Wheeling and Dealing on Draft Night
With the Jefferson-for-Yi deal making headlines and the Love/Mayo swap not far behind, it’s easy to lose sight of the other trades that went down on draft night. It’s more than a couple of picks moving around in exchange for cash considerations, future protected picks and guys you’ve never heard of from overseas. There are some potential impact players who we could be hearing from as early as next season.
Mario Chalmers drafted by MINNESOTA at No. 34, traded to MIAMI for two future second round picks and cash considerations.
* When the T-Wolves first picked Chalmers, he stood up out of the stands at MSG looking totally dejected. He had to go through the ceremonial handshake with Stern even though he knew that he wouldn’t be wearing that draft hat much longer. Now in Miami, Chalmers has got to be stoked about the chance to prove himself and possibly play right away. As we noted in the Instant Draft Analysis, he’s a game-changing defender who knows how to get the most out of his teammates. With Marion and Chalmers, the Heat could potentially have two lock-down guys in the starting lineup.
Darrell Arthur drafted by NEW ORLEANS at No. 27, then traded to PORTLAND for cash. Then packaged with Joey Dorsey and traded to HOUSTON for Nicolas Batum. And then he was shipped again to MEMPHIS for Donte Greene and a future second-rounder.
* After moving three-quarters of the way around the nation, Memphis is a good final destination for Arthur. Hopefully this whole kidney business blows over and he is able to slide right in as their most offensively gifted player in the frontcourt. But for some of the other players involved in these deals, it’s disappointing to see Dorsey traded from Portland. We thought he could provide some energy and toughness off the bench behind LaMarcus Aldridge. Now he’ll have to play behind Carl Landry.
Goran Dragic drafted at No. 45 by SAN ANTONIO and then traded to PHOENIX for No. 48 Malik Hairston, a future second-round pick and cash.
* We liked Dragic in San Antonio. He’s been called a “young Tony Parker” by some, and thus hoped that he would be able to learn from today’s best finisher in the lane. But he’s going to be overseas for at least a couple more years before coming to the U.S. At that point, we have no idea if Phoenix will still play like the team that we’ve become accustomed to over the last couple of years. The choice of Robin Lopez at No 15 sure doesn’t indicate that it will.
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June 27th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
GEE...ain't the one that'll pay fo ya phone says:
What is wrong with Dorsey playing behind Carl Landry vs. LA? Either way he gone be playing “behind” someone??
Glad Houston got him though. Still trippin that Houston at one point had Darrell Arthur and let him go. He is just to solid to me and I hope he does great too.
Still for what Houston got they did aight. Kudos to the trade.
June 27th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
C-Rob says:
something about these Dallas guys recently. If i’m Houston i would have had to keep him. not to say he’ll be as good as those guys, but you never know.
June 27th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
AY says:
it’s different playing behind a starter or playing behind a bench player. If you’re 4th on the 3 man forward rotation, you’re looking at 2 minutes per.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
ya but its only so long before yao goes down again or some young athlete is beastin scola (not to mention him possibly goin back oversas) that guys like dorsey, hayes and landry are starting beside eachother.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Suposedly Houston is high on Dorsey so for now he’ll find 2 or 3 minutes as a 4th option at power forward and 3rd option at center but when Dikembe Mutumbo dies he’ll get a chance to back up Yao. Houston is looking at a pretty good draft getting him and Donte Green.
Also i couldn’t be happier with the Heat getting Chalmers and they picked up another 2nd rounder in 2009 for Darnell Jackson which by my count gives them 2 to deal next year.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
rangerjohn says:
i am sorry but houston did not draft/trade well, now they have 6 guys between 6’8 and 6’10, and only two can play away from the basket with any effectiveness. (tracy and shane) the other guys will all be fighting for minutes which scola is going to get the majority of. the draft day didnt adress their real need, A BACK UP CENTER. maybe they can make more moves. they also need a back up point guard, they go nowhere with rafer running the hos, then stevie franchise will be back and i expect he gets ohhhhh 8 minutes per game, then bobby jackson well he is closer to a 2 guard then a point.
not pleased with this draft night for houston.
June 27th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
GEE...ain't the one that'll pay fo ya phone says:
agreed somewhat ranger. What they need is a new point and have rafer back up and if he aint happy ship him with a pick or not and trade for a back up center. I still like that they got another dude who can create his own shot. The other two not so much. Still I am ok than them getting Batum.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
rangerjohn says:
maybe they should have taken chalmers? i am surprised my spurs didnt take chalmers but hey they are the masters.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
rangerjohn says:
think about this for a second, including stevie “im getting no minutes” franchise’s contract for next season, the rockets have about 6.5 million in money going to waste. they have stevie, jackie butler which they waived but are still on the hook for his money, and justin “who?” reed. they are at 67 mil with those 3 guys, then they own novak and loren woods who will never play a minute a total of around 1.8 mil. with those 5 contracts they could have EASILY picked up a NICE addition to run along side tracy and shane and yao.
money is screwing the rockets bad this season, but hey at least season after next they will drop bobby jackson, francis, butler, reed, woods, and novak.
June 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
jamesinva says:
yall got pritchslapped go blazers