Offseason Trade Analysis

SportsLine.com's staff provides analysis on offseason trades.

Trade: Mutombo to Houston (September 8)
Dikembe Mutombo	Stat 2003-04 GP 65 Minutes 23.0 PPG 5.6 RPG 6.7 BPG 1.9	Eric Piatkowski	Stat 2003-04 GP 58 Minutes 14.3 PPG 4.1 RPG 1.5 BLK 0.1
Analysis: Mutombo first moves from New York to Chicago. He isn't happy there and requests a trade. Next stop...Houston. He'll provide shot-blocking and rebounding skills while playing behind Yao Ming. An interesting thing is that with Ming and Mutombo, Houston will likely install a half-court offense, which is unfortunate for Tracy McGrady, who is a terrific transition player. It's a good problem to have for coach Jeff Van Gundy, though. Meanwhile, Chicago receives very little in return. Griffin and Wilks face the prospect of being released. Piatkowski may provide some quality minutes off the bench.
To Chicago: Eric Piatkowski, Adrian Griffin and Mike Wilks
To Houston: Dikembe Mutombo

Trade: Dampier to Dallas (August 24)
Erick Dampier	Stat 2003-04 GP 74 Minutes 32.5 PPG 12.3 RPG 12.0 BPG 1.9	Eduardo Najera	Stat 2003-04 GP 58 Minutes 12.4 PPG 3.0 RPG 2.7 BLK 0.3
Analysis: The Mavericks finally get their big man in Erick Dampier. He will serve as a nice fit in Dallas, particularly because his rebounding and shot-blocking skills. By giving up two future first-round picks, the Mavs are banking on Dampier to be the missing piece of the puzzle. Dan Dickau and Evan Eschmeyer should provide depth. Golden State is looking toward the future, according to the GM Chris Mullin. It receives the two picks, plus Eduardo Najera, who provides aggressiveness and heart. The team also picks up veteran Christian Laettner, whose best days are behind him. Will Steve Logan be encouraged to play now that he's with the Mavericks? It'll be interesting to see what he chooses to do.
To Golden State: Eduardo Najera, Christian Laettner, the draft rights to Luis Flores and Mladen Sekularac, and two first-round picks
To Dallas: Erick Dampier, Dan Dickau, Evan Eschmeyer and the draft rights to Steve Logan

Trade: The Lakers and Celtics trade (August 6)
Gary Payton	Stat 2003-04 GP 82 Minutes 34.5 PPG 14.6 RPG 4.2 APG 5.5	Chucky Atkins	Stat 2003-04 GP 64 Minutes 24.1 PPG 8.4 RPG 1.5 APG 3.5
Analysis: The Lakers continue to make sweeping changes on its roster by trading Gary Payton and Rick Fox to the C's. Chucky Atkins finished the 2003-04 season off strong for the Celtics and could step into a significant role with the Lakers. Marcus Banks is inexperienced, but has talent. Center Chris Mihm has been a disappointment thus far in his career, but has showed signs of talent. He could pick up a lot of playing time with the Lakers as he splits time with Vlade Divac and Brian Grant. The Celtics have their point guard, who should team with Paul Pierce nicely. Boston will look to Payton to help out on the offensive end. He is getting up their in age, however, and won't put up the type of numbers fans are accustomed to seeing out of him. Fox will continue to play a role off the bench.
To Boston: Rick Fox, Gary Payton, conditional first-round draft pick and cash
To L.A. Lakers: Chucky Atkins, Marcus Banks, Chris Mihm, conditional second-round draft pick

Trade: Crawford to the Knicks (August 5)
Jamal Crawford	Stat 2003-04 GP 80 Minutes 35.1 PPG 17.3 RPG 3.5 APG 5.1	Dikembe Mutombo	Stat 2003-04 GP 65 Minutes 23.0 PPG 5.6 RPG 6.7 APG 0.4
Analysis: The best player in this deal, Crawford, heads to New York from Chicago. It'll be interesting to see how Crawford and Marbury work together. Could this possibly set up another trade? Crawford is a young, exciting guard who has all-star potential. If Houston isn't ready, Crawford will step into that spot, but will have to get used to coming off of the bench. He should still earn a lot of minutes though. Jerome Williams offers the same type of skills that Vin Baker and Kurt Thomas do. Another trade could be on the horizon. Chicago, meanwhile, will likely waive Mutombo and Trybanski. Harrington and Frank Williams, who offers depth at the point guard position, will likely stick. Like New York, Chicago is also in a position to make another deal.
To New York: Jamal Crawford, Jerome Williams
To Chicago: Dikembe Mutombo, Frank Williams, Othella Harrington, Cezary Trybanski

Trade: Williamson for Coleman (August 4)
Derrick Coleman	Stat 2003-04 GP 34 Minutes 24.8 PPG 8.0 RPG 5.6 BPG 0.8	Corliss Williamson	Stat 2003-04 GP 79 Minutes 19.9 PPG 9.5 RPG 3.2 APG 0.7
Analysis: Corliss Williamson's game has been on the decline since winning the Sixth Man award in the 2001-02 season. However, he's still effective off of the bench and should provide Philadephia with aggressive defense and the ability to bang inside. Derrick Coleman's best days are behind him, but he will provide more frontcourt depth for Detroit. He'll fill in for Mehmet Okur, who signed with Utah in the offseason. Center-forward Amal McCaskill saw little playing time in Philly, and the same will likely hold true in Detroit.
To Detroit: Derrick Coleman, Amal McCaskill
To Philadelphia: Corliss Williamson

Trade: Kittles to Clippers (July 29)
Kerry Kittles	Stat 2003-04 GP 82 Minutes 34.7 PPG 13.1 RPG 4.0 APG 2.5
Analysis: The Clippers decided against re-signing Quentin Richardson and replaced him with Kittles. The former Nets player was an explosive scorer prior to blowing out his knee a few seasons back, but he can still provide offense. His role with the Nets was clearly defined in that he wasn't responsible for carrying the offense. He may be counted on more with the Clippers. The Nets, meanwhile, continue the process of rebuilding. An unhappy Jason Kidd may be the next to go.
To New Jersey: 2005 second-round draft pick
To L.A. Clippers: Kerry Kittles

Trade: Fortson for Booth (July 26)
Calvin Booth	Stat 2003-04 GP 71 Minutes 17.0 PPG 4.9 RPG 3.9 APG 0.4	Danny Fortson	Stat 2003-04 GP 56 Minutes 11.2 PPG 3.9 RPG 4.5 APG 0.2
Analysis: Danny Fortson got lost somewhere at the end of the bench in Dallas. He established himself as an above-average rebounder with Golden State. With the wealth of talent on the Mavs' roster, he wasn't able to re-establish that aspect of his game. He may be able to do so in Seattle, which lacks a frontcourt presence. Calvin Booth is just a body who will not see much playing time in Dallas. He could be repackaged in another deal later on this offseason.
To Seattle: Danny Fortson
To Dallas: Calvin Booth

Trade: Drew Gooden to Cleveland (July 23)
Tony Battie	Stat 2003-04 GP 73 Minutes 20.2 PPG 5.6 RPG 4.9 APG 0.8	Drew Gooden	Stat 2003-04 GP 79 Minutes 27.0 PPG 11.6 RPG 6.5 APG 1.1
Analysis: The Orlando Magic are in an obvious rebuilding stage, and unload Drew Gooden, who hasn't lived up to expectations coming out of Kansas. He's a good player who should fit in better in Cleveland because he won't have to carry the load. Tony Battie will provide the Magic with a utility center who will split time with Kelvin Cato at the center position.
To Orlando: Tony Battie, two future second-round picks
To Cleveland: Drew Gooden, Steven Hunter and Anderson Varejao

Trade: Eric Snow to Cleveland (July 20)
Eric Snow	Stat 2003-04 GP 82 Minutes 36.2 PPG 10.3 RPG 3.4 APG 6.9	Kevin Ollie	Stat 2003-04 GP 82 Minutes 17.1 PPG 4.2 RPG 0.1 APG 2.9
Analysis: Eric Snow will be a solid addition to the Cavs' lineup. He and Jeff McInnis will battle it out for the starting point guard job opposite LeBron James in the backcourt. Snow isn't a great offensive player, but he's solid. He is, however, a terrific one-on-one defender. The 76ers lose a good player in Snow, and pick up two players in Kevin Ollie and Kedrick Brown, who don't stand to receive a lot of playing time. This is an obvious cost-cutting move for Philadelphia, which unloads Snow's long-term deal.
To Philadelphia: Kevin Ollie, Kedrick Brown
To Cleveland: Eric Snow

Trade: Van Exel to Portland (July 20)
Nick Van Exel	Stat 2003-04 GP 39 Minutes 32.2 PPG 12.6 RPG 2.7 APG 5.3	Dale Davis	Stat 2003-04 GP 76 Minutes 22.1 PPG 4.4 RPG 5.2 BPG 0.8
Analysis: Van Exel is a point guard whose skills are diminishing. He isn't the same player he was five years ago. However, he does bring experience with him to Portland, along with a feisty attitude. How he works into Portland's scheme remains to be seen. He will serve as Damon Stoudamire's backup. However, Sebastian Telfair may be eventually groomed for this position, which could mean one of those three could be dangled as trade bait. Golden State is preparing itself for the possible loss of Erick Dampier by acquiring Dale Davis, who provides a defensive presence. Dan Dickau could provide some offense off of the bench.
To Golden State: Dale Davis, Dan Dickau
To Portland: Nick Van Exel

Trade: Jackson for Harrington (July 15)
Stephen Jackson	Stat 2003-04 GP 80 Minutes 36.8 PPG 18.1 RPG 4.6 APG 3.0	Al Harrington	Stat 2003-04 GP 79 Minutes 30.9 PPG 13.3 RPG 6.4 APG 1.7
Analysis: First thing is first...Al Harrington could be next season's most improved player, particularly from a fantasy perspective. He'll be given an opportunity in Atlanta to show his skills. He has the type of offensive potential that could eventually land him on an All-Star squad. He just didn't earn consistent minutes in Indiana, but that won't be the case with the woeful Hawks. Meanwhile, Stephen Jackson has established himself as a pretty good player. He was the Hawks' leading scorer following Shareef Abdur-Rahim's trade to Portland last season. He'll provide consistent offense and playoff experience to a team that should be in the playoff mix next season.
To Indiana: Stephen Jackson
To Atlanta: Al Harrington

Trade: The Martin Deal (July 15)
Kenyon Martin	Stat 2003-04 GP 65 Minutes 34.6 PPG 16.7 RPG 9.5 APG 2.5
Analysis: Denver further strengthens its frontcourt with the addition of forward Kenyon Martin. Martin will provide frontcourt toughness. His ability to enter the heads of those he guards makes him a terrific asset on the defensive end. Offensively, he is an above-average player who can provide consistent scoring. The task at hand is how the Nuggets plan to give Nene the type of minutes he's been accustomed to. In any event, the Nuggets have a strong frontcourt with Martin, Marcus Camby at center and Carmelo Anthony and small forward. Meanwhile, the Nets' run is done and it may be a situation where the team is best suited to think about the future. Those three first-round future draft picks will most certainly aid in that process. The question is whether Jason Kidd wants to be a part of the rebuilding process. Chances he'll seek a trade are not out of the question.
To New Jersey: Three future first-round draft picks
To Denver: Kenyon Martin

Trade: The O'Neal Deal (July 14)
Shaquille O'Neal	Stat 2003-04 GP 67 Minutes 36.8 PPG 21.5 RPG 11.5 APG 2.9	Lamar Odom	Stat 2003-04 GP 80 Minutes 37.5 PPG 17.1 RPG 9.7 APG 4.1
Analysis: How will we measure whether Miami gave up too much for Shaquille O'Neal? Championship rings. The stakes are now higher for the Heat, which was patiently building its franchise with youth and athleticism, but opted to accelerate the process by essentially surrendering its entire frontcourt for the league's dominant center. If they can surround O'Neal with some quality help up front (Udonis Haslem, Malik Allen and Michael Doleac doesn't cut it), the Heat will contend for championships as long as Shaq remains healthy. O'Neal, meanwhile, has to come to South Florida with a chip on his shoulder and work. He's overweight and caught a lot of criticism for his lack of movement throughout the playoffs. These are his last days, and his motivation should be leaving us with no doubt of his "most dominant ever" claim. He must arrive intent on proving that Kobe Bryant and the Lakers needed him more than he did them. Miami mortgaged its future on that belief. As far as the Lakers are concerned, this is a no-lose situation as long as Bryant re-signs because they didn't get short-changed for Shaq's services. Jerry Buss picked Kobe to cater towards, and as a result, spurned O'Neal to the point of no return. They got maximum value for him with little leverage, acquiring an all-star caliber forward in Odom, veteran Brian Grant and Butler, who becomes the x-factor in this deal because of his vast potential. This is a career-defining moment for Odom as well, as he returns to the city he flunked out of just two years ago, struggling with injuries and bad decisions. He seemed to grow up in Miami and must show he's matured into stardom or incur the wrath of the legion of doubters that ran him out of Clipper-land. There is no right/wrong or immediate winner in this deal. Miami saw a shortcut to a title and went for it. Considering the demand for tickets in apathetic South Florida, the fans appreciate the chance to support a real contender, not just team that is fun to watch. As for the Lakers, they'll start the next chapter of their existence with a roster fortified with talented youth.
To L.A. Lakers: Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, Caron Butler, future first-round pick.
To Miami: Shaquille O'Neal.

Trade: The McGrady Deal (June 29)
Tracy McGrady	Stat 2003-04 GP 67 Minutes 39.9 PPG 28.0 RPG 6.0 APG 5.5	Steve Francis	Stat 2003-04 GP 79 Minutes 40.4 PPG 16.6 RPG 5.5 APG 6.2
Analysis: It required effort on the part of Magic general manager John Weisbrod, but whatever he said was enough to convince Steve Francis that playing in Orlando was a viable move. Francis will be the main offensive threat, unlike in Houston, where Jeff Van Gundy attempted to work the offense through center Yao Ming. Both Cuttino Mobley and Francis saw a dropoff in their production as a result. Depending on how long it'll take for Dwight Howard to develop his game, both Mobley and Francis will need to carry this team through the painful process of rebuilding. The Rockets, meanwhile, have the league's top scorer in Tracy McGrady. It'll be interesting to see how well he works with Ming, who will also receive frontcourt support in the form of Juwan Howard. Van Gundy will certainly have his hands full with the talented McGrady, who possesses one of the league's stronger personalities.
To Orlando: Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato
To Houston: Tracy McGrady, Tyronn Lue, Reece Gaines, Juwan Howard.