Photo. Estevan OriolThe NBA offseason — especially Draft week — is always a time for tons of trade rumors, but this year definitely feels like there are more rumors and bigger names floating around than ever. Just a few weeks ago we were all sitting around the office talking about how it’s crazy that Jason Kidd is at least a Top-5 point guard of all-time, yet he’s been traded twice in his career. And here we are today, where a handful of Hall of Fame-type guys are being rumored to be traded. And every day a new rumor pops up; some of them crazy and unfathomable, some of them realistic enough to where you start picturing, say, KG in a Lakers uni. Here’s some of the blockbuster rumors surrounding the stars that have popped up lately:
Kobe Bryant
Mamba didn’t even wait until after the playoffs were over to bring the fangs out, killing the Lakers front-office and publicly demanding a trade on national radio, saying there was nothing L.A. could do to change his mind. Then he did change his mind … and then he changed it back recently. Even with the KG-to-L.A. rumors going around, we read one report that said a KG trade still wouldn’t be enough to convince Kobe to stay. As far as the trade rumors involving Kobe, the most prevalent ones have him going to the Bulls and Knicks, but so far not a lot has emerged on exactly what kind of package it would take to land KB24 somewhere else.
Kevin Garnett
It’s become an annual offseason (and trade deadline) tradition to speculate on where Minnesota might deal KG. Like Kidd, you wonder why a team would want to trade one of the best players in the League, but between Garnett’s monstrous contract, the fact that the Wolves clearly aren’t going to win anything anytime soon, and KG’s obvious frustration with his team’s state of affairs, a trade seems more of a favor to Garnett for time served than anything else. This summer he was linked to the Celtics in a deal that would give Minnesota Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair and the No. 5 pick, but KG’s agent tried to dead that one by saying KG would only play one year in Boston and opt out. He’s also been linked to the Lakers in a four-way deal with Indiana and Boston (J.O. to Boston, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum to Indy, picks and young guys to Minnesota), but Boston apparently pulled out of that one. The popular one now has KG going to Phoenix in a three-way trade where Shawn Marion goes to Boston and Minnesota gets the No. 5 pick, young players and expiring contracts. Most of the KG trade talk seems hard to work out from a salary-cap perspective and because of X-factors like Marion reportedly not wanting to play in Boston, but as of now it looks like something will go down soon. It could even be after the draft, with someone picking at No. 5 but knowing it’s for Minnesota.
Shawn Marion
Because of his large salary cap number, Phoenix’s huge payroll and a reported feud with Amare Stoudemire, Marion has been all over the rumor mill, too. First it was small talk involving everyone from Chicago to Detroit to Washington, but lately there’s been serious discussion. So far the most serious Marion trade talk includes him as part of the Garnett rumors, with the most realistic one having him headed to Boston. Everyone knows Phoenix wants to avoid as much luxury tax as possible, so don’t be surprised if Marion is dealt before the summer is out.
Amare Stoudemire
Any Amare rumor has KG linked to it. First it was Amare-for-Garnett basically straight up (possibly some spare parts thrown in to make the salaries match), which didn’t get a lot of momentum. And just today, it’s been reported that Atlanta is trying to get Amare as part of a new KG deal. How’s that work out? As part of a multi-team trade, Minnesota wants ATL’s No. 3 and No. 11 picks if they’re going to deliver KG to Phoenix. In return, the Hawks want Amare. While it seems far-fetched (Amare fits perfectly into Phoenix’s system, so why give him up even if it’s for Garnett?), it’s actually not so ridiculous. You’d just have to wonder what’s going through Amare’s mind. Yes, he’ll make the Hawks better, but to go from a title contender to Atlanta, that’s tough.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Kyle aka "The Air Down There" says:
As much as I love KG I don’t want to see Amare in any other uniform but a Suns uniform. If the Suns trade him, they are stupid. He is 24 and now starting to approach his prime. He’s starting to expand his game, he added a reliable mid-range jumper, and who knows what he is going to add this off season. Trading him for anyone can be a mistake.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Girlybballluver says:
Right now, Amare should be considered as untouchable as Wade and Duncan.
I’m not a fan of his, but there’s no denying his skills. He produces now, and he’ll certainly be producing for a long time to come. How can you consider giving away both your present, and future?
Note: Unless Miami makes some significant moves to get younger and better, Wade may not be untradeable for much longer.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Noah says:
Yes, it would be stupid for Phoenix to trade Amare at first glance. However, Amare had microfracture surgery last year at the age of 23. Yes, that is very young to have such an intense surgery, so his chances of recovery are strong, but many players fail to ever come back from it, or they come back like he did, but remain injury riddled for their careers. Both Mashburn and Allan Houston had the same surgery and their careers were never the same. In fact they both had to retire (and work for ESPN). I’m not saying Amare will retire anytime soon, but it is important to look at because he relies solely on his athleticism (unless you want to count that bank in 3 in the playoffs a few years ago) and with poor knees, you never know which direction his career may take.
Also, think about this. The Suns probably have a 3 year window MAX of legit NBA championship contenders. Nash is 33 with a lot NBA minutes under his belt and as he goes so do the Suns. KG for the next two years will instantly put them as the team to beat in the West. I don’t care that the Spurs won the chip, KG - Nash - Marion - Barbosa, forget about it. Kurt Thomas playing D along with Bell and Diaw. The Suns should take advantage of the 2 year window they would have with Nash and Garnett together. The NBA is about winning chips, not about sustained playoff appearances. Ask Ewing, I bet he would have traded all of his playoff wins for a championship. The Suns can wallow in the Western Conference Finals if they want to, but KG puts them into the finals (barring injuries). Amare is a lot to lose, but the Spurs and the Mavs are a lot to overcome. Make a bold move, get KG.
June 27th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
BOnAciertheLAW says:
“Ask Ewing, I bet he would have traded all of his playoff wins for a championship.” That’s about as dumb/obvious as an observation can get
June 27th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Noah says:
It’s just an example, when you have something intelligent to respond with, state it.
June 27th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Girlybballluver says:
What phoenix needs to do is fire that annoying coach of there’s and get a coach that knows what the word defense means. I think they have a squad that can get the job done now, if they at least attempted to play some D. (Not just one or two players). Nash just stands around waiting to get the ball back. Or maybe mr. D’Antoni should stop running his 6 players ragged all season, and let someone else get some play time. Maybe then they’d have some energry left over for a finals push.
Is that too much to ask? Probably. So go ahead, make the KG deal, but don’t complain 4 years from now, when everyone is exhausted, and you’re struggling to make the playoffs.
June 27th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
jnuh says:
The team that scores the most points is the team that played the best defense.
June 27th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
hard to argue with that…Suns absolutely KILL EVERYONE with that run and gun joint…that is, until the PLAYOFFS…all of a sudden, it don’t work so well.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Half Crazy Girl says:
i feel like this summer is gonna be crazy! don’t want to miss a part of it!
June 28th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
kudabeen says:
I would venture to say that an Atlanta team with Amare, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Speedy, ZaZa, Lue, Marvin, Sheldon, With possible Marcus banks and some spare parts would be a title contender in the East. Yes Phoenix is a much better look, but not just because of talent. I think Atlanta’s biggest problem is their incompetent ownership. They are in a prime area with young money flying all around and they are too busy fueding among themselves to take advantage and be relevant in a weak conference. Shame…