1. Baron Davis, Jerome Moiso and Stacey Augmon to the Clippers for Jeff McInnis (via sign-and-trade), Keyon Dooling and Chris Wilcox.

Analysis: The Hornets have made it clear that they have no intention to trade Davis, but his refusal to sign an extension is the type of negative publicity the Hornets don't need as they descend upon New Orleans. He may be the team's best player, but with the addition of Courtney Alexander, it isn't imperative that the Hornets' point guard be a top scorer anymore. McInnis is a steady point guard who likes to push the ball and can be had for much cheaper. In 2000 his assist to turnover ratio was one of the best in the league. Dooling is still raw, but has great size and athleticism for a point guard. P.J. Brown has only one year remaining on his contract and Wilcox is the the type of dynamic, athletic power forward the team has always pined for. The Hornets may slip a notch this year if they make this trade, but in the long run, they'll have replenished their young talent base. For the Clippers, they add a dynamic All-Star point guard who desperately wants to play for them without having to give up any core players in return. It will be up to Donald Sterling to figure out how to pay for all of these guys, but the addition of Davis would absolutely push the Clippers into the playoffs.

Clipps projected starting lineup: Davis, Quentin Richardson, Lamar Odom, Elton Brand, Michael Olowokandi
Hornets projected starting lineup: McInnis, Alexander, Jamal Mashburn, Brown, Campbell

2. Wally Szczerbiak, Rasho Nesterovic (via sign-and-trade), Terrell Brandon and Anthony Peeler to the Blazers for Damon Stoudamire, Bonzi Wells (via sign-and-trade) and Dale Davis.

Analysis: This is a huge deal, but the Wolves have to do something desperate if they're ever going to get out of their first-round rut. Wally's max contract demands won't fly in Minnesota. His contract would throw them into luxury-tax land without improving the club. Nesterovic's demands are also spiraling out of control now that the Knicks are bidding for his services, and with Billups heading to Detroit, the Wolves are in desperate need of a reliable point guard. In return they'd get Stoudamire, who's overpaid, but is capable of running the team; Wells, a tough, athletic, high-octane two guard and Davis, who can swing between power forward and center. The key to the deal for the Blazers is actually Nesterovic. Since Arvydas Sabonis's retirement, they have been in desperate need of big man to block shots and rebound. Wally would give them a solid scorer who isn't afraid to take the last shot, or any other shot for that matter. Brandon is basically a throw in for cap purposes. If the Blazers pulled a trigger on the deal, they'd offer the full mid-level exception to Jeff McInnis to take over the day-to-day point guard duties. Both teams will take big cap hits to make this deal go down. The Blazers have never cared about that. The T-Wolves do, but they really don't have any other options. This deal is a beast cap wise. The T-Wolves would have to sign Szczerbiak to an extension now (his salary would them be averaged over the life of the extension for purposes of the trade), and the Wolves and Blazers can't give Nesterovic and Wells outrageous deals or both players will become base year compensation players, making them almost impossible to trade.

Blazers projected starting lineup: Brandon or McInnis, Derek Anderson, Szczerbiak, Rasheed Wallace, Nesterovic
Wolves projected starting lineup: Stoudemire, Wells, Garnett, Smith, Davis

4. Nick Van Exel to the Knicks for Kurt Thomas and Charlie Ward

Analysis: This trade has been discussed since before the draft. It looks like the Knicks will take care of their big man needs via free agency. They'd prefer to land Andre Miller and dump either Latrell Sprewell or Allan Houston, but they just don't have the juice to get it done. Van Exel was on his best behavior in Dallas last season, but he'll begin to rot if he doesn't get a bigger role with the team. The Mavs, on the other hand, are dying to get their hands back on Thomas. He's the type of no-nonsense dirty work player the team has been searching for.

Knicks projected starting lineup: Van Exel, Houston,Sprewell, Antonio McDyess, ???
Mavs projected starting lineup: Steve Nash, Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki, Thomas, Raef LaFrentz

i don't like the van exel trade for kt and ward.

if we trade kt, we need to dump anderson too.

it'd have to be for van x, a first rounder, some salary cap toss in guy (with a short contract) for kt, ward, anderson.

Every time I see trades involving the Knicks (need or desire) to dump a PG Ward’s name is posted instead of Eisley. Do you guys feel Eisley is the better of the two? I am really not sure. Ward will make about $700,000 more for the next two years, then his contract is up. Isn’t he the better deal? He’s got to be at least $700,000 per better than Howard right? Eisley had two good games the entire season, and he’s signed until 2007, and his contract only gets bigger. Layden should be concentrating on dumping Eisley. Just my opinion.

Posted by BigSm00th:

I think you've answered your own question. Ward has many more intangibles that make him a better throw in for a trade, especially his expiring contract.

Exactly, Eisley is a little bit better IMO but his contract is disgusting. Ward's one at least expires soon...