Al Jefferson for Granger trade offer rejected by the Pacers

[Drucci]

From Wojnarowski :

Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn recently offered forward Al Jefferson(notes) to the Indiana Pacers for forward Danny Granger(notes), but was immediately rebuffed, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

While Pacers president Larry Bird remains determined to build around Granger, sources say Kahn has become increasingly dubious on making Jefferson a cornerstone for the Timberwolves.

So far, Kahn has tried to undo almost everything from the Kevin McHale regime, and trading Jefferson would be another significant step in that direction.

After rehabbing from a knee injury he suffered in February, Jefferson is still trying to work himself back to the elite form he showed last season when he had averaged 23.1 points and 11 rebounds. This season, he’s averaging 17.7 points and 9.1 rebounds.

Jefferson, 25, has three years and $42 million left on his contract after this season. Any proposed deal would’ve needed another player or two involved to make the salaries match, but the Pacers had no interest in such a discussion, sources said.

Minnesota also has chemistry issues between Jefferson and forward Kevin Love(notes). “There’s some jealous stuff that’s playing out,” one league source said.

The Pacers, who are tied for the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, could be dealers before the trade deadline, but league executives believe Indiana has all but ruled out any moves that would include Granger or center Roy Hibbert(notes). After missing a month with a foot injury, Granger returned to the Pacers’ lineup on Friday. He has become one of the league’s best young scorers, averaging 24 points a game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers would like to acquire a power forward who can shoot, and the Pacers’ Troy Murphy(notes) is near the top of their wish list, perhaps trailing only the Washington Wizards’ Antawn Jamison(notes). The Cavs’ front office is still trying to gauge the seriousness of Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld about eventually agreeing to a Jamison deal. While waiting for the Wizards on a move Grunfeld may never make, Cleveland doesn’t want to miss out on Murphy.

Sources close to Jamison and Murphy say both players would welcome a trade to the contending Cavs.

The Cavs likely are willing to part with young forward J.J. Hickson(notes) in a trade for Jamison, but perhaps less apt to do so for Murphy. So far, the Pacers want more than the expiring contract of center Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes) to make a deal for Murphy, and likely would also require Hickson.

[yall hate]

Granger is a better player.  Indy is smart for saying no

[Slugger]

Cant blame Indiana for rejecting such a deal.  

Granger is one of the more versatile players in the league - Perennial all star talent.  Jefferson is not.

The Cavs with either Murphy or Jamison would be pretty scary, although giving up Big Z would be required.  Getting rid of the big fella would be a mistake IMHO.

[Who]

Sounds like a fair trade idea to me.

It would have only been a lateral move for either side though.

[RebusRankin]

It has to stink to be a T-Wolves fan. With the exception of 2003/2004, McHale never did a great job of building around KG and Kahn seems to be clueless. Love is a nice player but not one you build you team around.

[Fan from VT]

how about KG and a first for Al and Sessions?

[KCattheStripe]

how about KG and a first for Al and Sessions?

Thats a hell of an overpay.

[celticsclay]

I guess the problem is Big Al has not really developed very much since he left Boston. Does this speak a lot about Clifford Ray? If there was anyway possible I would love him back in celtic green. Let Garnett retire a twolve perhaps?

[nickagneta]

Can't imagine for the life of me why Kahn would think that Larry would want Al Jefferson for Granger when Indiana has Hibbert and Murphy. If Indy pulls off that trade they are trading away one of the best young scorers in the game to have one of the more nonathletic front courts in the league. With teams suddenly knowing Larry would HAVE to trade Murphy, the trade would also make Murphy's price tag plummet.

Kahn is starting to give me the impression he's pretty much an idiot.

[Fan from VT]

Can't imagine for the life of me why Kahn would think that Larry would want Al Jefferson for Granger when Indiana has Hibbert and Murphy. If Indy pulls off that trade they are trading away one of the best young scorers in the game to have one of the more nonathletic front courts in the league. With teams suddenly knowing Larry would HAVE to trade Murphy, the trade would also make Murphy's price tag plummet.

Kahn is starting to give me the impression he's pretty much an idiot.

maybe he'll panic, then, and try to get hometown hero KG back to win over the fans. Maybe he'd even throw in Rubio to just get rid of that mistake and we could sit on those rights for a few years.

[snively]

Big Al is difficult to build around because of his defensive deficiencies.  He'd be best as a 6th man.

Granger's also difficult to build around because of his inability to create for others, although it's much easier to find good playmakers to cover this shortcoming than it is to find athletic, shutdown defenders at the 4/5 to complement Big Al.

Neither side would benefit much from the trade.

[scoop]

Kahn did well in trying, Bird did well in refusing it: the talent level is similar but with the young role players he already has, namely Hibbert and Hansbrough, Jefferson would be a worse fit.

[Roy Hobbs]

Kahn is starting to give me the impression he's pretty much an idiot.

Well, it doesn't hurt to make an offer, right? 

I mean, this one would have been a fairly decent trade for Minnesota, but it's not terrible in terms of value for Indiana.  Danny Ainge -- somebody most around here consider to be a pretty good GM -- apparently offered Perkins for the #2 pick, and Ray and Rondo for Prince, Hamilton, and Stuckey.  Those deals were quickly rejected; do we consider Danny to be an idiot?

In a year, I could easily see a scenario where Indiana rejects not taking this offer.  Big Al has had some struggles this season, but he's still got perhaps the best low post moves in the entire NBA.  If he gets back to his 23/11 form, I think a lot of teams would be thrilled to have him, even at the expense of a 25 point scoring forward who is battling some injury problems of his own.

[Tr1boy]

Al Jefferson compares well to Zach Randolph in that he gets his points and rebounds but can't carry the team on his back . Thats why the wolves can't stop losing for the past two years. Jefferson unlike say duncan is not a conerstone player but more like a nice starter/6th man in mold of david west.

After his 42 million dollar contract runs out and kg is no longer part of our plans look for al to comeback. Him perk and rondo are still good friends.

[celticsclay]

Big Al is difficult to build around because of his defensive deficiencies.  He'd be best as a 6th man.

Granger's also difficult to build around because of his inability to create for others, although it's much easier to find good playmakers to cover this shortcoming than it is to find athletic, shutdown defenders at the 4/5 to complement Big Al.

Neither side would benefit much from the trade.

Al May be bad on defense, but a 6th man? Come on thats pretty harsh assessment. Name me a comparable scoring and rebounding big in the league that comes off the bench....

Ps please dont say Rasheed wallace cause he had 29 today