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I am trapped.
|  | | Vancouver's Mike Bibby is involved in numerous trade talks. |
There are mere hours before the trading deadline.
You won't leave me alone.
One preposterous, unworkable trade rumor after another.
But until Thursday, it's your world. I'm just paying rent.
So let's do it this way. Instead of me telling you about potential
deals, let's instead just talk about players. Who's likely to go, who isn't,
using the spectrum of sunny skies (don't worry, you're staying) to 100
percent chance of precipitation (pack your bags). I hate to spoil the party,
but the vast majority of these guys aren't going anywhere. To make sure you
don't think I'm rating these in order of likeliest to happen, we'll list the
the players in alphabetical order.
SHAREEF ABDUR-RAHIM, Grizzlies: Though the early money was on him
finding a home in the Lower 48, it's increasingly likely he'll stay in the
Great White North, if only because it's much more likely that teammate Mike
Bibby will be dealt instead (see below). Grizz have to have someone to build
around when they surface in St. Louis next season. Team officials won't say
so for the record, but they've put the word out around the league: they're
out of Canada like Alanis Morrisette.
FORECAST: Mostly clear.
DARRELL ARMSTRONG, Magic: The Magic and Grizzlies were talking about an
Armstrong-Bibby deal a couple of weeks ago, but since then, Armstrong has
been on fire (assist-turnover ratio of 8.8-1 during Orlando's unbeaten
streak). The trade talk died. Still, Armstrong's base-year compensation
expired last month, meaning Orlando can get dollar-for-dollar value on his
$4 million salary if it so chose.
LIKELIHOOD: Sunny skies.
MIKE BIBBY, Grizzlies: Quite in play, with the Knicks and Heat
salivating for his services. Vancouverites are down on the third-year guard
(believing him to be a little soft) and they want to separate him from
Abdur-Rahim; the two have had issues of late. But Grizzlies still are
looking for multiple draft picks as well as short-contracted players. But
when all is said and done, one has the feeling that Mr. Falk will place his
client in an advantageous situation as he did for Stephon Marbury a couple
of years ago.
LIKELIHOOD: 70 percent chance of precip.
MOOKIE BLAYLOCK, Warriors: Could be the Knicks' consolation prize if
they can't land Bibby or Dikembe Mutombo (see below). But the Warriors want
young guys who can shoot, not old guys with long contracts, and Gotham
doesn't have anyone who fits that particular bill. Pacers may also be
looking for veteran point guard play down the stretch, which would enable
Jalen Rose a smooth transition back to point forward.
LIKELIHOOD: 50 percent chance.
TERRELL BRANDON, Timberwolves: Early money had him going everywhere
from New York to Portland, but he firmed up his Wolf Credentials with an
outstanding run in January and February. Plus, his long contract ($43
million over next five years still due after this season) makes Luxury
Tax-shy teams unwilling to make a deal.
FORECAST: Mostly sunny.
MARCUS CAMBY, Knicks: I'm told the Knicks finally put Camby's name on
the table Monday in a potential Mutombo deal. Not that he, alone, will be
enough. Atlanta would also want Latrell Sprewell (New York is adamant; it
will not even talk about Spree) or Allan Houston (who's already told the
Hawks he wouldn't re-sign there this summer if traded there). It wouldn't be
the worst thing if Camby stayed; he'd likely be the primary bait this summer
if the Knicks make a real run at Chris Webber.
FORECAST: Partly cloudy.
SAM CASSELL, Bucks: I only mention this because rumors have been flying
about a Cassell/Tim Thomas swap for Gary Payton (see below). Um, I hate to
be the one always bursting the balloons, but Thomas is a base-year player,
which means for the deal to work, each team would have to include four or
five players. And the first-place Bucks aren't interested in tearing their
team up right now. (In the summer? Maybe a different story.)
FORECAST: Mostly sunny.
DERRICK COLEMAN, Hornets: Philly had a mild interest in DC before he
got hurt, again, but that's no longer the case. He'll take far too long to
get back in shape once he's cleared to play again. And that's unfortunate
for Charlotte, because Larry Brown is the only guy in the league who's
interested.
FORECAST: Clear skies.
ANTONIO DAVIS, Raptors: Jurassics have rebuffed any and all inquiries
about AD, hoping they can re-sign him this summer once he opts out. They
can, if they max him out or come close. Otherwise, he'll look around. And,
one suspects, Vinsanity will take a good, hard look at how Toronto deals
with Davis after losing Tracy McGrady last summer.
FORECAST: Clear skies.
ALLAN HOUSTON, Knicks: He has been promised by management that he won't
be traded, but we know that Madison Square Garden, um, occasionally changes
its mind. He wants to stay with the Knicks; he's building his permanent home
there and the Knicks have refused to even discuss him with Atlanta. But he
may be the only way New York can get its hands on Payton, either now or this
summer.
FORECAST: Mostly sunny.
JASON KIDD, Suns: Occasionally, we get it from the horse's mouth.
"He's not going anywhere," says the Suns' GM, Bryan Colangelo. Does that
answer your question? Are the Suns thrilled with Kidd's off-court behavior?
No. Are they having more trouble filling up America West Arena than in years
past? Yes. But you don't make trades when you're angry. That's how Kidd
wound up in Phoenix in the first place.
FORECAST: Zero percent.
TONI KUKOC, Sixers: On Tuesday, I started hearing rumblings about a
potential Theo Ratliff-Kukoc deal to Atlanta for Mutombo. (I can't imagine,
if true, that Kukoc would stay in Atlanta past this summer.) The Waiter has
never been one of Brown's favorites, and now that he's in pretty good shape,
his trade value may never be higher. But his base-year status could gum up
any potential deal.
FORECAST: 50 percent chance.
SHAWN MARION, Suns: See Kidd.
DIKEMBE MUTOMBO, Hawks: This spring's big prize. The 7-2 Chalupa. You
know about New York's interest, and Phoenix's -- though the Suns still refuse
to even talk about Marion. Dallas has mounted an 11th-hour bid for the Mount
(which almost surely would include Shawn Bradley, heretofore, inexplicably,
untouchable in MaverickLand). Larry Brown fell in love with Mutombo watching
him Hoover 22 boards for the East squad in the All-Star game. Washington
tried to broker a three-way deal that would have landed Mutombo in New York,
Larry Johnson in D.C. (even though he's got four years left, his dwindling
contract numbers -- $11.33, $9.61, $7.88 and $6.9 million in 2004-05 -- are
intriguing to the Wiz) and Rod Strickland and Jahidi White in Atlanta. But I
still think Mutombo ends the season in Atlanta, then goes
elsewhere this summer in a sign-and-trade. I know his agent, Falk. If you doubt Falk will go for the
bucks in the end, you don't know the parable about the scorpion and the
frog. (Um, he's not the frog.)
FORECAST: 50 percent chance.
HAKEEM OLAJUWON, Rockets: If he's no longer the Dream, he's still a
good power nap. And he's no longer interested in going to Miami. But he
better stop playing like this, or the Rockets will have to think about
re-signing him. Which, trust me, they don't want to do.
FORECAST: Sunny skies.
GARY PAYTON, Sonics: Everyone knows it's time for GP to leave the
Emerald City. He knows it. His coach knows it. His teammates know it. The
front office knows it. Other teams know it. But the Sonics aren't going to
be rushed into making a deal before Thursday. It's likely that once they do
decide to move Payton, it'll be to the East, so forget all these ludicrous
rumors about GP winding up in Portland or Phoenix. I suspect that with a few
month's time, George Karl will wear down any opposition to Payton in
Milwaukee. But that will be next summer.
FORECAST: Mostly sunny.
GLEN RICE, Knicks: They're shopping him. There have been a couple of
nibbles, but not enough for a deal to get done. I do think Rice could help a
few teams. Forget his last two stops; he's not going to look good anywhere
he doesn't get most of the touches. But for a young team that wants to go a
round or two in the playoffs? Why not?
FORECAST: Partly cloudy.
MITCH RICHMOND, Wizards: Given up for lost until this past week, when
he rediscovered his jumper. But then on Tuesday, he threw up an 0-fer
against the Grizzle. Still probably has a contract one year too long ($10
million next season, followed by a potential buyout year) to satisfy Luxury
tax-leery clubs. Um, Micky Arison's Miami Heat isn't one of those clubs.
Just musing.
FORECAST: Mostly sunny.
CLIFFORD ROBINSON, Suns: Eminently available; the Suns would love to
make him the centerpiece of a deal for Mutombo, but the Hawks aren't having
it. Teammate Rodney Rogers could also be had for the right price. Wouldn't
he make sense for a team that can't sign any veterans on its own and is
swimming in cap room -- like, say, the Clippers?
FORECAST: Mostly cloudy.
ROD STRICKLAND, Wizards: Has been dangled in front of New York (Chris
Childs the only non-LJ body Washington is interested in) and Miami (Cedric
Ceballos and Dan Majerle), both willing to overlook Rod's numerous
transgressions. His base-year also expired this month, so the Wiz would get
his full $10 million salary back in a trade. Philly a very, very long shot.
FORECAST: Partly cloudy.
KEITH VAN HORN, Nets: He's a base-year. Plus, he gets hurt too much.
FORECAST: Clear skies.
JEROME WILLIAMS, Pistons: On the block, as the Pistons try to clear
more cap room for a futile run at Webber this summer. The JYD would be a
boon to any playoff team looking for a hard worker at low prices ($2.75
million this season; $2.95 million next season). Wouldn't he look great
playing next to KG and Friends in Minnesota, for example?
FORECAST: Partly cloudy.
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Trade Deadline
