December 16, 2013
Trade Reaction: NBA Three-team Blockbuster
By Willard SmithNew Jersey Nets receive Chris Bosh, Sergei AlenichevThe Nets just lost three solid players in order to get one All-Star. My question is: will this deal be worth it in the long run? What has made the Nets stand out was their depth but it is understandable why a deal has taken place. After a number of years hovering just above .500, I guess it was time for a change.
Mason and Yi were starters while Simmons came off the bench as a solid sixth man. All three players were hard workers and each had their own strengths. Mason is a superstar quality shooter, Yi is a potential All-Star and Simmons is a versatile role player.
The Nets get in return a player who is not regarded as a ‘hard worker’. Bosh may be an All-Star but he was only one because of how crap the Raptors were. Bosh isn’t the type of player who will play hard off the ball on offence. And does he even play defense? Bosh averaged 2 blocks a game two seasons ago and has struggled to average 1 block a game ever since. His points and rebounding numbers have also dipped since his ‘career year’ 2 seasons ago.
One thing is for sure and that is that Bosh is probably going to play super hard. Perhaps this is what the .500 and underachieving Nets need. Bosh will pair up with fellow 03 draftee Carmelo Anthony in what is a tantalizing starting five on paper. I have to say that this might work in the short run and we will see the Nets shoot up to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. My main concern is whether Bosh’s focus will extend beyond 2013-14.
Projected Starting Five: Barney Steele | Rudy Fernandez | Carmelo Anthony | Chris Bosh | DJ Schmidt
Trade Grade: A-
Toronto Raptors receive Jeremy Mason, Yi Jianlian, Vince Carter, Cleveland Cavaliers Future First Round PickThe Raptors actually did pretty damn well for themselves. Jeremy Mason is going to help spread the floor with his shooting stroke. The first overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft is in a contract year and I am predicting steady results from him in his new home of Toronto. This guy is able to average 13 points on limited shots on the stacked up Nets – imagine how he will go with so many more extra shots on the Raptors. Yi will be a very popular acquisition because of his nationality and also because he is an underrated talent. This guy has improved tremendously over the years and the Raptors will need to thank the Nets for the time spent on Yi.
For me, it’s great to see Carter back in Raptors’ colors but I’m pretty sure Raptors fans are going to hate this! It’s quite comical that he has been brought back to the fold but that’s what a new owner will do. Toronto is no doubt hoping that Carter’s presence on the team will bring back more fans for the ailing franchise. It is predicted that Carter will be fighting Mason for minutes at small forward. Mason probably will not start ahead of Raptors’ fourth year SG Larry Williams. My sources have informed me that Carter will be the starting 3-man in Toronto although I think that he would be better suited coming off the bench.
The Raptors also locked up further security by acquiring a future first round draft choice. It is the Cavs’ pick that the Nets got in the Rudy Fernandez deal. Not a bad trade for the Raptors seeing that they have been trying to offload Bosh for a while. Everything makes so much sense with Coby Clark and Yi Jianlian forming the Raptors’ new ‘twin towers’. Mason, Williams and Hova form a young, talented backcourt while Carter will hopefully receive a warm welcome back (Don’t hope for this too much as chances are that everyone still hates him in Toronto).
Projected Starting Five: Chris Hova | Larry Williams | Vince Carter | Yi Jianlian | Coby Clark
Trade Grade: B
Philadelphia 76ers receive Bobby Simmons, Mickael Pietrus, Toronto Raptors Future First Round PickThe Sixers were needed to make the Chris Bosh deal work because the Raptors did not think they were getting enough in return for the All-Star PF. All parties were lucky that the Sixers had a vested interest in getting rid of Vince Carter at the same time that Toronto were thinking of asking to have him back. Andre Iguodala had complained to the Sixers’ brass that Carter was a ‘cancer in the locker room’ and that his poor defensive efforts really hurt the ball club.
Philadelphia got a modest return on the 36 year old Carter. They were able to get Bobby Simmons and Mickael Pietrus; both players will help shore up a thin frontcourt. Pietrus, in particular, should be regarded as a solid pickup because he will bring more of a defensive focus to the team that is predicated on its ability to shut down opponents. Toronto also gave up a future first round pick to Sixers in order to coerce them to get involved in the three team trade.
Projected Starting Five: Delonte West | Andre Iguodala | Mikael Pietrus | Chris Wilcox | Kendrick Perkins
Trade Grade: B+