NO/CLE/MIN

[Goldberg]

For the past month or so, I have had many NBA related conversation, and one thing I always hear is about Hornets trades, and how they are rebuilding, and will trade Davis and Magloire. And I always make the same comment which is that "they made the playoffs last year, and fired their coach because they expected more. Injuries to their top three players made their season a horrible one. They are simply trading their old players 35 and older... not rebuilding."

But something happen today. I read a Cleveland's paper reporting that NO and CLE are talking about a three way trade (reporter said its most likely MIN) and that it would send Davis and/or Magloire. This made me stop and analyse the different possibilities, and also look at their salaries from a relatively reliable source, and well, here is what I got:

If they send Davis, Magloire, and Lynch to Cleveland, as well as Mashburn and Brown to Minessota. And receives Ilgauskas, McInnis, Wagner, S. Williams from Cleveland, and Sprewell and E. Johnson from Minessota.

They can get rid of all these long-term contracts in exchange of ALL free agents at season end. Salary cap space? You bet. Now of course, draft pics would have to be included to equal things out, and I won't speculate as to who sends what draft pick to who, or possibly another player at low salary sent to Minessota, but contract wise, it all fits within the CPA rules of 15%.

Cleveland gets Davis and Magloire to build with Lebron and Gooden.

Minessota gets rid of Sprewell for two veterans who can help them in the playoffs. Of course Mashburn, if healthy, would probably only get 20 minutes a game in Minessota but Brown would solidify the team under the basket playing some center and backup Garnett at PF.

Hornets gets a decent team until the season end. They get all free agent so they get rid of old players with big contracts like Brown, Mashburm, Lynch, etc.

And best of all, Cleveland and Minessota are not looking to get below the salary cap. They want to win now and any FA they like can only be had with the exceptions anyway. So if they don't trade or resign those players, they will lose them.

Statistics wise only, it would mean no real changes in PPG for all three teams. It would mean more RPG for both Minessota and Cleveland, and of course with Davis, more APG for Cleveland.

Anyone thinks this Cleveland reporter and my analysis of his prediction make sense?

[J@3]

LeBron, Davis, Magloire, Gooden I can see why it'd work for all teams involved, I think it's probably slightly too elaborate to actually happen... it'd make things interesting though.

[Amphatoast]

haha lebron dynasty coming up if it happens. If he can do well with what he has, adding some all-stars without a ball sharing issue is icing on the cake.

[fgrep15]

Haha, why would anyone want to give another team a chance to be so amazing just so they can get some cap space. That team has an All-Star or possible All-Star in every position but SG which will be played by defensive stopped Ira Newble.

They also have energy boy Varejao on the bench, and still have decent depth, that's the end of the world for the rest of the league

[Matt]

doesn't work for Minny.....they get Brown which is a great replacement for Kandi but Mashburn is out for the season and possibly his career has ended. So they lose Spree, which is a good move but they need a G back in return otherwise they'll be thinner than they are now.

i doubt Cleveland would want the 2 injury prone Hornets.....or a shoot first-jack up 3's PG around Lebron especially since they are deep in that position with McInnis and Snow. Cleveland is fine atm, any trades they make will be small....nothing to disrupt the core of he team.

[Riot]

Minnesota isn't thin at the guard spot

Hassell, Hoiberg, Szczerbiak and Sprewell and there is hardly any minutes for them all.

However a backup guard and a big man like Ilquaskas (Not brown) would be perfect.

But this deal would suck if it was Minnesota.

[Goldberg]

CBS Sportsline confirmed the story today but was more specific. They say the deal would be around this:

Ilgauskas going to Minnesota, Sprewell to New Orleans, and either Davis alone, or Magloire and a second player, going to Cleveland.

I still don't understand why NO would trade Magloire or Davis, two young player under long-term contracts.

[Jowe]

haha thats the exact reason they might trade them.
I'm not sure about Magloire but Baron has a huge contract. And they would love to start all over.

[Goldberg]

I doubt it Jowe. For NO, rebuilding with an all-star like Baron Davis would be easier than rebuilding without. An there are much over paid and older players that needs to be get rid of.