Trade Deadline Buzz (UPDATE)
Posted on: February 15, 2010 4:54 pm
Edited on: February 16, 2010 4:48 pm
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After acquiring Marcus Camby from the Clippers for Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and cash, the Trail Blazers may just be getting started. A
person familiar with the team's thinking told CBSSports.com that Portland remains active in trade discussions and has targeted Tyrus Thomas in a secretive bid to acquire a second frontcourt player for the stretch run.The Blazers have kept in close contact with Bulls officials regarding Thomas, and the acquisition of Camby has not dampened their interest, a source said. They may need a third team to facilitate a deal since they sent their two most significant expiring contracts to the Clippers for Camby.
Adding a second big man would not only numerically atone for the loss of Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla, it would also give the Blazers the best of both worlds with those acquisitions. Camby will help them this season, but his $7.7 million expiring contract wouldn't cloud their future plans. With Thomas, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, the Blazers could take a look at him for the rest of the season and decide whether they want to tender him the $6.3 million offer sheet or let him walk.
The Knicks and Spurs also are engaged in discussions about Thomas. The Nuggets are still trying, but sources say they're not optimistic they'll be willing to pay the price to get a deal done.
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While LeBron James is sold on Amar'e Stoudemire as the piece he needs to win a championship, the same feelings may not exist in the Cleveland front office. That, according to a person who has been in touch with the parties, could be what's keeping GM Danny Ferry from moving more quickly on a deal.
According to the source, LeBron sees Stoudemire's ability as a no-brainer of a complement to his own abilities, but there are concerns on Ferry's and coach Mike Brown's part about breaking up the chemistry of a team that has been on a roll and begins the post-All-Star break push with the best record in the league.
"The chemistry of that team is really firing on all cylinders right now, and they're looking for someone to seamlessly fit that team chemistry," the person said. "And that’s not Amar'e, and Amar'e doesn't defend. That’s why they haven’t pulled triigger yet."
The Suns, hamstrung by uncertainty over whether Stoudemire will exercise his early termination option after the season, are weighing whether to take a chance on retaining him or securing assets they can build with in his absence. When Suns owner Robert Sarver told CBSSports.com Sunday night, “It’s definitely an important decision,” he wasn’t kidding.
While Miami, and to a lesser extent Philadelphia, still had viable offers on the table for Stoudemire early Tuesday, a union of Stoudemire, James, and Shaquille O'Neal in Cleveland was realistic enough for Stoudemire to issue a Twitter smackdown Monday to those asserting that Stoudemire and Shaq didn't mesh in Phoenix.
"I play very well w/Shaq," Amar'e wrote via his Twitter account. "I averaged more pts last year WITH him & played better D. You guys can stop saying we don't play well together."
But given that the Suns are telling rival executives that retaining Stoudemire remains on the table as an option, Cleveland has maintained contact with the Wizards amid strong indications that Washington is now committed to moving Antawn Jamison for a package that will yield not only financial flexibility, but also a young asset. Jamison's mid-range game and his personality are viewed by some as a better fit for the Cavs.
Sources say chances remain strong that the Cavs land either Jamison or Stoudemire by Thursday as they try to add one more piece to fortify James for a championship run. Speaking after the All-Star Game Sunday night, Stoudemire fondly recalled having played with James on the 2004 Olympic team, and the possibility of a reunion with James and O'Neal -- Stoudemire's former teammate in Phoenix -- dominated the All-Star story lines.
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Tracy McGrady's chances of being traded to the Knicks have improved to "50-50," according to a source, as team executives returned home from All-Star weekend Monday to strategize before Thursday's trade deadline.
The Knicks and Rockets are engaged in active discussions that would send McGrady, a former All-Star trying to come back from microfracture surgery, to New York as part of a package that could include the deal-maker for the Knicks -- Jared Jeffries, whose $6.9 million contract in 2010-11 has been clogging the team's cap-clearing efforts. Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni is said to be in favor of taking a chance on McGrady, whom he believes would give the struggling Knicks a boost as they try to get back into the playoff hunt.
Due to McGrady’s massive, $23 million expiring contract, efforts are under way to recruit a third team to complete the deal. Those teams include Cleveland, Miami, and Philadelphia -- all franchises that are engaged in discussions with the Suns for Stoudemire.
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What sweetened the Camby deal for the Clippers is something that owner Donald Sterling watches very closely: cash, about $3 million of it. Otherwise, why would a team trade its best defensive player -- on an expiring contract, no less -- for two backups? Blake ($4.9 million) and Outlaw ($4 million) also come off the books July 1, so it's a cap-neutral deal for both teams.
2/16/2010 5:14 PM
