Early trade buzzposted: Monday, November 21, 2005

Trade activity typically subsides during the first month of the NBA season, and this year has been no different. Only five trades have taken place since training camps opened, and none since the start of the regular season three weeks ago.
But teams are still talking, and the pace of deal-making should pick up after Dec. 15, when players who signed over the summer become trade eligible.

Since the teams are talking to each other, we're talking to them as well to find out who's available and who will be.

Here's the Top 5 on our Most Likely to be Traded List, aside from Kevin Garnett.


P.J. Brown, New Orleans Hornets. With the team temporarily located a long way from his hometown of Slidell, La., the main factor that kept P.J. married to the Hornets is a nonfactor now.
The 36-year-old would be happy with a trade to a contender, and his $8 million salary this season and next has made him the most sought-after big man on the trade market (other than Garnett). Coach Byron Scott wants to keep Brown, but owner George Shinn is rebuilding.

Other teams expect the Hornets to wait 20-25 games before becoming active on a Brown trade.


Zoran Planinic, Nets. Looks as though New Jersey has been showcasing the third-year 6-foot-7 Croatian point guard caught, who's in a crowded backcourt numbers crunch along with fellow reserves Jeff McInnis, Lamond Murray and Jacque Vaughn on a team desperate for size.
He's signed through next season, and he's shown flashes. Detractors point out he loves the nightlife, he loves to boogie -- too much, maybe.


The Portland Trail Blazers entry: Zach Randolph/Darius Miles. The relationship is already rocky between new coach Nate McMillan and the two young multimillionaires, and the Blazers might be seriously rethinking their earlier decision to commit a combined $134 million to the two athletically gifted but averse-to-authority forwards.
Randolph's skill level gives him huge trade value, but there aren't many players signed through 2010-11, and he's one of 'em.


The Cleveland Cavaliers entry: Luke Jackson/Sasha Pavlovic/Eric Snow. There isn't enough room in a tight Cavs rotation for the two backups, Jackson and Pavlovic, and both have been showcased by a team that has stormed out of the gate.
If the Cavs want to keep both youngsters, they can deal Snow to New York for Malik Rose and make Damon Jones their starter. Rose and Snow are both under contract through '08-09. Knicks coach Larry Brown loves Snow, and Cavs general manager Danny Ferry is a fan of Rose, his former teammate, so it seems to make sense for both teams.


Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls. There's no question the Bulls love him, but they're also desperate for size if they want to make a serious run this season. As of now, they'll have more cap room than anyone next summer, but the best available free agent big man might be Nazr Mohammed (depending on what happens with Ben Wallace).
If they move Deng, they'll get value -- and perhaps a better big man than what'll be available next summer. There won't be any room for Deng next season if Peja Stojakovic and Andres Nocioni are the small forwards.

Despite the lack of support found in these here parts, we really do need Rose. But we need Snow even more.

PJ Brown will *likely* go some place else, but they shouldn't rush it because they have been playing really good ball.

Zoran Planinic--I would sya he doesnt have a good value right now, but i would say he can still be a good player in this league. if I had to do some matching I might be matching PJ brown with a Nets 1 Planinic Cliff and one other to make the salary work. Its possible

Deng going nowhere no way unless its for KG in a huge package


I have serious doubt that Zach and darius are going anywhere--they wont get fair value



clev--eric snow who gives a ripoli what scker team wants him?

by the way, if I owned the T wolves there is NO F way I would trade KG for expiring contracts. More like 3 number 1 picks and two high caliber young players. Its a different situation that Shaq--they are winning, hes under contract 4 years--so if he does go, it will ONLY be for the highest of premium packages. I think the Knicks do have packages to put together, but they would want frye and I wouldnt do it. I would give up Curry, Lee a number 1 and an expiring for KG and move Frye to C however:>)

As for another Blazer who's been linked to a trade with Knicks....

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/113254532823850.xml&coll=7&thispage=1

Patterson, who played 12 minutes, said he did not want to comment on his outburst between the third and fourth quarters in which he repeatedly used the harshest of swear words toward McMillan. "I'm trying to keep my mouth shut," Patterson said, adding only that he was upset about his playing time. McMillan said: "I will talk to Ruben and we will deal with that. It's a situation where it's different guys, different days. I will figure out what's going on and deal with that situation." Ratliff said he isn't worried about Patterson's mind-set as much as he is the Blazers' youngsters. "Ruben is going to do what Ruben is going to do, but he can't be infectious on the younger guys. Ruben has been in the league a long time, and he knows the right thing to do and the wrong thing to do, and he has to suffer the consequences of doing the wrong thing."

BLAZERS GM JOHN NASH STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD RUBEN PATTERSON
"Ruben Patterson has been placed on the inactive list and sent home to Portland for the rest of this road trip for his behavior both on and off the court. We will not tolerate this type of behavior from any player. We will continue to demand a higher level of professionalism and personal responsibility from all of our players or we will continue to take appropriate action."


Hmmmmm.... I change my mind. Ruben can stay in Portland. I'd even think twice about getting Miles/Randolph. I don't want Larry to have a heart attack trying to get thru to these fools. The Knicks locker room is in good shape. We need to keep it that way.

[Edited by - OAK on 11-21-2005 9:17 PM]

who around here wants ruben patterson again?

Posted by tkf:

who around here wants ruben patterson again?

Ill put my name on it.

I think Patterson can score in this league. He may be an ******* but in my opinion the dude just wants to win. At this point his value is low so a team like the knicks can low ball Portland.

i personally like the dude and he would be a terror ;) lol. As the starting small forward that is :)

Id do Rose for Snow in a minute.

Eric Snow would be an assistant coach almost.He'd allow Marbury to play more 2, he'd help Nate develop more PG skills, he'd bring a cohesiveness thats lacking right now. We'd be small at 1,2,3 at times (With Q spending more time at the 3) but it would be wayyyy worth it.

And this way we still get the veteran voice, we get a solid player, and it allows Channing and D Lee to get more minutes. Who loses out?

Matt Barnes. Nate somewhat. I doubt Eric gets more than 20 minutes a game.