Portland Trail Bloggers

The pre-season has started, but that doesn’t mean we can’t sit around and talk trades. I know it is pointless, but it’s usually a top subject for fans. Here is a list of ten trades that could or couldn’t happen this year involving the LaFrentz Contract.

Every media outlet that covers the Blazers has written time and time again about the “LaFrentz Contract”. It has become the single biggest bargaining chip that any NBA team has this season now that LaFrentz had surgery and will miss at least 41 games, meaning insurance will pick up 80% of his contract for the second half of the season. That means, a team with a terrible record who is looking to clear cap space to make a move in the off season, or to just save money, can trade a high paid player (or 2+) and get a combination of LaFrentz’s contract, which will be off their books in the summer and be 80% paid for by insurance, draft picks from the Blazers, since they don’t need all the 2nd round picks they have in the bank (or even the first round pick) and/or young promising players. Well, in that group of young and promising players, Outlaw has to be the #1 trade bait. Portland will most likely look to bring in a proven small forward, meaning Webster goes to the bench and Outlaw is traded. I think teams that are well below .500 will look at Outlaw and say that he is good enough to start and hopefully will blossom in a new situation where he is a go to guy.

What players/teams would be interested in the LaFrentz/Outlaw/2nd Round Pick/Sergio package? (and of course that Portland could agree with)

These are in no particular order

1) Memphis Grizzlies / Rudy Gay

Rudy Gay is a great player and is very young. He has proven that he is a top 10 small forward for years to come. He is going to demand a big contract and Memphis is one of the cheapest teams in the league (here’s looking at you Phoenix). The importance of an owner more concerned with wins then payroll is something that the Blazers have enjoyed for years, but the Grizzlies have not. That is the only reason why Gay might be movable, although probably not. With OJ Mayo coming in, the Grizzlies will at least listen to options to save tons of money in the future by trading Gay for LaFrentz. The problem, here is that the salaries (and talent) don’t match up at all, and to get Gay, you would half to throw in Outlaw and Sergio (at least) too because that leaves Memphis with no small forward, literally. That would more then likely mean you take back over-weight and out of shape Antoine Walker’s 9 million dollar contract. But, his contract will expire next summer too, unless they were to pick up the team option, which of course, they won’t.

So this trade doesn’t make a ton of sense. Memphis wouldn’t ever consider the deal, even though Gay has been the most mentioned name (by Blazer fans) as who they would love to land. The other option is throwing in Darko Milicic, the vast underperforming center, in return for LaFrentz, Outlaw and Przybilla. That’s a lot to give up for Rudy Gay (his talent is there, no question), but it leaves the Blazers with a terrible back up center in Darko Milicic. So this option, unlikely, the numbers just don’t add up. The only way this could happen is if Portland was willing to ship off one of their big 3 players, which of course, won’t happen.

2) New Jersey Nets / Vince Carter

The Nets are going no where fast with Vince Carter on their roster. He is still a very productive NBA player, but the Nets have a bad mix of youth, inexperience and aging players. They added Yi and Brook Lopez, but it will be years before those guys are productive. By that time, Carter will be gone. Plus, the Nets are in the Lebron James race. That makes this a very possible option. I have heard many Carter to Portland rumors over the past 2 years, so, if they have any truth, Prichard must at least like Carter. The salary of Carter and LaFrentz is close enough to make it work, through in a Steven Hill here and a draft pick there. Vince Carter is a natural shooting guard, but probably athletic enough to play the small forward position. He is a veteran and used to know how to win. If Portland is contending for a top 4 spot in the playoffs, this trade could actually happen. If the team thinks an athletic scorer can put them over the top, then pull the trigger. But, by doing so, you are basically saying goodbye to Webster, Frye and any other guy with a contract expiring (and wanting a raise) in the next 3 years because Carter gets paid a ton and will be under contract until 2010-11. Paying Oden, Roy, Aldridge and Carter would be VERY expensive, but Paul Allen would, in my opinion, be willing to do so if it got us to the Western Conference finals.

Like I said before, if the Blazes get off to a tear, then slow down but are still leading the division and in a top 3-4 spot in the West, this trade might happen, but not without serious thought. It is a move saying the future is now and I just don’t see us getting off to that sort of a start this season. In my opinion though, New Jersey would be willing to do this deal. They are seriously going after Lebron James.

3) Chicago / Loul Deng

Let me start out by saying this has no chance of happening. The Bulls have basically said Deng is their future and that is that. The only reason this might happen is if the Bulls are serious about getting Lebron James. If they are, they have to clear the books.

4) Indiana Pacers / Mike Dunleavy

He is listed as a shooting guard, but at 6′9″ can matchup as a small forward. He is a great shooter and can be the key outside shooter the Blazers need. He gets paid quite a bit ($9 mil this season) so working the numbers would be possible. He is a local kid, but this deal won’t happen unless Portland really thinks he is that missing piece. The Pacers are going to be terrible this year, so look for them to try to deal Dunleavy to someone, or at least listen to the idea of dealing him.

5) Milwaukee Bucks / Richard Jefferson

Okay, did you feel that? I did. Say it again, Richard Jefferson. Tingles. He might not be the stud he once was, but he is only 28 years old and is a great player. He is a true small forward with leadership and playoff experience. The Bucks just added him, so they couldn’t trade him until very near the deadline, but might be willing to do so after the Bucks once again underperform. He gets paid for the next three years and is a pretty sure bet. He has had a little injury issue from time to time, but not as bad as Carter. He could really be the missing key for the team if he accepts the role. The other issue is if the Bucks would really give him up. They have Redd and Jefferson mixed with some young players, so I doubt they are too key on trading Jefferson, but the LaFrentz contract, Outlaw and Sergio Rodriguez? It’s possible. Not very likely, but possible.

6) Charlotte Bobcats / Gerald Wallace

If the idea of Richard Jefferson didn’t excite you, maybe Gerald Wallce is more your type. He is highly paid on a pretty sub-par team. He lacks playoff experience, but is a scorer and leader. The Bobcats have the contracts of Carroll, Felton, May, Dudley and Morrison all up for renewal this summer, which means they have cap room. Add in getting Wallace’s contract gone in exchange for LaFrentz and you have a ton of cap space. They would listen if Prichard called. Not saying they would do this deal but they would listen. If I am the Blazers and I can trade LaFrentz and Outlaw for Wallce then you do it in a heart beat, but it will take much more to get Wallace.

7) Orlando Magic / Hedo Turkoglu

Of all the players who can be reasonable had, Turkoglu might be at the top of the list. He makes just under $7 million, which is a lot, but he deserves more and knows it. The reports are that he will opt out of his contract because he wants a big pay day. He can be the guy to put us over the edge and the Magic might be willing to deal him if they really think he will opt out and they are not willing to pay him. They would probably think about a deal for LaFrentz and Outlaw, but they would really have to think Turkoglu is gone anyways.

8 ) Denver Nuggets / Carmelo Anthony

The Blazers and the Nuggets would both never do this deal. They are in the same division and wouldn’t be willing to help each other out to this degree. Giving Anthony to the Blazers means they are a serious title contender now and for the next 10 years. Giving LaFrentz to the Nuggets means they have HUGE cap room, since AI’s contract expires next summer too. Won’t happen, but it could help Portland. I don’t really like Anthony’s play, but it is a slower/lazy tempo that might fit well with Roy and Oden. He shoots, and misses a ton, but Oden and Aldridge are big down low. Like I said, won’t happen.

9) Dallas Mavericks / Josh Howard

If not for one racial comment, this deal could (should?) happen. Dallas is not in free fall yet, but Dirk has already said he is gone in three years, so the writing is on the wall. Kidd’s $21 million contract expires this summer, so giving them the LaFrentz contract, at an 80% discount for Howard might be doable. Yes you throw in Sergio and Outlaw, maybe some draft picks but it might be doable. Howard would probably be a great fit on the court. He is a scorer and a solid player and has playoff experience. The bigger question is if the fans of Portland would accept Howard. Are we more concerned about winning or the type of guys we bring in to play? That’s a tough call for a team fresh off the “jail blazer” era, but I’d recommend using caution and that means no Howard.

10) Phoenix Suns / Leandro Barbosa

You bring Barbosa in as a guard, to start in the backcourt with Roy. That means Sergio or Blake is gone in this deal. He is young by NBA standards, but would be one of the oldest Blazers at 25 years old. He is a good shooter, although not a great three point shooter. He likes to play fast and gets most of his points in transition. He is basically a better Sergio Rodriguez. The Suns might be willing to do this deal. They have the cheapest owner in the NBA, so any chance to save money is welcomed. They are paying Shaq, Stoudemire and Nash to win a championship and so far not so good. The numbers don’t quite matchup, so you might be taking back other bad contracts. The problem is that besides Shaq, the Suns don’t really have bad contracts, like I said, they have the cheapest owner ever.

So there you go, ten possible deals, all with little to no chance of happening. I think the Blazers will get a ton of phone calls near the trade deadline, some of those calls from unexpected teams offering players that we thought we could never get. The LaFrentz contract is possibly the best trading chip ever in the NBA. It is a huge expiring contract, that because of his injury, will be paid mostly by insurance in the second half of the season. Outlaw or Webster (but basically Outlaw) will be available in a trade and many teams might be intrigued by him.

All in all, it should be interesting to see what happens.