There have been some monumental moves in the NBA the past few weeks involving max contract players. Before Shaquille O'Neal was swapped with Shawn Marion, Los Angeles landed Pau Gasol. And those guys weren't even the All-Stars rumored to be traded last month. With the February 21 trade deadline getting closer, the next 13 days could be an exciting.
For the Lakers to get Pau Gasol they immediately become a legit contender to win it all. The move doesn't just put them in the driver seat to the Western Conference champ game, but it puts them in the driver seat of the Western Conference for years to come.
Gasol is 28 years old and has shown that he's entering his prime. Last season, Gasol averaged career bests with 20.8 points and 9.9 rebounds a game, but his season was cut short due to injury (59 games). An unmotivated Gasol averaged 18.9 and 8.8 in his 39 games this year for Memphis. Gasol has only played with Kobe for two games, but you can already tell his level of involvement has changed. Playing for the best coach in basketball alongside the best scoring threat in the NBA, Gasol could easily average 24.0 and 12.0.
Steve Kerr is a smart guy, but the Shaq trade has a lot of people second guessing his intelligence. And he knows it, coming out yesterday saying "I'm well aware that I'm on the line."
I personally like the deal. I think that the Suns are desperate to keep up in the Big Man department and always have been. By making this move the Suns are basically telling the rest of the NBA we are doing it now or never. I mean, wouldn't you if you hadn't won one in 40 years?
The odds are good that Shaq will be out more than a couple more weeks with his injury issues (and age issues), but I'm betting he'll be back in time to establish a rhythm with the offense before they barrel into the post season as the No. 1 seed.
Then again, the Western Conference playoffs will be nowhere near the cakewalk that the trip Miami took in the title run they had. Shaq will have to face real competition in every round. And will he be able to keep up with the Suns pace in his condition (poor, Left hip/ quadriceps acute inflammation) at his age (Mar. 6, 1972)?
For Miami, getting Marion is almost a bad thing -- they might actually start winning more games and not be in the lead to win the lottery. It doesn't really matter how they do this year or what pick they get because with Shawn Marion and Dwayne Wade as the one-two punch, the team will have a shot for the next 10 years -- it's the Eastern Conference.
But, as a free agent following the season, if Marion chooses to opt out of his deal this summer, the Heat would be able to go after some of this summer's big free agents Gilbert Arenas, Ron Artest, Elton Brand, Baron Davis and Antawn Jamison.
It surprises me that Jason Kidd is still playing games as a Net. It was reported in the Newsday Wednesday that the Nets are shopping both Kidd and Vince Carter. The article reported that the offers for Carter have been "laughable" and the offers for Kidd haven't returned any players with expiring contracts.
Dallas has been rumored to be the favorite in the Kidd running, but Thursday's Dallas Morning News ran a story that said they wouldn't overreact to other Western Conference teams making trades. Donnie Nelson, the Mavs presidents of basketball operations, said "...reacting to what other people are doing or their way of thinking, I think you're setting yourself up for failure." He said that they've come too far to chase a quick fix and as much as they want to win now they "don't want to make a decision that is going to strap the franchise for the foreseeable future.
The Kings are still trying to find a buyer for Ron Artest. Tuesday Artest was quoted saying that the Kings "would be better if I wasn't on the team" and added that he thought Reggie Theus "would be doing much better." The only place Artest has really been rumored to be traded is New York, but his current attitude and past baggage will likely hold him down and Sacramento will just have to wait until next year when his contract is up.
As for Bibby, he's looking more and more like the point guard of now for the Kings. There aren't many teams that can return expiring contracts and take on a lot of money. Atlanta's trouble at point guard has continued and as a playoff team, they might want to trade for Bibby's experience and solidify their need at point.
Another rumor has Memphis trading yet another player. Mike Miller and Cleveland have been in a rumor flirt fest this past week. I can see the Cavs getting Miller if they are willing to give up draft picks. If the Cavs have to give up Larry Hughes for Miller it isn't worth it. But if they can somehow convince Memphis that Donyell Marshall and Devin Brown are worth Miller, Cleveland will have a better chance at returning to the NBA finals in June.
With the potential for trades still looming, I expect there to be action before the February 21 deadline. Although, last year after the Iverson to Denver trade I wrote a Rumor Mill post about how you should expect more action. But the deadline came and went with no more trades. Hopefully, for the sake of entertainment, we'll see other NBA GM's roll the dice in the next 13 days.
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