This would only potentially work if:
(1) Chicago agreed to throw in its first rounder this year, Taj Gibson or James Johnson (to go to Golden State) for a potential future pick way down the line; (2) the Celtics sub in Scalabrine or Tony Allen rather than Davis; and (3) the Celtics facilitate it with cash and whatever ancillary draft picks the Warriors want. It would take all three I think, unless of course the Warriors have a serious problem with Anthony Randolph's work ethic, personality or demeanor in which case it might work as constructed.
My thoughts on it:
1. I think Hinrich is essentially available to whoever would take his contract. Yeah, he's a nice player, but he IS somewhat overpaid and inhibits Chicago's ability to move on quickly this summer. Chicago just wants those guys gone for expiring dollars - I think it'd actually have to be Scalabrine instead of Davis but I think they'd do it.
2. Chicago's not the only team thinking this way - although I think they're one of the few with a legitimate shot at landing a franchise altering free agent. But a lot of teams want to drop long term dollars because almost no team in the NBA is making money right now.
For that reason, I think at some point, unless the Lakers decide they're gonna upgrade their point guard spot and get Hinrich for expirings, Chicago's gonna have to decide whether to include a young asset/draft pick in a package that gets rid of their long term deals. Chicago's ability to get cap space I think will be defined by (1) whether the Lakers feel they need to get a point guard and (2) whether Chicago bites the bullet and gives up additional assets.
Remember this is the same league where Seattle got two first round picks from Phoenix just to GET - not give, get - Kurt Thomas and his relatively small contract. Cap space is an incredibly valuable commodity.
Now, LA probably wouldn't demand extra assets because it's a case of if they decide to get a new point guard, they'll pay the price for it (they're one of the 2 or 3 teams making money). But if not, who else is gonna jump at giving up cap space to get Kirk Hinrich? There's a growing general opinion that the only teams with a legit chance to win it all are Cleveland and LA. So if one of those two teams isn't dealing for your player, then you're gonna have to throw in young cheap assets to get rid of contract dollars. Chicago's gonna have to decide if they will.
3. Golden State might consider it. Maggette has a huge contract. With Salmons, they get a fairly comparable player (not as good, but at least comparable) for far less money and far fewer years, so that's a plus for a rebuilding team not going anywhere at least until Maggette is in the latter, incredibly overpaid, heading downhill portion of his contract.
And they get Tyrus Thomas, who has shown as much flash as Randolph - the differences of course being that they'd have far less control over Thomas than over Randolph, and Thomas has had more failures too. Randolph is far from a sure thing but a strong asset.
In the end I can't see the Warriors deciding that the upgrade contractwise from Maggette to Salmons is worth downgrading from Randolph to Thomas. But throwing in another young body or draft pick (I say Chicago has to do it rather than us because we don't have even semi-desirably young guys other than Rondo - who's not leaving - and the next first rounder we can give away is in 2013. We probably have to throw that in too but it's not enough unless there's a more present young asset involved) might be enough. Like I said, Randolph's far from a sure thing.
Also, I am intrigued by Brandan Wright, I think he's just been wasted in Golden State. I'd like to see him as part of the deal.
Topic: homer trade # 26,000 (Read 2697 times)