Let’s just get this out of the way up front: I’m obsessedwith the NBA Trade Machine on ESPN.com. Obsessed in the sense that I’ve spent
most of Friday designing trades with various teams all centered on Andre
Iguodala. You won’t get any chatter out of the Sixers regarding trade gossip,
but that hardly matters. After all, there are a whole bunch of teams sniffing
around and trying to figure out ways to pry Iguodala away from the Sixers.
Needless to say, it isn’t as easy as it sounds. In fact, any time I was able to put together a package and get that green-fonted message indicating that the trade was, indeed, feasible, I let out a big hoot. Actually, it was more of a “woo-hoo!” that would have been followed with a high-five if there was anyone wasting their day with the NBA Trade Machine like me. Regardless, I can only imagine that Sixers’ GM Ed Stefanski is sitting around a laptop with his lieutenants while plugging in names and trying to get the successful match.
That’s the way they do it, right?
Apropos of that, maybe some computer geeks ought to develop an NBA Trade Machine-like program for everyday life decisions. You know, if you can’t decide on what to make for dinner or which shirt to wear you can plug it into the data base, answer all the prompts and get the right answers. It would be perfect for folks who can’t make decisions on anything, though it could make a serious dent on Magic 8-Ball sales.
Still, after a lot of thought and effort into trading Iguodala, here are the trades I came up with:
· Iguodala and Jason Smith to Phoenix for Amar’e Stoudemire
This one met the following criteria—it sent Iguodala to another team and it brought back an expiring contract. Still, it says something about Stoudemire that the Suns appear interested in dealing him away when they have Steve Nash running the offense. After all, I once read an interview with Nash when he said his top priority when he has the ball is to get it in Stoudemire’s hands so he can score. Who wouldn’t do anything possible to stay on that team? An offense that features the most unselfish and most talented point guard with the lone objective of giving Stoudemire the ball no matter what… um, what’s the problem?
I wonder if Iguodala is lobbying behind the scenes to get traded to Phoenix. Why wouldn’t he? Not only would he be guaranteed all the shots he wants in a perfect position to succeed because of Nash, but also went to college at the University of Arizona. Warm winter weather, home cooking, and Steve Nash setting you up.
Nice.
· Iguodala and Jason Kapono to Boston for Ray Allen
No, this one won’t happen because of that whole Atlantic Division thang, but folks in Boston say they really are interested in Iguodala. They like Iggy so much, it’s said, that they are talking about shipping out Ray Allen for him on Boston talk radio.
And if you think Philly sports radio is wacky, go listen to what they say on the radio in Boston. Let’s just leave it at that.
Want to know who this trade would tick off? Yep, Ray Allen. Jesus Shuttleworth playing out the string with Allen Iverson…
Yikes.
· Iguodala to San Antonio for Keith Bogans, Michael Finley, Roger Mason and Antonio McDyess
No, this one won’t happen either, but it definitely satisfies a lot of needs for both teams. The Spurs might be a piece or two away from beating the Lakers in the West and Iggy fits that mold. The Sixers want to have some cap space in the off-season and there are three expiring contracts in that pile of players. The Sixers would be on the hook for MyDyess for two more years, but only at $4.5 million per season.
· Iguodala to Chicago for Jerome James and Tyrus Thomas
You don’t need a sky writer to spell this one out… can you say, "SALARY DUMP!"
If there is one good thing about the NBA salary cap it is it spawned the NBA Trade Machine. Actually, that might be the only good thing about the NBA salary cap. Not only has the cap killed many chances for teams to improve, but it beat the hell out of a Friday afternoon for me.
Thank you, David Stern.