Re: TRADE

[Eggcentric@xxxxxxx]

< How many years/$ are left on his (Brian Grant) deal, does it put us 
in a better position? The dollars seem pretty close now, so there 
may not be much benefit of this trade. > -dliles

Good question.  It puts us in only a slightly better financial position
in the future but since we are so far over the cap, what else can 
we expect from any big equal dollar trade?  There are, however, 
several other viable reasons for my liking this particular trade 
or a reasonable facsimile thereof.

We not only add more rebounds, stronger defense, a guy who can also 
play center, and a much better FG% (.517 to .391) to the PF position 
with Grant, but also we finally get a solid PG (Best) out of the deal 
as well. AND - we would likely be able to re-sign Best for no more 
than - maybe even a bit less than - Shammond's present salary of 
$2 mill.  Wouldn't you rather Best starting ahead of Delk than 
SWill starting behind Delk?

As for trading Walker:

1) If you will come we will build around you. 

Since we drafted AW in 1996, three different coaches have felt 
obliged to design our entire team offense around his versatile but 
unorthodox style. Translation: No specific offensive plan.  Obie 
has of course taken this concept a thousand steps beyond by 
insisting that as long as we have AW out there doing his thing 
(along with Pierce), we need neither a disciplined offense nor  
a field general.  I do not appreciate our helter-skelter style 
offense and continue to feel that despite Walker's unique 
versatility, endurance, and unquestioned will-to-win, he 
remains one part detriment - one part asset.  

2) Just what IS your role, AW?

Walker is a below average defensive, rebounding PF.  He is no 
PG as evidenced by his 4.5 assists per game (less than last season 
even though Obie counted on him to near double that total this 
season). And he is too slow to ever convert to SF or any other 
position.  It appears that Toine has been hoisted by his own 
versatile petard.  Like the poor well-rounded Philip Nolan, he 
has been cast a sea like the man without a position.  

As long as AW is our 42 mpg PF, our team will continue to lack the 
necessary (classic) contributions rightfully expected from the PF 
position.  And where else can we expect these contributions to come 
from?  As GuyClinch observed, we are too slow but we are also too 
short... at almost every position. 

3) The slippery slope side of the hill. 

Almost every aspect of Walker's game seems to have deteriorated.  
And he is only 26 yrs. old, a mere babe in arms  Not a good sign for 
the future.  While he still has value, let us trade him for players 
who can help our team get back to some semblance of a more
disciplined, conventional, and effective offense (Best) while 
adding more rebounding and defensive pressure (Grant). 

Plus, and most important of all, I love Brian Grant's hair much 
as I loved the Pervis do and Tyronn Lue's.  For sure Grant would
give us more style and panache.  And less technicals. 

Egg