A Few Trade Proposals For Danny Ferry
Written By: Rick | Category: Cleveland Cavaliers | Comments: 51
Everyone’s an expert these days. if you have access to a computer and the internet, the ESPN Trade machine awaits. Throw in a little research at 82games.com and HoopsHype, and viola! You are Bill Simmons without the fat contract and book deal. The problem with this of course is that we usually end up with completely one-sided deals or trading with teams that have no interest in trading. We are inspired by actual events however, because you just never know what crazy thing a GM will do in this league. (I’m looking at you Memphis and Minnesota!)
So before you go screaming at me in the comments saying I’m crazy because so and so team would never do that deal, I am not disagreeing with you. I’m saying let’s at least see if they’ll pick up the phone on some of these before we commit to any trade.
Trade #1- Cleveland trades J.J. Hickson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas to Minnesota for Al Jefferson.
Why this trade works- In Jefferson the Cavaliers kill two birds with one stone (no actual birds would be killed in the completion of this trade). They would get a third all-star caliber player in his prime to team with LeBron and Mo for the future. Playing with Al and Mo and a host of complimentary pieces should be enough of an enticement for James. If he wouldn’t come back to that team, then he just wouldn’t come back to Cleveland period. Jefferson has the post game, and is quick enough to keep up with any big man in the league. He can hold his own against Howard. Combined with Shaq the Cavs would have the best Center depth in the league bar none.
For Minnesota they would obviously be getting a young and inexpensive, yet explosive player in Hickson, plus more salary relief. There would be a possibility that they would buy out Z, as they have enough big men on the roster. The T-Wolves would find themselves going into free agency with around $28 million to spend or save.
Why this trade doesn’t work- Let’s face it, they may have no interest what-so-ever in moving Jefferson. I understand that. They do have Kevin Love, so Hickson might not be an enticement. The question I have is whether or not they like paying the luxury tax.
Trade #2- Cleveland signs and trades Wally Sczcerbiak to Detroit for Rip Hamilton.
Why this trade works- Call this our Delonte West insurance policy. I can’t see how Hamilton fits into Detroit’s long term plans. They just signed Ben Gordon to play the 2, and have to make a decision on whether Stuckey or Bynum is the PG of the future. Regardless, getting rid of Hamilton’s contract let’s them be a free agent player. The Cavs would have a potent backcourt with Mo and Rip, plus have Delonte, Parker and Gibson coming off the bench. Until West is suspended. It is going to happen when the legal issues get resolved. He was going to be suspended before, but since the Arenas incident, the punishment may have gone up for Delonte.
Why this doesn’t work- Well, Detroit might not be willing to give up on Rip and his connection to the fans/past so soon. He would have to be healthy as well, which has been a problem so far this season. There’s also the whole helping your division rival get better thing.
Trade #3- Cleveland gets David West from New Orleans for either Wally’s sign and trade deal + J.J. Hickson, or Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
Why this trade works- If the Cavs get West they can afford to give up Hickson. West is the complete player at PF that the Cavs have been missing since they got Boozered. (That is unless they decide that James is the scariest PF that ever walked the planet. Which he could be.) New Orleans could get a player out of the deal that fits in with their new team philosophy- cheap. Hey, someone is going to get to be the first to hose New Orleans. Let’s not be late to the feast.
Why this trade doesn’t work- The Hornets continue to pretend like they have no money issues. Perhaps they’ll even try to be buyers again like last year. That Okafor trade worked out well huh?
Again, I know that these aren’t likely to happen. But don’t you have to see if they might?
Author: Rick
Rick is a co-founder and editor of WFNY. His love of Cleveland sports is surpassed only by his faith and love of his family. Follow him on Twitter- @rickwfny.Rick has written 917 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
I like #2 the best.
If we get rid of Z, there is no way I’ll feel good about winning it all after all he’s done for us.
Honestly, if Wally is willing to do the sign and trade, and we are just doing one trade there is reason Z has to go anywhere.
I’m not getting my hopes up at all, but if they could land David West, that would be a bigger robbery than the Lakers getting Gasol.
The prerequisite for signing the trade papers on that deal would be that Ferry has to agree to wear a ski mask.
I can almost agree with #1….. but g-dang do I want to see a Cleveland team win it all!!! It would feel like selling one of my nephews so I could buy that Veyron 16.4 I’ve been wanting.
(Actually, my dream car is a mint 1981 AMC Eagle with faux wood paneling, but a I couldn’t see selling a nephew for that.)
Man..you guys are really cranking out the content today! I’m still reading through the insanely entertaining back and forths in all the other comment sections. Sign me up for any trade involving JJ. I think he is a really attractive (not in a Brady Quinn sort of way) trade piece. I can’t see the potential in the guy when he can’t even catch a pass or not have multiple mental lapses in a short span of time. He might be good one day, but it won’t be in Brown’s system. AND QUIT TUCKING IN YOUR SHIRT WHEN YOUR ARE WEARING YOUR WARMUPS JJ!
*YOU’RE*
why would wally NOT do a sign and trade? hes probably never going to play in the nba again and if he does it wont be for anything more than the vet’s minimum. anything he gets in a sign and trade (and then the inevitable buy out) would be more than the vet’s minimum. its free money to wally.
don’t trade Z or I will pout
Trade Z. Or lose LeBron. It could be that simple. Every Cavs trade piece from now until February should boast a line like the 12 Days of Christmas…
…”Now, once again, here’s the skinny: The Cavs have absolutely no cap space this coming off-season and absolutely NO chance to improve in the summer except for re-signing James and the Mid-Level Exception. Yes, even if they let Shaq and Z go they will still be right around the salary cap limit. They can, however, get better through trades. They MUST use Z’z expiring contract and pieces like Wally’s potential deal and Hickson to get another player. They must or we won’t be able to compete at a championship level next year.”
Trade Z.
Scenario #1 is the *ideal* scenario, but as you said Rick, it’ll never happen. The David West deal is a possibility, but man I’d hate to see Z go w/out him getting a buyout. Ideally, you’d S & T Wally and send JJ, but I fear they’d want Z and his contract.
Bottom line is this. I’d sell my soul to the devil for a Cleveland Cavaliers Championship*.
(* meaning I’d be happier than a pig in mud if we won it, even without Z)
Z PITY PARTY!!!!
Adding to what Clown Baby said, the articles/content is on fire the past two days, and so are the comments. Good job all. Holiday hangover my caboose!
Boy, I don’t know. I mean I guess I could let Z go if I had a crystal ball and could see that the trade absolutely 100% guaranteed the championship.
But, obviously, none of us has that and I just would feel terrible about letting such a loyal franchise guy go. He deserves better. Athlete loyalty is a rare commodity in this town and it’d be a shame to treat such a rarity in Z as dispensable.
This might be way out there, but I’m not even 100% sure LeBron would sign off on a Z trade unless the return was ridiculously good.
There HAS to be a way we can work Hickson and Wally into some kind of deal. I really will be SHOCKED if we move Z this year, or ever.
Matt, prefer thyself to be shocked. We are not winning the championship without another piece; we’re not.
What situation would make you feel more “terrible?” Some team goes crazy all of a sudden and doesn’t buyout Z? Or the Cavs refuse to trade him when they could get a nice piece for him and LeBron jets?
Our best option is for the Raptors to hire Mark Sapiro, and orchestrate a mid-season trade with Jawad Williams + JJ Hickson for Bosh.
Try to tell me he wouldnt make this deal if he was GM of the Raptors.
I live in New Orleans – if we fleeced NO for David West I’d get a solid week of gloating around the office.
Intangibles
No Tom63, he wouldn’t. But if were GM of the Hornets we could have Paul and West for Boobie Gibson, JJ Hickson, and two draft picks to be named later that are protected sometimes and not others and have the following restrictions and regulations attached…and a Fog Raw bobblehead.
I would love for the Cavs to be able to pull off 2 trades by packaging Wally and JJ in a deal and then use Z and possibly Boobie in another and hopefully get Z back after a buyout. That being said, I can dream all I want, but I don’t know the likelihood of 2 deals happening.
My bad, I forgot that he needed to totally shatter all hope. I made the deal too sweet for the Raptors.
@9, I feel that way too. Z’s contract is our best asset. We need to get a return for it, preferrably a younger player that still has some upside.
Bottom line is LBJ is out the door if he thinks the team’s long-term prospects are bleak. Outside of Mo, is there anyone on the roster that we are confident will be a solid, borderline all-star level contributor in 2-3 years? It has been proven that top FAs will not come here so we need to build by trading.
The Wolves won’t trade Jefferson to get under the Luxury Tax – they will clear almost $20M off their payroll next season and can move their own expiring contracts to get below the line this year if they want. So I don’t think that happens.
Hamilton is underrated at the moment, but I think he’s a better fit for the Mavericks.
David West is probably the reason the Cavs will wait on the Jamison trade – he’s a better fit longterm. Personally, I think the Cavs should look at putting a package together of Shaq, Hickson, Gibson, cash and picks for West, Okafor and Stojakovic. That saves the Hornets $6M this season and $20M next season when Shaq comes off the books, while getting them out of the last year of Peja’s contract. The Cavs get two quality young bigs (even if Okafor’s contract is too big) to put with LeBron for the next several years, an issue with Shaq and Z potentially leaving next year. The Cavs stay competitive even if LeBron leaves. And Shaq says okay because he heads back home to New Orleans.
Now there’s no way that Danny Ferry would make such a huge trade in the middle of a very good season. But he should. Whether New Orleans will admit that they need to start over (and risk making Chris Paul angry), that’s another matter.
I strenuously object to any trade involving Shaq.
Jack, I don’t share your pessimism. Maybe I should, but I don’t.
Among other things, this gives me lots of reasons to think the Cavs are in pretty darn good shape:
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds
Assuming Hollinger’s gizmotron has a clue, the Cavs currently have by far the best chance of winning it all in the NBA. They can convincingly beat LA, Orlando, Miami, and most of their other competitors. Boston is still an issue, but injuries seem to be taking their toll there. The Cavs haven’t even seen what Powe can do for them. The only reason I have to be pessimistic is that it’s a Cleveland team.
I always have to wonder about the buyout situation… I know you cannot include it in the deal FOR SURE, you just have to trust what one GM says to another… “yeah, sure, we’ll buy Z out, you got it Ferry”.. and then, they don’t. Ouch. Bye Z, we tried.
I said it before, thinking about winning a championship without Z makes me sad… happy at first (um, duh.), but almost immediately sad, too. He, of everyone on the team, deserves a ring the most IMO.
But, if trading Z is the ONLY way we get to the top… then, I cannot argue. Not that you can determine that for certain, anyway. Playing nicey-nice and keeping a guy past his prime just for a “warm fuzzy” isn’t a dedication to winning, unfortunately.
Dave, the Cavs had the best shot of winning the championship last year as well according to Hollinger’s playoff odds.
But you have to see the bigger picture, Dave. It’s not just about this year. We need to add new pieces because we can’t get any better in the off-season. This is our only chance to add pieces for the next two seasons. And a number of other teams will be making improvements (e.g. Miami, New Jersey, New York, OKC, Orlando) and closing the gap. Meanwhile, LA and Boston will still be threats through the next two seasons.
If you let Feb 18 go by without a move, you are going into next season with a retired Z, a 38 year old Shaq, Mo, the oft-injured Moon and Gibson, a guy returning from knee surgery, Andy, and MAYBE LBJ.
Eek.
Fake Trade 8C: Cleveland deals the Shaq/Ilgauskas ECs with Jamario Moon (expiring 2011), J.J. Hickson (ditto) and Jawad Williams/Darnell Jackson (EC throw-ins) for CP3, Emeka Okafor, Peja, Peterson and Songaila. That knocks the Hornets well under this year’s tax, gets them out of $26.6 million of Peja-Songaila-Peterson in 2011 AND dumps Okafor’s monster deal ($70 million through 2014). Sure, it’s the biggest salary dump trade of all time. But shouldn’t New Orleans do the Grizzlies routine for a year or two (super-low payroll, rebuild through the draft) rather than losing $25-30 million a year to be a fringe contender these next three years? And if you’re Cleveland, don’t you have to take a risk like this to keep LeBron?
Here, look. We built you a superteam: Okafor, Chris Paul, Mo Williams, you and Varejao, with Delonte West, Anthony Parker and February Buyout Big Man X coming off the bench. We can win four straight titles with this team. CP3 makes your life easier. Stay here. Just stay.
He’d have to consider it. Right? Great trade. Also, Knicks fans and Hornets fans are now drinking. Heavily. And Cavs fans are doing shots in celebration. You have to love a fake trade that causes three different fan bases to immediately switch to hard alcohol.—-bill simmons….i dont know about you but that looks beautifullllllll to me
@Dave- those Hollinger ratings change with every game. It’s based on math not reality. The Hawks were on top for a long time this season. tell me that makes sense.
“I strenuously object?” Is that how it works, Clown Baby? Hm? “Objection.” “Overruled.” “Oh, no, no, no. No, I STRENUOUSLY object.” “Oh. Well, if you strenuously object then I should take some time to reconsider trading Shaq.”
/Lt. Weinberg’d
Those new Playoff Odds are nothing short of amazing. I suppose Hollinger’s system is harshly penalizing the Lakers for a) not having a single big win yet, and b) playing so many games at home. Still, color me surprised.
Of the 5000 trials run, the Lakers finished with only 39 wins in one of them? That’s incredible. And a bit suspicious.
Well, we got through 25 comments without a ridiculous trade proposal anyway…
brett, you should quote the Sports Guy when hijacking his posts.
Weingberg references are always great.
So was the Jon Lovitz “Wedding Singer” ref…
@ Rick – “Well, we got through 25 comments without a ridiculous trade proposal ASIDE FROM THE ONES I MADE IN THE ARTICLE anyway…”
You left the door wide open with that one.
B-bo = My hero.
Rick, do you mean the CP3 trade? That was actually proposed by Bill Simmons of ESPN.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/091223&sportCat=nba
He also lays out this wonderful line: (By the way, have you noticed all the different ways Cleveland can improve in the next two months? As a Celtics fan, I am getting progressively more terrified as this column keeps going. And I was already scared. Did you see them blow away Phoenix with small ball and LeBron playing power forward the other night? That was the best quarter I’ve seen any team play this season. As I tweeted that night, Cleveland’s small-ball lineup is poop-in-your-pants terrifying. Thank God Mike Brown hasn’t noticed.)
@ Mike’s Proposal -
Make it happen Ferry. Quit siting on your hands!
/Cav Fanatic’d
“No, Clown Baby. Don’t call me a hero. Do you know who the real heroes are? The guys who wake up every morning and go in their normal jobs and get a distress call from the commissioner and take off their glasses and change into capes and fly around fighting crime. Those are the real heroes.”
/Schrute’d
(OK, seriously, someone stop me before I quote again…it’s becoming ridiculous)
B-bo, you should keep it rolling.
And brett, my b.
I will not stop. Anyone that could pick up that reference in such a fragmented quote is the bees knees. What’s odd is that I referenced that movie before really looking at the title of the post.
Kelly Dwyer over at Yahoo as well as Simmons have both said similar things: that with all of the financial uncertainty, we will either see about 100 trades stemming from a domino effect, or three minor ones because teams wuss out. It will be very interesting to see which team takes the plunge first and trades a “star” for cap flexibility.
As for these proposals: a year ago, Minnesota would have laughed in your face about going for Al Jeff. He has the best footwork of any big in the game and had limitless potential…until he tore his ACL. He hasn’t looked as explosive this year, which is truly sad. However, that does leave open the opportunity that Minny might move the man in exchange for cap flexibility. While before there was a 1% chance he would be moved, I’d say it’s now…5%. I just can’t see the T’Wolves trading their biggest star in a year when they’re already absorbing low ticket revenue.
On Rip: no, no, no. His contract is absolutely atrocious: if I’m taking on a bad deal, I want someone who is either in his prime or could be a star down the road (a la Jamison, who is old but is in fantastic shape and putting up great numbers, or taking the Maggette deal with Anthony Randolph), not a washed-up, one dimensional mid-range shooter who needs the ball in his hands to be successful and is a sieve defensively.
On David West: this seems to be unlikely, yet the most likely out of these scenarios. It could happen because New Orleans is bleeding money like a hemophiliac, because their attendance numbers are WAY down, and because they want money for the summer to entice a running mate to pair with Chris Paul. Furthermore, West has the Ohio connection with Xavier and would fit in ridiculously well here. However, I think it won’t happen, since the trade would make an unhappy Paul even more unhappy and would take away the Hornets’ only other legit scoring threat (Devin Brown doesn’t count). To me, the easiest trade continues to be Wally S&T/Z buyout + JJ + possible draft pick for Jamison.
Again, WE WILL NOT TRADE SHAQ
WE WON’T TRADE Z UNLESS THE OTHER TEAM PINKY-SWEARS A BUYOUT
NO ONE KNOWS WHERE WALLY IS RIGHT NOW
JJ IS OVERRATED
EVERYTHING I SAY IS IMPORTANT
/Stephen A’d
How ’bout we trade Z….hope for a buyout……If said buyout doesn’t occur, we invite him back, give him the best seat in the house for every playoff game (the last seat on the bench where all the trainers sit), he doesn’t play, doesn’t get hurt, let him travel with the team, let him pour champagne on Potato head and Bron when we win it all, and even give him a championship ring! ……Would this make you all feel better about trading Z the Tree! (I say this with mucho admiration and respect for the big guy)
Heck….if they want to retire his number at Game 4 of the finals we could even do that too…..surely he wouldn’t have hurt feelings right? By being traded, he will have contributed to the championship more than if he were on the court (less a few in your eye threes in the 1st quarter0.
@#31 Jack: *eyes grow wide, big grin, draws curtain*
Actually, I know where Wally is; don’t know how willing he’d be to be in a sign-and-trade though. I was watching a game last night on CBS College Sports (yes, such a channel exists) and he did a fluff piece at halftime with the in-studio guy. Szczerbiak listed his top college players this season (his “Wall-stars” as the annoying guy next to him quipped). I don’t know if it was a one time gig, or if Walter has become a regular on the network. Anyway, that’s one place he’s been lately.
And I know it’s completely unreasonable, even with understanding that the Cavs have almost no money under the cap to improve with when Z and Shaq’s contracts come off the books, but I’d still feel weird with trading Z if he didn’t come back in a buyout (whether because Ferry couldn’t get the other team to agree to it, or they backed out afterward). However, I’d feel much better about it if we were getting David West in return.*
*I was watching the XU-LaSalle game last night on CBS CS.
@Anthony
Wally has previously said he’d be into a sign and trade. Keep in mind, this would be a Keith Van Horn type of sign and trade that would probably immediately result in a buyout and Wally never suiting up for a game.
I didn’t read any of the comments, but I have to chime in. The reason why Kevin Pritchard of Portland is one of the best GMs in the business is because he calls teams everyday and proposes trades like these – what might seem ridiculous may not be, the only way to find out is to ask, and if they say no, they say no. No harm no foul. It is also how he has pulled so many one-sided trades in his favor of the years.
Never underestimate the power of a dumb GM who is being told to cut payroll. And there are a lot of dumb GMs out there who work for teams losing money
caron butler and atawn jamisonnnnn
Here’s why the Al Jefferson trade could go down. http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.asp?lc=NBA&c=1&TEAM_ID=&PLAYER_ID=&hd=20100108#STORY_23540
Also, I proposed Rip earlier this year, but I think his contract is way to long and terrible for a guy with rapidly diminishing skills.
I’ve long wanted David West of the Hornets he’s the perfect stretch starting PF the Cavaliers need right now just look at how the Cavaliers regressed back to standing around and basically watching LeBron do everything against Denver. Without Carmello the Cavaliers took Denver lightly and paid the price. I like the Al Jefferson scenario as well it’s time for Danny Ferry to move JJ Hickson already. The Cavaliers can’t afford to wait and plan on this kid who should have stayed in college another season if not more. I hate to see Z traded but it’s win it all or bust in 2009-2010, complete the “all-in” Ferry.
Ferry is not going to get rid of Shaq under any circumstances. They got him to battle Orlando, Boston, Lakers, etc. They need him for the playoffs and the playoffs only. Z is needed as well, but is a tradeable piece. However, Ferry would only trade Z with someone he trusts to get him returned to us ASAP after letting him go and clearing salary space. Hickson, Gibson, J. Williams (who is on display right now for prospective teams), Wally, and West are all trade bait. If I was Ferry I would throw Mike Brown in as well. Lebron can handle everything else.
[...] is never our intent to invent speculation. When I wrote about trades that Danny Ferry should consider trying last week, I was told by more than one person I was crazy for suggesting that Minnesota [...]
[...] current Piston Rip Hamilton. While some are surprised to hear this, WFNY readers might remember someone suggesting such a move back at the beginning of January- Trade #2- Cleveland signs and trades Wally Sczcerbiak to Detroit [...]