Developments in the Trade Market

[Chris]

Somethin I read on ESPN Insider a couple days ago keeps sticking in my head:

We noted at the end of last week that with the Clippers seemingly out of playoff contention, there was a chance Marcus Camby might get traded.

The thinking goes that teams that have inquired about Camby's availability previously were quickly rebuffed, but now that Mike Dunleavy is out as coach and it looks like another lost season for the Clips, they could be open to something now.

If that's the case, CBS Sports' Ken Berger reports today that both the Knicks and Nuggets "are intrigued by the possibility of bringing him back for an encore."

But Berger is quick to note Camby will likely only get dealt under two scenarios: if the Clippers get a solid talent in return, or they free up some more cap space to sign a max free agent this offseason.

If that's the case, a possible scenario would be the Knicks sending over Darko Milicic. Both Camby and Milicic are making in the 7-million range this season, and Milicic has an expiring contract.

Milicic has also asked for a buyout this season, so the Clips could buy him out once they trade for him, which could save them a little money.

But if the Clippers wanted to free up some serious cap space, they'd likely need to involve another player on their team that has at least one year left on his deal, and trade him along with Camby for expiring contracts, since Camby's deal is up at the end of this season

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors?date=20100209


If all this is true and the Nuggets and Knicks aren't going to give up talent for Camby then the Clippers might want to go the lower salary route

So why not sending Ray and Perk to LA for Kaman, Camby and Gordon

Why would they include Gordon in that deal?  Kaman is a better player than Perk, Camby is a very good player, and an expiring contract.  They are not going to include their best young player (well, that has actually touched an NBA floor) to make that happen.

[jdpapa3]

Thought this was interesting from ESPN insider:

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Bulls asking price is an expiring contract and a first-round pick, and adds that the Bobcats have offered Acie Law, Flip Murray and their 2010 first-round pick for Thomas.

If this ever comes through, the rumored deal sending Glen Davis to the Bobcats for D.J. Augustin might fall through, as they'd already have a new big in Thomas.

I don't know how the Bulls would turn this down. They'll surely lose Thomas after this season. I do think the Cats/Celts trade is agreed to, but both teams will wait it out until later and see what else comes along.

[Chris]

Thought this was interesting from ESPN insider:

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Bulls asking price is an expiring contract and a first-round pick, and adds that the Bobcats have offered Acie Law, Flip Murray and their 2010 first-round pick for Thomas.

If this ever comes through, the rumored deal sending Glen Davis to the Bobcats for D.J. Augustin might fall through, as they'd already have a new big in Thomas.

I don't know how the Bulls would turn this down. They'll surely lose Thomas after this season. I do think the Cats/Celts trade is agreed to, but both teams will wait it out until later and see what else comes along.

Apparently Charlotte doesn't even own their 2010 first rounder (the Wolves have it...lottery protected), so clearly there is some misinformation there.

[ssspence]

Thought this was interesting from ESPN insider:

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Bulls asking price is an expiring contract and a first-round pick, and adds that the Bobcats have offered Acie Law, Flip Murray and their 2010 first-round pick for Thomas.

If this ever comes through, the rumored deal sending Glen Davis to the Bobcats for D.J. Augustin might fall through, as they'd already have a new big in Thomas.

I don't know how the Bulls would turn this down. They'll surely lose Thomas after this season. I do think the Cats/Celts trade is agreed to, but both teams will wait it out until later and see what else comes along.

They're not going to lose him. They just don't want to pay him the qualifying offer they'd owe him -- they'd rather give it to Wade or Bosh or Joe Johnson.

[jdpapa3]

The Bulls want to avoid the possibility of Thomas accepting a $6.2 million qualifying offer on the eve of this summer’s free agency, which would deliver a major dent to their salary-cap space. Thomas, 23, will be a restricted free agent this summer.

I thought the team had to offer the QO. I'm confused about this.

[Chris]

The Bulls want to avoid the possibility of Thomas accepting a $6.2 million qualifying offer on the eve of this summer’s free agency, which would deliver a major dent to their salary-cap space. Thomas, 23, will be a restricted free agent this summer.

I thought the team had to offer the QO. I'm confused about this.

Yup.  Yet another example of a "journalist" who does not understand the CBA.

[BballTim]

Thought this was interesting from ESPN insider:

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Bulls asking price is an expiring contract and a first-round pick, and adds that the Bobcats have offered Acie Law, Flip Murray and their 2010 first-round pick for Thomas.

If this ever comes through, the rumored deal sending Glen Davis to the Bobcats for D.J. Augustin might fall through, as they'd already have a new big in Thomas.

I don't know how the Bulls would turn this down. They'll surely lose Thomas after this season. I do think the Cats/Celts trade is agreed to, but both teams will wait it out until later and see what else comes along.

They're not going to lose him. They just don't want to pay him the qualifying offer they'd owe him -- they'd rather give it to Wade or Bosh or Joe Johnson.

  Don't they have to renounce him to free up enough money to make an offer to those guys?

[liam]

Caron Butler and possibly center Brendan Haywood could be had for expiring contracts. Can't we send our scrubs to cover Butlers contract? He'd be the perfect back up for PP and Allen.
Liam

[ssspence]

Thought this was interesting from ESPN insider:

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Bulls asking price is an expiring contract and a first-round pick, and adds that the Bobcats have offered Acie Law, Flip Murray and their 2010 first-round pick for Thomas.

If this ever comes through, the rumored deal sending Glen Davis to the Bobcats for D.J. Augustin might fall through, as they'd already have a new big in Thomas.

I don't know how the Bulls would turn this down. They'll surely lose Thomas after this season. I do think the Cats/Celts trade is agreed to, but both teams will wait it out until later and see what else comes along.

They're not going to lose him. They just don't want to pay him the qualifying offer they'd owe him -- they'd rather give it to Wade or Bosh or Joe Johnson.

  Don't they have to renounce him to free up enough money to make an offer to those guys?

Yep. And they don't want to do that and essentially lose him for nothing. Which is why they're almost certain to trade him before the deadline.

So sorry -- i should have made my statement above more clear. They just don't want to sign him. Whoever trades for him will be in excellent position to keep him.

[Andy Jick]

It's funny, but rumors today (1 week in advance of the trade deadline) really mean very little.  1 week in trade deadline speak is like like a millennium.  Expect things to start to heat up next Wednesday...that's when I'd pay attention to things.  My guess is there's a LOT of misinformation and make-believe stuff out there right now...

[ssspence]

It's funny, but rumors today (1 week in advance of the trade deadline) really mean very little.  1 week in trade deadline speak is like like a millennium.  Expect things to start to heat up next Wednesday...that's when I'd pay attention to things.  My guess is there's a LOT of misinformation and make-believe stuff out there right now...

I agree, boss. That's why I'm starting to try to read between the lines!