, but he also hasn’t been aggressively looking for his shot. In a recent three-game stretch he attempted only 18 shots. Never known as a great defender, Miller has the ability to stretch defenses. He is certainly a candidate to be traded and should be able to help a contender.

Jermaine O’Neal, Toronto. The acquisition of O’Neal in the summer was expected to significantly upgrade Toronto, but the Raptors have been one of the biggest disappointments this season. O’Neal has been listed as day to day, but at this writing, hasn’t played since Dec. 29 due to his troublesome right knee. While in the lineup, he has been solid, but not spectacular (14.0 ppg., 7.3 rpg. ). If totally healthy, and that’s a big if, he is capable of much more. He has not played as many as 70 games since 2003-2004 and one wonders if O’Neal can still make a major impact or just be a solid but unspectacular contributor.

Share: