With all the trade talk surrounding Sacramento's Mike Bibby and Ron Artest, it is likely that some team will land the two aging stars before the February 21 trade deadline. Sacramento is trying to go young in order to build towards the future.
Kevin Martin has a contract that pays him $1.8 million. It is assumed that the Maloof brothers will have to fork over some dough in order to keep a young budding talent. With Bibby hauling in $13.5 million per (set to go up next year) and Artest pocketing $7.4 million per, let alone Brad Miller's $10 million, giving Mikki Moore $5.3, Shareef Abdur-Rahim getting paid $5.8 and Kenny Thomas' $7.8 -- the Kings have to make some moves in order to free up some cash.
This probably means the team that takes on Mike Bibby or Ron Artest will have to take on some more, unwanted money along with them. Thomas or SAR will likely attach themselves to the trade.
For Sacramento, having John Salmons playing offensively like Ron Artest does defensively means that if the Kings give up Artest they will need to return a lock-down defender or hope that Salmons can step up his 'D'. Spencer Hawes, Miller and Moore are holding down the center spot which eliminates the need for a big man. Martin is the shooting guard along with Francisco Garcia while Beno Udrih has been playing above expectations at the one.
Cleveland might not be able to take on the money necessary to land Bibby and Artest, but they might be able to land one.
New York has said they are interested in Ron Artest but Isiah Thomas has also announced he will not take on more contract money. If that is the case, it would take New York out of the running for landing the combination of the two. Miami has all but expended every dollar they have, taking on the $20+ million to acquire the combo is unlikely.
Cleveland has been a team eyeing Mike Bibby for the past year. With this season's trade deadline fast approaching, it could be time for Bibby to be shipped.
Sacramento is looking for expiring contracts so Cleveland will have to send Ira Newble (and cash compensation, naturally) with Larry Hughes in order to compensate for taking on Bibby's money. Newble would take the place as Salmons back-up and his $3.4 million is off the books next year. Although trading Bibby's $13.5 for Hughes $12.0 (plus an additional year compared to Bibby) might not be worth all the trouble -- especially since Bibby is a better player than Hughes and Sacramento doesn't really need another shooting guard.
In order for New York to land Artest they will have to send one of their younger emerging stars. David Lee makes for a great swap with Artest, but since Lee's contract is for $900k -- the Knicks would have to send a mid-level contract. A Lee and Malik Rose for Artest trade works money wise. A Lee and Quentin Richardson for Artest trade works. A Lee and Jared Jeffries for Artest trade works.
But why would Sacramento every want to make any of those trades?
Bringing on David lee will give the kings young, inexpensive talent for the next two years. No player on Sacramento plays like Lee. Getting rid of Artest doesn't help the team get better tomorrow or on paper. But the trade is for the long term financial future of the team. The Lee, Rose trade is the most likely scenario because Rose has the least amount of years remaining on his contract (2).
To be honest, I don't know where and I don't know how Bibby and Artest will get traded. But if I have to say so myself, I could make the best case for the combo to be traded to the Twins Cities.
Potential Trade:
Minnesota Gets: Mike Bibby, Ron Artest
Sacramento Gets: Gerald Green, Marko Jaric, Theo Ratliff and Sebastian Telfair
If the Kings would want to take on Marko Jaric's $6.0 million and Theo Ratliff's $11.6 (one year left), the Wolves could also send Gerald Green and Sebastian Telfair's expiring contracts as well. The Kings would trade for three players who together would take nearly $15 million off the books next season for more than $20 million in contracts. The Kings would get point guard help from Jaric and Telfair this season and Gerald Green would provide a third string to Martin. Ratliff is only good for his expiring contract, his money can be transferred to Salmons or Garcia or Hawes in the future.
The Wolves would floor a starting lineup of Mike Bibby, Rashad McCants, Ron Artest, Craig Smith and Al Jefferson. They would be able to bring Randy Foye, Ryan Gomes and Corey Brewer off the bench. Minnesota probably would end up going .500 for the rest of the year with that roster healthy, so they'd end up with a 6th-8th pick. If they could land a center in the draft, the Wolves would compete in the West (and win the title, jk -- homersota.)
As far as I know, the Timberwolves have never made a good trade, so I don't see that trade happening. If Bibby is moved to the Cavs for little or nothing, Cleveland will benefit greatly. If Artest is moved to the Knicks for little or nothing, New York will benefit greatly. But if Minnesota did land this trade, they would benefit the most.
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