AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 08
Monday, January 8, 2007
Some trade scuttlebutt
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s that time of year again. You know, when the fun and foolishness of trade rumors dominate the NBA landscape more than any game or actual real life event possibly could (the trade deadline is like a tractor beam for insanity, any and everybody in the league will be involved in at least one wild rumor between now and the Feb. 22 deadline).
Normally, I try and steer clear of all the trade bluster (mostly because the “real” deals aren’t rumored about before they happen. Look no further than the Falcons’ hiring of Bobby Petrino. Dude’s name never came up during the process and now he’s the new coach).
But I’ve been hearing all sorts of interesting things regarding the Hawks (and that $8 million in cap space) and the interest teams have in dealing with them or trying to enlist their help in getting a deal done.
The best one sent my way over the weekend: a three-team deal involving the Hawks, Portland and Washington. How does this one grab you. The Blazers send Jamaal Magloire to Washington, the Wizards send Brendan Haywood and Jarvis Hayes to the Hawks and the Hawks send Salim Stoudamire, Esteban Batista and Lorenzen Wright to the Blazers?
Just play along here.
The salaries work (go ahead and check to see if it works, I already did. That ESPN.com trade machine is the best cheating tool ever). And each team gets something they desperately need, though the Hawks would have to give up assets to get a deal done, but Haywood is that shot-blocking big the Hawks are in desperate need of and Hayes, injury prone as he is, is a nice sized shooting threat and solid roster addition.
Admittedly, I wouldn’t be wild about losing a long-range bomber like Stoudamire, who could flourish under the right circumstances. Wright’s been a huge influence in the Hawks’ locker room. And Batista is arguably the Hawks’ most fearless (and feared for his rugged ways) player.
But you always have to give up something (well, in most cases) to get something in return.
Would you do the deal? Would you pull the trigger and make this deal happen or would you hold out for something else? Something better?
