Comments: The Grizzlies trade Brevin
Knight, Robert Archibald and
Cezary Trybanski to the Suns. The Grizzlies get Bo Outlaw
and Jake Tsakalidis in exchange. The Grizzlies get two pretty good
role players in Outlaw and Tsakalidis. Outlaw gives the team good
depth off of the bench, particularly on the defensive end.
Tsakalidis gives the Grizzlies a big man in the middle who can
provide frontcourt support to Pau Gasol. Meanwhile, they trade
away three players who didn't really make a significant impact
while with Memphis.
Phoenix Suns
Comments: The Suns trade Bo Outlaw
and Jake Tsakalidis to the Grizzlies. The team acquires
Brevin Knight, Robert Archibald and Cezary Trybanski in exchange.
This is an interesting deal in that Outlaw and Tsakalidis provided
solid minutes for the Suns last season. This can be classified as
a cost-cutting move because the players they picked up in return
pale in comparison to the players let go.
Key components of the trade
Sep. 30: Rockets, Jazz
Houston Rockets
Comments: The Rockets traded Glen Rice to
the Jazz. The team received John Amaechi, a 2004 second-round pick
and a conditional second-round pick. The is a cost-cutting move
for the Rockets. They trade Rice, who no longer sees significant
playing time. Also, the team will not have to pay a luxury tax
after signing free agent Jim Jackson.
Utah Jazz
Comments: The Jazz trade John Amaechi to
the Rockets, along with a 2004 second-round pick and a conditional
second-round pick. They receive Glen Rice in return. The Jazz are
happy because they pick up Rice, who could provide the team with a
little firepower off of the bench. Meanwhile, Amaechi was unhappy
in Utah and so the Jazz rid themselves of someone who didn't want
to be there.
August 21: Pistons, Warriors
Detroit Pistons
Comments: The Pistons trade Clifford Robinson
and Pepe Sanchez to the Warriors. The team acquires Bob Sura in
return. While it is unfair to compare Sura to recently-departed
Jon Barry, Sura fills Barry's spot on the Pistons. Sura is a good
veteran player who should provide leadership. Clifford Robinson's
departure may have been a salary-cap decision, but with the
addition of Darko Milicic, Robinson became expendable.
Golden State Warriors
Comments: The Warriors trade Bob Sura to
the Pistons and acquire Clifford Robinson and Pepe Sanchez in
return. Robinson's game is obviously on the decline, but the
Warriors may have been interested in him because he fills the void
of Danny Fortson. Robinson gives the Warriors depth in the
frontcourt. The Warriors lose Sura's veteran leadership, but
picking up Nick Van Exel and Speedy Claxton in the last week
should ease that loss.
Key components of the trade
August 18: Mavs, Warriors
Dallas Mavericks
Comments: The Mavericks trade Nick Van Exel, Avery Johnson, Evan Eschmeyer, Antoine Rigadeau
and Popeye Jones to the Warriors. The team acquires Antawn Jamison,
Danny Fortson, Jiri Welsch and Chris Mills. Jamison is a terrific
scorer first and foremost. Now the Mavs have four players who can
score in Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley, Steve Nash and Jamison.
The question is will they have enough basketballs to go around?
Finley will move to shooting guard, which is a more natural
position for him. With Van Exel's exit, Nash will be required to
play more minutes at the point. The addition of Fortson, a proven
rebounder, will help the Mavs control the boards.
Golden State Warriors
Comments: The Warriors trade Antawn Jamison, Danny Fortson, Jiri Welsch and Chris Mills
to the Mavericks. The team picks up Nick Van Exel, Avery Johnson,
Evan Eschmeyer, Antoine Rigadeau and Popeye Jones. This deal
clears salary-cap space for the Warriors, who rid themselves of
the long-term deal they paid out to Jamison, who was in the first
year of the $79 million deal. The Warriors lose his 20-plus points
per game also. However, this may be a clear statement that the
Warriors believe the future is now for Mike Dunleavy Jr. and
Mickael Pietrus. After losing Gilbert Arenas to the Wizards via
free agency, the Warriors needed to find a suitable replacement at
point guard. Now they have two good point guards in Van Exel and
Speedy Claxton. The 6-7 Rigadeau is expected to forfeit the second
year of his deal and play in Spain next season.
Key components of the trade
August 5: Jazz, Kings
Sacramento Kings
Comments: The Kings trade Keon Clark and
two second-round draft picks to the Jazz. The team receives one
second-round pick in return. This is a salary-cap move for the
Kings first and foremost. However, after the team picked up Brad
Miller in a trade with the Pacers, the need to keep Clark around
wasn't as great.
Utah Jazz
Comments: The Jazz send one second-round draft
pick to the Kings in exchange for two second-round picks and Keon
Clark. This may be a terrific opportunity for Keon Clark to excel
in Utah. He strengthens the team's frontcourt following the loss
of Karl Malone, who signed with the Lakers via free agency. Clark
made a name for himself in Toronto two seasons ago prior to
joining the Kings last season. He never really found his niche in
Sacramento.
Key components of the trade
July 28: Cavaliers, Celtics
Boston Celtics
Comments: The Celtics acquire Jumaine
Jones from the Cavs. The team ships J.R. Bremer and Bruno
Sundov to Cleveland. In Jones, Boston adds a player who is raw,
but athletic. He has shown gradual improvement in each of his four
seasons on both ends of the floor. He averaged 9.8 points per game
for the Cavs last year. He isn't afraid to launch threes,
attempting 314 shots from beyond the arc. Jones will likely come
off the bench and spell Paul Pierce and Eric Williams. Boston
loses depth at the point guard position by trading Bremer. As a
result, the C's will be placing a heavy burden on first-round pick
Marcus Banks, who will see a lot of minutes in his rookie season
running the offense.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Comments: The Cavs acquire J.R. Bremer
and Bruno Sundov. The team sends Jumaine Jones to the
Celtics. In Bremer, Cleveland adds more depth to the point guard
position. LeBron James will have an opportunity to run the
offense, but Kevin Ollie and J.R. Bremer will afford the Cavs the
flexibility to move James to the small forward position if
necessary. Sundov has seen a lot of pine time in his career, but
he adds depth behind starters Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Carlos Boozer
and reserves Chris Mihm and DeSagana Diop. The acquisition of Ira
Newble through free agency made Jones expandable.
Key components of the trade
July 23: Hawks, Timberwolves, Knicks and 76ers
Atlanta Hawks
Comments: The Hawks pick up Terrell
Brandon from the T-Wolves, and a first-round pick and
little-used reserve Randy Holcomb from the 76ers.
The team sends Glenn Robinson and a 2006 second-round draft pick
to the 76ers. Brandon's situation is still unclear, but it appears
he may be forced to retire with severe knee problems. Hawks fans
are probably happy to see the Big Dog gone. He's a terrific
perimeter shooter, but shows no enthusiasm on the defensive end.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Comments: The T-Wolves pick up Latrell
Sprewell from the Knicks. The team sends Terrell Brandon
to the Hawks and Marc Jackson to the 76ers. The addition of
Sprewell rounds out a starting five that may include Sam Cassell
at the point, and Sprewell and Szczerbiak at either the small
forward or shooting guard positions. The frontcourt will consist
of Kevin Garnett, who will likely move back to power forward, and
recently acquired Michael Olowokandi, who replaces Rasho
Nesterovic in the middle.
New York Knicks
Comments: The Knicks pick up Keith Van
Horn from the 76ers. The team sends Latrell Sprewell to
the T-Wolves. New York has been shopping Sprewell for about a year
and finally pulls the trigger. In Van Horn, the team fills
Sprewell's position with a taller, less athletic player who
provides more offense than defense. Some have questioned Van
Horn's ability to step up in key situations, but he will cause
less distractions in New York than Sprewell. The Knicks need to
clear cap space, but Van Horn is slated to earn around $27 million
in the next two seasons. He has a player option for the 2005-06
season.
Philadelphia 76ers
Comments: The 76ers pick up Glenn Robinson
and a 2006 second-round pick from the Hawks. The team also acquires Marc
Jackson from the T-Wolves. The team sends Keith Van Horn to
the Knicks and a first-round pick to the Hawks. The 76ers will
replace Van Horn with Robinson at the small forward position.
Robinson is a terrific perimeter shooter, but he provides little
on the defensive side. Marc Jackson will replace Brian Skinner at
the power forward position.
Key components of the trade
July 23: Pacers, Kings, Spurs
Indiana Pacers
Comments: The Pacers pick up Scot Pollard
from the Kings and Danny Ferry from the Spurs. The team
signs center Brad Miller and then trades him to the Kings. Ron
Mercer is traded to the Spurs. It'll be interesting to see how
this trade affects the Pacers' frontcourt in what is Larry Bird's
first major transaction since rejoining the team as president of
basketball operations. Centers aren't easy to come by and Miller
is an above-average one at that. The Pacers wanted to get
something in return for Miller knowing they wouldn't be able to
re-sign him. Eccentric Scot Pollard plays aggressive defense, but
isn't a consistent scorer. The Pacers have the option of releasing
Danny Ferry outright.
Sacramento Kings
Comments: The Kings acquire Brad Miller
from the the Pacers. The team sends Hedo Turkoglu to the Spurs and Scot
Pollard to the Pacers. The acquisition of Miller provides the
Kings with a talented offensive player who plays aggressive
defense. The combination of Miller, Vlade Divac and Chris Webber
makes up a formidable frontcourt that will provide stronger
opposition to the L.A. Lakers, who added Karl Malone to its
frontcourt. Losing Turkoglu, who is a talented swingman, was not
an easy decision for the Kings for sure. However, the team is
relatively set at that position with Doug Christie and Peja
Stojakovic.
San Antonio Spurs
Comments: The Spurs acquire Hedo Turkoglu
from the Kings and Ron Mercer from the Pacers. The team
sends Danny Ferry to the Pacers. This is a terrific trade for San
Antonio, which gives up little and adds two quality swingman in
Turkoglu and Mercer. Turkoglu has shown that he isn't afraid to
take a game into his own hands offensively. He certainly is in the
mold of Peja Stojakovic and Dirk Nowitzki. Mercer got lost in the
Pacers' rotation, but has proven in the past that he can light it
up. Duncan has two more players he can count on the offensive end.
