Evaluating the biggest names likely to be traded
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 23. While there has been plenty of talk, it is doubtful there will be any major blockbusters. Only a handful of teams appear to have the right combination of motivation and desirable assets. The Nuggets, Knicks, Sonics, Hawks, Magic and Bulls head the list of teams most likely to make a move. Here's a look at 10 top names on the market and where each might end up.
On The Block
Steve Francis
2005-06 salary: $13.7 million
Remaining contract: three years, $49 million
Potential suitors: Nuggets, Knicks The Magic is taking phone calls for the three-time All-Star, who has played poorly much of the season amid growing frustration with his role. The Nuggets need a shooting guard and have spare assets in
Nenê,
Earl Watson and
Voshon Lenard. But Denver is leery of adding Francis's huge contract without making some other cost-saving moves. The Knicks reportedly covet Watson and might be willing to work some kind of three-way, perhaps involving
Jamal Crawford. Or New York might try to land Stevie Franchise straight up for
Penny Hardaway's expiring contract. However, Magic assistant G.M.
Otis Smith insisted Monday
that Francis is not likely be traded.
Paul Pierce
2005-06 salary: $14.3 million
Remaining contract: two years, $34 million
Potential suitors: T'wolves, Bulls The Celtics swear they're not looking to trade him, but the team is in the midst of a youth movement and would be foolish not to listen to offers. While rumors of a
Kevin Garnett swap can be put to rest (at least for this season), it's possible some other team could step up with an offer too good to refuse. The Bulls, for example, could offer a package involving former UConn star
Ben Gordon, point guard
Chris Duhon,
Tim Thomas's expiring contract and a 2006 first-round pick for Pierce and
Raef LaFrentz. But Pierce is an All-Star talent, and president
Danny Ainge
is not likely to give him up without getting an All-Star in return.
Al Harrington
2005-06 salary: $7.0 million
Remaining contract: unrestricted free agent '06
Potential suitors: Bulls, Knicks Every year it seems the Hawks make a trade-deadline deal to clear cap space for the summer, and G.M.
Billy Knight might be inclined to do it again. Harrington, a free agent after the season, is the kind of scoring forward who could push a team over the top in a playoff race.
Meanwhile, Atlanta probably doesn't want to re-sign Harrington to big money when it already has
Marvin Williams and
Josh Smith. The Knicks would love to add Harrington, but they don't have anything the Hawks want. The Bulls have draft picks and young players to dangle, but it is doubtful Chicago sees Harrington as the guy to take them to the next level.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/marty_burns/02/15/trade.tracker/index.html
j/k.