Our friend S. Mart is back for another take on the NBA Draft, this time examining some of the drama that has surrounded the teams in the last 48 hours.
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Despite this year's draft being considered weak by many experts, there sure are a lot of trade rumors going around. The even more shocking part is whose names are being thrown out there for high draft picks. Either the GM's are high or the GM's know something that the media and the rest of the public doesn't know. In the case of one GM, this may be true.
When you have 37 year old point guard in Steve Nash who's been loyal in two stints with your team, do you dangle him out there for Minnesota's number two pick? If you're the Phoenix Suns I guess you do. It would be hard to fathom Nash not in a Suns uniform or any other team west of the Mississippi River for that matter. However, he is getting older and Phoenix is probably looking to start the rebuilding process after shipping Amare Stoudemire to the Knicks. If Nash was to be traded who do you build around? Looking at their roster they have solid pieces in place: Aaron Brooks, Channing Frye, Josh Childress. However, none of them are franchise players and I don't think the Suns will find that in this year's draft.
Now granted the Spurs have a franchise player in Tim Duncan but it's obvious after their first round exit against the Memphis Grizzlies the Spurs need to get younger. The door has pretty much slammed shut on their hopes for another championship and it's looking like reloading time in San Antonio. Despite this I didn't think that putting out Tony Parker as trade bait was an option the Spurs would consider. According to league sources, the Spurs have been in contact with the Raptors and the Kings for getting their lottery pick for Parker. If that were to happen George Hill would move into Parker's spot. Parker's 28 years old and has a lot of miles left on him still. His quote in the French newspaper may suggest he wants out of San Antonio though I doubt his options would be a team in rebuilding mode. On paper the trade for the Spurs doesn't make that much sense because, as I said before, this is a weak draft. However, Spurs GM RC Buford has been known to get some international gems so maybe he sees something we don't.
Possibly the biggest and probably most bizarre draft trade I've heard has the Lakers sending Sixth Man of the Year Lamar Odom for....wait for it...Minnesota's second pick. I'm not sure if that makes sense for Minnesota as they already have Kevin Love at the power forward position and Odom would probably be coming off the bench...still. Also, if LA were to use that pick on Derrick Williams maybe Brandon Knight (assuming Kyrie Irving goes first overall), can they contribute right away? Not sure. Plus I don't think Khloe Kardashian would like the cold weather in Minnesota. Thankfully Minnesota rejected the offer but presented a counteroffer of sending their number two pick for either Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol. Now Bynum makes sense because he could still develop to be a true center. But Gasol I'm not sure. The Wolves would have the same problem as they would with Odom. Great talent but do you want to hinder Love's or Michael Beasley's development like that? Keep the 2nd pick Minnesota and take Derrick Williams...just don't take another point guard...PLEASE!!
Of course none of these trades will happen and this draft will probably play out the way we all expect it to, but it is interesting to see how such ideas can take hold.
Unless Jeff Van Gundy's trade demands come true and Lebron gets traded to Orlando for Dwight Howard...then we'll get some sizzle tonight.
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