Posted by BRIGGS:

The question is-does Raef lafrentz make us that much better of a basketball team if we give up KT for the long term--adding in the extreme cost of Lafrentz's new contract-his lifetime averages and the fact that he has had major injury and has just come off another fair injury problem? Again if Im am right Raef Lafrentz is much more perimeter orientated -that is why his rebounds averages are not high. If we could get rid of dollar for dollar cost i.e if Raefs contract is 60mm over odd many of years can we dump the same back to Dallas? We realize that Mcdyess and Lafrentz played together while healthy and did not win a thing. Isnt there a more pressing need to find a player whos concentration is the post? Im not against this trade if we get $ for$ or close-but then thats it--we have no more assets to trade. Wouldnt we look around and even attempt a trade for Kwame Brown? even if we had to give up a major price--isnt it worth it to get a guy who is 100% healthy--has no major expense factor and has the physical size and potential to be a true 20-10 center? Even if we gave up Thomas Ward Vujonic and a future 1--we get back a very serious potential INTERIOR franchise player--and we are betting that the wizards are really counting their stars for this year+ the additions of Vujonic and a future 1 to sweeten the pot?
Bottom line raef Lafrentz is a LIFETIME 14 and 7 player with a history of injury. Is he better than Thomas-I would say marginally better in various ways -but again he is an expensive risk. I would be patient and I would explore a play for a real young center. the last time we dealt with Dallas we took on eisley who has been worth 1/4 of his salry--the same thing could happen with Lafrentz-the long term contract and the propensity for injury and play that doesnt equal his contract seem mighty risky to me knowing that a healthy dice and lafrentz did nothing together before injury. ANd if we do indeed give up Thomas and Mcdyess doesnt come back the trade ends up being very tumulous at best. kwame brown is the player we should be chasing with guns a blazin and stay away from players with big long term contracts with propensity for injury and the true possibility they will not offer play per $$$$$$$$

I don't see anyway that the Wizards are going to part with Brown. I like some of the suggestions BRIGGS but this one is way off. Your talking about a first overall pick. The future of the Wizards don't you think they know that O'neal (pacers) took time to develop and Brown will too. He is already showing off his potential and I don't see the Wizards selling off their future for a run at the title. After this year Jordan will be gone and they are going to need Brown more than ever. I think the Wizards have been bitten by past trade and they will not take any chances.

I can't see the Brown deal happening. Unless the Knicks get the first overall pick and they trade it away to the Wizards which I hope the KNicks don't do. As far as the LaFrentz thing I would take a long hard look at this because he is similar to Doleac an outside shooter but he is athletic and can get up and down the floor which would fit Chaney's offense well. But the main reason I might consider the trade he has played along side Nowitzki and just maybe he picked up a thing or two from him. If he did then why not at 6'11'' he maybe able to play some SF for the KNicks and create size problem for other teams. The Knicks would have to pry some picks out of Dallas if this deal were to happen. Overall this deal is a good one for the Knicks it makes them faster and bigger. Its hard to let KT go but for the right price I would pull the trigger on this one.

Posted by BRIGGS:

Im not giving them dung back. Im giving them a legitimate shot at making a much better run at it right now--lets face it add Thomas the starting 4 and Ward as the back up PG over Lue and those are big time upgrades. We aso give them what would be a lottery selection this year in Vujonic and a future 1st round pick while taking back a salary that will go off the books a year earlier. they do have jefferies and haywood already and you could be giving them a franchise type PG along with a young veteran 4 who will be good for another 5 years or so. I mean Portland only took dale Davis my suggestion is giving them a truckload of goodies that make sense. Realistically the best player in europe a first round pick thomas ward and taking back a longer contract--thatis a TON-especially when they already have haywood and jefferies.