CrushAlot wrote:NardDogNation wrote:yellowboy90 wrote:You can't trade stat all you can do is hope he can stay healthy a full year and continue to progress as a low post player. Hopefully his jump shot comes back too. Then you have to hope that with a complete off-season together everyone can gel together. Hopefully as a 25-30 min guy you can prolong STAT playing career.As for Paul. The only way he comes is if he takes less money and force the Clips hand of a sign and trade. However, the knicks can't sign and trade without getting under the tax. So who to trade to a third team? Chandler, nope we need to work with Paul. You need the assets you would trade to get Paul.
You can trade anyone in the league. The question is if you'd be willing to take back whatever is being offered in return. I personally think we'd have a shot at interesting Milwaukee in Amare because they seem desperate to build a winner and shown to be willing to take on high priced gambles in the past.
Another team I think that would be interested in Amare's services would be the Nets. First off, Billy King is an idiot and has no sense for a player's market value (see the following signings: Travis Outlaw, Gerald Wallace (the trade and re-signing), Jordan Farmer, Johan Petro, Kenny Thomas, Glen Robinson, Willie Green and the list goes on). The guy would make Isiah Thomas blush. Second, the luxury tax does not seem to phase Prokhorov, which has locked them in luxury tax hell. They took on Joe Johnson's $20 million/yr contract for 16ppg, 3rpg and 4apg. Why not Amare's? It may not pay dividends on the court but plays into the rivalry between both teams, which resonates deep in fan bases and consequently his checkbook.
I agree that King took on some big contracts this year in Wallace and Johnson but the Nets kept striking out in free agency. He also took a huge risk in trading for DWill without a commitment but the new cba and possibly his moves made it too hard for Williams to leave. King's owner wants a fantasy team and a team that would keep Deron. Deron isn't staying in NJ because the Nets might draft a guy that turns out to be a talent like Lillard. King did what he had to do. NJ/BK is screwed cap wise but King was given a directive and he followed it. That being said Johnson has a bad contract but he doesn't have uninsureable knees and he doesn't have a time line for his knees to give out like Amare. King takes risks but he isn't a dumb bunny.
I can't sympathize with King. He has had a track record since his days in Philadelphia of grossly overpaying players of marginal talent, so this is nothing new or stress induced. He even did this in New Jersey before Prokhorov arrived on the scene (see Travis Outlaw, Jordan Farmar and Johan Petro). The guy is just a bad GM, which lead to his firing in Philly and will soon lead to his firing in Brooklyn.
What made the Gerald Wallace trade particularly awful is that they could have just as easily waited to the draft to pull off that move (to better ascertain the talent at the pick) OR easily could've signed Wallace outright in free agency. Who the hell else wanted to pay a 31 year old hustle player $10 million+/yr for several years?
And I understand the Joe's contract is insured, while Amare's is not but does that make a big difference for the Nets? Prokhorov is the richest owner in the NBA and has shown no aversion to spending big on thrills. He could just as easily assume the full burden of Amare's contract and still eat plenty. I personally think that Amare is a better ballplayer than Johnson, if he's healthy, so I could see them making the move for pennies on the dollar. We'd just have to add some extra incentives and be willing to take back, whatever **** players they'd offer in return; I'm looking at you Kris Humphries.
P.S., I personally think that Billy King is under-the-gun. The Nets were woefully disappointing this season and had two coaches fired as a result. Its only a matter of time before King is put on the hot seat and given his track record for trades, I think there is a good chance he swings for the fences at any/and everything. What better fast ball to swing at than an all-star caliber big man willing to come off the bench? Like I said, we'd have to sweeten the deal but I can see it happening.
