Imagine this novelty in the NBA: The Suns want actual (gasp) players if they trade Shaquille O'Neal.
No retired guys.
No ball boys.
No assistant trainers.
No contracts worth mega-millions that will run out at the end of the season (OK, maybe one of those).
Real, honest-to-goodness players.
Numerous national and local stories indicate that the Cavs will not be able to do a salary dump (i.e. trade Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic) to acquire Shaq. So the question must be asked: Are the Cavs willing to part with a Delonte West to acquire a 37-year-old center?
Tough question, because for the second year in a row West was the Cavs second-best player in the final playoff series. But … if it means a championship, it might be worth it. Trading West would surely involve the Cavs strengthening the guard spot with another player, so the Cavs would have to make two moves. Mo Williams and Daniel Gibson are not a starting backcourt. And we've been down the Sasha Pavlovic road.
Do I expect the Cavs to trade West? Absolutely not. But … if it means a title … they're obligated to think about it.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Only in Ferryland is a dude with the skills of a first guard off a bench considered an "untouchable."
Bring back Ralph Perk. At least the local media wasn't afraid to heckle that guy.
I don't agree Alan. I think West is a valid NBA starter. Does a lot of good things. The guy can play.
Pat, West is a tweener. Too short and not talented enough to be a 2, simply doesn't have the skills to be a starting 1. I didn't say he can't play, but he's not a starter, per se. I mean, seriously.
Is Derek Fisher the second-best guy on the Los Angeles Lakers? I don't think so.
It's just nuts that the locals treat average players (and less) with such high esteem. Delonte West is "untouchable?" You've gotta be kidding. I mean, who else other than Danny Ferry would have been dopey enough to give Gibson the keys to Damon Jones' old contract, and then tack a fifth year on to it? The whole situation is just crazy.
Alan makes a valid point. West is very good on OUR team, but that ain't sayin' a whole lot. I like his grit, toughness, willingness to drive and defend, and somewhat-reliable outside shooting. He would not be easy to replace.
However, we have to start looking at the big picture. Ferry has made some bonehead signings, and Boobie may take the cake. Imagine: Boobie, Ira, Damon Jones, Larry Hughes, Donyell, Sasha, Z (too many yrs.), , …the list goes on and on. Seriously, I have real doubts as to whether he could ever assemble a championship team. WHO is evaluating talent over there?
the time to get shaq was in february when kerr let ferry and gilbert pretend that the suns pulled out of the deal. there are plenty of other options out there. kerr just wants to see how desperate ferry is now that the "inner circle" (i.e. lebron) isn't as thrilled with the team and the coaching as he used to be.
Jason, Newble wasn't Ferry's mistake, he was Paxson's. With that being said, other than the silly 5 years, $3 million or so a year is a relative pittance compared to the big baskets of Easter candy Ferry has handed out during his tenure.
By the way, can we finally cut the garbage about Gilbert's willingness to spend money? Bogus, bogus, bogus, bogus! Everything on the payroll is a direct and proximate result of 2005, FOUR YEARS AGO, when he was spending money on anything and everything after his Milwaukee Brewers offer fell through. He was locked in thereafter.
I imagine he bought at least 60 plasma TVs for his home in 2005 (and that's when they were still costing a fortune). Could he or would he do that now? Heck, I'd be surprised if he could even buy a remote control now that his PayPal account has been closed because of overdrafts. Shoot, he must be thanking his lucky stars the government gave away those $40 off coupons for a digital converter, or he'd be stuck watching nothing but snow.
Also, and none of the media shills on Ferry's texter (is that what it's called?) have never called the public's attention to it and never will, but since it's on my mind, I will right now: not only did the Cavaliers not spend a penny at the trade deadline, not only did they not deal Wally's expiring contract, not only did they not deal Snow's expiring 80% insurance-paid contract, but the cherry on the top was the potentially valuable Cedric Simmons trade exception was never used to acquire a single solitary soul, and is now null and void.
Let's be totally honest here: Does this sound like anybody who has money? Why won't anybody in Cleveland or Akron print any of this? Don't they have a duty to their readers as opposed to a duty to the franchises they cover? Seriously, as a reader who's passionate about sports, and about NBA basketball in particular, I find this fact extremely frustrating. Am I the only one?
Dude, what is it you're really trying to prove with your non-sensible arguments. Seriously. If you actually have an agenda on whatever it is, please don't use this blog as a soapbox. Yes you hate the team – any move they make is crap, anything the management does has an ulterior motive behind it, the owner is losing billions and has no money – ok fine, as if you're crack investigation skills have any validity. Sometimes its just ok to STFU. And for the love of life, get outside once in a while. Just once in your miserable existence.
Seriously, keep the pillow talk to us, Rick. We took marital vows.
rick, alan is 100% correct. the tale of the free spending gilbert is a sham. it doesn't take an investigation to know that when the cavs could have swapped bucks for talent they stood pat.
Even if he is 100% correct, he needs to get off the soapbox or move out of the house and start up his own website. I understand he feels like the big fish in a small pond here and if he were to take this to bigger sites, he'd be ridiculed and mocked much worse than I can do. Heaven forbid it shame him to never ever leaving the basement but every battle begins with a small step and he's been here much too long reciting the same crap.
Look, I like Pat Mac's writing and observations which is why I come here. I used to subscribe to his mailbag and now I visit him online. If it were upto me, as long as that idiot is allowed to post, I'd prefer this site not to allow any posts from any of us and just read Pat's work.
I decree Ferry as much as the next person. He's made lousy move after lousy move. The trade at last years deadline was good only because it got rid of deadweight and brought in somewhat lesser deadweight. The guy has a lousy track record of getting Lebron help. I don't need to be on this website 20 times a day saying it.
I thought Coach Brown was pathetic in the Orlando series. I dislike his substitution rotations and the fact he ignores people in the playoffs who have helped the team in the regular season, ie Shannon Brown last year, and potentially Kinsey this year. Should've thrown him out there if only to see what he couldve done against some of Orlando's shooters. I just don't need to be on this website 20 times a day saying it.
I have no opinion on Gilbert's financial status. Oh no, a billionaire is less of a billionaire at this particular moment in time! Mortgage companies are falling apart!! The sky is falling!!! The midseason trade this season is a he said/she said deal – I've heard Phoenix stopped it, I've heard Cleveland stopped it. I have no proof. Its in the past. We lost. Let it go. If this poster is so adamant that Gilbert's financial situation caused the trade to fall through, go find indisputable proof and lets see it. If $40 converter coupons would have bankrupted him and crumbled the Cavs, go out there and prove it – otherwise, quit with the hyperboles and doomsday scenarios 20 freaking times a day on this site. Man up and go see what else the world has to offer and not quantify your entire existence based on what you think Dan Gilbert is worth.
He constantly brings up the failures of the franchise and doesn't let it go. Dude, its in the past now- nothing can be done. The signings we made when we had all that cap room happened, they were an utter failure. Not one person disputes that but he will never ever let it go. The one time the franchise succeeded, albeit short term, he disappeared and was nowhere to be seen on this site until the euphoria of that success diminished. This is the type of person he is. He revels in the sorrow of others and will spew negativity as much as he can. Its a shame of a human life really that this is what he is.
Anyhow, I don't need anymore of this. You win comaguy, you win. I'll just keep reading Pat's posts and leave the rest of you to weigh in. Oh, and comaguy, if some other poster comes in and disagrees with you, its not me, nor any of the many other people whom you all accuse of being the same person. Its just that eventually, we all get tired of it and someone new comes in. You on the other hand, this is your life. Live it on the ABJ blogs to the fullest!
It is any wonder why I married this woman? She's a pistol, I tell ya.
Terje might be right about Shaq–could he repeat the incredible hot streak he went on last year or have another "best year in the last five" at this point?
Is it possible to do a sign and trade with Varejao? I'd go for that and the Suns probably would, too. Varejao's game would probably fit next to Stoudamire's.
When guys are playing for a new contract, they almost always play better. And nearly the direct opposite can often be said for the first year of a new contract. So I believe O'Neal will try harder and play better, and Varejao will play more like one of Ferry's hyped stiff acquisitions, Martynas Andriuskevicius.