Buckeyes Secure First Place With Rebounding Effort vs. Michigan
January 30, 2012Irving: No Pressure With Game-Winners
January 30, 2012
Anderson Varejao's Value Shining Through This Season
In the midst of watching the Cavaliers’ incredible comeback against the Celtics, I was also keeping one eye on Twitter. (On a side note, I don’t know how those of you who tweet during games do it…I always feel like anytime I try to tweet during games, I feel less connected and distracted from the game. So kudos to those more adept to multi-tasking that I am). I noticed something interesting happening on Twitter during this game.
As Anderson Varejao kept pouring his heart and soul into that game, giving every last ounce of effort and want-to he could possibly find inside his seemingly tireless body, Cavs fans on Twitter were making arguments as to why this should be the showcase for trading Varejao.
The irony of people asking for the Cavaliers to trade Varejao as we were all watching the man give the type of effort without which the Cavs certainly would have lost was absolutely not lost on me. Nor was the fact that Varejao, always considered a fan favorite, seems to be the guy many Cavs fans are most eager to have the team trade away.
And I get it. There’s no question he’s the most valuable trade piece the Cavaliers have. He’s at a weird age where he’s probably going to be trailing out of his prime when the Cavaliers hopefully contend again, but yet he’s not so old that contending teams wouldn’t like to have him for a couple years. It’s not that Cavalier fans want to see Varejao go, but at the end of the day, we all just want what is ultimately best for the Cavaliers. If trading Varejao makes the Cavaliers a better team, they probably have to do it.
We’ve touched on this already this season, but it’s worth mentioning again, trading Anderson Varejao is not necessarily the best thing for this franchise, and it’s that lack of absolute clarity that makes this topic such a tough concept to completely wrap one’s mind around. In fact, it’s precisely why fans on each side of the argument are able to make such well-grounded and impassioned arguments for their case. To a certain degree, both sides are equally right.
Of course, then there’s also the issue of fans not really knowing what the reality of Varejao’s price tag is. In theory the NBA trade market is a pure free market system where a player’s worth is established by the market. In theory that’s an absolute truth. You’re always worth whatever the GM willing to give up the most for you says you are. But sometimes GMs have a funny way of moving the market in an upward direction for a player. So while it’s easy to sit here and predict what the market value for Anderson Varejao truly is, none of that matters because it only takes one crazy GM to offer too much for Varejao for this discussion of worth and merit shifts in a very different direction.
But I’m not here to sit on any fences and hem and haw my way through this. No, it is my most earnest opinion that trading Anderson Varejao is just about the worst thing the Cavaliers can do (short of trading Tristan Thompson for Chris Kaman, as Terry Pluto seemed to lightly infer as a remote possibility in his weekend column).
This statement of opinion should be taken with one small grain of salt, or caveat. If a first round pick and/or Tristan Thompson can be discussed even as an implausible trade situation for Chris Kaman, then if the Cavs did indeed get an offer of a first round pick and an under-22 player better than Tristan Thompson, then maybe my opinion shifts. Otherwise, I stand firm that trading Varejao is a mistake.
When thinking about backing up this argument, I considered a lot of methods. I looked a bunch of stats and metrics that show just how valuable Varejao really is to this team. But taking such a rigid approach to defending such an intangible player like Varejao just didn’t feel right. It would be like using math to prove the value of punk rock.
In many ways, punk music truly is like Anderson Varejao’s game. On the surface, it’s not always pretty. It can be visceral and guttural. But in the counter culture of doing things differently and by their own book, punk bands have a certain internal resolute beauty. A purity, if you will, where integrity and standards still mean something. So, too, does Anderson Varejao’s game always find ways to be more than what immediately meets the eyes. There’s a purity in the hustle and energy that he gives, there’s an integrity to the way he plays the game with enthusiasm of a child filtered through the toughness of a grown man.
Dig even deeper, though, and there are certain likely truths that make the thought of giving away Anderson Varejao a chilling prospect. Above all else, the Cavaliers will almost certainly never find a player quite like Varejao again. I can’t say as that I have ever seen an NBA player like him, and I doubt I ever will. Oh, there are better players, but I have never seen a player give so much effort and play the game so damn hard all while existing on a middling team hanging around the #8 spot in the weak Eastern Conference.
That might be the funniest joke of them all. That while LeBron James, Derrick Rose, and Carlos Boozer were all doing their best to give away a huge game between the East’s two best teams, there was Anderson Varejao playing like a madman scrapping and fighting and willing his team to have every last opportunity to comeback and stun the Boston Celtics in Boston. It was a level of inspiration that words just don’t seem to do justice.
That’s what the Cavaliers stand to lose by trading Varejao. And for what? The #26 pick in the draft? Maybe some promising young player who flashes skill but lacks consistency and/or effort? Forget about the fact (and yes, this is a fact) that Varejao will never bring back more value in a trade than he will right now. That’s not an argument for trading him, that’s an argument for how well he’s playing. The truth is that even at his highest value he’s probably not going to offer the return that gives the Cavaliers what they are losing.
Last night, WFNY’s Rick said on Twitter “I can’t think of a legit trade offer from a contender I would take for [Andy].” He’s right. I challenge you to find me a realistic trade offer that a team would actually make for Varejao that the Cavaliers would feel great about accepting. Trading a guy just because his value is peaking is foolish. The words “just because” should never enter the equation. I’m already long on hyperbole here, but Varejao is such a unique and special player to this city, this franchise, and this fan base (not that the fans’ desires should be a consideration…sorry fans), that his value is virtually irreplaceable.
So ok, maybe Varejao will be past his prime when the Cavaliers are back in contention. Who cares? You think he’s going to give any less effort or desire? You think his energy and commitment to the team will be any less? If you do, then you haven’t been paying attention.
I don’t know what Varejao wants. If he wants to leave Cleveland, this whole discussion is moot and the Cavaliers should honor his desires. But I’ve never heard even the slightest rumblings that he’s unhappy being here. He seems to have fantastic on court chemistry with Kyrie Irving and he’s a true leader who can bridge the experience gap between the rookies and the Cavaliers’ last era of contention. What he can offer in leadership, experience, and as a calming presence are almost enough on their own to warrant keeping him. When you add in the heart and soul of this team, trading him makes that much less to me.
In the end, the long term success of the Cleveland Cavaliers is more important to me than anything else in this discussion. I’m sure some will take exception to this article and say I’m playing on emotions to cloud judgment in a business transaction. That’s not the case, though. I’m just trying to find the right words to point out that Anderson Varejao means an awful lot to the Cavaliers, both now and in the immediate future. And if you think some long term prospect drafted at the end of the first round is going to replace Varejao, that’s where I disagree.
Lightning struck once for the Cavaliers when Varejao defied the odds developed into a player who is actually putting up numbers that put him in the All-Star discussion. The odds of lightning striking twice and it happening again are so remote. You have your lightning in the bottle in Varejao, so why not just keep him?
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Image Credit: Steve Babineau/NBAE/GettyImages
56 Comments
A few weeks ago I commented that for the right deal a clear-eyed, cold-hearted GM should trade Andy this year in order to have a team peaking together. Unless they could get a lottery pick (impossible since lotto teams wouldn’t want him) I’ve changed my mind.
First, agree that we can’t get equal value. Second, Kyrie needs someone to run half-court plays with in order to develop lest he start thinking he needs to jack the ball to win. With young point guards that particular habit is hard to break. But mostly Andy is providing a template of relentless effort for guys -Tristan, Gee, Samardo – who can use that formula to become legit NBA contributors even if their own skill sets, like Andy’s, are uneven. The stuff he does is contagious and shows guys how you win games.
Or maybe I’m kidding myself and worried that, sans Andy, this team will quickly slip back into the unwatchable and man, I need one watchable Cleveland team right now. [sorry for the re-posted comment but I had JUST put it on another thread when you went and played column whack-a-mole with me]
This is a tough one because everyone (rightly) loves Andy and wants him to be here. But, if we can get good value for him, not necessarily right now but in the future, its something Chris Grant has to absolutely do. Memphis was trying their hardest to give up OJ Mayo for McRoberts for the past year. Isn’t Varejao better than McBob? Could we get OJ and a first round pick for him? I think so. Even if the pick is protected, Grizz aren’t going to be in the lottery. That’s good value.
The other thing you have to consider is whether these wins Andy is fighting for right now are really the best thing for the Cavs. It sucks watching them lose, but it happened with Lebron where we end up getting Luke Jackson the next season and then what… I know you can get value late in the draft, but the top of this years lottery is stacked and if you could pair Kyrie with one of those top 6 we could be back in the elite in the East sooner rather than later.
I’m starting to come around to this view. Last year I called up @TJZuppe late night after one of the games and rapped with him about Andy’s value and how he’s not going to be relevant in 3 or 4 years, but looking back, I have to admit that that view is short-sighted. His value is more than what he can contribute in points or rebounds. If there was ever a need to have a foundation for this team it is now. Show the young guys it’s ok and GOOD to be a career Cavalier, or they’ll forever have players jumping off for greener pastures.
looking at how the Grizz have been doing and how OJ has himself been doing, I think they ride out the year with him. I would have fully agreed before the year (or right after the Randolph injury) that this is a trade the Grizz would consider (especially since they likely are losing OJ in the offseason as they cannot afford him), but if they want to compete NOW, then OJ is more important to them than Andy (even though Andy is the better overall player).
it’s tough to sell while the value is high because the value is high. and, I fully expect Andy to maintain high value for 2-3 more years. But, whenever the injuries or age begin to show, I expect them to show quickly. That’s why I have the position I do on him.
I love Andy and will not be upset if we just ride out his prime with him. Who could be upset with that? But, I think he has more value to a contending team than he does to a rebuilding team, which means we could get more value to us by trading him. If noone is wiling to give that to us? well, then we just smile every time he trots out there with his goofy hair.
I might also like an article about the signing of Jamarcus Russel.
Wow – incredible article. So glad you put these thoughts into print. I second everything you said and I’ll add a little more. Varejao is a 1st Team All-NBA “NO STATS ALL-STAR”. The term coined for Shane Battier applies to Varejao, only whereas Battier is a defensive-surgeon and scouting guru, Varejao is the hardest working player in the NBA. It’s not even close. Most people only notice his diving on the floor, taking charges, and slipping screens. Watch the guy play post defense sometime against someone he’s giving up 50 lbs to. He’s taking elbows to the neck, flailing arms into his head, nut-kicks from Ray Allen. The guy gets ABUSED down low – and he just works harder. He frustrates the other team so much. And here is the point. His contributions to winning are difficult to quantify. The stat revolution sweeping the NBA loses a lot of the value of guys like Varejao. There are many players who look absolutely PUTRID in the box score and seem to just KILL their teams, and yet, how valuable is Derek Fisher to the Lakers? How valuable was Jason Kidd last year to the Mavericks, how valuable was Bruce Bowen to the Spurs. These guys exhibit value so well past their “statistical prime” because they are better than everyone at getting loose balls, at boxing out, at help defense, at passing, at slipping screens, and taking charges, at leading by example. Their PERs plummet, their ability to his shots off the dribble fades (if they ever had that skill) and they get beat off the dribble more by younger, quicker players. And then the finals come around and there is Jason Kidd checking LeBron James or Derek Fisher drilling a clutch 3. The way we are analyzing Varejao is like he’s Ricky Davis on an 8-game streak of 25+ points and we’re hoping to dangle him in front of someone to get a #20 lottery pick. You’re never going to get equal value back for Varejao in a trade because no GM is going to give up the talent to compensate for Varejao’s intangibles. He’d have to give up an all-star or a guaranteed top-5 pick and that isn’t happening. No contending team is going to give up an all-star and no rebuilding team is going to give up draft picks. So thank God we’re “stuck” with Wild Thing. He and Gee are the reason the Cavs play enough defense to be in these games.
Also, the age thing is a little overblown. I’ve said this before, he has less NBA minutes on his body than Kevin Durant, who nobody thinks is getting close to passing his prime right? He started at 22, he’s been a 30 minute guy or less his whole career, and he basically missed all of last season. As long as he plays with this level of commitment and relentlessness, he will be valuable for a long time. Take a look at what Alonzo Mourning did at the ripe old age of 36 in this rather meaningful game: http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200606200DAL.html
I’m not sure I agree, especially because of the Randolph injury. That team is pretty shallow in the frontcourt after Gasol and Randolph. I think they could use someone like Andy who is consistently awesome, has great intangibles, never complains, and is going to be a defensive force than OJ Mayo. I like Mayo, and think he would be perfect for this team, but I would definitely rate Andy higher than him when considering who I would want in order to contend for a championship.
I don’t think the Luke Jackson pick at #10 implies anything other than a poor draft selection from the Cavs. Behind him in that draft were Adris Biedrins, Kris Humphries, Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, etc. Do the Cavs win with Al Jefferson at C protecting the rim? (remember, Andy V was playing mostly power forward then as he was still a little too light and wiry to match up on Dwight Howard or Kendrick Perkins full time).
Besides, we would on be trading one strength for another. We’d be getting some shooting power, but defensively OJ Mayo gets obliterated by big 2-guards like Kobe and Wade, and we would be giving up the best offensive rebounder in the NBA to get him, which obviously means fewer possessions for the Cavs. No me gusta.
Great article. It’s not like Andy is washed up or even close to it. I see him as a key piece to the rebuilding process.
I really want to reply to your comments here. But I can’t think of anything to add. But you’re right, you need a certain level of “intangibles” on your team to win an NBA title. I’m convinced of this. When the Cavs are ready to contend, having a guy like Andy on the team will be immeasurable in its value. No matter what his age.
I’m with Andrew here in the thought that we won’t ever get the right value for Andy in a trade. In spite of his solid shooting in yesterday’s game, he is still a sub-50% FG guy, which opposing GMs will definitely use to lower his value. They’ll say that he is a great fit for a certain system… a dribble-drive, pick-n-roll system like Byron Scott’s. So that’s one consideration.
Secondly, is Andy getting in a car wreck sometime in the next 4 or 5 seasons? Andy is 29 years old and doesn’t turn 30 until the beginning of next season. Dennis Rodman was 32 when first suiting up for the San Antonio Spurs. He was 34 when he first started playing with the Bulls and was a dominant rebounder/defender/hustle-guy through each of their championships. Why are we thinking that a 33 or 34 year old Varejao’s abilities are going to fall off a cliff anytime soon? He doesn’t have chronic injury problems. I think that all of us Cavs fans will really be kicking ourselves when 4 years from now Andy is still rocking it and we’re a good center short of a championship caliber team.
There’s three things about trading Andy that don’t make sense to me, although I fully understand where the trade Andy argument comes from.
First, I don’t see the point in trading him because of the amount of cap room we have coming this summer, and next. Why ship him off for OJ Mayo, Trevor Ariza, or whomever, when we can make a run at those guys as free agents this summer or next? If they don’t want to play in Cleveland as everyone says than at least we didn’t give up Andy for a rental.
Second, depending on how precocious this team is, and how savy Grant is, we should be expecting a serious run somewhere between 3-5 years. To make a run you absolutely have to have an Andy. Maybe he was called Robert Horry, James Posey, or Bruce Bowen on other teams, but you need a guy that gets points without taking alot of possessions away from other skilled offensive players, who puts his nose right other guy’s faces, and basically frustrates other teams into making mistakes.
I personally disagree with the assumption that a 32-35 year old Andy is going to be ineffective. He’s already as gravitationally bound as an accountant playing YMCA pick-up ball, he’s not especially fast, doesn’t have a ton of minutes on his body, and his frame is thin so his knees shouldn’t take the pounding of a Zach Randolph. I honestly don’t see why we wouldn’t expect him to be able to put up 8-12 points and similar rebounds for a half decade more. In addition he guards forwards and centers so losing speed isn’t going to be as devestating as it is when a wing player loses lateral speed. Finally its not like he’s going up against Shaq, Ewing, Olajuwon, Daughtery, etc and taking a physical pounding every night.
Okay really lastly I want him to stay because if he makes it ten years here I’m putting him in my “Now that’s a Cleveland guy’s guy HOF”.
It is very true that this is a tough decision and that we won’t get equal value back for Andy. However, the indirect value of trading Andy, i.e. getting a high draft pick, especially in this draft, is so huge that it would probably make trading Andy more valuable. I think it’s crucial for this team to not miss out on the top players in this draft. In all honesty as much as I love seeing the cavs win, I was jumping up and down after seeing kyrie hit that layup, making the playoffs this year is probably the worst thing that could happen to this team. Trading Andy should be our last move to ensure that but if it comes down to it I’ll understand.
JO, you want to get rid of Varejao just so that the team will tank and we’ll get a shot to draft another player who may or may not pan out? That really feels like the wrong decision to me, especially because college players are so unpredictable when they come up to the NBA. If you disagree, then I think Hasheem Thabeet, Greg Oden, and Michael Olowakandi would like to sell you something to help pay for their homes. Your formula for success is too risky for me… we could be giving up a key component to a championship run 4 years from now for a guy who is working at a car dealership at that time. Don’t listen to those NBA draft pundits… they’re the same guys who told you that last year’s draft was “weak” and Kyrie Irving is likely to only be a solid starter (and maybe even an All-Star once or twice) at the peak of his NBA career. This year’s “strong” draft class means exactly nothing.
except that Randolph is coming back, they need 3pt shooters, and they already traded for Speights. plus, before this recent 3game skid, they were doing just fine.
but hey, if the skid continues and we can pry Mayo from them for Andy, then I’m all for it (younger guy that’s not as valuable now but should be in the next couple of years and we should be able to match his offers in RFA).
it is the first thing we have agreed with. Anderson is one of those players you can’t look at his numbers and see how effective he really is. There is no way we would get equal trade value for anderson and it is so hard to get post players we would be fools to get rid of him.
Varejao sells tickets. He is a favorite in CLE. He wants to play in CLE. He will bring energy to the young players and push them to develop. He makes things fun. My jaw would drop if we dealt him, unless he was requesting it.
don’t trade anderson. There is no way we would get fair trade value for anderson. I can’t imagine getting more than a 2nd round pick for him.
In all fairness, Greg Oden had better not need any help paying for his home. He’s earned (stolen) millions and millions of $$ from the Blazers.
Jaminson can go but hang on to Varejao.
Let’s go with Oden 5 years from now then, when he’s out of the NBA and still trying to live the high life.
As much as I don’t think we will get equal return for Varejao, to think we would only get a second round pick is crazy. Even NBA GMs aren’t that dumb.
I’m not sure I can love your comment more. You’ve nailed it.
Thank you for this Andrew. I’ve been saying for weeks we have to hang on to Varejao. I get the other side of the discussion but very much disagree with it. Thank you for spelling this out in a way that I haven’t been able to.
I heard he already has his non-NBA time set with a burgeoning career in nude photography
ok, what is fair value for AV? I was thinking to get it we need to trade with a team that is statistically savvy on the defensive end. Portland, Houston, etc. have their own stat-keepers with defensive metrics.
Houston needs a big man and rebounding badly, so I would target them.
AV
Gibson
for
Budinger (he’s better than Parsons but stuck on the bench at SF)
C.Lee (at SG, he still wants to attack, they want SGs who can sit and chuck 3s)
J.Hill (very undervalued to me, he contributes when called upon)
J.Flynn (needed to backup Irving so we can trade Sessions + to match salaries)
Houston also owns the Knicks 1st round pick, but I don’t even think we need it to make this deal. We get 3 promising youngsters + a top10 pick that hasn’t panned out to match salaries. We definitely ask for the Knicks pick and perhaps settle on adding a 2nd rounder.
Anyways, Houston gets their rebounder/defender for this year’s run and Gibson gets to go to his hometown team and he fits their role for SGs (and Lee struggles with bigger SGs too so it’s not like they are losing anything there).
and I would couple this trade with trading Sessions to LA or Orlando for their 1st round pick (straight-up for trade exceptions).
it would be a 2nd or a real late first at best seeing how only a good team would trade for him. What do you people think that you will get a top 20 pick for varejao. It cracks me up how some of you guys are so unrealistic with your thinking on how easy it is to pick up good draft picks like it’s nothing. According to some of you maybe we can trade orlando anderson for dwight howard straight up. He is 29 and you think that some bad team in the top 15 will give up their first round pick for him. Your hilarious.
I don’t think Houston parts with Budinger and J Flynn in a trade like that, but that’s definetly a conversation starter for a trade.
Here’s my thing about Andy. He’s under contract for 3 more years so there is no rush to move him, at least until after this season when his value should be the same as it is now, perhaps even more because friendly contract big men are going to be important when the new salary cap rules kick in. If you trade him now you almost have to take a big in the draft, unless you trade him for a big which makes no sense. This means you are going to sacrifice BPA in the draft. I would say, wait till the off season, take the best guy in the draft, if its a 4/5 then you have the luxury of trading Andy, or even T2 (just saying) and not having a weakness, and if there is a scorer sitting there you don’t feel the need to pass on him because you can’t bear the thought of more Ryan Hollins.
Al Jefferson doesn’t protect the rim, he’s one of the worst defensive players in the league.
The age thing is not overblown. It’s not about minutes, or Anthony Parker would be in his prime. As you get older, your legs don’t work as good as they used to. Prime in the NBA is like 26-27. You can hope that Varejao ages like a HoF type talent, or you can play the odds correctly. Your call.
The Cavaliers are 18th in attendance despite a mediocre (ie not poor) record and a legitimate ticket-seller in Kyrie Iriving. The evidence that Varejao sells tickets is scant at best.
Ok, let’s see where to begin with this. Do I think the Cavs will get a team picking in the top 15 to trade for Andy? No. That’s why I noted above (and elsewhere on WFNY) that they will never get equal value for him. Nice job in stating something that is the exact opposite of what I think. With that skill you should run for office.
Is Varejao worth that a top 20 pick? Of course he is. Just look at him play. It’s obvious. I’ll press you to show me where anyone writing or commenting here has equated anything close to trading Andy for Dwight Howard. Yes, I recognize you were exaggerating but show me some outrageous trade suggestion by anyone here. If you really believe his value is just a late first round pick then I think “your” hilarious.
I agree that it doesn’t look like the Cavs can get fair value, considering the teams willing to make a move don’t have high picks typically.
Between that, AV’s contract still good for 3 years after this one at a good rate, and the idea of him helping T2 and others grow and learn and hustle, I don’t see how the Cavs make a move.
“What he can offer in leadership, experience, and as a calming presence
are almost enough on their own to warrant keeping him. When you add in
the heart and soul of this team, trading him makes that much less to me.”….Bingo!
And to think we got him AND Drew Gooden for Tony Battie…say what you want about Gooden, but he was merely the icing on the cake. Undoubtedly blind luck by Jim Paxson, but outside the Baron Davis/Mo Williams trade, it was the best move this team has made in a loooong time.
Flynn barely gets any minutes. I think they would unload him (Lowry and Dragic are the 2 PGs in their main rotation).
Budinger has gone stretches getting DNP-CD (along with injuries). I’d like to know why, but he has been good when he has played.
The guy on that list I think they might really not want to give up is actually J.Hill. He has been sneaky good for them in limited minutes and I think they know it.
the team also was able to trade Larry Hughes away. doesn’t even matter who we got in return as that has to rate as a top3 trade to get rid of him.
This article and these comments have made me completely change my view on Varejao. I do NOT want to trade him I want him to retire as a Cav. I think, after reading this, that he can play at a high level in 5 or 6 years and thats exactly when we’ll need him and he’s completely priceless for a team contending. If Lebron had been more clutch (Kyrie) I’m sure Varejao wouldve made many many more plays to win games. Also Andy is playing at a level he wasn’t even close to in the Lebron era.
Not true, Stevo. For the time period I’m talking about, he was actually a solid rim protector putting up over 100 blocks in the 06-07 season and then doing it again in 07-08. Jefferson was derailed a little bit by chronic injuries, so I would say he’s actually past his prime now, but we’re talking about “the LeBron years” here. He was absolutely a better defender than past-their-prime versions of Shaq and Z, but we can go with Josh Smith if that’s makes you feel better.
no your hilarious because look at my original comment brainiac. It says that we would not get fair trade value. I can already tell you don’t read at such a high level. Read my original statement and see if you can retain my comment. If you can’t understand how the only trade value we would get is a late first or 2nd because no one would trade for him unless they were a really good team with a late first round at best then you are obviously are one of these oblivious fans that know nothing about sports and think they do. Sorry that you can’t comprehend what the actual trade value for varejao is. This is why i said don’t trade him genius in my original comment.
It’s you’re dude… you’re. The reason he didn’t read too much into your comment is because your spelling is incompetent, which therefore makes your views irrelevant. He even made fun of it and you didn’t catch on!
Spurs 2014 unprotected pick for Varejao. Done and done.
This is actually a pretty fair deal
Would you all do a Pau Gasol and the Mavs protected top 20 1st round pick for Andy and Ramon Sessions?
thank you for saving me the time of googling ” who was drafted after Luke Jackson”
Slightly off topic – but trade related. I know this seems ridiculous, but what about being part of a 3 team trade that would send Steve Nash back to Dallas with Dirk. The Suns are going nowhere and won’t make the playoffs this year. Here is the 3 team trade – http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7zsr3eb
Basically it would go like this:
Dallas Gets: Steve Nash, Daniel Gibson, Robin Lopez
Phoenix Gets: Ramon Sessions and Antwan Jamison
Cleveland Gets: Jason Kidd, Rodrigue Beaubois & Brendan Haywood
So Dallas gets Nash, a good 3 point shooting guard in Boobie and a young center albeit with limited potential.
Phoenix gets a young promising point guard and big $15m cap relief
Cleveland gets a one year rental for Kidd to mentor Kyrie, and decent and cheap SG in Beaubois and a legit center who is under contract for 5 years. We would then be able to move andy to PF and backup Center and bring TT along with the 2nd team for a season or two.
Out starting 5 would be Irving>Kidd>Casspi>AV>Haywood
Second team: Kidd>Beaubois>Gee>TT>Hollins
Dallas’ would be Nash>Delonte>Marion>Dirk>Lopez
2nd Team: Boobie>Vince Carter>Lamar Odom>Cardinal>Mahini
Phoenix would be: Sessions>Dudley>Hill>Frye>Gortat
2nd team: Price>Shannon Brown>Warrick/Childress/Jamison>Morris
Phoenix would probably have to get someone’s 1st rounder, maybe a protected one.
I am bored at work, this will never happen.
Considering how Andy is playing and how our young team looks up to him, it would do more harm than good to trade him at this point. Shipping away your best and most respected veteran could have serious ramifications when it’s time for the young guys to re-sign.
a top10-15 NBA player + a 1st round pick for Andy and Ramon?
think of it this way: Andy for Pau. Ramon for 1st rounder.