Re: responses to trade thoughts

[Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu>]

Cecil Wright writes:
> I would be hesitant to trade Mercer because I believe, based on the play 
> of his rookie season, that he has the potential to average 20 ppg.  It 
> may not happen this coming season, but I would think his average will be 
> in the 15-18 ppg for sure, hopefully closer to 18.

I agree with you. Over the second half of the season, I think he was
averaging around 18 ppg. I don't have any doubts that he'll be able 
to do this. But I don't think this makes him untradable for a superstar. 
There are quite a few players that are capable of averaging 18 ppg for a 
bad or average team. Mercer also needs to help his team in ways other than
the shoot-off-the-screen, set-play scoring: through great defense, 
rebounding, creating his own offense, etc. 

> With all the latest talk of Gaston's reluctance to pay AW, what makes you 
> think that he would rather go after another prime-time player?  Pippen 
> for example has witnessed MJ making 30 mill or whatever his contrract 
> is.  Don't you think he's gonna use a figure up in that area himself, 
> maybe not quite that exorbitant but...

Truly none of us have much insight into Gaston's head so I can only guess. 
Pippen is not going to ask for $30M because the only team that could pay 
him that is Chicago, which will never happen. He'll have to take market 
value, and not under the Bird exception, which will limit him to around 
$15M/year. Gaston may be willing to pay this because it's a shorter contract, 
and because Pippen is a proven All-NBA, All-Defensive, multiple championship 
performer. 
 
> I understand you're saying that this is only a possible scenario and 
> you're right anything is possible.  But I for one would not be pleased at 
> losing Anderson, Mercer and potentially Walker as well, not knowing who 
> we'd be receiving to take their place.

Yes, of course trading them with nobody in mind would be depressing. 
At the very least, I would assume that Pitino would get a higher (top 5)
draft pick and cap room for either player, with a particular player in 
mind (LaFrentz? Could he ever play center in the NBA?). In the case of 
Pippen or another big free agent, probably the deal would be negotiated 
and agreed to first, and then a cap-clearing trade, similar to what 
happened with Mills.

In any case, I can't wait to see what happens on draft day. Any way, it'll
be very interesting. The prospect of the lockout takes away some excitement
though.

Alex