Can Larry Brown’s ego, er, experience single-handedly guide the Bobcats to the playoffs?
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Good writeup AsChin.
Do you have any ideas who LB would try and trade for who's a scorer but wouldn't mess with the team's "defense first" philosophy? I'm having a hard time coming up with someone who'd fit…unless it's Rip himself (which probably isn't a reach…I think Dumars looks to move him this year). I'd hate to take on that contract though.
Spectre-
thanks for the kind words.
In my first draft I had actually speculated a trade for Rip but the 500 word count limit got in the way. Rip makes sense on the court but on the balance sheet it would be tough to justify. Especially if the price is the team’s only expiring contract (Raja) and another smaller soon to be expired deal (Mohammed).
Looking around the League it’s hard to find anyone else who makes sense. I’m a fan of Monta Ellis but his recent tantrums don’t bode well for a Larry Brown approved trade. Michael Redd makes too much. Maybe Tyreke Evans plays out of his mind and the Kings would make Kevin Martin available for DJ and an expiring?
There ya go…Martin! He'd still be near prime at the end of his deal unlike Rip.
Wish we had that pick back because I don't think DJ alone would do it. They do like him (on RGM trade board they've started a few threads swapping DJ for Thompson), but most likely they'd want Crash too…and that's a little rich for my blood.
Maybe if Brown shines I'd consider it a little harder.
Both Martin and Hamilton have very similar contracts. Both pay out around $12 million a season and both end after the '12-'13 season. The big difference obviously is age. Rip is 31 and will be 35 when his contract expires. Martin is only 26 and will be in his prime for the entire length of the deal.
The only positives with making a Rip trade vs. a Martin one are that Rip is a better defender and he's familiar with LB's system so he can step in a play right away. Detroit's asking price is likely to be a lot lower than what Sacramento would want for Martin. Could the 'Cats take Hamilton off of Dumars' hands for Raja and Nazr expiring/near-expiring deals? I'd think so.
What would it take to get Martin? Wow. 25ppg scorer, 26 years old and a good guy at that. You're probably right, spectre, Wallace and Augustin would be a possibility and if they ask for that, I'd ask for Thompson back in that exchange as well. That way you could start Thompson and Diaw at the forwards and go with Raymond and Martin at the guards. Tough to give up Crash in any trade though. Especially since Martin is such a weak defender.
It's gonna be interesting.
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