Who'll be traded ?

[OutletPass]

First, a disclaimer...Yes, this is a Sam Smith article...so take it for what it's worth. But I'm going to post it because it mentions many of the players that we've all discussed...and then goes beyond that to mention guys like Ray Allen and Magliore. Just more food for thought and somee rampant speculation.

Have fun with the new speculation.

Galaxy of stars may be traded

April 5, 2004


Wilt Chamberlain was traded, twice actually. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded, though at his request. Charles Barkley was traded, and so was Earl Monroe. Oscar Robertson, Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon were traded, though late in their careers. Moses Malone was traded every few weeks, it seemed.

Yes, there always have been Hall of Fame-level players traded in the NBA. But there may be nothing like this summer, when several of the best players of this era and current top scorers are either traded or involved in serious trade talks.

"Should I move on?" asked Toronto's Vince Carter after general manager Glen Grunwald was fired last week. "It's in their court if they want me or not."

Carter for Allen Iverson? Tracy McGrady for Chris Webber? Kobe Bryant for Paul Pierce? Or what if the Lakers decide they have to keep Bryant over the 32-year-old Shaquille O'Neal?

Teams always believe the answer is on the other side of the fence where the grass has to be greener because by now they know their guy's flaw. But there have never been so many questions and frustrations with many of the elite stars of the game:

• Iverson: The word around the NBA is the 76ers dangled him at the trading deadline. He already has feuded with interim coach Chris Ford, and some insiders say he has put himself out for the season to avoid playing for Ford. He'll finish second in scoring, but with his lowest average in six years. And the 76ers have a winning record in games he has missed. Salary: $13.5 million with a contract through the 2008-09 season.

• Carter: This is the Raptors' second straight season out of the playoffs amid more injuries to Carter. Management said the new general manager won't be asked to worry about Carter's effect on attendance. Though Carter is seventh in the league in scoring, the Raptors have a "soft" image, in part because of the notion Carter doesn't like going to the basket. Salary: $11.3 million with a contract through 2007-08.

• McGrady: He'll win the scoring title even though he, too, has decided he has played enough this season. "That's a huge accomplishment to win it back-to-back," said McGrady, the first scoring champion on a team to miss the playoffs in 19 seasons and the first on a team last in the league since the 1952-53 season. McGrady has talked about wanting to be healthy for the Olympics this summer and continues to degrade the team while he sits out. Salary: $13.3 million with a contract through 2006-07, but he can become a free agent after next season.

• Bryant: He made it pretty clear he doesn't want to play with O'Neal or for coach Phil Jackson, championship or no championship. His field is somewhat limited for teams with salary-cap room, but the Lakers could offer a sign-and-trade deal. There also has been talk the Lakers will opt to keep Bryant and trade O'Neal because of O'Neal's physical problems and demands for a huge contract extension. Trading O'Neal seems difficult with his $24.7 million salary this season, but with so many top players possibly available, a deal could make some sense. Bryant's salary: $13.5 million with a contract through next season, though he said he'll opt out after this season and become a free agent.

• Webber: He is clearly not in good health after knee surgery. The Kings are 9-8 since his return and in a battle for the top spot in the West after leading all season. He has been booed at home and suggested he might want to be traded. The feeling among some is that his game slows the Kings' motion offense, that the window of opportunity is closing and that it's time for change. Salary: $15.9 million with a contract through 2007-08.

Other highly paid stars who have had issues or whose teams are undergoing changes are Pierce with Boston, Jamal Mashburn and Baron Davis with New Orleans, Shareef Abdur-Rahim with Portland, Eddie Jones with Miami, Jerry Stackhouse with Washington, Ray Allen with Seattle, Shawn Marion with Phoenix and Steve Francis with Houston. All have been mentioned in potential trade talks. Yes, a famous NBA player could be coming to a team near you.

Miller's time--not: Most of the talk about the Kings' slump has focused on adjusting to Webber's return. But the bigger reason could be Brad Miller. The All-Star center -- it's still tough to say that -- is out again with elbow problems, the third time in the last four seasons he has missed significant time after the All-Star break because of injury. The Pacers blamed his injuries last season for their late collapse. One of the reasons they elected not to re-sign him was a history of injuries. To sign Miller for seven years at $67 million, the Kings had to get rid of Jim Jackson, Hedo Turkoglu, Keon Clark and Scot Pollard, all valuable role players who gave them the depth to overcome slumps.

[MavsFanatik33]

This going to be a crazy offseason, maybe the Mavs can add Walker to the trade talks and try to get a center like Dampier or Andersen this offseason....

[ddh33]

I think this is going to be a very busy offseason. And I expect the Mavs to be in the middle of most of it.

[mavsman55]

If we could somehow end up with Sheed and Dampier in our lineup that would be sweeeeet... getting rid of Walker could get us started...

A.I. will probably end up swapping places with Kobe

My guess is that Carter and T-Mac stay put.

[MightyToine]

Why wasn't Walker added to that rumor, I wonder....